Saturday, February 23, 2013

Campaign Move 21 - Wurmsters Second Attempt


Move 21 – 0800 2 September 1796

It has taken Wurmster all of August to prepare his second attempt to relieve Mantua
He will march south in two columns east of Lake Garda
Wurmster will advance from Bassano to Montebello and take Verona with 3rd and 4th divisions.
Davidovich will advance from Roverto to Rivoli with 1st and 2nd divisions
The two columns will join forces at Verona

Bonaparte has replaced two of his division commanders. 
Massena still commands 3rd division at Rivoli
Argereau still commands 4th division at Verona
Serurier has taken command of 5th division at Lonato
Vaubois has taken command of 6th division laying siege to Mantua

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Campaign Move 20 – Battles of Verona and Montebello

Move 20- 1600 to 2000 27 July 1796

3rd French division hold Verona, Davidovisch admits defeat and retreats north

4th French division take Montebello and Szoboszio retreats north

5th French division moves south to join Bonaparte south of Lake Garda

1st Austrian division continues to retreat north.

2nd Austrian division halts at Rivoli to cover the Austrian retreat

Wurmster has been forced to abandon his first attempt to raise the siege of Mantua and order his army to retire north.

Bonaparte has achieved a notable victory.

He has defeated each of the Austrian divisions in turn and also maintained the siege on Mantua

Saturday, February 9, 2013

The Battle of Verona


Campaign Map at start of battle

Whilst Argereau is attacking Szoboszio at Montebello, 20 miles to the west Davidovisch is about to attack Massena at Verona.

Verona not only commands the road south to Mantua, it also connects the widely spread French divisions south of Lake Garda.    Its loss would be a significant blow to Bonaparte.

Table at start of battle
Verona is the large town centre bottom
The river Aidge is on the right
Massena’s division is deployed either side of town
Davidovisch’s division is on road top left

Massena’s division in and either side of Verona
 
General Massena is an Average commander
He commands 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners
His infantry are better skirmishers than the Austrian
His artillery is less effective than the enemy

Davidovisch leads his division to attack Verona
General Davidovisch is a Poor commander
He also commands 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners
His infantry are poor skirmishers but have effective volley fire
His artillery are all 9 pounders against the French 6 pounders


Move 1 – 0800 to 0900
Austrians move along the mountain road towards Verona
Cavalry form line to protect the column


Move 2 – 0900 to 1000
Austrian column swing to their right to deploy out of artillery range
French do not react, but await developments
Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Austrians continue to march towards enemy right flank
They want to avoid the infantry and artillery on the French left


Move 4 – 1100 to 1200
Austrian infantry and artillery start to deploy
French continue to await development
Move 5 – 1200 to 1300
Austrian infantry and artillery deploy facing Verona
Austrian cavalry move from right flank to reserve

 Move 6 – 1300 to 1400 

Austrian infantry and artillery now deployed facing Verona
It is now clear that they intend to attack the French right flank.
French left flank advance to engage the enemy
Move 6 – 1300 to 1400
Austrian infantry and artillery now deployed facing Verona
It is now clear that they intend to attack the French right flank.
French left flank advance to engage the enemy
Move 7 – 1400 to 1500
Austrian infantry start to advance towards the French right flank
Austrian artillery redeploy to face approaching French infantry, cavalry and artillery
Austrian infantry form square to protect gunners, cavalry remain in reserve but form line
French artillery unlimber and garrison deploys in front of Verona
Move 8 – 1500 to 1600
Austrian cavalry moves to left flank to support infantry advance
Only one infantry square is left to protect the gunners and hold the right flan


Move 9 – 1600 to 1700
French artillery cause casualties to enemy gunners, who lose their morale check and are shaken
French dragoons charge gunners, who fail reaction check to evade to square and are routed
Infantry square test morale because of rout and also fail and become shaken


Move 10 – 1700 to 1800
Austrian dragoons charge French cavalry who lose melee and retire shaken
Austrian infantry fail morale test to rally and rout instead

Summary
Davidovisch accepts that his attack has failed and orders a general retreat.

The French have won an easy victory, with no casualties at all
The Austrians have lost 240 gunners, plus one infantry brigade in rout

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