Saturday, June 29, 2013

Campaign Move 36 – Austrians reach river Minicio


Move 36 – 1200 7 September 1796

1st Austrian division enters Perschia unopposed

Wurmster orders 1st, 2nd and 4th divisions to deploy along the eastern bank of the river Minicio in preparation for an attack on Lonato

3rd Austrian division crosses the river Aidge and enters Villagranca.   They are under orders to march to Mantua and raise the siege.

Bonaparte changes his plan of campaign.

He will march south to Mantua with 3rd division, defeat the Austrian relief division and strike north to take Verona and cut the Austrian supply line.

4th and 5th divisions will be left at Lonato to hold the river Minicio.


Friday, June 21, 2013

The Second Battle of Verona



Campaign Map at start of battle

Bonaparte is attempting to retreat his army through Verona towards Perschia.
From Bonifacio it appears to Wurmster that the French are concentrating at Verona
1st Austrian division is marching south towards Verona and spots the French retreat
At 1200 Quosdanovich orders his corps to attack

1st Austrian division has 3000 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners
2nd Austrian division has 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners
3rd Austrian division has 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners
4th Austrian division has 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners

3rd French division has 2800 infantry, 400 cavalry and 300 gunners
4th French division has 3000 infantry, 200 cavalry and 300 gunners
5th French division has 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners


Table at start of battle

Verona is the town centre bottom
The river Aidge is on the right
Bonaparte is retreating through the town and on the road to the left with three divisions
1st and 2nd Austrian divisions are arriving top left
3rd and 4th Austrian divisions are arriving along the road on the right
The river can only be crossed using the bridges (top right and bottom right)


Move 1 – 1200 to 1300
Top left – 1st Austrian division is approaching to left of hill
Top right – 2nd Austrian division is approaching between hill and river
Bottom left – 3rd French division is deploying on the hill
Bottom centre – 4th French division is deployed to hold Verona and bridge
Bottom centre - 5th French division is moving through Verona
Bottom right – 4th Austrian division is marching north to cross by the undefended bridge



Move 2 – 1300 to 1400
Top left – 1st Austrian division has advanced to edge of weeds
Top right – 2nd Austrian division has reached bend in the river
Bottom left – 3rd French division is advancing across the hill
Bottom centre – 4th French division is waiting to see if Austrians will attack the bridge
Bottom centre - 5th French division is moving out of Verona
Bottom right – 4th Austrian division is marching north, 3rd has started to deploy near bridge



Move 3 – 1400 to 1500
Top left – 1st Austrian division starts to deploy behind woods
Top centre – 2nd Austrian division is approaching bend in river
Top right - 4th Austrian division has reached wooden bridge
Bottom left – 3rd French division has deployed on hill and moving towards woods
Bottom centre - 5th French division is deploying between the hill and town
Bottom centre – 4th French division has deployed between Verona and bridge
Bottom right – 3rd Austrian division artillery opens fire on French gunners



Move 4 – 1500 to 1600
Top left – 1st Austrian division cavalry receive artillery casualties and retreat shaken
Top centre – 2nd Austrian division is approaching town
Top right – 4th Austrian division has reached wooden bridge
Bottom left – 3rd French division artillery fire on, and hit, Austrian cavalry
Bottom centre - 5th French division artillery open fire on Austrians near woods
Bottom right – 4th French division artillery fire on Austrian gunners
Bottom right – 3rd Austrian division artillery fire on Verona



Move 5 – 1600 to 1700
Top left – 1st Austrian division cavalry rally behind infantry
Top centre – 2nd Austrian division start to deploy in centre
Top right – 4th Austrian division start to cross wooden bridge
Bottom left – 3rd French division hold hill
Bottom centre - 5th French division hold between hill and Verona
Bottom right – 4th French division artillery fire on Austrian gunners
Bottom right – 3rd Austrian division artillery fire on French gunners



Move 6 – 1700 to 1800
Top left – 1st Austrian division halt beside woods to await support
Top centre – 2nd Austrian cavalry charge and rout French hussars
Top right – 4th Austrian division continue to cross wooden bridge
Bottom left – 3rd French division hold hill
Bottom centre - 5th French division hold between hill and Verona
Bottom right – 4th French division cavalry rout and square shaken
Bottom right – 3rd division artillery continue to fire on Verona


Move 7 – 1800 to 1900
Top left – 1st Austrian division halt beside woods to await support
Top centre – 2nd Austrian division deploy in centre
Top right – 4th Austrian division continue to cross wooden bridge
Bottom left – 3rd French division hold hill
Bottom centre - 5th French division hold between hill and Verona
Bottom right – 4th French division rally and hold between Verona and bridge
Bottom right – 3rd division artillery continue to fire on Verona


Move 8 – 1900 to 2000
Top left – 1st Austrian division ready to advance
Top centre – 2nd Austrian division ready to advance
Top right – 4th Austrian division continue to cross wooden bridge
Bottom left – 3rd French division hold hill
Bottom centre - 5th French division hold between hill and Verona
Bottom right – 4th French division rally and hold between Verona and bridge
Bottom right – 3rd division artillery continue to fire on Verona


Summary

French casualties were 80 cavalry
Austrian casualties were 40 cavalry

Bonaparte has just managed to hold Verona until nightfall
Wurmster was unable to attack across the defended Verona bridge
It took him too long to concentrate north of Verona to attack the city

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