Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Campaign Move 10 – Battle of Alessandria


Move 10 - 0800 to 1200 12 April 1796

Colli is regrouping his battered army at Turin.

Bonaparte orders Serurier to pin the Sardinians with his 5th division

He orders 6th division to attack the Austrians at Alessandria and marches to join them with 4th division

3rd French halt at Acqi and forage for supplies

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Campaign Move 9 – Austrians enter Alessandria

Move 9 - 1600 to 2000  11 April 1796

Beaulieu enters Alessandria and receives news of the Sardinian retreat to Turin
He also receives reports that the French are approaching on the Alba road.
He orders his army to deploy to defend Alessandria

1st Sardinian division enter Turin but lose another 100 men to attrition due to lack of supplies

Bonaparte advances towards Turin with 4th and 5th divisions

6th French advance towards Alessandria but  halt when they sight the Austrian army
Laharpe sends an ADC to Bonaparte for further orders

3rd French still unaware of Fossano and still waiting for orders

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Campaign Move 8 – French Advance to Turin


Move 8 - 1200 to 1600  11 April 1796

Colli orders his army to retreat to Turin

1st Sardinian division lose another 100 men to attrition due to lack of supplies
2nd Sardinian division forced march towards Turin

Beaulieu still unaware of the Sardinian defeat and continues towards Alessandria

Bonaparte orders 4th and 5th divisions to prepare to march on Turin

6th French division receives orders to advance to Alessandria

3rd French unaware of Fossano and still waiting for orders

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Campaign Move 7 – Sardinians retreat to Turin

Move 7 - 0800 to 1200  11 April 1796


Colli orders his army to retreat to Turin

1st Sardinian division lose 100 men to attrition due to lack of supplies

Beaulieu still unaware of the Sardinian defeat and continues towards Alessandria

Bonaparte orders 4th and 5th divisions to halt and resupply

3rd and 6th French divisions unaware of Fossano and still waiting for orders

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

The Battle of Fossano

Campaign Map at start of battle


Bonaparte wants to defeat Colli and force him to retreat away from Alessandria before the Austrians can join the Sardinians there.

To protect Turin, Colli must either hold Fossano or retreat along the Turin road and look for another defensive position.   He has opted to hold Fossano with his 1st division because it also allows him to place his 2nd division at Alessandria until Beaumont arrives with the Austrian army.

Table at start of battle

Fossano is the town at the top centre


The centre road leads to Turin

The right hand road leads to Alessandria

1st Sardinian division are in and around Fossano

5th French division are in position to attack Fossano


1st Sardinian Division


General Brempt is classified as a Poor commander
He commands 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners
His cavalry are heavier and better quality than the French
His infantry have better fire power than the French
His artillery has longer range than the French

5th French Division


General Bonaparte is classified as a Gifted commander
He is present at the battle, but does not command the division

General Serurier is classified as an Average commander
He also commands 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners

His infantry are better skirmishers than the enemy

 Move 1 - 0800 to 0900

The Sardinian cavalry are heavier and more effective than the French

5th French – Artillery, supported by cavalry, unlimber to right of road
1st Sardinian – hold orders and enemy out of artillery range

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000



Bonaparte orders his cavalry and artillery to pin the enemy left
1st Sardinian – dragoons move forward to counter French chasseurs
5th French – infantry deploy to left of artillery and cavalry

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Bonaparte orders three infantry brigades to attack the enemy right
1st Sardinian – artillery fire and hit French infantry who fail morale and are shaken
5th French – three infantry brigades advance left of road

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200


Bonaparte is taking a risk advancing his infantry without cavalry or artillery support
5th French – artillery fire on infantry but miss
1st Sardinian – infantry form line and extend to their right

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300


1st Sardinian – artillery hit French gunners who make their morale
5th French – artillery, who are now less effective, fire on dragoons but miss

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Brempt moves his artillery to engage the French right
As they start to move the French gunners manage to hit the Sardinian dragoons
They have no infantry support, roll a low dice for their morale test, fail and rout
Without cavalry or artillery the Sardinian left is very vulnerable
Serurier responds by advancing his right wing.
The cavalry move forward to charge the limbered artillery
The artillery limber to move within close range of the enemy
The supporting infantry form column of attack and move forward in support

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500


As the French cavalry charge, the Sardinian gunners test their morale to react
They pass the test and seek shelter in the nearby infantry square
5th French – gunners screened by their own cavalry
1st Sardinian – dragoons fail morale and continue to rout
4th French – start to arrive at bottom of table

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

Brempt orders his division to break contact and retreat north
Bonaparte joins Argereau and orders him to advance to the right of 5 division
1st Sardinian – infantry square and gunners retire towards Fossano
4th French – advance through the pass at bottom of table
5th French – skirmish with enemy infantry

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

Serurier is finding it difficult to command his widely spread 5th division
He concentrates on his right wing
1st Sardinian – gunners enter Fossano, infantry start to retreat
4th French – continue to advance behind their cavalry screen
5th French – artillery cause casualties to square who fail their morale and are shaken

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

Bonaparte orders Serurier to concentrate on the town and the rearguard
1st Sardinian – infantry rearguard stand firm in line
5th French – four brigades skirmish with rearguard, but will not close to volley range
4th division - still moving through the pass, but the leading brigades are advancing east of the road

 Move 11 – 1800 to 1900

The French have won the skirmish fight to the left of Fossano.
Both brigades of the Sardinian rear guard have been routed, as have their cavalry
A third brigade is fleeing through the town and is disordered
The gunners have abandoned their artillery
A night falls the Sardinians flee the field

1st Sardinian division in rout


Bonaparte has achieved a considerable victory
For the loss of 80 infantry 40 cavalry he has broken the enemy division
He is also well placed to either march on Turin or turn on the 2nd Sardinian division at Alessandria

Brempt has lost 400 infantry and 40 cavalry; he has also abandoned his guns
His division is broken and in rout, and will take at least 24 hours to rally

We used our own wargame rules to fight the battle
They can be found here