Victory Results:
 40 %
Record a victory for BOTTOM ARMY  60 %
Total plays 91 - Last reported by Pevans on 2024-09-20 17:57:37

Eggmühl - 21 April 1809 (Day 1)

Historical Background
Napoleon was about to repeat the mistake he had made at Jena. On the evening of the 20th, he ordered Davout to advance, attack and destroy the enemy before him. Meanwhile Napoleon would take the greater part of the army south, toward Landshut, in pursuit of what he believed was the main Austrian Army.
In reality, Davout’s corps and German allied formations were again in considerable danger. The gallant French 65th Regiment of line infantry, holding Ratisbon and its vital bridge, was forced to surrender when its ammunition ran out. Archduke Charles now had a secure retreat route if he chose to retreat, or an avenue for two additional corps in Bohemia to join him if he chose to attack – and attacking was what he chose.
Davout’s counting skills were undiminished. One of those fresh corps had indeed joined Charles, and Davout properly expressed concern to Napoleon that he was facing more than just the right flank of the Austrian army.
Using the wooded countryside, Davout hoped he could secure his flank and hold, but Friant’s division was pushed back. With news that help was on the way, Davout ordered an all out attack in an attempt to pin the Austrians in place. Charles personally led a counter attack and drove the French back into the woods.
Believing he had time to finish Davout’s destruction on the morrow, Charles ordered a halt to the attack, forfeiting victory and making defeat virtually inevitable – Napoleon was countermarching with all possible speed.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

 

Set-Up Order

Forest 15
Hill 2
Town 2

 

Battle Notes

Austrian Army
• Commander: Archduke Charles
• 4 Command Cards 
• Optional 3 Tactician Cards

Line Infantry Grenzer Light Infantry Light Cavalry Foot Artillery Leader
11 1 1 1 3

French Army
• Commander: Davout
• 5 Command Cards
• Optional 5 Tactician Cards
• Move First

Line Infantry Light Infantry Foot Artillery Leader
10 3 2 4

 

Victory
6 Banners

Special Rules
• Obersanding is a Temporary Victory Banner worth 1 banner for the side that occupies it at the start of its turn (Temporary Victory Banner Turn Start)

• Oberlaichling is a Permanent Victory Banner for the French player worth 1 banner when occupied at the start of the turn (Permanent Victory Banner Turn Start)

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Pevans replied the topic:
3 months 3 weeks ago
Evert and I face off for the re-match and it’s my turn to play the French. Following Evert's example, I attacked on the left. A "Force March" card let me throw General Barbanegre and a strong force of infantry forward and occupy Obersanding. That'll be the first victory banner on my next turn. Probably.

Evert attacked my right flank where the sides were already close enough for musket fire. I countered with a "Bayonet Charge", pushing the Austrians back. With a couple of right flank cards now in my hand, I was able to continue this attack. However, Evert had left flank cards to respond with, so there was quite a fight with both sides taking heavy casualties. First to fall were Austrian General Hohenzollern and his infantry sheltering in the woods on the edge of the battlefield. With the banner for holding the town, the score was 3:0 to me.

Evert used the Grenzers in the centre to finish off the Light infantry I'd retreated into the woods - 3:1. Retreating more battered units, I pushed back the Grenzers and removed what was left of an Austrian Line to make it 4:1.

Action then switched to the other flank as the Austrians attacked Obersanding ("Force March" isn't so effective for the slow-moving Austrian Line infantry). Gen Barbanegre's troops opened fire (I had a "Fire and Hold") and eliminated an Austrian Line, pushing the other attackers back. 5:1 and just one more needed.

Evert's weakened Grenzers popped out of the central woods to try to finish off the remnants of French Light infantry hiding in the woods right of centre. That was a 50:50 chance that didn't come off and the Grenzers fell to the Lights' Battle Back. 6:1 and a second overwhelming French victory.

I did not expect this scenario to be such a decisive French victory. Twice. (The stats show the French winning 60% of games.) And the scenario is a draw between Evert and me as the aggregate score is 7:7.

We're now halfway through the Austrian scenarios, so that's 20 games played. Evert is clearly doing a better job as he's won 12 to my eight. The combined scores for each scenario are much closer: 4:5 to Evert with one draw. Next up: more Eggmühl.

I’ve also posted this report on my BGG blog (with pictures!): boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/165503
Pevans replied the topic:
3 months 4 weeks ago
Evert plays the French in our first game. The first few turns see us both manoeuvring our troops. I got most of the Austrians into a defensive formation while covering the approach to Obersanding. Evert's French advanced slowly.

And then a "Bayonet Charge" saw the French infantry surge past Obersanding and give the Austrian right a thumping. First blood was the battered Austrian Line infantry under Archduke Charles: pinned against the edge by the initial attack and then finished off. Charles fell with his men, so the score is 0:2 to Evert's French.

My response forced French infantry to retreat into the town, so that's 0:3 on Evert's next turn. Oops!

The French left continued attacking, taking out two more damaged Austrian infantry. That's 0:5 and the game's only just started!

With my artillery chipping away, Evert moved the infantry out of Obersanding (losing that banner) to continue his attack and removed another Austrian Line to keep the score at 0:5. With another French unit moving into the town, I had one turn left.

And a Combined Arms attack by Austrian infantry and artillery (and some luck with the dice) removed a full-strength French Line to save my blushes: 1:5, then 1:6 when Evert reclaimed the Obersanding banner.

Wow! Just 17 turns (eight for me, nine for Evert) and 40 minutes' play in which the French left just overran the Austrian opposition. Evert was lucky to have a continuing supply of left flank cards. While I was on the back foot after that initial "Bayonet Charge". My challenge now is to do better than that when I play the French. That's a tall order!

I’ve also posted this report on my BGG blog (with pictures!): boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/165416
LARS replied the topic:
4 years 2 days ago
An incredible performance by Rosenberg who annihilated Lorencéz brigade. The rest of the Austrian Army was virtually destroyed, losing 39 blocks to 23 French, but nearly every French casualty counted towards a Banner. Austrians 6-5.