Introduction: We played the Battle of Raab 1809 using Bloody Big Battles. The Austrian Archdukes Johann and Joseph offered battle with their combined army outside the fortress city of Raab. Eugene attacked with his French and Italian army that was equal in size to the Austrians but much better in quality. The main source for the scenario is John Gill’s book, “Thunder on the Danube, Volume III”.
Scale: 1 figure equals 100 men (4 infantry/2 cavalry figures per base). 1 gun model equals about 12 guns (or six guns if a half battery). 1 inch on the table equals 100 yards. Each game turn is 30 minutes.
Terrain: The Austrian position faces south and is fronted by the Pandzsa stream, which flows into the Raab River on their right. The Pandzsa stream was a significant obstacle. Infantry may ford the stream at any point. Cavalry may only ford the stream on its upper end (where it is bordered by marsh). Artillery may not ford the stream at all. Fording units pay the usual movement penalty and are disordered. Attackers moving through the stream/marsh also receive a -1 penalty in close combat. The Pandzsa stream is crossed by four bridges which may be crossed with no penalty by any units in march column. The Raab River is impassible except where crossed by a temporary bridge. Flowing into the upper Pandzsa stream is the Viczay stream — this may be forded by all units with the usual movement penalty and with no disorder; however, any Insurrection Hussar units that cross the Viczay stream are disordered.
In the center of the Austrian front line is the fortified Kismegyer Farm; this provides a -2 penalty (left column shift) to incoming shooting, and a -2 penalty to attackers in close combat. The other buildings on the table are rated as villages, providing a -1 penalty to shooting and close combat, and no effect on moving or line of sight. The fortress of Raab is invulnerable to any shooting or close combat. The entrenchments across the Raab River provide a -2 penalty to shooting or close combat (which is extremely unlikely to occur as the river is impassible). All roads provide a double movement bonus for units in march column.
The Szabadhegy hill that rises behind Kismegyer provides a -1 penalty to units moving uphill into close combat. The other low hills on the table have no effect on movement or combat but can block line of sight — they represent the gently rolling terrain. The vineyards on the eastern side of the Szabadhegy hill are rough going — they slow movement and disorder cavalry but provide no other effect.
Orders of Battle: (For each unit, the first number is the number of bases in the unit/the second number is the number of losses until the unit is spent)
Austrian C-in-C: Archduke Johann and Archduke Joseph in joint command. (All Austrian units are Passive.)
(All Austrian commanders are only included for historical reference. None of them provide any command effect in the game.)
Right Wing Cavalry: Reg. Lt.Cav. 3/1; Ins.Hus. 5/1 F; Ins.Hus. 5/1 F
Right Wing Infantry: Jellacic; Ins.Inf 6/1 F,R; Landwehr 3/1; Grenz#10 4/2 2S; IR45,32 3/2
Center Infantry: Colloredo; IR27 4/2; IR61 4/2; Landwehr 6/2; IR62,Grenz#4 3/2 S; Ins.Inf. 5/1 F,R; Half-Battery
Left Wing Cavalry: Mecsery; 2,5 Hus. 6/2; Ins.Hus 6/1 F; Ins.Hus. 4/1 F; Ins.Hus. 4/1 F; Ins.Hus. 4/1 F
Reserve: Frimont; IR19 6/3; Grenadiers 4/3 A; IR16 4/2; Grenz#3 5/2 2S
In Entrenched Camp across Raab River: Mesko; Ins.Inf. 6/1 F,R; Ins.Inf. 5/1 F,R; InsHus. 3/1 F; Battery
Raab Garrison: IR48,52,58 4/2
Artillery Reserve (in rear behind Raab): Battery
(Orders to activate units in these last three commands suffer a -2 penalty to their order rolls, in addition to the -1 for being passive, and a further -1 for the Raab garrison. Once successfully ordered, only the -1 for being passive applies.)
French C-in-C: Eugene
Right Wing Cavalry:
Grouchy; 7,30 Drag. 6/3; Italian Regina Drag. 4/2, Battery
Montbrun; 9H,7C,20C 6/2; 7H/1C,2C 6/2
Right Wing Infantry: Grenier
Seras; 1LG,35LN 4/2 2S; 53LN 6/3 S
Durutte; 22LG,60LN 4/2 2S; 23LG 4/2 3S; Battery
Left Wing Infantry: Baraguey d’Hilliers
Severoli; Italian LN 6/3 S; Italian LN 5/2 S; 112LN 4/2 S; Battery
Pachtod; 8LG 4/2 3S; 1LN 4/2 S; 52LN 4/2 S (arrives Turn 1)
Left Wing Cavalry:
Sahuc; 6C,9C 6/2; 8C,25C 5/2 (arrives Turn 1)
Pully; 23,28,29 Drag. 6/3; Battery (arrives Turn 2)
Reserves:
Lauriston; Baden Jager,1LN,2LN 7/3 2S (arrives Turn 1)
Fontanelli; Italian Guard Cav. 4/2; Italian Guard 4/3 S,A (arrives Turn 2)
Marching to the Battle: Macdonald; Lamarque; 18LG,23LN,92LN 7/3 3S; 13LN 5/2 S; 29 LN 6/3 S, Battery (arrives Turn 8)
Victory Conditions: The French must equal or improve upon Eugene’s historic victory, by heavily damaging or destroying the Austrian army or cutting it off from its line of retreat. The Austrians must remain on the table for at least 12 turns and maintain an open line of retreat to their rear.
The Game:
The Austrian players deployed their forces as they wished in the general areas of their historic deployment, as noted in the order of battle. The left wing cavalry under Mecsery set up to defend the edge of the marsh behind the Pandzsa stream — this was the only place where the fragile Insurrection Hussars would have an even chance against the French cavalry. All of the Austrian cavalry were set up to the left of the Vicsay stream, leaving a gap between them and the Austrian center. The center was strongly held by Colloredo’s and Jellacic’s divisions. The right flank, where the Pandzsa stream bends away from the Austrian position, was undefended along the stream; the right wing cavalry was set up some distance behind the stream. Frimont’s reserve division stood on the Szabadegy heights behind the center. Across the Raab River, Mesko’s detachment of Insurrection troops manned the field fortifications and awaited orders.
The French players then deployed their forces in the general areas of their historic deployment, at least 12 inches away from the Pandzsa stream. The right wing saw Grouchy’s and Montbrun’s cavalry facing the Austrian cavalry — they slowly advanced to the stream, and unlimbered their artillery to support a crossing. The infantry of Seras’ and Durutte’s divisions moved forward to engage the Austrian center. On the French left, Severoli’s division rapidly advanced in march column, heading for the undefended bridges. Sahuc’s light cavalry division, followed by Pully’s dragoons, then moved from the left to the right, aiming for the open gap between the Austrian center and left wing.
The Austrians generally had problems responding to the initial French moves. Most of their units in the rear failed their command rolls to move forward. Only Jellacic was able to move a small line infantry brigade and a small Landwehr brigade to attack a French brigade as it crossed a bridge in march column. The Austrian shooting caused two hits (at the cost of going low on ammo), and the subsequent close combat caused another hit, and the French brigade dispersed! Another French brigade in march column was also forced to retreat with losses as it crossed another bridge, and it too would soon disperse.
On Turn 3, Montbrun’s light cavalry crossed the Pandzsa and charged the waiting Insurrection Hussars. At even odds, the hussars won, and forced the French to retire across the stream. However, on the following turn the French rallied and charged again, this time forcing the hussars back and gaining the dry ground beyond the marsh. Montbrun’s cavalry was soon joined by Sahuc’s and Pulley’s brigades, which crossed the Pandzsa through the still-undefended gap. All of this light cavalry then advanced across the open ground behind the stream, pushing the Insurrection Hussars across the field.
In the center, the first French infantry assault across the stream near the Kismegyer farm was repulsed. The second attack gained the far bank, but the Austrian grenadiers, who finally had moved forward from the reserve, counterattacked and pushed the French back again. Finally, the French crossed the undefended part of the stream, screened by Sahuc’s light cavalry, and were across the stream in force. On the Austrian right, the French, despite the earlier setbacks, were able to deploy some infantry on the Austrian side of the stream, exchanging fire with the two small Austrian brigades which held their ground.
The mid-game saw the Austrians generally maintaining their positions, except on their left wing. On the Austrian left, most of the hussars scattered, pursued by the French light cavalry. After several turns of waiting, Grouchy’s dragoon division finally charged the last Insurrection Hussar brigade guarding the Pandzsa stream. This isolated hussar brigade defeated both dragoon brigades and sent them back across the river with a loss! However, this success was not to last, and the French cavalry eventually rode down and dispersed all the Austrian cavalry on this wing. However, these mop-up actions took almost the entire game, and none of the French cavalry was able to influence the rest of the battle.
The Austrian center and right held firm. The Austrian reserve division moved to confront the French infantry incursion to the left of the Kismegyer Farm, and then fell back through the vineyard to secure the army’s route of retreat. The fortified farm itself was never threatened, and continued to anchor the Austrian center for the whole game. On the Austrian right, Mesko’s Insurrection infantry and cavalry, as well as the Raab garrison and the reserve artillery, finally received their orders to participate in the battle, and were able to help contain the French bridgehead on this flank. One of the Insurrection Hussar brigades defeated the Italian Guard Cavalry! By the end of the game, the Austrians on the right were slowly falling back, under little pressure from the French. MacDonald’s late-arriving division was able to join the battle on the penultimate turn, but had no effect on the outcome.
We called the game at the beginning of Turn 12, as it was clear that the French would not be able to fulfill their victory conditions. The Austrians had suffered greater losses, particularly among the expendable Insurrection Hussars, but the main part of their army was still intact and in good order, with an unthreatened line of retreat. Thus Johann and Joseph would be able to preserve their joint army and eventually join their brother at Wagram. Eugene would incur his stepfather’s wrath for botching the opportunity to win a significant victory on the venerated anniversary of Marengo…!
-TJ
Splendid game! It does look a tough nut for the French to crack, though. Nice to see a corner of Hungary on the tabletop (been doing a lot of Hungary 1848 wargaming myself the last couple of years). Hope y’all had fun.