A report of our most recent Volley & Bayonet game, played at the beginning of the month and which involved two players. As is often the case with our Friday evening games this was a fictional engagement developed with the Volley & Bayonet Road to Glory Scenario System. Yet, while the game was fictional the armies were drawn from historical orders of battle used in the 1809 Campaign.
The two armies were still probing for each other with the French in particular somewhat scattered. The previous days fighting had been inconclusive, but Archduke Charles was determined to maintain his offensive. By late morning the white clad Austrians of Rosenburg's IV Armeekorps, reinforced by three divisions from Ferdinand's VII Armeekorps, moved forward. Reinforcing the attack, but arriving later, were two further reserve cavalry divisions. In all some 37,000 bayonets, 8,000 cavalry and 90 cannon.
Heavily outnumbered, and somewhat surprised, Messena faced the Austrian onslaught with just two divisions of IV Corps. A paltry 12,000 bayonets and 30 cannon divided across two divisions. Deployed near the small town of Kleindenfiels. Saint-Cyr's Division formed it's three brigades to the east of the town. Legrand's Division extended to the left with a Leger brigade holding Kleindenfiels itself while the division's two remaining brigades extended west, resting their flank on a marshy banked stream. Behind them, stretching south, was the critical road that French reinforcements would eventually arrive on. But how soon would they arrive was the question on Messena's mind as the fields before him filled with Austrians. Messena braced for the Austrian attack.
Above, a view of the French position around Kleindenfiels with the Austrians beyond the town. Legrand's Division is deployed in the town and to the left, while a portion of Saint-Cyr's Division is visible east of the road.
By noon the Austrian forces were finally deployed in preparation for their attack. Two divisions of VII Armeekorps formed to the west of Kleindenfiels while the two divisions of IV Armeekorps to the east. Now, three brigades attacked the town itself. Heavily outnumbered the French garrison, formed along the narrow streets and firing from hastily prepared buildings opened the battle with a series of musket volleys. Yet the Austrians continued to press forward. The streets and town square were soon filled with heavy smoke that now hung in the air. Yet the defenders were not prepared for the ferocity or determination of the Austrian attack. By 12.30pm the town, which Massena believed would be the bulwark of his defence, was in Austrian hands.
Above, a general view of the attack. The two Austrian brigades in the foreground are converged grenadiers while the green markers denote stationary French troops. Below, three Austrian brigades attack the town while further Austrian brigades stand in reserve. All Austrian regiments have attached artillery.
Below, two Austrian cavalry divisions move forward in preparation to support the advance. They are the divisions of Hessen-Hamburg and Schwarzenburg, both from Liechtenstein's Cavalry Reserve.
While Archduke Charles' attack was underway Napoleon was also busy. Realising the deteriorating situation in Messena's sector, he had been moving what troops he could to reinforce the position. First to arrive would be the two divisions of Oudinot’s II Corps. One division would deploy each side of the Kleindenfiels' road. Claparede's 2nd Division generally formed to the west while Tharreau's 1st Division to the east.
Their arrival provided Messana, who was now joined by Napoleon with some options. Specifically, Saint-Cyr was ordered to move his division further to the right. His movement was somewhat screened by the rising ground that had until recently anchored his right flank. Clearly he was making room for Oudinot’s divisions. Below, Saint-Cyr's Division moves east (right foreground), while Tharreau's 1st Division deploys (left foreground).
Unlike Saint-Cyr Legrand's Division was in a precarious position. To their front 4,000 Austrian converged grenadiers had formed up in preparation for their own attack. With casualties mounting, and unwilling to face the grenadiers, a portion of the division was ordered to retire. However while some brigades retired the Baden Neuenstein Brigade surged forward - determined to recapture Kleindenfiels. This they promptly did, unceremoniously ejecting some 2,500 Austrians that had only recently occupied the town. Their reoccupation of Kleindenfiels was however short lived. By 1.30pm the Baden Brigade was itself ejected and forced back.
Below, the second Austrian attack on Kleindenfiels, on this occasion one of the regiments from Rohan's Infantry Division (right foreground) failed it's morale test, denoted by the yellow marker.
It will be remembered that the area to the west of Kleindenfiels was bordered by a marshy banked stream. Faced with Claparede's fully deployed 2nd Division, now reinforced by 48 cannon, Archduke Charles was reluctant to force the position - despite the presence of Prochaszka's division of converged grenadiers. As the grenadiers stood uncommitted the battle instead the fighting shifted to the areas east of Kleindenfiels.
Below, the situation on the French left viewed from the French position.
To counter the surprise expansion of the French right by Saint-Cyr's Division, Archduke Charles expanded his own left flank. It will be remembered that this sector was held by the Austrian IV Armeekorps under Rosenburg. Rosenburg tasked Bartenstien's Division with the movement. In support was Hessen-Homberg's Cavalry Division, itself part of the Cavalry Reserve under Liechtenstein. Charles was confident that seizing the high ground on the right would compromise the French realignment. Further, with cavalry support a limited counterattack may create opportunities to even overwhelm the French right. However, the terrain was restricted by a number of woods and was not ideal cavalry country.
The Austrian infantry division under Bartenstien's secured the high ground and bought the French under Saint-Cyr under fire. Simultaneously, Hessen-Homberg's cavalry division, a mix of dragoons and cuirassiers, began to extend the position further. An hour after securing the high ground a portion of the extreme Austrian left surged forward. Yet it was now that disaster struck, as the Austrian attacks faltered both Infantry Regiment 2 and Raigencourt's dragoons were thrown back in disorder.
Above and below, the situation on the French right shortly before the Austrian attack. Above, Saint-Cyr's Division is clearly visible in the right foreground. Below, the Saxon infantry advance (mounted on linear bases in 1809) with Grouchy's 1st Dragoon Division to their left.
This unexpected Austrian repulse provided Napoleon with a critical opportunity. French bayonets had been steadily growing throughout the afternoon. The 2nd Saxon Division under von Polenz was now fully deployed as was Grouchy's 1st Dragoon Division. More recently the last two divisions of IV Corps, Molitor's 3rd Division and Lasalle's Light Cavalry Division, had finally deployed. With the cavalry massed in the centre able to exploit any success Napoleon ordered his right flank forward.
First were the veterans of Saint-Cyr who smashed into the extreme Austrian left, itself disorganised from the failed Austrian attack. Saint-Cyr's attack was further reinforced by two brigades from Claparede's 2nd Division, itself from Oudinot's II Corps. These attacked in echelon from right to left. Finally, one of Grouchy's dragoon brigades, comprising the 7th Dragoons and the Italian Dragoons surged forward.
Above, a view from the French lines with the Saxon infantry now forming a second line. Just visible near the high ground is one dragoon brigade, while in the right foreground the second acts as a reserve. Below, a more general view, again from the French lines.
Finally below a view from the Austrian perspective at this critical juncture. Visible in the left foreground are light cavalry of Radetsky's Light Division, itself part of VII Armeekorps. Slightly forward is Schwarzenberg's Cavalry Division, part of Liechtenstein's Cavalry Reserve.
Subjected to this ferocious attack the Austrians stood for a time and then broke down the line as the French units struck home. In less than an hour the Austrian left flank collapsed, a mass of white retiring to the north. The only Austrian respite was to be found against the French dragoons where, much to Grouchy's frustration, the French dragoons were thrown back.
Archduke Charles now desperately tried to cover the gap ordering forward Radetsky's light cavalry and his second Reserve Cavalry Division, that of Schwarzenburg. Together they formed a screen while Austrian reserves were repositioned and retreating regiments reformed.
Napoleon, now sensing victory in his grasp, ordered forward the cavalry of the centre. Grouchy, desperate to gain glory committed his second brigade, the 30th Dragoons, some 750 strong. However pride of place would be the cavalry of von Polenz 2nd Saxon Division. Cavalry Brigade Felitzch comprised squadrons from both the Garde Cuirassiers and Zastrow Cuirassiers, large men on fine mounts they thundered across the open ground. With these fine cavalry victory was all but secured.
Above, the general situation showing the Austrian cavalry screen while below the charge of the Saxon cavalry supported by French dragoons.
Yet success for the Saxon and French cavalry was far from certain. Grouchy's dragoons hesitated in their charge and the Austrian dragoons counter charged. The French dragoons broke in rout and the Saxon's were forced to give ground by the narrowest of margins. A most surprising result!
While the afternoon was far from over, the commanders paused. Archduke Charles had failed to dislodge the French defenders despite his early numeric numbers. Indeed, he had been unceremoniously forced back. Yet, Napoleon had lost too many cavalry in fruitless charges. Further, the Austrian line was now reforming and with the terrain to his front restricted forcing the position by direct assault was far from attractive. Both commanders therefore called a halt to their attacks, at least until tomorrow...
The game was played on a table that measured just 4' x 3' and with both armies comprising some 3,000 points of troops. However, the game was far from balanced, at least initially. As regular reader will know we frequently use the "Road to Glory Scenario System" to define the situation. In this system players randomly draw two cards before selecting one. These cards determine those forces on table as well as when reinforcements will arrive. For this engagement the Austrian commander had selected, from two possible options, "Build-up Echelon Right - Card #10". In contrast the French commander had selected "Advance Guard Echelon Centre - Card #5". These cards provided a very unbalanced game initially with the Austrians clearly having the burden of attack, though with French reinforcements arriving progressively the Austrian advantage was soon challenged. A most enjoyable game with resulted.
As to the miniatures, they are all from Heroics & Ros 6mm ranges and are from my own collection.
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