San Martino BatRep - Game 2

The San Martino battle in May resulted in an abrupt Austrian capitulation due in part to aggressive handling of the Sardinian grenadier division, timid Austrian play, and a few rules' oversights (See San Martino Game 1).  Wanting to give the scenario another workout under more representative conditions, the forces were reset and the battle reconvened.

In this replay, Jake took on the role of Benedek commanding the Austrians while I stepped in as King Vittorio Emanuele II of Sardinia.  Would we experience a replay of the first game, something similar, or something completely different?

Since I commanded the Sardinians in this replay, most photos will be taken from the Sardinian perspective, behind the Sardinian lines.  The Sardinians enter the table from the north.  Austrians attack from the south.  West is on the right and east is on the left in most photos.  On to the battle account. 

Earlier in the morning (0700), Sardinian General Mollard, in provisional command of a recon formation, pushes Austrians from the high ground around San Martino.  As the Austrians fall back from the heights, Sardinian Bersaglieri take up positions in both the village of San Martino and the fortified villa of Contracina.  The three battalions of 7th, 8th, and 11th Infantry Regiments prepare themselves for the Austrian counterattack they know will fall upon their exposed and isolated positions.

Sardinian lead elements control the San Martino heights.

Mollard's small force prepares a defense

Having seen the advance elements of his Austrian Corps thrown off the San Martino Heights, Benedek orders the Corps into action.  With Mollard isolated from the Sardinian Army with no support in sight, Benedek seizes the opportunity to retake the heights with limited risk.  Given the prospect of crushing an isolated foe, the Austrians advance upon San Martino without delay.  "Without delay" is exactly how Lang's Austrian Division responded.

Austrians prepare to assault the heights

Reichlin's Brigade advances upon San Martino Heights

While Reichlin's ad hoc, four battalion brigade (comprised of the 4th battalions from 9th, 18th,19th, and 27th Infantry Regiments) works around the southern approaches to the heights, Phillippovic and Lippert's brigades commence the task of reclaiming the heights in a head on assault.

The initial Austrian assault against the Sardinian-held heights sees success from the outset.  Mollard's three, unsupported line battalions are pushed back from the crest with seemingly little effort.  The Bersaglieri barricaded in among the walls of Contracina put up a more determined defense.  Casualties are light among the attackers but the Sardinians, caught in a deadly crossfire suffer greatly.  Still, the Sardinians cling to Contracina and the northern slopes of the heights.

Mollard's troops pushed from the heights

Berger's Austrian Division moves from the hill overlooking Pozzolengo on a straight path to cut Mollard's line of retreat.  With only two squadrons of Sardinian light cavalry protecting this flank, envelopment of Mollard becomes a distinct possibility.  Mollard sends couriers back in search of reinforcements.  

San Martino position looks untenable for Mollard

By 0830, the first brigade capable of reinforcing Mollard reaches the embanked railway.  Assistance arrives in the form of the Cuneo Brigade under Arnaldi.  By this time, however, Mollard's detachment has been pushed off the heights with only one battalion of Bersaglieri still having a toehold in the village.  The Austrians succeed in pressuring the Sardinians from the east while maintaining heavy pressure in the center.  Arnaldi's brigade will be needed in an attempt to stabilize this quickly deteriorating situation.

Cuneo Brigade arrives

Austrians flank San Martino as Mollard falls back

To prevent the envelopment of the San Martino position and Mollard's command, Arnaldi quickly clears the tracks and deploys his brigade to counter the Austrian advances.  Sacrificing men for time to allow Mollard to escape the tightening noose, Arnaldi's brigade begins taking casualties as they advance under fire into close range.  Unfortunately for the Sardinians, the Austrians are armed with rifled muskets while they carry only smoothbore muskets.

Arnaldi's Sardinians step in to plug a gap

Arnaldi's timely intervention allows Mollard's battered formation a chance to regroup with its back against the railway embankment.  Given the size and determination of the Austrian Corps, more troops than Arnaldi can muster will be needed to stem the White Tide.

Mollard gets a brief reprieve

The Sardinian right has not been inactive during the early hours of battle.  Already on the march to contest the vital bridge when the Austrians attacked, Durando's Sardinian 1st Division presses on.  Durando marches to engage the enemy on the far western edges of the battlefield screened by the cover of a wooded hill.  He is tasked with turning the Austrian left flank and threatening the Austrian Line of Communication leading back to the main Austrian Army fighting hard at Solferino.  If the small village of Madonna del Scoperta can be taken, the tables will be turned and Benedek's command will be isolated.   

Sensing the danger, two brigades are detached from Austrian V Corps to the south and march on Madonna del Scoperta.  While the two brigades of Gaal and Koller arrive too late to prevent the western most bridge from falling into Sardinian hands, these two Austrian brigades rapidly deploy to contest Madonna del Scoperta.  Both brigades cross over to the north side of the river and take up defensive positions in the wooded hills to the west of San Martino.

Battle heats up on the Western Front 
(right side of table)

With a bridgehead over the river secure, the bulk of Durando's division turns east to attack Gaal and Koller.  Fighting is hard as Durando's grenadiers take heavy casualties closing with the Austrian positioned in the woods.  With lines of infantry taking shape along the wood line, Perrier's brigade (Durando) attempts to outflank the hill.  As the Sardinians work around the wooded hill, Benedek sends more troops to counter this threat.  Casualties are high as the Sardinians are driven back upon supports.  The Sardinians see first hand that the larger Austrian battalions provide formidable opposition.  

Elements of Durando's Div. attack out onto the plain

Hard pressed on the Sardinian left and center, relief for Mollard arrives at 1000 in the form of Mollard's Pinerolo Brigade under the leadership of Morozzo.  Lang's Austrian Division comes down from the heights and threatens both Mollard's battered forces in the center and Durando's Division on the Sardinian right.  Morozzo is yet to bring his brigade into combat.

At this point on the 1030 turn, play was halted to be continued on a later date.  When play resumes, where will Mollard direct Morozzo's fresh brigade?  Will Sardinian reinforcements arrive in time to counter Austrian early successes?     

Situation at 10:30

The Austrian attacks centered around San Martino have seen great progress, thus far in the battle.  Mollard's small recon formation, while fighting valiantly, was no match for the numbers the Austrians put into the field.  Benedek has controlled the tempo of the battle as his troops successfully pushed back all opposition.  The Sardinians, heavily outnumbered, have suffered much more than their adversary in the opening hours of battle.      

Austrians push on to the west

Austrian Reserve artillery moves up to the front

The Sardinians are not without hope, however.  Durando's Division took a vital bridge across the river and is seeing the fruits of its labors against the Austrian brigades of Gaal and Koller in the southwest.  While Gaal and Koller still have a strong hold on the objective of Madonna del Scoperta and defend in depth, the Austrians are beginning to show signs of wear as Durando's grenadiers repeatedly attack the Austrian positions all along the wooded hill.  

Durando's grenadiers engage Austrians from V Corps

While Benedek's Corps has taken and continues to hold all of the victory objectives, the Sardinians are hoping this situation will soon reverse.  In all of this carnage, only one half-battalion of Bersaglieri has been destroyed.  As in the historical battle, the Sardinian army arrives onto the battle intermittently.  The result of this uncoordinated arrival is that Sardinian attacks and defenses are forced into piecemeal responses.  Tough start for the Sardinians but Morozzo has arrived onto the battlefield at 1030 to lend support.  The Austrians have no uncommitted reserve remaining.  Two more Sardinian brigades march to the sound of guns.  Perhaps this will be a situation of losing a battle in the morning only to secure victory in the afternoon?

Rules of Engagement: Summer of '59
Figures: Freikorps 15s, Lancashire Games, Mirliton, Old Glory