Background
The Battle of Raab (Hungarian: Győri csata) was fought on 14 June 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars, between Franco-Italian forces and Habsburg forces. The battle was fought near Győr(Raab), Kingdom of Hungary, and ended in a Franco-Italian victory. The victory prevented Archduke John of Austria from bringing any significant force to the Battle of Wagram, while Prince Eugène de Beauharnais’s force was able to link up with Emperor Napoleon at Vienna in time to fight at Wagram. Napoleon referred to the battle as “a granddaughter of Marengo and Friedland,” as it fell on the anniversary of those two battles.
John drew up his army behind the Pándzsa stream, facing generally west. The Pándzsa ran roughly from south to north across his front, emptying into the Raab River to the north. In the vicinity of the battlefield, the Raab ran from west to east, protecting John’s north flank. The fortress of Győr was on the south side of the river a short distance to the northeast. John hoped the marshy banks of the Páncza to the south would discourage a French envelopment from that direction. The enclosed and stoutly-built Kis-Megyer farm stood on the east bank of the Páncza. Just east of Kis-Megyer farm rose Szabadhegy hill. On the hill’s north side lay Szabadhegy hamlet.
John deployed FML Mécsery’s 5,947 cavalry to defend his left flank behind the Pándzsa. He turned Kis-Megyer into a major strongpoint by packing FML Colloredo’s 7,778 infantry into the farm and its environs. Jelačić’s 7,517 soldiers defended the right flank in front of Szabadhegy hamlet. FML Frimont’s 7,863-man reserve stood on Szabadhegy hill. Oberst Bésán’s 1,546 horsemen held the ground between Jelačić’s right and the Raab River. FZM Davidovich held some field works on the north side of the river with about 4,000 Hungarian militia.
Eugène took MG Grouchy from his corps command and reassigned him to command the 5,371 troopers in the cavalry divisions of MG Montbrun, BG Guèrin, and BG Colbert. These were posted on the right (south) flank with the intention of turning John’s left flank. Eugène ordered Grenier to assault the Austrian center with the 15,662 men of his two divisions. MG d’Hilliers was instructed to attack the Austrian right with his single division of 8,315 soldiers. Eugène held the troops from Grouchy’s corps in reserve, MG Pacthod’s 5,166-foot soldiers and MG Sahuc’s 1,280 cavalry. He also kept back MG Pully’s 1,470 dragoons and MG Lechi’s 2,438 Italian Guards.
In the first rush, MG Durutte’s troops stormed across the Pándzsa and seized Kis-Megyer farm, but the Austrians quickly took it back. In bitter fighting, the farm changed hands five times. Finally, John committed GM Kleinmeyer’s powerful brigade. Four grenadier battalions and the soldiers of the Alvinczi Infantry Regiment # 19 pushed back MG Seras’ troops, then fell upon Durutte’s division near the farm. Meanwhile, MG Severoli’s division pushed back Jelačić and took part of Szabadhegy hamlet. John sent GM Gajoli’s brigade from the reserve to deal with this threat. The Austrian counterattack succeeded in panicking the soldiers of Grenier and d’Hilliers. They abandoned their gains and ran back to the west side of the Pándzsa and safety.
Deducing that the three Austrian cannon defended the best crossing point over the Pándzsa, Grouchy ordered up his 12 guns. French cannon fire soon silenced the opposing artillery pieces, allowing Grouchy’s horsemen to begin fording the stream. When the French cavalry charged, covered by a cannonade, the Insurrections Hussars soon took flight. Only the Ott Hussar Regiment # 7 and the Archduke Joseph Hussar Regiment # 2 put up serious resistance and both units suffered heavy losses. Grouchy wheeled his troopers to the left to roll up John’s left flank.
Faced with a crisis, John redeployed his units in an L-shaped line. His right flank still ran along the Pándzsa, but at Kis-Megyer farm, the line bent to face south along the Szabadhegy hill. John sent Bésán’s horsemen from the right flank to cover the new left flank on the east side of Szabadhegy hill. For his second assault, Eugène sent in Pacthod’s division and Lechi’s Italian Guards from his reserve. The second infantry attack slowly made headway. Finally, the Italian Guard cleared Kis-Megyer farm. John, fearing envelopment from Grouchy’s cavalry, ordered a retreat northeast into Győr fortress.
The Game
We played the game using Blucher rules. The terrain and OOBs were in accordance with the historical battlefield and forces present at the battle. We treated the Raab as a difficult river to cross. Players had to roll below their CV to move to cross. Failed rolls would result in the unit not moving. All units were deployed by their hidden markers. The would be discovered in accordance with the rules, with the exception that automatic spotting was reduced to 2″. Further, both sides were given six extra dummy markers. It was hoped this would give the Austrians a defensive advantage.
The Austrians deployed their army forward along the river in the hope of contesting the French crossings across the entire front. The French massed on their own right flank with the intent to overwhelm the Austrians there and turn the flank. Once the flank was crossed, the remainder of the army was to attack to pin the Austrian forces and hold them from redeploying. The French places their dummy markers on their left to give the Austrians the impression they would be attacking on both flanks. Forces were set and the game began!
Early Game. The French were assisted by high command rolls in the early turns. This allowed them to get their attack on the right going. They were able to get across the river quickly and engage the Austrians facing them. The Austrians were plagued by low command die rolls and seeing that a majority of the French to their front had not been uncovered, hesitated to shift forces to protect the flank. The decided to shift their flank forces to keep the French engaged and wait until the French showed more of their hand.
Mid Game. The French continued their attack against the Austrian left, overwhelming the Austrians in front of them.. The Austrians tried to parry these moves with the forces present and began to shift brigades to form up a reserve position. However, the French were too strong and started to grind up the Austrians. With the flank attack going well, the French released their remaining forces to engage the full Austrian lines. The Austrians then began to re-align forces to try to stem the French tied.
Late Game. The French moved forward across the entire frontage and engaged the full Austrian army. With the left flank overwehlmed and the center holding on by its fingernails, the Austrians tried some local attacks to push back the French. However, the overall losses turned out to be too much and the Austrians decided to quit the field (failed army morale). The result was a historical French victory!
– Manteuffel