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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Battle of Abensburg: April 20th, 1809

The opening of the 1809 campaign saw much of the burden of the early fighting fall upon the Bavarians, who were deployed in three Doivisions, with supporting Cavalry. The battle of Abensburg was the immediate result of Napoleon's long awaiting arrival in the theater of war, and the orders he issued to accomplish the re-unification of his army. This battle was fought on the tabletop last year, with Barry commanding the Whitecoats, while Mark Carlson and I had the French/Bavarians.

A stylized map of the Battlefield (from the "1809: Blunders on the Danube" scenario book, and adapted from those in John H. Gill's works) will help to understand the action as it unfolds.



Bavarian troops issuing out of Abensburg attack the opposing Austrians around Offenstetten. 


The initial Bavarian assaults have failed, with 2 units routed and another forced back. 


The advance of Marshal Lannes' ad hoc French Corps upon Bachl (left upper corner of pic) is making the Austrian position at Offenstetten untenable. To the right, Austrian defenders opposite Biburg. 


However, the second Bavarian attack upon Offenstetten is even less successful than the first, and the death of the Bavarian brigade commander (roll of "1" on a D20!) throws his entire command into Disorder - note the liberal application of pigs, chickens, and other barnyard inhabitants!


Overview of the situation; Sappers have almost completed a pontoon bridge over the Abens near Siegenburg, while the allied attack from Biburg is pushing back the Kaiserlicks, and Lannes (Mark, in his first battle) is pushing the Austrians back rather convincingly near Bachl.


A somewhat different view, looking from the rooftops of Abensburg (nearest at bottom edge) out towards Rohr (top of the picture). The broken terrain has the French and their Confederation of the Rhine allies advancing along four different routes. (I have used Hessians, Wurttemburgers and Badeners for some commands as I don't have that many Bavarians, and at least all except the Hessians wear some kind of crested helmet!)


Austrian reinforcements arrive, lead by General Hiller, who has been marching all day, albeit rather slowly, from the vicinity of  Landshut.


The view from the Austrian positions near Pfaffenhausen.


Hessians and Badeners on the attack from the Biburg crossing.


Bavarian Dragoons, French Legere, and French Cuirassiers fighting the Austrians near Bachl. The Ram looks on (another "Out of Command" marker), and observes that things are going baaaaa-dly for the Kaiserlicks!


Vive L' Empereur! French Cuirassiers charging Hungarians in line. 



With predictable results! The French have taken Bachl!



The French have now turned the Austrian's flank at Rohr as well.


The Austrian Hussars launch a bold charge of their own, attempting to buy time for their footslogger comrades to withdraw and consolidate their position! It is too little, too late, though, and across all the axes of the Franco-Bavarian advance, the Austrians are in full retreat. Hiller cannot join up with the main army under Erzherzog Karl, and instead retreats back towards Landshut. 

This was an interesting action to play out on the tabletop; at times the game played more like a Grand Tactical action, which was good because that was the feel I was looking for with this scenario, and playing it out on the table helped me understand this phase of the campaign better. When referring to the map, recall that Thann is the vicinity where Davout's battle of Teugen-Hausen took place (indeed, in French sources it is often referred to as the battle of Thann).

Peter

12 comments:

  1. Hey there where do you get your rivers from - i have some of that same type - great battle yes we all have to substitute troops now and then as I suggested to some folks in the Uk just use french in overcoat with Westphalian command stands / course thats a little harder with the "headgear"

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    1. The rivers are Wizard Kraft:

      http://wizardkraft.net/newzen/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2

      I bought a bunch of then at Historicon a couple of years in a row, and then they were unavailable for many years, and then I bought all they had on their website last year (pictured are the 1" rivers). I know some don't like "blue rivers, but I do, and these are about the best in that category!

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    2. The other plain translucent blue rivers are Flex terrain, no longer available.

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  2. An excellent batrep!!! Its certainly a very busy battlefield, I love the photo taken from the rooftops of Abensburg, its a great picture, masses of troops all over the place, and always remember Don't throw a 1!!

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    1. Thanks, Ray; the Bavarians threw quite a few "1's" at the start of the game!

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  3. There are a lot of figures on show in those photos and good read as always. FOB2 I assume ?

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    1. FoB2 for the rules, yes. The table is crowded, but the terrain features pretty much divide the action into three sectors corresponding to the three axes of the French advance. I had that very much in mind when designing the tabletop and the scenario.

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  4. Looking great. Lots of action. I assume there was no farm animals after the french marched through. Then they cannot be "out of command".......right? (shades of recent greek goats?)
    Nice write up. Maybe a "grand view photo" to show the entire tabletop situation if possible.

    Michael aka WR

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    1. Doubtless all available farm animals wound up in French soup pots at the conclusion of the action!

      Loved the Greek goats in your recent Ancient game, WR!

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  5. Nice to se you back on your Naps Peter,
    Fine looking battle and figures!
    Cheers
    Paul

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    1. While there will be more Starships flying around the blog again before long, I'll always come back to the Napoleonic stuff! I have 2 Russian Grenadier units on the table, then it is on to Provisional Croatians, Portuguese Legion, Battalion Neufchatel, and some other esoteric unit to be named later! :-)

      Peter

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  6. Stunning work there !

    The farmyards are looking good too. Given me some good ideas there :)

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