Landshut - 21 April 1809
Historical Background
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.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?
|
|
Set-Up Order
|
Battle Notes
Austrian Army
General: Johann von Hiller
Battlefield Generals: Hiller, Hohenfeld, Hoffmeister
5 Command cards
2 Tactician cards
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
French Army
General: Marshal Jean Lannes, 1st Duc de Montebello
Battlefield Generals: Mouton, Morand, Gudin, Jacquinot
5 Command cards
5 Tactician cards 
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Victory
7 Banners
Special Rules
Landshut makes up a Temporary Majority Banner Objective (turn start), worth 1 victory banner for each side. If the French player is unopposed in the city they earn 2 victory banners instead (Temporary Majority Victory Banner Turn Start)
Castle Trausnitz is a Temporary Victory Banner Objective (turn start), worth 1 victory banner for the French player (Temporary Victory Banner Turn Start)
Rivers are not fordable except where marked
The Austrian player may play a scout card for 1 victory banner instead of playing it for its printed effects. This may be done once per section during the game, which represents movement of command and supplies from the area towards Neumarkt. The Austrian may therefore gain 3 victory banners in this fashion per game.
