My latest project, here is about my 5th draft. Now maturing the balance. Taking a few liberties with the forces present for play purposes, but trying to keep the feeling of the battle there.
Battle of Landshut (second)
21 April 1809
At Landshut the Isar river was spanned by two bridges with a small island in the center.
Hiller had positioned cavalry outposts to the north of the town. His main force was deployed
in Landshut and to the south on higher ground. Early in the morning Hiller was informed
that a French force (57,000 men) had crossed the Isar upstream at Moosburg.
Masséna led this force.
Hiller realized that he would be unable to hold his position for long, as Masséna was
trying to block him from escaping. At this point his cavalry were forced back by Lannes’s
troops and the Austrians were pushed back into Landshut. The French now quickly seized
the northern bridge over the river, and the Austrians withdrew into the main part of the town
to defend the southern bridge. The Austrians tried to set fire to this second bridge, but
owing to the rainfall over the previous days, this was only partially successful. However
the Austrians did manage to close the gates at the end of the bridge. The French were
now faced with attacking across the smoldering bridge. Napoleon ordered his aide
General Georges Mouton (later comte de Lobau) to assume command of the attacking
grenadiers of the 17th Line. In the face of heavy Austrian fire from all sides, Mouton
ordered his men to attack without firing their muskets. The grenadiers reached the
gateway and broke it down, allowing Bavarian troops to quickly reinforce the breach.
The fighting now continued in the streets of Landshut itself. However the French had
crossed a bridge immediately to the west of the town and were now entering Landshut
from the south.
Many of the defenders were captured, but Hiller was able to retreat with the bulk of his
force toward Neumarkt am Wallersee. Landshut finally fell to the French just after noon.
The Austrian force had suffered around 10,000 casualties as well as losing 30 cannon,
but more importantly they had lost a large number of caissons, a pontoon train, and
thousands of supply wagons. The victorious French forces spent much of the afternoon
ransacking these supplies.
Austrian General: Johann von Hiller
French General: Marshal Jean Lannes, 1st Duc de Montebello
7 Victory Banners
5 cards Austrian
5 cards French (move first)
Special Rules and Objectives
Rivers are not fordable except as marked.
Landshut makes up a Temporary Majority Banner Objective for the either side (turn start), worth
1 victory banner. If the French occupy it unopposed, it is worth 2 victory points for them instead.
Castle Trausnitz is a Temporary Victory Banner Objective (turn start),
worth 1 victory banner for the French player.
The Austrian player may play a scout card for 1 victory banner instead of its printed effect.
This may be done once for each section per game. Therefore, 3 victory banners may be gained
in this way per game. This represents withdrawal of command and supplies from the are towards
Neumarkt.
