Campaign Eckmuhl 1809

[Marshal Lannes]

http://
Rosenberg Vs Davout. 2.15pm.

Rosenberg has managed to steady his lines. He now has a defensive advantage in terrain terms and the extra re-inforcements of infantry and cavalry, and four gun batteries, are making a difference in raising the overall morale of the Austrian IV Corps. Rosenberg has already consulted with Kienmayer who, both have decided to hold their current strong position. Kienmayer has already ordered D’ aspre’s cavalry regiments to secure the right flank , by holding the small hillock until infantry and guns can move up and support and obviously establish a strong defensive position. Davout has noticed the importance of this high ground and has ordered Montbrun to shift the Austrian cavalry from this height with his 5 cavalry regiments, so that French infantry can move up and position there. Unfortunately for Montbrun, the Austrian cavalry are better in defending than assaulting and are for the most part holding and matching losses with the French . The advantage of heavy cavalry for the French, in the form of 2 Cuirassier Regiments has been negated to some degree by the less tired Austrian cavalry on higher ground.

To add to the French cavalry’s discomfort; the fresh Austrian grenadier regiments are moving forward and opening up a horrendous cloud of ball into both men and horses. It is unlikely that the French horsemen will hold long as the heights are now full of Austrian infantry with support guns.

Davout is again, using the same tactic of attacking on a wide front to pressure the Austrian line to break, at least in one point , but it is unclear at the moment, as to who will break first. A French battalion has already fled, while only a couple of Austrian skirmishers are routed.
All the Austrian infantry have been resupplied and re-ordered and Rosenberg is confident of not being pushed back to Llanquaid.

On the French side, Davout is stubbornly throwing his lines of infantry against the Austrian left, but the sudden appearance of a small ravine is stalling an attempt to mellee the Austrian infantry, and of course , some French regiments are still moving up and a gun battery needs to be positioned. At the moment, it is difficult to see , who has the advantage in loss terms , but Rosenberg has the ability to hold his position...hopefully.
I would just like to point out that Kienmayer’s 2nd Reserve Corps is more equivalent to a division than the average Austrian Corps. So in real terms, Rosenberg has been relieved by a large cavary division and infantry brigade.


Battle for Abensberg. 2.15pm.

The Austrian infantry of the 53rd Regiment are still trying to take Rappersdorf. their initial attempt has failed with 2 battalions routing, having sustained heavy musketry fire. Louis has decided to provide extra support by moving Mayer's 3rd regiment forward to help. Siebein's Bavarians are proving difficult to dislodge. However the furthest right-hand battalion did break for a while because of heavy Austrian artillery fire. The Bavarians in the village may prove difficult to dislodge, so Louis, showing impatience, has moved forward a strong regiment of hussars, ( B), to try and break Siebein's resolve.
The central Austrian assault is progressing well ,but has taken heavy loss from enemy batteries. Outzenbach was cleared easily of skirmishers and a French battalion, ( A ), from Friamt's command has had to move forward and support the Bavarians who were in danger of being flanked.
Lefevre's defensive position seems for the moment to be panning out. The austrians in the forest are still pushing forward slowly and yet , are to engage the men of Friant's Division.
Hiller'smen are trying to establish a line on the left and are for the moment, letting Louis make the initial impact.

 

[Marshal Lannes]

Rosenberg vs Davout 3.00pm.
Davout seems to be holding back a lot of infantry. His desparate attempt to take the hillock with cavalry has failed and the Austrians have already unlimbered 2 batteries there to make taking it an almost impossible task. This caution on Davout’s part is uncharacteristic , even with the added numerical superiority of the Austrians with the arrival of Kienmayer’s men. It does not trouble Rosenberg a great deal, as his men seem to be holding fast. The entire line between the French and Austrian infantry is an endless cascade of musketry fire, with no side showing sign of baulking. However , one battalion of disordered Frenchmen did attempt to melee on the extreme left of the woods against the 53rd regiment, but were pushed back with 63 loss for only 5 Austrian dead.
The Austrian Grenadier regiments have added their weight to pushing back the French cavalry with close quarter fire. Montbrun will have to assume the role of a flanking guard for the moment.
Obviously, for Davout, the situation has become unbalanced. Although he can rely on the nominally superior firepower of his lines, the Austrian position has solidified to such an extent that a rash push forward may cost more casualties than the position demands. What Rosenberg does not know, is that devout has received intelligence from Ratisbon, of the approach of Austrian infantry columns to the North-east, on the other side of the Danube river, the enemy being of at least corps strength. They are the initial forces of the Austrian army of Bohemia. There is nothing to cover Ratisbon, except, 3 battalions of Morand’s 1st Infantry Division and 5 companies of engineers. Davout is also unaware, that said Corps is only about 6 hours march away from Ratisbon , wheras he is at least 8 hours away. He has also been requested by Berthier to draw closer to the Saal – Abensberg line to threaten Hohenzollern’s II Corps from the rear. As darkness will occur in 3 hours time- his positionbefore Rosenberg is becoming extraneous. If the Austrians start to break within the hour; he could try and smash Rosenberg, but now has to weigh the arrival of the Austrian army of Bohemia into the equation and , of course, the perilous situation at Abensberg. Without the master, Napoleon , at hand; some tactical flair will have to be displayed by him..........Rosenberg, will breathe a sigh of relief at the coming of darkness and the ability to rest his over-fatigued IV Corps.

Battle for Abensberg 3.00pm.

Charge of the Erzeherzog Ferdinand Hussars. ( A ), Att - 15 Def - 386.
Att - 3 Def - 51
2/7 Bavarian Battalion, ( Siebein ), cut down to the last man.

Mayer’s 3rd Austrian line regiment has charged ferociously into the cobbledstreets of Rappersdorf. One battalion of Bavarians has fled straight into the great marsh, while the one stationed in the open on the right has been cut to pieces by Austrian cavalry; leaving but, one battalion of siebein,s command to contest the remaining few houses in Bavarian control. The Austrian hussars have blown horses ans so were unable to continue their charge up against the Bavarian gun batteries and have had to deal with a spirited assault by some companies of Bavarian cavalry, who are outnumbered by 5 to one. Lefevre has already called upon the stronger regiments of Preysing to deal with this Austrian violation of the line and perhaps stop Mayer from debouching from Rappersdorf against the Bavarian gun line.
The Austrian guns have started to unlimber near oetzenbach and are firing relentlessly at friant’s men in the trees, who are already starting to become engaged with forward elements of Hiller’s Corps infantry. Louis has decided to move quickly , to make maximum use of the few hours of daylight left. The Bavarians northeast of Oetzenbach are stubbornly holding their ground, but have been meleed twice by the Austrians and lost 3 guns, who have been visiting bloody execution on the Austrians with canister, felling 77 men in one barrage alone.
Three hours of daylight remain and the ArchDuke Charles is becoming more acutely aware that, another day of battle will have to be endured to take Abensberg, if the situation does not resolve itself quickly. He has already sent an order to Liechtenstein’s !st Reserve Corps to move due east of Pfeffenhausen , so as to protect the main road from mossburg to Abensberg from any French moves on his rear. The absence of Napoleon is welcome, but such absence can only mean, that he will soon arrive and that will mean the end of tactical advantage of surprise and positioning. Hopefully Hohenzollern’s III Corps will renew their assault and take Abensberg before nightfall, so cutting off Davout and Ratisbon from support.

 

[Marshal Lannes]

Rosenberg vs Davout. 5.00pm.
Game turn 202. Wow- doesn't time fly when you're having fun...!
From 4.00pm to 5.00pm, the conditions were, Heavy Rain / Mud. This is the first time, i have experienced this in a Napoleonic game and it was a bit of a surprise. The previous two hours were light rain. The difference is that under heavy rain, you cannot fire any muskets, only artillery. For a defender, it is probably bad news as you do not get to opportunity fire against melee assaults. If your opponent has greater numbers, especially of good quality infantry; then the only thing that will save you is being on higher ground with good artillery support. So, you should watch out for light rain conditions and make sure to check the weather forecast conditions in the main task-bar.

As Davout has failed to break the Austrian line, and for the operational situation , mentioned earlier, he has used the heavy rain conditions to begin pulling back in good order. The engagement at Hausen/Grub has come to a conclusion.

The Austrian Army of Bohemia is edging closer to Ratisbon. Pajol’s detached cavalry from Davout’s force could reach Abensberg in under 3 hours. Davout has won the battle, while Rosenberg can only congratulate himself from turning a potential disaster into just a near humiliating defeat.....

Abensberg. 5.00pm.
Louis is still throwing his infantry at the Bavarian lines. Mayer’s 3rd Austrian line regiment has cleared Rappersdorf , but has been unable to move forward due to the severe pounding from the Bavarian batteries on the rise before them. Added to the fact that preysing’s cavalry have made a fast intercession against the Ferdinand Hussars, who have taken some loss, and being outnumbered and within minimum range artillery fire, have quickly withdrawn. The attempts by the Austrian infantry against the sector marked, ( A ) have met with a spirited defence from the 2 bavarian battalions,a gun battery and one of Friant’s battalions. They have taken moderate loss and the Bavarian battery has lost 3 guns, but have put up an almost miraculous defence under continuous melee assaults. As with Rosenberg vs Davout, the heavy rain has stopped the Bavarian defensive fire, but not their stubborn defence. Louis has wisely moved more batteries up to engage near Outzenbach to start withering the resolve of Friant’s men, and more importantly, to preveny ant reinforcement of the sector (A). The clouds have lightened and the rain has stopped, so a renewed assault will get under way soon. It is dusk and there is only one hour of daylight left.

Hiller’s VI Corps , although not as heavily engaged is finding the defence of the enemy to be strong and the terrain in the woods obviously aids the defence of the enemy.

Archduke Charles is losing a steady amount of men, but time will prove the real killer now. Less than 20 miles away, a carriage trundles quickly upon the Bavarian stone. It’s occupant peers out to watch the grey clouds slowly dissipate. He smiles and then continues poring over a selection of maps. Good news for the morrow; - “the master of war” is coming and the weather is greeting him...........

 

[Marshal Lannes]

Battle for Abensberg. 6.00pm. Game Turn 206. Northern Sector.

It is 6.00pm. Visibility is down to 1 hex(100) metres. The situation at Abensberg has almost come to a resolution. Lefevre can breathe easier. His defensive position has weathered the Austrian storm. Wrede's Bavarians have proven themselves to be able to match the Austrian lines. The bavarian guns have consistently ripped apart the cohesion of Austrian infantry attacks. Again and again, Louis threw his infantry against the central defensive position , (A) with many melee assaults and only managed to destroy 3 guns of 6 of the defender's battery. This area constantly frustrated melee assaults and was the main bulwark against the Austrian advance. It's job was done well. Hiller's VI Corps infantry attacks were steady , but having the disadvantage of a disordered state; were not able to push back the lead infantry elements of Friant's Frenchmen. that said the late arrival and positioning of Austrian guns i9in and around Oetzenbach have caused some moderate damage too some of Friant's batallions.in the woods. To the left, the rest of Hiller's infantry have achieved nothing of import against deroi's 3rd Bavarian Division. Although Louis is massing some cavalry for an assault; it is now too late for a decisive breakage of Lefevre's lines. The Austrians have suffered about 15% more loss than Lefevre and probably wasted an opportunity by slow positioning and overconfidence. Lefevre has survived the day and still has a very strong French infantry division, ready for any fresh Austrian assault in this area.

Further to the North- the eastern defence of Abensberg has continued against Hohenzollern's III Corps. An all out assault on Gudin was initiated at half past four and seemed to stall with the Austrians suffering disproportionately more casualties from musketry fire. The initial melee assaults went against the Austrians, but were relentlessly continued, with austrian officers on horseback riding frantically up and down their lines, desparately exhorting the austrian infantry to push forward. this had it's effect with some of Gudin's battalions being pushed back. In the centre ; a strong Austrian melee assault destroyed the 2 gun batteries stationed on a slight rise and everything was pointing to a collapse of Gudin's defensive line. That is until; the scene of one far flank Austrian battalion who had fought to exhaustion, turning and running for the woods in the rear; this was followed by others who continued the large rout in sympathy with their fleeing commrades. Hohenzollern was looking at a rolling up of Gudin's Frenchmen, turned away for a few minutes , and then could see nothing but fleeing Austrians. Gudin has held his line but was literally 15 minutes from disaster; the Austrians near the marshare numerous, but with nightfall, will be handicapped with disorder and Prinz Ludwig's Bavarians are well positioned to support. Hohenzollern has also received news from scouts that French cavalry regiments are approaching from the North-east. Could this be an attempt by davout to flank him. It is worrying anyhow , as he has no cavalry support and so quickly scribbles a dispatch asking the Archduke to rectify this. Berthier can also breathe a sigh of relief, especially as a dozen riders from Napoleon's Imperial Guard escort have arrived at the Mayoral office in Abensberg, announcing the arrival of Napoleon at dawn of the new day. New orders have also been given.

Archduke Charles and the Austrian army are about to lose the initiative , as now, Napoleon will decide the momentum and course of the 1809 Campaign. Eeeeek !

Losses at 6.00pm, 19th April are as follows :
French 19,975 INF. 4,407 CAV 51 GUNS.
Austrian 28,086 INF 2270 CAV 63 GUNS.

Losses should have been about equal , if not for Rosenberg's poor showing and of course , the strong and unexpected resilience of Lefevre's men. Davout is the obvious hero and Napoleon has been left with a reasonable chance for success; probably, better than the historical situation.............

Southern Sector.

At the start , I said, I was going to post a bit , and so I have. I am stopping the semi- AAr at this point for 2 reasons.
1. I am getting jaded with it and it takes a lot of play time to do.
2. I downloaded a picture of an ex-girlfriend from facebook on Saturday which has meant that my evenings are taken up with listening to romantic love songs and emotionally beating myself up and wallowing in Nostalgia.
" Ten years have gone by, since I looked in her eyes but the memory lingeeeeeers. "
" I go back in my mind , to the very first time, I felt the touch of her fingeeeeers ! "
See ! frickin Bobby Goldsboro song - I can't stop singing or humming it " :bounce: :nuts:

DOH !


If you want to see what happens next; then you will have to buy the game and play it yourself. the campaign lasts for 534 turns and there are hundreds of different scenarios to choose from.
I would like to point out that because of screenshot space constraint, I have used a more contiguous spacing between battalions, which although not incorrect, can lead to greater routing occurence and if you were playing against a human opponent, should be used more conservatively , especially as in this particular Campaign, there is a lot of ground to cover......

FINIS !

 

[lecrop]

Congratulations, I liked a lot, and it was very entertaining. I read you next time :ciao:.

 

[Marshal Lannes]

Thanks ! It is always a problem doing AAR's. A lot of people start off with a lot of enthusiasm and then tail off or make it too short. Maybe, I should stick to small battles......like Borodino........:laugh:

 

[Marshal Lannes]

 

[Marshal Lannes]

 

[Marshal Lannes]

Feld Marschall Kollowrat's lead 3rd division has stormed into the northern suburbs of Ratisbon, meeting limited French resistance. That said , the 2nd Company of Guard sappers are stubbornly holding out against greater numbers in an old chateau. The 61st Line Regiment is pinned in place, covering the two southern gateways. Already Vecsays battery of six 3 pounder guns are shelling the outer walls with no French response. Tthe situation is not good for the French; the nearest relief force is Morand's !st division which is approaching Abbach. They cannot arrive before 10pm at night. Rosenberg is in two minds as to whether follow Morand to Abbach or St. hilaire to the Saal defile.

Charles has withdrawn to a more defensive position and is pleased with the good progress of Liechtenstein's 1st Corps which is only about 5 hours march away from the southern limit of the Bavarian position. Napoleon seems to be totally unaware of this and it may cost him. Archduke Charles is hoping that the French will only consolidate for the rest of the day, allowing the still numerically superior Austrian force to cut at least one of Davout's divsions off from the Bavarian host. Both sides are wary, and of course, Napoleon is a slippery fish to deal with.......the rain still falls but may ease off.............................the situation is inderterminate :crosseye:

 

[Marshal Lannes]

 

[Marshal Lannes]

Prince Liechtenstein's Corps was supposed to move and hit the Bavarians south of Abensberg but the rapid movement of Oudinot barring the rain and mud has forced their march to Mainburg, which is quite a good defensive position. Liechtenstein has orders to block and hold the main road, unless superior force is ranged against him, in which case , a fighting withdrawal is acceptable. Although Oudinot has an advantage in numbers, his troops are hastily formed recruits who are tired from marching and may find the more disciplined firepower and morale of the Austrians to be difficult to overcome. That said; Massena's IV Corps elements are just entering the battlefield map and will be available by first light about 6 kilometres to the southwest. There is no movement for both sides until dawn. The last day has been full of rain and mud and overall, the French are gaining the advantage as their fresh forces arrive. The advantage for the Austrians has denuded and the only good news for Charles is that Ratisbon is taken and Kollowrat is already streaming southwards to the Saal defile.......... I think this is a very interesting campaign game simply because of the operational possibility and the level of problems that have to be covered.......................definitely , the weather has been a pain and in human vs human play, could have proven decisive..............:crosseye:

 

[Marshal Lannes]

 

[Marshal Lannes]

 

[Marshal Lannes]

 

[Marshal Lannes]

 

[Marshal Lannes]

 

[Marshal Lannes]

 

[Marshal Lannes]

 

[Marshal Lannes]

 

[Marshal Lannes]