Battle of Raab 11:00-11:30

Austrian grenadiers step off in support

French HQ 1100:

As Eugene strains to see what is transpiring out on his right flank at the Upper Bridge, a courier arrives from Seras.  He unfolds the message and begins to read,

1030:  Sire, my division has reached the Pancza and has begun a probe on the east bank. Kis-Megyer heavily garrisoned and formidable but church held only by Hungarian militia and isolated from support.  Church should fall without committing the entire division.

Eugene finishes reading the missive, provides additional instructions for Seras and sends the ADC back to his division.  A second order is quickly dashed off to Durutte's division and a courier is released to deliver his instructions.

He mounts his horse for a better vantage point but still cannot make out the results of the clash on his far right.  Grouchy's heavy cavalry brigade remains motionless as Durutte's division steps off towards the Kis-Megyer farm.

Turning to his ADC, Eugene states,

If Montbrun and Colbert required support, certainly Grouchy would respond, no?

Troop dispositions 1100

At the Austrian HQ in the churchyard to the southeast of the Kis-Megyer farm, FML Colloredo turns to the Archduke and says,

Your Excellency, Mescery has thrown the French back across the Pancza and appears to be exploiting fortune! Our fine troopers bent but did not break!

With Seras' division bearing down on our positions, brave Marziani will not be able to resist for long. 

While the Archduke continues listening to Colloredo's assessments and suggestions, the conversation is overwhelmed by the sound of musketry along the Pancza as the French probing action expands into more than a probe.

Seras probes Austrian center

With a directive from the Archduke, Colloredo mounts his horse and sets off in search of Lutz.  Before riding away, he turns back to the Archduke and says,

The militia defending the churchyard may not withstand such an overwhelming assault.  May I humbly suggest you head to higher ground up on the Szabadhegy Heights before the church is overrun?

Opposite the church, Seras' division crosses the Pancza bearing down on the Archduke's position and begins threatening the church, itself.  Heeding Colloredo's advice, Johan climbs the heights in search of Frimont and for troops to stiffen this flank.

Seras crosses Pancza in force

Out on the French right, Montbrun attaches himself to the 2/7 Hussars who find themselves precariously clinging to the bridgehead on the east bank of the Pancza.  The demoralized hussars' morale only improves moderately despite the general's inspiration.  On the west bank, 1/7 Hussars rally and navigate across the brook to join its sister squadrons on the east bank.  Montbrun's remaining cavalry, the 1st Chasseurs cannot find a suitable path across the brook.

French cavalry expand bridgehead

With Montbrun busily putting his brigade back together all the while peppered by the ineffective fire from Hadik's battery, the responsibility of expanding the bridgehead falls to Colbert.  While the bulk of Colbert's command searches for a ford across the steep banks of the Pancza, the 1/7 Chasseurs clash with the over-extended Insurrection cavalry at the bridge.

French chasseurs counterattack

Disordered from their earlier success at the bridge, the Insurrection cavalry cannot withstand the impact from the French light cavalry and tumble back from the bridge.  With their retreat path partially blocked, the Insurrectio become demoralized as they rout.  Many Hungarian troopers are captured in the rush.  In the clash, Gosztony is injured but is rescued and carried from the field.

Insurrectio cavalry rout

Having lost its commander in the rout back from the Upper Bridge, Gosztony's brigade panics.  Gosztony's entire command melts away to the east.

Gosztony falls and brigade panics!

With Gosztony's brigade put to flight and Hadik's brigade faring not much better, Andrasy launches attacks against both the Upper Bridge and the French near the church in hope of stabilizing the situation and buying a little time.

Andrasy counterattacks

To stem the tide of fleeing cavalry, Hadik joins Heves Insurrectio while Mescery hurries back to halt the flight of Gosztony's brigade.  The 1/5 Hussars, 2/Pesther Insurrectio, and 1/Bacser Insurrectio rally and redeploy in a way that covers the retreat of the remainder of Gosztony's wavering brigade.  

Gosztony's troops rally to cover retreat

From Andrasy's cavalry brigade, the 2/2 Hussars lead the Eisenberg Insurrectio cavalry into the 1st Legere as it clears the Pancza.  Surprised by the sudden appearance of Austrian cavalry on an exposed flank, the legere withdraw back into the safety of the stream banks.  Not wishing to pursue into the brook, the Austrian cavalry break off and return to their lines, disordered.

In an attack on the precariously held bridgehead, the 1/2 Hussars, with Odenburger Insurrectio cavalry in support, pass in front of Grouchy's light horse artillery deployed along the banks of the Pancza.  Grouchy's guns are ineffective as the Austrian light cavalry charge home.  Their target; the 1/7 Hussars that are reforming in the bridgehead.

French 1/7  Hussars destroyed

Caught reforming, the French cavalry has little chance.  Already weakened in numbers, the 1/7 Hussar Regiment is destroyed.  Momentum carries the Austrian horse into the 2/7 Hussars in which Montbrun is attempting to rally.  The 2/7 narrowly avoids the same fate as its brethren.  A large number of the demoralized French troopers are captured as the hussars retreat back across the brook.

French 2/7 Hussars falter

Finally, Zemplin's Insurrectio cavalry contacts the disordered 1/20 CaC at the bridge.  Even disordered, the French are able to repulse the Hungarian troopers.  The Insurrectio falls back leaving many of its comrades dead on the field.

Zemplin's Insurrectio repulsed at bridge

Frimont, waiting in reserve, sees the threat to Marziani and acts under his own initiative to set Kienmeyer's division into motion.  Also brought up are the two 12 lb Reserve batteries as the Archduke reaches Frimont on the heights.

Kienmeyer comes up in support

Due to losses, both Hadik and Montbrun are forced to make panic tests.  Both cavalry commanders hold up to the pressure but Montbrun just avoids panicking.

Battlefield from Austrian left

That was an action-packed half hour!  On the French right at the Upper Bridge, the situation is still very much in doubt.  With charge and countercharge the Upper Bridge has become a very dangerous place on the battlefield.  Luckily for the French, Hadik's battery has been ineffective.  The green, insurrection cavalry cannot win a battle of attrition with the French.  In the center, Seras has cleared the brook and fighting there will likely escalate.  With Seras' threat, Johan has had to commit his reserve early in the battle to shore up his defenses.

Will ex-Gosztony's brigade be able to sort itself out and return to action before the battle on that wing is decided?  Montbrun's command is quite spent and may not be able to sustain any additional offensive action.  Until Montbrun panics or his objective is fulfilled, his orders will remain in effect.