May 1809 Snappy Nappy Campaign in Inner Austria: The Deluge

And now, the conclusion of this great event!

As  (long) anticipated, Pacthod's (Mark) French Division, including the Elite converged Voltigeurs of GB Desaix, were not far behind Frimont in arriving on the Klagenfurt  from the Villach table, closely followed by Durutte (Maureen). Evidently they were under orders to pin us until Eugene gave the order to move to the attack. Ever aggressive, that didn't prevent Pacthod from roughly handling my outlying troops!

Reinforcements under Coloredo/Josef arrived from the North (via the tan), 2nd rate road to the left) to bolster my weak right flank. 

Mark dispersed the Jagers and Landwehr in the woods with little difficulty, and then he an Maureen played cat (Redwilde) and Mouse with maneuvering tgheir artillery for long range shots whilst denying us the opportunity to return the favor.

Sahuc (Caleb) and his French light cavalry arrive from Kranj...

and then more French arrive from the North under the persistent MacDonakld, countered in turn by the arrival of our reserves from Marburg. Coloredo counter- marches some of his troops to oppose his old nemesis as well. 

The Northern Front at Klagenfurt. 

We now have Jellacic (mir), Albert Gyulai (Karl), Coloredo/Josef (Brian), Mexcery (Marty), Patchod (Mark), Durutte (Maureen), Sahuc (Caleb) and MacDonald (James) on the Klagenfurt table... and I think I see Serras and Eugene (Greg) with the Italian Royal Guard entering at the far right as well! 

Was für ein Kampf!

To our South at Laibach, Stowechewich (Mike), Hadik (Kaz), Marmont (Richard), Pully (Herb), and Fontanelli (Jim)  are all now engaged. 

The center of our position, in front of the Klagenfurt Fortress.  I am not confident that we will be able to repulse the French attacks when they commence; they have more and better troops, and our position is not as strong as it looks at first glance. 

Caleb looks on as his cavalry trot to the front. 

Marty (Mesery).

MacDonald (James) seems quite happy to have arrived in our rear, it seems. I think he can almost taste that Marshal's baton!

Pacthod and Durutte are still awaiting the signal from Eugene to launch their assault.

The action is heating up behind Klagnefurt fortress.

The heavy weight of numbers against the Austrians at Laibach has them pulling back towards Zagreb.

Sahuc's cavalry has maneuvered into position now. 

Mescery is causing problems for MacDonald now. 

Mescery's cavalry may be l;argely low quality Insurectio troops, but there sure are a LOT of them!

Overview of the main front at Klagenfurt.

Swarming Hungarians cut off a part of MacDonald's Division; with 2 Austrian batteries at Canister range, that square can't hold out forever!

5 PM has arrived already, so it is fine for the final turn of the Campaign. Sahuc's cavalry charges Gyulai's infanty across the stream!

Mescery prepares the coup de grace for a French square. 

Endgame fighting at Laibach.

Pacthod charges my lines, and Durutte is in position to charge Gyulai next turn. If I recall correctly, Mark won all but one of the resultant melees, with my defensive fire failing to inflict any losses upon him at all!

Close up of Sahuc's charge.

Top down view of (most) of the Klagenfurt table after the French charges. You can see our right flank being stove in by Pacthod's (first) charge. he Battle of Klagenfurt could certainly go on for a long time, but it is hard to see how the Austrians would ever win it... and with the retreat from Laibach threatening to  clear the way for more French troops to arrive, or press on to Graz, 

I'd certainly give honors to the French in this campaign, although I think the Austrians performed better than their historical counterparts. In the end,the  early advantage of French numbers and the low quality of the Austrian reinforcements made for a real challenge for the Austrians, just as it did in reality. It woukld have been fun to play a few more turns, but we had already gone past our 5 PM stop time. Overall, i had a great time, and how often do get to see the Hungarian Insurectio on the table, no less fight?!

May 1809 Snappy Nappy Campaign in Inner Austria: Tailwinds

Fortified by some Pizza and related comestibles, the Napoleonic campaigning action at The Portal continues...

Frimont's tattered remnants retreating to the Villach table from Tarvis.

it seems likely that Pacthod, Sahuc, and Durutte will not be far behind him, though, as their iorst elements prepare to leave Tarvis as well.

Jim (Fontanelli) prepares to leave the Isonzo table, too. 

At Laibach, Hadik has appeared in the rear of Marmont...but there is a French Division waiting to enter after him! 

Austrian garrison at Judenburg. It has been quiet on the table since the start of the game.

But not much longer iot seems, as a French Division prepares to enter!

MacDonald appears to be retiring to Innsbruck to lick his wounds... but Colooredo seems uninterested in pursuing him closely. 

Franco-Italaian forces marching on the Tarvis table. 

Traffic Jam at Laibach, with two of the three French Commands from the Isonzo waiting to enter, one after the other, once Hadik  (Kaz)comes onto the table. 

"All; quiet on the Klagenfurt Front, your Excellency!" A Gyulai and I are execting french attackers from the two roads to the right f the picture; our reserves (Mescery)  at Marburg can be called upon to enter from the road at the top of the picture. 

Division Rusca preparing to enter the table  at ? Judenburg. 

Erzherzog John rides up to Klangenfurt  for a conference, bringing meager reinforcements - a single Landwher infantry regiment. Seriously?

A peaceful, empty table at Tarvis - something not seen since the first minutes of the game!

Mac Donald is still withdrawing his troops towards Salzburg, while Coloredo's remnants, bolstered by the Hungarian Insurrectio look on. 

I think the big Orc in the corner must have been saying something to gGreg, Russ, and Mark, beracuse I have no idea what else they'd be looking at!

At Laibach, Hadik has moved on to the table, making room for Pully's dragoon division (Jim) to enter next!

Now who's the filling in the sandwich?

Albert Gyulai and Jellacic continue their vigil at Klagenfutt. we hope all the tiome that Frimont has bought will be paid back in the form of additional reinforcements form the local Landwehr units still forming. 

Sahuc's light cavalry trots towards Judenburg...and [perhaps Klagenfurt beyond.

MacDonalds forces start to arrive at the relatoive safety of the Inssbruck table. Watch out for the Tyrolean resistance, Mac!

All of MacDonald's Division have made it to Inssbruck, where they rest, rally and reorganize. Question for future events... perhaps the first morale step loss (down from "Bold") should not be recoverable in the campaign context (except, as usual, by causing a Routed result in Melee)?

Not finished with delaying the Froggies, Frimomnt sets up to defend the exit road from Villach  to Klagenfurt!

Pully's Dragoons have entered the fray at Laibach.

Mescery sends some of his troops to bolster the Austrian defenses at Judenburg!

French troops pour onto the Villach table, planning to sweep the garrison, this time composed of stern Austrian Regulars, aside. 

Mac Donald's command deploys guarding the road from Salzburg, anticipating a hot pursuit. In the event, it never materialized. 

Coloredo, instead, has orders for Erzherzog Johann to march for Klagenfurt!

Austrian reserves at Marburg, guarding the LOC to Graz as well. 

The French Juggernaut deploying at Laibach. 

Developing cavalry action at Judenburg; unfortunately, almost all of the Austrian troops are Insurrectio, not known for their combat worthiness!

Coloredo's troops arriving from Salzburg.

Sahuc's (Caleb) horse battery has finally blasted the Landwehr garrison of Judenburg to smithereens,as Mescery's (Marty) troopers look on. 

Let's play "ring around the Hill!"

Colooredo's remnants, bolstered by Josef's Insurrectio troops, arrive at Marburg. 

"They left the Message Writing Phase out of the turn sequence!" Colredo pens a brief note to keep his fellow Austrian commanders posted.

"Yon Pully has a lean and hungry look!"

Just to show that we weren't the only game(s) in town on a Sunday afternoon at The Portal, here is the main gaming room. 

A view of the Miniatures Gaming room. where the event was played, from the window in the main room. 

At the far right lower corner, the vanguard of Frimont's muid, grime, and blood spattered survivors is arriving on the Klagenfurt table from Villach; surely the French must be coming soon as well!

Sahuc and Mescery play cat and mouse at Judenburg, while Dan and Karl provide rules assistance, and perhaps some tactical advice.

That Austrian regiment garrisoning Villach isn't going down easily!

Guess who's coming to Dinner?  Our old freind MacDaonald! Rallied and rested, he re enters the Salzburg table to find Coloredo long gone. 

Ongoing fighting at Judenburg. 

The Insurectio cavalry charges a French Horse battery. 2 shots needing a 4+ to hit, and then the Insurrectio must save rolling 8+ for each hit. I have a bad feeling about this...

Caleb experiences the pleasures of wining the dread "double move!"

The Austrians are well into the Lion's Den at Laibach. 

Austrian reserves at Marburg... with an unread message (the face down piece of paper) awaiting Mescery!