Campaign Move 41 – Bonaparte orders a general retreat

Move 40 – 2000 8 September 1796

By the time Bonaparte arrives at Lonato 5^th division are already in rout, and 4^th division retreating to cover them.   Wurmster has already entered Lonato

Bonaparte orders both divisions to continue their retreat to Brescia

He sends orders to 3^rd and 6^th divisions to abandon the siege of Mantua and retreat to Brescia

As night falls 3^rd Austrian division enter Mantua and raise the siege

Wurmster has achieved a total victory and achieved all of his campaign objectives

The Battle of Lonato

Campaign Map at start of battle

Wurmster has ordered his three Austrian divisions to cross the river Minicio and attack Lonato.  

The town is held by two French divisions.  Bonaparte has taken the 3^rd division south to Mantua to maintain the siege and defeat the Austrian relief column.

1^st Austrian division has 2800 infantry, 360 cavalry and 400 gunners

2^nd Austrian division has 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners

4^th Austrian division has 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners

4^th French division has 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners

5^th French division has 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners

Table at start of battle

Lonato is the town top left

Perschia is the town top right

The river the Minicio

The two French divisions are on the left

The three Austrian divisions are on the right

All divisions are on the table at the start of the game

The river can only be crossed using the bridges (top right and bottom right)

Move 1 – 0800 to  0900

The French (left) are widely spread to cover the length of the river Minico

Two Austrian divisions deploy artillery to prepare to storm the bridges

The third Austrian division moves across the river to attack the hill

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

The Austrian guns have a longer range than the French

French gunners manhandle their guns forward into range of the Austrians

1^st Austrian division have crossed the river and bring forward their artillery and cavalry

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

French and Austrian artillery exchange fire

1^st division start to deploy south of the river

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Artillery fire is completely ineffective, no casualties on either side

Austrians unwilling to risk an attack over the two bridges until enemy is shaken

1^st division manhandle guns towards hill and into range of the enemy

Counter battery fire

In our rules you require a total of 11 using 2D6 to achieve a hit on enemy artillery

Normally it is a waste of time, unless there is no other target available

But the Austrians need to subdue the enemy artillery before they attack

A double six caused 10% casualties and forced a morale test

The French gunners passed the test, but will be less effective firing

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

The French continue to hold the line

Austrian artillery prove ineffective, except on their left where they hit enemy gunners

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Austrian artillery has repositioned south of the bridge

Cavalry charge enemy gunners and force them to seek shelter from nearby square

1^st Austrian division move forward to attack the hill

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

Despite the lack of success of the Austrian artillery Wurmster orders a general attack as time is running out.   In the centre cavalry lead the advance over the bridge    At the bottom 1^st division approach the hill and their cavalry pin the infantry square

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

French dragoons charge the Austrian cavalry crossing the bridge in the centre.  

The French win the melee, leaving the advancing columns without cavalry support

French cavalry supporting the hill are forced to withdraw when they receive artillery casualties

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

4^th Austrian division (top) start to cross the bridge

2^nd Austrian division (centre) disrupted as cavalry rout back over bridge

1^st Austrian division (bottom) climb hill and attack square

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

4^th Austrian division (top) cavalry charge and rout gunners and supporting infantry

2^nd Austrian division (centre) recover and advance over the bridge

1^st Austrian division (bottom) rout infantry and gunners from hill

Summary

French casualties were 400 infantry, 40 cavalry and 80 gunners

Austrian casualties were 240 infantry and 40 cavalry

In addition 4 French brigades were in rout and all their artillery abandoned

Once the Austrians had crossed the river in strength it was all over for the French

In addition their right flank was broken and one quarter of their infantry in rout

The loss of Lonato would result in Bonaparte ordering a general retreat.

Wurmster had broken the siege of Mantua and achieved his campaign objective

We used our own wargame rules to fight the battle

They can be found here

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/