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

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/