The Battle of Alessandria

Campaign Map at start of battle

Bonaparte has defeated the Sardinian’s and forced them to retreat towards Turin, where they will have to regroup.

He now turns on the Austrians who have just arrived at Alessandria.  

Leaving 5^th division to pin the Sardinian’s he orders 4^th and 6^th divisions to attack Alessandria

Table at start of battle

Alessandria is the town at the top centre

The centre road leads to Monferrato

The left hand road leads to Turin

2^nd Austrian division are deployed in front of Alessandria

3^rd Austrian division will arrive behind Alessandria

6^th French division are deployed south of Alessandria

4^th Austrian division will arrive centre left

6^th French Division

General Bonaparte is classified as a Gifted commander

He commands 6400 infantry, 800 cavalry and 800 gunners

Both French divisional commanders are classified as Average

French infantry are better at skirmish

2^nd Austrian Division in front of Alessandria

All Austrian generals are classified as Poor

General Beaulieu commands 6400 infantry, 800 cavalry and 800 gunners

Austrian cavalry are better trained than the French

Austrian guns are heavier and have longer range than the French

 Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

6^th French approach town and move to left of the road

4^th French arrive left behind their cavalry screen

2^nd Austrian are on Hold orders in front of Alessandria

3^rd Austrian arrive and start to extend right flank

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

6^th French advance within range of Austrian gunners and suffer first casualties

4^th French deploy and unlimber their artillery

2^nd Austrian changed to Engage orders, advance their left flank

3^rd Austrian deploy opposite 4^th French

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

French dragoons (left) charge Austrian light cavalry

Dragoons roll 10 with 2D6 and rout light cavalry into nearby infantry square

Nearby Austrian gunners are shaken by the rout.

This reserve halts the deployment of 3rd Austrian division.

As a result the table has to be extended north to cover the new battleground

2^nd Austrian (right) have moved forward on Engage orders and are now isolated.

One French demi brigade (left) has routed due to artillery casualties and shaken a second 

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Bonaparte is quick to take advantage of the isolated Austrian left

6^th division swing to their right and attack 2^nd Austrian division

The French cavalry charge and rout the gunners

The disordered cavalry then charge the nearby shaken infantry and rout them also

3^rd Austrian division (behind Alessandria) quickly halt and prepare to retreat 

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

Beaulieu acknowledges defeat and orders his army to abandon Alessandria and retreat north.

There is sufficient distance from the French for the larger body around the town to escape

However the two infantry brigades near the farm are surrounded and must surrender

A second complete victory for Bonaparte

For the loss of 200 infantry and 200 cavalry he has defeated the Austrian army

Beaulieu has lost 2,000 infantry (including 1,200 who surrendered)

We used our own wargame rules to fight the battle

They can be found here

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/