Reconnaissance in Strength

On Thursday last week Paul and I met up in GHQ for our first game of 2025. As the Wars of the French Revolution collection was at least partly out on the table I had decided to reuse the two forces, with a few additional units, and transpose the action to Northern Italy. Paul took command of the French who were making a reconnaissance in strength at the urging of the newly appointed commanding general, one Napoleon Bonaparte. I commanded the Austrians, who were representing the main army's vanguard. The Austrians were drawn up in a defensive posture around the small church of San Philippi. The French entered from the opposite base line ~

The game is limited to only six turns: if the French have not either beaten the Austrians, or got at least one fully formed unit off the table at the Austrian end, then the Austrians have the victory. We were using Black Powder Mk2 rules of course. Giving nothing away at this point the game went to the wire ~

As you can see in this picture, the main thrust of the French attack in the first two turns was against the weaker Austrian left flank resting on an area of thick woodland. The French Horse Artillery were soon into action in support of the attack, as were the Austrian Light Cavalry, which you can see in the first picture.

The battery of French 12lb Foot Artillery took longer to get into position, mixed up as it became with the French main attack on their right and the swirling cavalry melees in the centre.

The French pressed their attack on the Austrian left once the guns came into action, while their cavalry were driving the Austrian attack back in the centre protecting the attacker's flank.

The French attack on the Austrian right flank was initially less successful, although they did rout O'Donnell's Freikorps and in close quarter fighting destroy the Austrian battery of Light Artillery. The Austrians counterattacked gallantly as you can see in the following photo ~

It all came down to Turn 6 as the battle reached it's climax. On the Austrian right the position was being congested vigorously, with the French having little chance of breaking through. 

In the centre, although their cavalry had the upper hand overall, the French Dragoon Brigade had been routed. Again the French had no prospect of the breakthrough they needed to claim a victory.

On the Austrian left though the French had finally managed to make the breakthrough when the Grenz finally routed after a gallant defence, their loss seeing the Brigade become Broken and leaving the way open in Turn 6 for the French to claim a notable victory as their Infantry brigade matched off the table, flanking the Austrian position. The Austrians would have no choice now but to disengage and retire on the main army. More to come with this I think... In the meantime a few closeups which Paul has provided from the pictures he took at various points in the action.

The Austrian grenadiers are thrust into the action as the French overrun their supporting battery of Light Artillery.

The Hungarian infantry join in the counterattack as the Grenadiers are swiftly routed by the vigorous French assault columns.

On the Austrian left flank the French infantry assault columns drive off the second element in rout, breaking the Brigade.

The Austrian cavalry have been driven back in Disorder, despite several minor victories earlier in the battle. They could only watch on helplessly as the left flank crumbled.

Lead by their band and screened by a battalion of Legeré the French Demi-Brigade advances with colours flying confident of victory!

Despite minor victories against the French Hussards and Dragoons the Austrian cavalry were never able to land a decisive blow and break the French centre.

They may look imposing but they failed to deliver the telling blow!

Once again, Black Powder Mk2 delivered the game that was asked of it. Fortunes ebbed and flowed but in the end Turn 6 saw the French swept to victory as the Austrian morale wavered and then broke on their left leaving the impotent cavalry brigade threatened both to its front and left flank! The French were through and in the army's rear!