Snappy Nappy 2023: Crisis on the Danube, 1809 - Message log and final comments

To: His Royal Highness, Emperor  Napoleon 1

From: Marechal Berthier, Chef d' Etat-Major

As your Highness has commanded, I have prepared a log of all surviving messages from the recent campaign in Bavaria, for your perusal and archiving at the Ecole Militaire. Your Highness will of coure appreciate that some messages were not recovered due to the inherent chaos of war and the battlefield!  Your Majesty's handwriting can be difficult to decipher at times, even for one as experienced in reading it as my humble self. The Archduke is not far behind in that regard. I also observe that your Highness and the Archduke both indicated the location to which they were sending the message, rather than the usual convention of where they were themselves located. Finally, you will note General Morand's sense of humor when confronting the enemy. His sang-froid is legendary! Has your Majesty considered the good general for the Marshalate?  Additionally, I attach a rendition of a blood stained sketch map of the Bavarian Theater found on the body of the late General St. Hilaire on the battlefield at Aspern-Essling. 

St Cyr's Sketch map of the Theater of War, with his expectation of the positions of the French and Austrians at the start of the game, and the probable table configurations. 

Message Log for 1809 Campaign in Bavaria

Time	To	From	Location	Message
10:50	Charles	Bellegarde	Regensburg (North Bank)	Davout divides forces;  1 to Teugen, 1 to Abach
10:50	Morand	Napoleon	Teugen	Hold and fight them; I may head in
10:52	Oudinot	Napoleon	Au	Continue as planned
11:00	Massena	Oudinot	Au	There are no side roads seen between Mainburg and Au.  Marching to Freising.
11:04	Oudinot	St. Cyr/ Massena	Pfaffenhofen	Is there a road from Au to Pfaffenhausen?
11:05	Charles	Hiller (6K)	Freising	Freising is clear of French
11:08	Charles	Liechtenstein	Pfaffenhausen	Any orders to move in support of other Korps?
11:10	Napoleon	Morand	Teugen	Mother was right;  handwriting *is* important!
11:11	Charles	Hiller (6K)	Freising	So far, so good;  No French at Freising.  Sending cavalry to scout Au  and Pfafenhofen
11:12	Charles	Ludwig (5K)	Siegenburg	Ran into Bavarians
11:13	Charles	Hiller (6K)	Freising	Spoke too soon; French Cuirassier 7 regt and horse Artillery showed up  from Au and Pfaffenhofen
11:15	Charles	Hohenzollern (3K)	Feking	French Army approaching Feking  from Abach and Wolkering
11:30	Hohohenlohe (3K)	Charles	Rohr	Sending Reinforcements
11:31	Leictenstein (1R K)	Charles	Rohr	Proceed to Rottenburg - Rohr - Feking; support 3K fighting at Feking.
11:33	Charles	Rosenberg (4K)	Regensburg	French Army sandwiched just  South of Regensburg
11:35	Hiller 6K	Charles	Freising (not!)	Can you hold? If not,  fall back to Moosburg
11:36	Charles	Ludwig (5K)	Siegenburg	Contact with Bavarians;  currently engaging
11:38	Liechten- stein 1R K	Charles	Pfaffenhausen	Proceed to Feking via Rottenburg.
11:40	Charles	Bellegarde 1K	Regensburg - North bank	SEND PONTOONIERS!!
11:40	Morand	Napoleon	Teugen	Feel free to fall back if too pushed.  If Allied best are heading for you.  They won’t  <illegible>
11:40	Liechten- stein 1R K	Charles	Rottenburg	3 AK has encountered strong French  forces. You are to help 3K
11:45	Morand	Napoleon	Teugen	If possible interfere with French  movement buying time
11:48	Chales	Ludwig 5K	Siegenburg	Need assistance; French reinforcing  Bavarians
11:49	Morand	Napoleon	Teugen	Job there largely accomplished - Please back and hold at river.
11:50	Morand	St. Hilaire	Regensburg	Austrians have arrived from Ekmulh;  I now face 2 Korps!
11:51	St. Hilaire	Morand	Teugen	Austrians entering Teugen table  from G-table near Amhofen
11:54	Hiller 6K	Charles	Freising	I will attempt to hold Freising. I’ll send some back to Mossburg.
11:54	Morand	Napoleon	Teugen	I’ve directed Lannes to help.
11:58	Hiller 6K	Charles	Freising	Please give status report
11:58	Morand	Napoleon	Teugen	I’m coming.
11:59	Liechtenstein 3K	Charles	Feking	Please give status report

Time	To	From	Location	Message
12:01	St. Hilaire	Morand	Teugen	I face 2 Austrian Korps vs.  3K Austrian and Cav. Reserve Aust.
12:03	Hohen- zollern 3K	Charles	Feking	Reinforcements French pushing in  from Neustatdt
12:05	Morand	Napoleon	Teugen	We’re coming in;  I am following Lannes.
12:05	Lannes	Morand	Teugen	Check one: You love You love me not
12:07	Liechten- stein 1R K	Charles	Feking	French trying to outflank you.  Pull back to Rohr.
12:09	Lannes	Morand	Teugen	Welcome; happy hunting!
12:09	Liechten- stein 1R K	Charles	Feking	French trying to outflank you;  move back to Rohr.
12:10	Oudinot	Napoleon	Freising	Guard Massena’s flank, and try to  flank their artillery.
12:12	Hiller  6K	Charles	Freising	If at all possible, fall back to  Mossburg then destroy bridges.
12:13	Charles	Hiller  6K	Freising	I’ll be able to hold for at least  an hour, perhaps two.
12:15	Lefebvre	Napoleon	Neustadt	Advance down road to Landshut  via Pfaffen from eegen (?)
12:16	Charles	Liechten- stein 1R K	Outside Feking	In between 2 French Corps -  1st Res and 3K in deep scheiss!
12:18	Charles	Ludwig 5K	Pfaffenhausen	At Pfaffenhausen; retreated due to  3 French Corps. Where to next?
12:21	Hiller  6K	Charles	Freising	The 2 RK is at Moosburg.  Can you  use them at Freising?  If not, proceed to Moosburg.
12:21	Lannes	Morand	Teugen	I can only love France and the  Emperor!
12:24	Massena	Napoleon	Freising	OK, obliterate Austrian resistance…  do not waste time!
12:24	Charles	Hiller 6K	Freising	Sending sapper and some units  back to Moosburg to hold it.
12:25	Charles	Rosenburg 4K	Egolfsheim	French focusing South of  Egolfsheim; Allies attempting  to cross river.
12:31	Hohen- zollern 3K	Charles	Feking	Memorable resistance (?);  pull back to Rohr if able
12:32	Liechten- stein 1R K	Charles	Feking	Help 3K pull back to Rohr.
12:33	Charles	Ludwig  5K	Moosburg	5th Korp at Moosburg. Orders?
12:35	Hiller  6K	Charles	Freising	I am taking 2R K to Landshut.
12:40	Charles	Hiller  6K	Freising	Mooseburg seems in good hands.  Battle about to begin.
12:44	St. Hilaire	Napoleon	Regensburg	I’m coming with Lannes
12:51	St. Hilaire	Morand	Teugen	Chasing 2 Korps offboard  towards Rohr.
12:53	Massena	Morand	Teugen	Forcing 2 Austrian Korps back to  Rohr; Austrian Grenadiers Heavy  Cav., and 3rd Korps
12:54	Vandamme	Oudinot	Freising	Please bring all your cannons  to my position!  I am outgunned.
12:55	Vandamme	Napoleon	Feking	Absolutely hold Ingolstadt.

Time	To	From	Location	Message
1:01	Charles	Ludwig 5K	Freising	Engaged at Freising supporting 6K  which is facing 3 French Corps
1:07	Morand	St. Hilaire	Regensburg	2 Austrian Korps pressing me. Bridge over Danube half built. Need Help!
1:13	Charles	Hohen- zollern 3K	Feking	Heavy French troops, lots of  casualties. Trying to pull back.  Napoleon came in from Neustadt.
1:22	St. Hilaire	Morand	Teugen - Feking	We took that Feking town. I am  returning to you; likely 3 turns.
1:23	Oudinot	Morand	Teugen	We took that Feking town.  Lannes is chasing 2 Austrian Corps  back to Rohr.
1:24	Charles	Hiller  6K	Freising	Ludwig (5K) arrived. We can hold  for a couple of hours now!
1:25	Lefebvre	Massena	Freising	How are things? Where are you?  Just askin’
1:33	Hohen- zollern 3K	Charles	Feking	Withdraw to Rohr with as many  troops as you can.
1:42	Massena	Lefebvre	Pfaffenhausen	Not good; getting flanked at  Pfaffenhausen.
1:50	St. Hilaire	Napoleon	Regensburg	I’m sending Morand to assist you.
2:05	Charles	Rosenberg 4K	Egolfsheim	Large French reinforcements enter  from West.
2:19	Bellegarde 1K	Charles	Regensburg	Move to Straubing, then on to  Landshut
2:26	Charles	Hohen- zollern 3K	Rohr	Trying to retreat back further
2:29	Liechten- stein 1R K	Charles	Pfaffenhausen	Pull back to Rohr
2:40	Hiller  6K	Charles	Freising	Move to Landshut
2:55	Charles	Hiller  6K	Freising	Can’t leave; in heavy fire and melee!
3:00	Lefebvre	Napoleon	Pfaffenhausen	Follow up to Landshut
3:01	Vandamme	Napoleon	Pfaffenhausen	Follow up to Landshut ASAP!
3:20	St Cyr	Napoleon	Landshut	Cool. Hold on in cohesion with  Massena. I’m engaged at Landshut
3:24	Charles	Hiller  6K	Freising	French attacking Freising.  Starting to collapse around town.  But can hold for another hour.
3:30	Charles	Rosenberg 4K	Eckmuhl	French following. Landshut  may be too far. Can I stay?
3:37	Lefebvre	Napoleon	Moosburg	Take Moosburg and then head in  South of the Isar to Lansdshut.

GM final note: The Austrian C-in-C observed that he stayed at Rohr much of the campaign, figuring that would facilitate sending and receiving messages. Napoleon took a much more active role, visiting many of the battles in progress to form a better assessment of the situation, and at times adding his genius +3 modifier to initiative rolls. Karl did not suffer any seizures. If I were to do it again, I'd downgrade Regensburg to a City instead of a Fortress, and eliminate the extra French commanders (Davout and Massena's large Corps were split into 2 commands of 2 Divisions each, which was fine, but having 2 spare commanders was handy at times. An 8th Austrian command beyond the reinforcements would have been helpful, but even if I had done that there weren't enough players for an additional command. Everyone played well; apologies to Benton for getting attacked on both flanks and then run over by Lannes' aggressive pursuit in his first event. Withdrawing in the face of the enemy once engaged is not easy in these events!