Monday, October 23, 2023

Snappy Nappy 2023: Crisis on the Danube, 1809, Part 4

Erzherzog Ludwig and his 5th Austrian Corps departing from Moosburg.


FML Hohenzollern (Benton), seeing the jaws of the French about to close on his personal Croque Monsieur, and already abandoned by Liechtenstein and the Reserve Corps (presumably under orders from the Army Commander), does his best to extricate as much of his 3rd Corps as possible. This is never an easy task!


Back at Pfaffenhausen (not to be confused with Pfaffenhofen!), Marshal Lefebvre maneuvers his Bavarians for the passage of the Gross Laber. He outnumbers the Austrians of the small 2nd Reserve Corps, but they have a big edge in troop quality. 


FML Liechtenstein tips his hat to Erzhezog Karl as his Corps passes through Rohr.


"Eh bien, what is this?" Ezherzog Ludwig arrives at Freising with his 5th Corps, reinforcing Hiller and his 6th. "Es Drei gegen Zwei nun ist!"


The position of the 2nd Austrian Reserve Crops, defending the routs south from Pfaffenhausen.


More of Ezherzog Ludwig's 5th Corps heading South through Ergoldsbach towards Landshut on Table O. 


The Bavarians continue their careful advance across the Gross Laber, and occupy Pfaffenhausen.
 

The ongoing Battle of Regensburg. General St. Cyr boldly, perhaps rashly, accompanies some French Hussars, who have 2 Austrian batteries ready to fire into their flank! Marshal Davout, the "Iron Marshal" himself, supervises the rest of operations around the fortress city. 


Another view of the action at Regensburg.


General Morand tries to close with the departing Austrians around Feking, dreaming of a Marshal's baton of his very own. 


All quiet at Au, where a single French unit watches the back doors to Freising and Neustadt.


French commanders Molitor, St. Cyr, and Oudinot adjust their plans in the face of the Austrian reinforcements at Freising. 


Brian is playing the 2nd Reserve Corps as well as well as Army C-in-C; the conflict in roles can be quite distracting!


General Vandame writes dispatches to Napoleon, eager to join the fight... somewhere!


Conflict continues at Regensburg. 

Marshal Lefebvre's Bavarians prepare to cross the Gross Laber in strength!


Rosenberg and Bellegarde are threatening to close the noose around Regensburg. The Austrians have their pontoon bridge over the Danube half finished! 


The French are put off by the huge amount of Austrian ordonnance emplaced at Freising, with still more on the way!


FML Hohenzollern continues the difficult task of extracting his Corps. Meanwhile, it was Napoleon himself who observed that "An army marches on its stomach!" Provisions have arrived, in the form of complimentary Pizza courtesy of Assistant GM Mark!


Also arriving are some more Austrian reinforcements, in the form of 2 units of poor quality (Militia) Carinthian Landwehr. Better than nothing, though!


"Allo, allo!"  FML Liechtenstein and his 1st Austrian Reserve Corps X freshly exited from the mess at Feking, arrives on the left flank of Marshal Lefebvre's Bavarians. Oops!  Turnabout is fair play! Outnumbered and faced by better quality troops as well, the Bavarians attempt to retreat back towards Neustadt!


The French debate tactics at Freising, whilst Assistant GM Mark looks on, and FML Hiller enjoys some well deserved lunch!


Austrian infantry units, one each Grenzer, Line, and Erzherzog Karl Legion, sacrifice themselves to cover the withdrawal of the rest of Hohenzollern's 3rd Corps. 


Routing French Hussars at Regensburg; the Austrians await completion of their pontoon bridge!


The Wurttemberg infantry continue to garrison and defend Ingolstadt. With no enemy nearby, might at least some of the Wurttembergers be better employed elsewhere? 


The harried vanguard of Hohenzollern's 3rd Corps arrives from the debacle at Feking, marching towards Rohr and points South!


Positions and moves covered in phase 3


Saturday, October 21, 2023

Snappy Nappy 2023: Crisis on the Danube, 1809, Part 3


With the arrival of the first Austrian reinforcements at Landshut, Ezherzog Karl decides it is time for the small 2nd Austrian Reserve Corps to move out... but to where? 


Karl's brother Archduke, Ludwig (Alex), leads his 5th Austrian Corps South through Pfaffenhausen, having withdrawn from the Neustatdt table. 


The first Austrian reinforcements have arrived at Landshut; 2 units of Freiwillinger (volunteers); the 1st Vienna Volunteers and a unit of Erzherzog Karl Legion. They take over the duty of defending the vital supply hub. They are lead (?) by the incompetent General Verwirrung, brought out of forced retirement by the urgencies of the moment!


"Sie hast ein Freund"; Hohenzollern's 3rd Austrian Corps is joined by Liechtenstein's 1st Reserve Corps on Table T. These Kaiserlicks aren't Feking around!


At Regensburg, General St. Hilaire's half of Davout's III Corps is beset by 2 Austrian Corps - Bellegarde's1st Corps across the Danube, and Rosenberg's 4th Corps. Note the charge of the French Hussars upon the brown coated Grenzer at the bottom right, doubtless seeking to buy time by delaying their advance. 


Meanwhile, back at Pfaffenhausen (not to be confused with Pfaffenhofen) on table X, the bulk of Ludwig's 5th Corps appears to have moved on to somewhere, leaving behind a modest garrison to defend the village and its crossing over the Gross Laber. 


At the battle of Freising, Hiller (Russ L) adjusts the positions of his 6th Corps, while attempting to hold off 3 French commands. 


Kaiserliche und Konigliche headquarters at Rohr is the scene of much staff work, but no troops. 


Ludwig's 5th Corps arrives outside of Landshut.


Marshal Lefebvre's Bavarian Corps, finding all quiet at Neustadt, sends his Cavalry out to scout the road South. 


The rest of Marshal Lannes' ad hoc Corps arrives on Table T outside of Amhofen. The two Austrian Corps are now positioned with one French force  to their front and another to their rear.  "That's another fine Feking mess you've gotten us into!"


Things are looking rather ominous for St. Hilaire, defending Regensburg. 


Vandamme's Wurttemberg Crops remains at the main French supply base at Ingolstatdt, whilst the Wurttemberg Jagers zu Pferd have been wearing out their horse, scouting near and far!
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The Battle of Freising develops.


The unenviable Austrian situation on table T.


The Bavarians are visited by their fellow Rheinbund allies, the saddle sore Wurttemberg Jagers zu Pferd


At Regensburg, the Austrian commanders share some sketches, doubtless to be used for the commissioning of the commemorative painting of their great victory!  Note the Austrian Pontoonier company, preparing to start the tricky task of bridging the river Danube (aka der Donau) in Spring!


Just who's coming and who's going near Pfaffenhausen?


"Drei gegen Ein", the French continue their advance upon Freising. Despite being outnumbered, the Austrian position looks strong. 


Archduke Charles (Ezherzog Karl, Brian), back at Imperial HQ at Rohr, sending out order fast and furious! He managed to avoid having any seizures on the day!


Erzherzog Ludwig's 5th Corps, departing Landshut. Leaving so soon?


Having scouted the route, the bulk of Marshal Lefebvre's Bavarians are heading South from Neustadt. 


Most of  Ludwig's 5th Corps heading West through Mooseburg. 


Of the 17 tables in the room, we used 15, one was piled high with surplus terrain belonging to The Portal, and we cleared off the 17th from our many boxes so that these 5 guys could play their Warhammer 40 K (or some such) skirmish miniature game on it. Many jokes about who were the French and who were the Austrians were exchanged. Note the view through the window of the main portion of the store, where numerous card and board games were being played, and their vast selection of games and hobby materials for sale. We are so fortunate to have The Portal host our events over the past 10 years!

"Sacre nom de Dieu!" Marshal Lefebvre's Bavarians encounter unexpected opposition near Pfaffenhausen. "Who ARE those guys?!" They turn out to be the Austrian 2nd Reserve Corps. 


Liechtenstein's 1st Reserve Corps is pulling out of the Feking battle, and returning towards Rohr, where he briefs his Commander in Chief about the situation there. 


"Now you young guys be nice to me! After all, I wrote these rules!" The French are slowly closing on Hiller's defensive position at Freising. Note the Hessians and Badeners that form part of St. Cyr's command on the left. 

Positions and movements covered in Part 3.