Battle of Mont de Champion - BatRep

The gaming group gathered at Scott's for an Age of Eagles game featuring the teleportation of the ACW battle, Champion Hill, back in time to the Napoleonic Wars.  Specifically, the battle pitted French forces under the Little Corporal, himself, against the combined forces of Austrian and Russia.

French Cuirassiers prepare for charge

The French objective focused on taking and controlling the vital crossroads.  To accomplish that task, Mont de Champion must fall to the French.  A general overview of opening deployments is illustrated in the game photo below.

Opening positions

With French forces already in a position to compromise the Austrian right flank, the French plan of attack was to hit the Austrian right hard and turn that flank while applying pressure all along the front.  Having made the Austrian right untenable, the plan was to then focus on attacking the heights protecting the crossroads.

When the game began, Austrian guns held the heights while remaining troop deployments stretched along the road.  The Austrian commander hurried reinforcements to the front.

French prepare to attack Austrian  defensive line

Austrian guns on Mont de Champion

As French overpower the Austrian right and combat escalates, the Austrian left falls back as pressure on that flank increases.  French bring up lancers to within striking distance of the Austrian line while the French cavalry reserve trots forward.

Clash on Austrian left

French on the right and center advance on the crossroads.  Austrian dragoons on the extreme left strike out against the German allies but are met with a hail of cannon and musket fire.  The dragoons take heavy casualties and retreat back into the safety of the woods.

Brash Austrian dragoons strike out

From my vantage point on the far French right, I could not discern the details of the heated action on the left.  For those details, see Scott's blog entry of the battle.  I could, however, witness good French progress against Mont de Champion as waves of French infantry smashed against the Austrian gun line on the hill top.  As the smoke cleared, French troops were clearly seen controlling the heights. 

French waves slap against the Austrian gun positions

French take Mont de Champion

To bolster the Allied defense and attempt to thwart French progress, Austrian reinforcements arrive on the Allied right and the Russians arrive nearly in the French rear on the Allied left.

Russians arrive

Still, the French in the center and right push on, driving the Austrians back.  

Pretty Austrian Dragoons

French center and right presses on

With Russians on their flank, three German brigades are diverted from their primary task of driving the Austrians from the field.  To support the French right, Napoleon releases the heavy cavalry division.

Austrians withdraw while Russians attack

Russians assault French right

The French heavy cavalry quickly counter attack the Russian infantry.  The first charge of the cuirassiers is repulsed as the Russians form square but the square just as quickly draws fire from artillery.  Disordered by artillery fire, the second charge into the Russians causes them to buckle and retreat.

French counter attack Russians

With the threat to the French right flank neutralized, the task of shoving the Austrians back upon their LOC continues.  At this point, the Allies choose to break off the engagement in an attempt to disengage in the face of a victorious foe. 

French drive deep into Austrian line

 The victors and the vanquished.

French: Kevin, Scott M. Allies: Scott R and Don