Victory Results:
 16 %
Record a victory for BOTTOM ARMY  84 %
Total plays 44 - Last reported by utl94 on 2025-11-30 20:11:54

Eggmühl - 22 April 1809 (Day 2 French Right)

Historical Background
While the Württembergers were fighting for Eggmühl, Napoleon had been building up his cavalry just south of the Grosse Laaber. Once Eggmuhl was secure, he ordered his squadrons forward. Austrian General Rosenberg could see the developing threat, and had appealed to Charles earlier in the day for the Austrian Cuirassier Division, but his request was met with no response.
Left with few options, when the first of Napoleon’s cavalry crossed the river, Rosenberg ordered what little cavalry he had on hand to move forward to obstruct the crossing. Predictably, the outnumbered Austrian horsemen were repulsed. Meanwhile, on the extreme French right, Gudin’s division attacked Bieber’s brigade and the Austrians were forced to fall back to the woods, where they managed to hold their ground and prevent the French from advancing any further. With reverses along the whole front, Charles decided to withdraw and sent Rosenberg an order to pull back as best he could. About the same time, the French cavalry was now all across Grosse Laaber, making a withdrawal difficult.
Although they were heavily outnumbered, Rosenberg ordered his decimated cavalry to charge yet again and buy time for the infantry to withdraw.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

 

Set-Up Order

Forest 12
Hill 4
HillEntrenchments2 1
Town 2

 

Battle Notes

Austrian Army
• Commander: Rosenberg
• 4 Command Cards
• Optional 2 Tactician Cards

Line Infantry Grenzer Light Infantry Light Cavalry Foot Artillery Horse Artillery Leader
9 2 3 1 1 3

French Army
• Commander: Napoleon
• 6 Command Cards
• Optional 6 Tactician Cards
• Move First

Line Infantry Light Infantry Cuirassier Cavalry Foot Artillery Horse Artillery Leader
8 4 4 1 1 4

 

Victory
8 Banners

Special Rules
• The French player gains 1 Victory Banner for each French unit that exits the battlefield from any Austrian baseline hex.

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Pevans replied the topic:
4 months 1 day ago
I play the Austrians first and I'm not feeling confident as the stats say this scenario is 83% a French win.

Both sides manoeuvred initially, with the Austrian infantry forming a rough line across the woods and hills. The French right attacked, pushing back the outnumbered Austrians. I shifted reinforcements across from the centre to change the numbers in my favour ("La Grande Manoeuvre" does its stuff). The French force promptly tore the Austrian infantry apart: two Line disintegrated and Gen Vukassowich went with them. First blood to Evert (playing "Elan" probably helped) and the score is 0:3.

After some exchanges of fire in the centre, the French pressed forward on the right again and eliminated another two Austrian Line. That's 0:5 now.

With very few Austrians left in front of them, the French right surged forward (Evert had his own "La Grande Manoeuvre" and lined up four units on the edge of the board). They marched off for an overwhelming victory: 0:8

Wow! That was painful. But can I do anything like that when it's my turn as the French? Though it was four weeks before we were able to play the re-match.

My French attacked on the right, too, first blood being an Austrian Line that fell to the French Cuirassiers. The French right pressed the attack, but ran out of steam once the Austrians retreated. (To put it another way, I ran out of right flank cards.)

French attacks in the centre and left pushed the Austrians back. I used the left flank Cuirassiers to put an Austrian Line on the hills into Battalion Mass (the Austrian equivalent of square) so that the muskets could finish them off. And that's 2:0.

Then an Austrian Light cavalry attacked the French Cuirassiers on the left. And eliminated one of them! Lucky, lucky Evert takes the score to 2:1.

Exchanges around Kraxenhöfen (left of centre) saw the Austrians lose a Line infantry, then the French and then the Austrians again (4:2). Only for the Austrian Light cavalry, running riot on the left, to do for a second French Cuirassier! That's 4:3 and the French have a fight on their hands.

The surviving French Cuirassier promptly took care of both Austrian Light cavalry. 6:3 feels more comfortable and the French were able to renew their attack on the right, pushing the Austrians back.

The French lost a Light infantry on the right (6:4) before removing a Line infantry and General Bieber for the win, 8:4.

Phew! Another French victory, but a much tougher (and longer) fight this time. However, overall victory goes to Evert with the aggregate score 8:12.

I’ve also posted this report on my BGG blog (with pictures!): www.boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/175642
TheMP replied the topic:
10 years 4 months ago
Managed to win with the Austrians but ONLY because I was playing someone in only his 5th game and quite new to wargaming. Even then I laboured to an 8-7 win with the closest of finishes.
Mark-McG replied the topic:
10 years 8 months ago
At the very least, the Austrians should move first in this one.