Campaign Move 36 – Austrians reach river Minicio

Move 36 – 1200 7 September 1796

1^st Austrian division enters Perschia unopposed

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

3^rd 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 3^rd division, defeat the Austrian relief division and strike north to take Verona and cut the Austrian supply line.

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

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

1^st Austrian division is marching south towards Verona and spots the French retreat

At 1200 Quosdanovich orders his corps to attack

1^st Austrian division has 3000 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners

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

3^rd Austrian division has 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners

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

3^rd French division has 2800 infantry, 400 cavalry and 300 gunners

4^th French division has 3000 infantry, 200 cavalry and 300 gunners

5^th 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

1^st and 2^nd Austrian divisions are arriving top left

3^rd and 4^th 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 – 1^st Austrian division is approaching to left of hill

Top right – 2^nd Austrian division is approaching between hill and river

Bottom left – 3^rd French division is deploying on the hill

Bottom centre – 4^th French division is deployed to hold Verona and bridge

Bottom centre - 5th French division is moving through Verona

Bottom right – 4^th Austrian division is marching north to cross by the undefended bridge

Move 2 – 1300 to 1400

Top left – 1^st Austrian division has advanced to edge of weeds

Top right – 2^nd Austrian division has reached bend in the river

Bottom left – 3^rd French division is advancing across the hill

Bottom centre – 4^th French division is waiting to see if Austrians will attack the bridge

Bottom centre - 5th French division is moving out of Verona

Bottom right – 4^th Austrian division is marching north, 3^rd has started to deploy near bridge

Move 3 – 1400 to 1500

Top left – 1^st Austrian division starts to deploy behind woods

Top centre – 2^nd Austrian division is approaching bend in river

Top right - 4^th Austrian division has reached wooden bridge

Bottom left – 3^rd French division has deployed on hill and moving towards woods

Bottom centre - 5th French division is deploying between the hill and town

Bottom centre – 4^th French division has deployed between Verona and bridge

Bottom right – 3^rd Austrian division artillery opens fire on French gunners

Move 4 – 1500 to 1600

Top left – 1^st Austrian division cavalry receive artillery casualties and retreat shaken

Top centre – 2^nd Austrian division is approaching town

Top right – 4^th Austrian division has reached wooden bridge

Bottom left – 3^rd French division artillery fire on, and hit, Austrian cavalry

Bottom centre - 5th French division artillery open fire on Austrians near woods

Bottom right – 4^th French division artillery fire on Austrian gunners

Bottom right – 3^rd Austrian division artillery fire on Verona

Move 5 – 1600 to 1700

Top left – 1^st Austrian division cavalry rally behind infantry

Top centre – 2^nd Austrian division start to deploy in centre

Top right – 4^th Austrian division start to cross wooden bridge

Bottom left – 3^rd French division hold hill

Bottom centre - 5th French division hold between hill and Verona

Bottom right – 4^th French division artillery fire on Austrian gunners

Bottom right – 3^rd Austrian division artillery fire on French gunners

Move 6 – 1700 to 1800

Top left – 1^st Austrian division halt beside woods to await support

Top centre – 2^nd Austrian cavalry charge and rout French hussars

Top right – 4^th Austrian division continue to cross wooden bridge

Bottom left – 3^rd French division hold hill

Bottom centre - 5th French division hold between hill and Verona

Bottom right – 4^th French division cavalry rout and square shaken

Bottom right – 3^rd division artillery continue to fire on Verona

Move 7 – 1800 to 1900

Top left – 1^st Austrian division halt beside woods to await support

Top centre – 2^nd Austrian division deploy in centre

Top right – 4^th Austrian division continue to cross wooden bridge

Bottom left – 3^rd French division hold hill

Bottom centre - 5th French division hold between hill and Verona

Bottom right – 4^th French division rally and hold between Verona and bridge

Bottom right – 3^rd division artillery continue to fire on Verona

Move 8 – 1900 to 2000

Top left – 1^st Austrian division ready to advance

Top centre – 2^nd Austrian division ready to advance

Top right – 4^th Austrian division continue to cross wooden bridge

Bottom left – 3^rd French division hold hill

Bottom centre - 5th French division hold between hill and Verona

Bottom right – 4^th French division rally and hold between Verona and bridge

Bottom right – 3^rd 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

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/