The Battle on the Piave: May 8, 1809

    Barry and I have arrangements to get together for a game next Sunday; I had considered doing an 1813 game, but Lutzen seemed too big for two players, and I didn't have time to develop a scenario for the Katzbach; maybe next time. So, I've decided to run one of the more unusual scenarios from my 1809 scenario book, Prince Eugene's Battle on the Piave. This battle was one of the first few games I played using the original Piquet: Les Grognards by Bob Jones back in 1998; it will be interesting to see how it goes with Brent Oman's Piquet: Field of Battle (2nd edition). Presumbaly Barry, being highly Francophobic, will take the role of Ezherzog Joghann, while I play the dashing Viceroy Eugene. (Cheer up Barry, the next game will definitely be an 1813 scenario!)

The Battle on the Piave

Table Size: 6 x 9 feet

Troop Scale: 1 Infantry unit = 1000 men, 1 Cavalry unit = 600 men, 1 Artillery = 8 - 12 guns.

Background: Prince Eugene and his Army of Italy have returned to the offensive after an initial defeat at the opening of the campaign at Sacile. The defeat of the Austrian Hauptarmee has necessitated the gradual withdrawal of the Austrian army of Erzherzog Johann. Eugene's army is attempting to cross the shallow but broad river Piave. The Austrians have burned all the bridges, but there are still three fords which can be used to cross the river. However, each day the melting of snow in the Alps makes the river rise progressively as the day goes on, sometimes dramatically so! The Austrian surveillance was very lax, and the initial crossing got under way with many men crossing naked, holding their clothes and muskets over their heads, and then dressing on the far bank. It was a bold but inherently risky move, but Eugene was eager to redeem himself in the eyes of his Imperial father in law!

Map: the River Piave is unfordable except at the three marked fords 4” wide, which are Class II terrain; the river may be crossed in Attack or March Column formations (also special scenario rules for the rising waters). The Piavisella stream is Class II, as is the dike. The villages are Class II terrain.

Scenario Rules: Add two Sapper Task cards to the French Sequence Deck (Use blank cards or some other non standard card). There is no impetus cost to turn this card, but upon its appearance, the French C-In C rolls his LD against the Austrian C-in-C's LD in the same fashion as for a Lull. If the French roll is higher, then a section of bridge has been completed at Priula; if and when three sections are completed, then the bridge is ready for use by all arms.

Rising Waters: The battle begins at 8AM. Starting with the 4th French MOVE card, the Austrian player rolls a D12. If the score is less than the number of French MOVE cards turned to date, then the water has risen to the point where the river is no longer fordable; however bridging operations may continue, and thereafter, on each Sapper task Card one unit may cross each of the existing fords by boats. Continue to roll an Austrian D12 on each subsequent appearance of French MOVE cards; if the score exceeds the number of French MOVE cards turned thus far, then bridging operations must cease, but Ferrying on Sapper Task cards as above may continue. Continue the Austrian D12 roll for subsequent French MOVE cards, and if the score is once again less than the number of French MOVE cards turned thus far, then the current has become too swift, and even these ferrying operations must cease.

Deployment: As shown on the map (the artillery of Broussier's and Lamarque's divisions are deployed in a battery along the river to their left). However, only the Austrian Rearguard may act on the first Austrian MOVE card.

Reinforcements: Waiting behind the Priula Ford (middle ford) are the troops of Baraguey's Corps, which may enter at any time, and similarly the remaining troops of Grenier's Corps my enter behind the San Nichiol Ford (on the French right) at any time.

Victory Conditions: If the Austrian Army breaks from Army Morale, the French win a Major Victory – Decisive if more than 1/3 of the Austrian units are routed or destroyed. If the French break from Army Morale, the Austrians win a Decisive Victory. If the Austrians end the battle with more Morale Points than the French, they win a Major Victory if the French are at zero Morale Points, otherwise Minor. If he French end the battle with more Morale Points than the Austrians, they win a Minor Victory if the Austrians are at zero Morale Points, otherwise battle is a draw. The game will end after the 9^th French MOVE card, if not before (5PM).

Orders of Battle: 

Army of Inner Austria, Erzherzog Johann Abysmal

23 Infantry, 5 Cavalry, 6 Artillery * Army Morale Points:

Rear guard, FML Frimont Poor

1^st Brigade, GM von Splenyi Average

1/IR #52,EH Franz Karl Regular 

2/IR #52 EH Franz Karl Regular

1/Grenz #3 Ogulin Raw 

2/Grenz #3 Ogulin Raw

Cavalry Brigade, Oberst Anon Abysmal

Hussar Regt #2 EH Joseph Crack

Hussar Regt #9 Frimont Crack

6# Cavalry Battery Regular

6# Cavalry Battery Regular

VIII Korps, FML Albert Gyulai Poor

1^st Brigade, GM Colloredo Abysmal

IR #27 Strassaldo Regular 

1/IR #61 St. Julien (Hungarian) Regular 

2/IR #61 St. Julien (Hungarian) Regular

3# Foot Battery Regular 

2^nd Brigade, Gm von Gajoli Poor

IR #62 Franz Jellacic (Hungarian) Regular 

1/Grenz Regt #10 1^st Banal Raw 

2/Grenz Regt #10 1^st Banal Raw 

Hussar Regt #5 Ott Crack 

IX Korps, FML Ignaz Gyulai Poor

1^st Brigade, GM Kalnassy Abysmal

1/IR #13 Reisky Regular 

2/IR #13 Reisky Regular 

1/IR #43 Simbschen Regular 

2/IR #43 Simbschen Regular 

3# Foot Battery Regular 

2^nd Brigade, GM Marziani Poor

1/ IR #19 Alvintzi (Hungarian) Regular

2/ IR #19 Alvintzi (Hungarian) Regular

4^th Inner Austrian Volunteers Raw 

3# Foot Battery Regular

3^rd Brigade, GM Gavisini Abysmal

1/Grenz #2 Ottocac Raw 

2/Grenz #2 Ottocac Raw 

4^th Brigade, GM Kleinmayrn Poor

1/Grenz #4 Szulin Raw 

2/Grenz #4 Szulin Raw

1st Grenadiers Elite 

2^nd Grenadiers Elite 

Dragoon Brigade, FML Wolfskeel Poor; LD , CR

Dragoon Regt #2 Hohenlohe Crack 

Dragoon Regt #5 Savoy Crack 

6 # Cavalry Battery Regular

Army of Italy, Viceroy Eugene de Beauharnais Average

Sequence Deck: (note that it is very unlikely all the troops will be able to cross)

43 Infantry, 14 Cavalry, 6 Artillery * Army Morale Points:

Advance Guard, GB Dessaix Excellent

1^st Combined Voltigeurs Crack 

2^nd Combined Voltigeurs Crack 

3^rd Combined Voltigeurs Crack 

4^th Combined Voltigeurs Crack 

9^th Chasseurs a Cheval Regular 

4# Horse Battery Crack 

Ad Hoc Corps A, GD MacDonald Skilled

1^st Division, GD Broussier Skilled

1/9e Ligne Regular

4/11e Ligne Regular

1/84e Ligne Regular

2/84e Ligne Regular

1/92e Ligne Regular 

2/92e Ligne Regular 

6# Foot Battery Regular

2^nd Division, GD Lamarque Average

1/18e Leger Crack

1/13e Ligne Regular 

2/13e Ligne Regular

1/23e Ligne Regular

1/29e Ligne Regular 

2/29e Ligne Regular

6# Foot Battery Regular 

Ad hoc Corps B, GD Baraguey d'Hilliers Skilled

Italian Division, GD Fontanelli Average

1^st Italian Line Regular 

2^nd Italian Line Regular 

3^rd Italian Line Regular 

7^th Italian Line Regular

Dalmatian Regimental Regular

1/112e Ligne Regular 

2/112e Ligne Regular 

Italian 6# Battery Regular 

Italian Royal Guard, GB Lecchi Average

Guard Dragoons/Honor Guards Crack 

Velites of the Guard Crack 

Grenadiers of the Guard Elite 

Ad hoc Corps C, GD Grenier Skilled

1^st Division, GB Abbe Skilled

3/8e Leger Crack 

1/1er Ligne Regular 

2/1er Ligne Regular 

1/52e Ligne Regular 

2/52e Ligne Regular 

1/102e Ligne Regular 

2/102e Ligne Regular 

Italian Dragoons “Napoleon” Regular

6# Foot Battery Regular 

2^nd Division, GD Durutte Skilled

4/22e Leger Crack 

1/23e Leger Crack 

2/23e Leger Crack 

3/60e Ligne Regular 

1/62e Ligne Regular 

2/62e Ligne Regular 

6# Foot Battery Regular 

Light Cavalry Division, GD Sahuc Skilled

6e Hussars Crack 

6e Chasseurs a Cheval Regular 

8e Chasseurs a Cheval Regular 

25e Chasseurs a Cheval Regular 

1^st Dragoon Division, GD Grouchy Excellent

7e Dragoons Regular 

30e Dragoons Regular 

Italian Dragoons, “Queen's” Regular 

2^nd Dragoon Division, GD Pully Skilled

23e Dragoons Regular 

28e Dragoons Regular 

29e Dragoons Regular

Army Reserve

Infantry Division, GD Seras Average

1/53e Ligne Regular

2/53e Ligne Regular 

3/79e Ligne Regular 

1/106e Ligne Regular 

2/106e Ligne Regular

6# Foot Battery Regular 

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This scenario makes good use of the flexibility of the Piquet/Filed of Battle system, I think. It is based upon the accounts and OOB in Gill's Thunder on the Danube and also Epstein's Prince Eugene at War:1809.  It is said that a rising tide carries all boats with it - we will see if this is the case on the Piave this time!

Peter