Background
The Battle of Sacile (also known as the Battle of Fontana Fredda) on 16 April 1809 and its companion Clash at Pordenone on 15 April saw an Austrian army commanded by Archduke John of Austria defeat a Franco-Italian army led by Eugène de Beauharnais and force it to retreat. Sacile proved to be the most notable victory of John’s career. The action took place east of the Livenza River near Sacile in modern-day Italy during the War of the Fifth Coalition, part of the Napoleonic Wars.
In April 1809, Archduke John quickly invaded Venetia in northeastern Italy. On 15 April at Pordenone, the Austrian advance guard routed the French rear guard, inflicting heavy losses. Undeterred by this setback and believing he enjoyed a numerical superiority over his opponents, Eugène attacked the Austrians east of Sacile the following day. Though the two sides were equal in numbers of foot soldiers, the Austrians possessed a two-to-one advantage in cavalry, and this turned out to be a key factor in their victory.
Eugène withdrew his army 130 kilometres (81 mi) to a defensible position at Verona on the Adige river, where he reorganized his army and received reinforcements. At Verona, the Franco-Italian army was secure from Archduke John’s army advancing from the east and a second Austrian column threatening it from the Tyrol in the north. By the end of April, news of French victories in the Danube valley caused John to fall back to the east, with Eugène in pursuit.
The Franco-Italian army suffered 3,000 killed and wounded at Sacile. An additional 3,500 soldiers, 19 guns, 23 ammunition wagons, and two colors fell into the hands of the Austrians. Pagès was wounded and captured while Teste was wounded. According to Smith, the Austrians lost 2,617 killed and wounded, 532 captured, and 697 missing. Schneid listed Austrian losses as 3,600 killed and wounded and 500 captured.
Eugène retreated to the Adige at Verona.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sacile
The Game
In continuation of our battles of 1809 in Italy series, next on our list was Sacile. This battle is not too large, but easily fielded using Bloody Big Battles. One of my buddies set up the terrain based on the battle maps and figured out the OB for both forces using our normal game scale. 500 man per infantry base, 350 per cavalry base and 12 guns per battery.
Austrian Army
Archduke Johann
Volkmann
5 S P Trnd SM. IR53
4 A P Vet Cav Savoy Dragoons
Frimont -Adv Guard
4 Trnd SM IR52/IR62
4 2S Trnd SM 1st Banal Grenz
4 A Trnd Cav Hussars/Chevauleger
1 SA Adv Gd Arty
Albert Gyulai VIII Corps
4 A Trnd Cav 2nd/9th Hussars
6 Trnd SM P IR27
6 Trnd SM P IR61
5 Trnd SM P IR53
5 S Trnd SM P IR61/2nd Banal Grenz
1 SA P VIII corps Arty
1 SA P VIII corps Arty
Ignaz Gyulai IX Corps
6 Trnd SM P IR19
5 S Trnd SM P Oguliner Grenz
6 Trnd SM P IR43
4 S Trnd SM P Ottocac Grenz
6 Trnd SM P IR13
5 S Trnd SM P Szuliner Grenz
5 A Vet SM P Combined Grenadiers
3 A Trnd Cav P Hohenloe Dragoons
1 SA P IX corps Arty
1 SA P IX corps Arty
Franco Italian Army
Prince Eugene Seras 1st Div
6 S Vet SM 53rd Ligne
6 S Trnd SM 106th Ligne
3 Trnd Cav 6th Chasseurs
1 SA 1stDiv Arty
Broussier 2nd Div
6 S Vet SM 9th Ligne
6 S Vet SM 84th Ligne
5 S Trnd SM 92nd Ligne
3 Trnd Cav 25th Chasseurs
1 SA 2nd Div Arty
Grenier 3rd Div
5 S Vet SM 1st Ligne
6 S Vet SM 52nd Ligne
5 S Trnd SM 102nd Ligne
1 SA 3rd Div Arty
Barbou 5th Div
3 2S Vet SM 18th Legere
4 S Vet SM 5th Ligne
4 S Vet SM 23/81st Ligne
1 SA 5th Div Arty
Severoli 1st Italian Div
6 S Trnd SM 1st Italian Line
4 S Trnd SM 7th Italian Line
3 2S Trnd SM Dalmatian Rgt.
1 SA Italian Arty
Sahuc Lt Cav Div
3 Trnd Cav F 6/8th Hussars
The game would be 12 turns, with the side with the higher objective count would be the winner. Victory objective towns were assigned (I don’t remember what they were though!) and both sides set up. Both sides advanced, with the Austrians trying to force the right. The Austrians seemed to get off well initially, punishing the Franco Italians to their front, while protecting their left flank. The Franco Italians came on more evenly deployed and seemed to be wavering.
The Austrian columns were slowed down in the process of processing their attack. This grind did cause uneven casualties, but was not able to break the Franco Italians before their reserves marched into position to stabilize the front. The Austrians were in position for one last push to break the thin Franco Italian line. However, their commanders lost their nerve (poor command rolls) and Prince Eugene’s forces held the line! An unhistorical loss for the Austrians! Uncle Napi would be very happy!
- Mantueffel