Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Snappy Nappy 2023: Crisis on the Danube, 1809, Part 5

The massive Battle of Freising continues!


Marshal Lannes Corps seen just after it had overrun the remnants of the 3rd Austrian Corps. Apologies to Benton; a tough day for his first outing, especially facing off against Lannes (Mark McG), who is a professional games designer and probably one of the best Snappy Nappy players! Emperor Napoleon looks on with approval. Little does he know that his freind will lie dead little more than a month from now, in the aftermath of the Battle of Aspern-Essling, Napoleon's first real defeat. 


"L'audace. toujours l'audace!"  Marshal Lannes appears on table  O, advancing on Rottenburg, just as the last of Liechtenstein's 1st Reserve Corps is seen retreating to the South. 


Near Pfaffenhausen, Liechtenstein's abrupt retreat has emboldened the Bavarians once again. It looks like the box contains the heavy Bavarian losses suffered from his brief but violent assaults. The 2nd Reserve Corps has also pulled up states and is seen withdrawing to the South, whilst Vandamme's Wurttembergers, finally released from Garrison duty at Ingolstadt are reinforcing Lefebvre.


Only the Wurttemberg Light Infantry and one unit of Line infantry are left protecting Ingolstadt; they will prove to be more than enough!


Erzherzog Karl, with Liechtenstein's 1st Reserve Corps arrive outside of Landshut. Benton has taken over the Austrian reserves defending Landshut, as more Landwehr arrive on the scene there. 


Unfortunately, the Emperor and his favorite, Marshal Lannes, are in hot pursuit!


Benton is now playing the roles of  FML Liechtenstein, and the Reinforcements commander,  General Verwirrung. He begins to order the defenses of Landshut, but finds himself notably lacking in the artillery arm. 


Bavarians and Wurttembergers on their way South yet again near Pfaffenhausen. 


Austrian and French troops arrive on the roads to Landshut from different directions at the same time!  
Merde!  Scheiss!


At Regensburg, a surprising turn of events. General Morand, his troops released by the Austrian defeat at Feking, have marched back to Regensburg, to bolster the defense of that city by his commander, Marshal Davout, and the forces of St. Hilaire. The Austrians have completed their pontoon bridge, but then Bellegarde's 1st Corps abruptly marches off, as does that of FML Rosenberg! St. Hilaire is saved. Napoleon promises him his Marshal's baton. Unfortunately, he too is fated to die in a little over a month at the grim battle of Aspern-Essling. 



Bavarians marching South of Pfaffenhausen.


St Cyr's attack on the Austrian left at Freising has been repulsed!


The French shout "Vive l'Empereur!" as the Austrians depart from Regensburg. 


Wurttemberg artillery arrives to reinforce the French effort at Freising. 


The French seem to winning the Landshut hunt. 


The Advanced Guard of Rosenberg's 4th Corps arrives from Regensburg, ready to move on Eckmuhl; the famous "hanging woods" is to their right, and the Betelberg off to its left. 


Closeup of the fighting at Freising. 


Rosenberg's men on the march.


With the Austrian exodus at Regensburg in full swing, the French prepare to follow them!


More of Rosenberg's 4th Corps moving through Eckmuhl. 



Continuing Austrian Departure from Regensburg. 


Wurttemberg troops arrive behind Liechtenstein's 1st Reserve Corps. For the second time in the campaign, the unlucky whitecoats form the meat in the French sandwich!



The French have some success in the center of the battle at Freising. 


The lead elements of Bellegarde's 1st Austrian Corps, having departed from Regensburg, are seen  are seen proceeding south along the far bank of the Danube towards Straubing. 


A confused situation at Landshut; historically, a somewhat similar situation occurred, with Austrian supply train vehicles clogging the roads. 


Rosenberg and the rest his 4th Corps heading South from the Regensburg table towards Eckmuhl.


Bellegarde's 1st Austrian Corps crossing the Danube near Straubing.
GM's note - the road to the right leads to Regensburg; Bellegadre might have sent a good portion of his Corps that way much earlier, furthering the threat to Regensburg from the rear!


Crunch time at Freising!


Troops leaving Regensburg every which way!


The lonely garrison at Ingolstatdt is enjoying sampling the local beer. "Ein Prosit, ein prosit, der Gemutlichkeit!"


The bulk of Bellegarde;'s 1st Corps heading West through starubing; there are still some stragglers on the far bank of the Danube, but some French from Regensburg are racing them down the opposite bank!
 

Bavarians attack at Moosburg, eliminating the small garrison of  defending Grenzer. 


Rosenberg and his men establish a defensive position near Eckmuhl, and none too soon, with French pursuers hot on their heels! 


Streaming at Straubing!


Both sides take losses at Freising as the battle grinds on!  As darkness approaches, word comes that Erzherzog Karl has conceded defeat; all Austrians who can must retreat across the River Isar! . 


Map of positions and moves for Phase 4




The post game debriefing used this map to demonstrate the relationship of the various tables, rivers, and roads to one another. 

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