Taking Command at Bassignana, 1745

Battle of Bassignana. Photo courtesy Andrè Hanselmann

After having participated in Andrè's Battle of Quistello game earlier in 2020, I accepted the commander's role of Spanish General de Gages when he slated the Battle of Bassignana for his gaming table.

Like Quistello, Bassignana was not a remote participation game in the sense that I would be commanding my troops throughout the battle.  My role, as commander of the Spanish wing under de Gages, was to write initial orders to my commands, communicate with the French Marechal Maillebois, and attempt to influence nearby formations toward my plan of battle.  Each commander was allowed a specific number of communications before the battle began.  After that, no more communications.  The players would use these pre-battle instructions to guide battle flow toward victory.  Game participants would attempt to carry out my orders as they deemed appropriate.  The possibility of orders falling into enemy hands was a risk.  In Bassignana, a number of orders fell into enemy hands or became lost in transit.   

At the Battle of Bassignana, the Franco-Spanish armies deployed along the Tanaro River facing the combined Austro-Piedmontese armies as illustrated in the diagram below.  The Franco-Spanish army must take Pavone, Rivarone, and Bassignana for victory.  Either take those three objectives or destroy the opposing army.  Rules in play would be Honours of War.

For a full treatment of the battle with OBs and after action reports, please visit Andrè's blog at:

Bassignana Part I

Bassignana Part II

Initial dispositions, Bassignana.
Map by Andrè Hanselmann

For this post, I plan to simply provide some of the decision-making process behind the Spanish initial plans of battle.  Unfortunately, as will be seen for those venturing off to read Andrè's excellent accounts of the battle, my brilliant plans did not survive contact with the enemy.  Not only that, but de Gages, being a Dithering general, had great difficulty even getting his plan into motion.

De Gages' Spanish army is composed of columns A and B in the diagram above.  De Gages own force (A) consists of three small infantry battalions. Pignatelli's force (B) contains two cavalry regiments.  Arambou's column (C) of which I hope to convince to join my attack has three small infantry battalions, one small cavalry formation, and one light artillery battery.

With French Marechal Maillebois in overall command, I awaited instructions from French HQ.  After allowing for appropriate time in which to receive an ADC from Maillebois, I formulated my own plan of action.

With the village of Rivarone held by one militia, one grenadier, and one light battery, Arambou was ordered to demonstrate against this position with his artillery and one infantry battalion.  While the enemy commander, de la Chiesa was pinned in Rivarone, the remainder of Arambou's command would force the Tanaro and attack the Piedmontese outpost laying between Rivarone and Bassignana.  Pignatelli's cavalry would support Arambou's attack.  Once defeated, Pignatelli and Arambou would advance to secure the Po river bridge.  De Gages' three infantry battalions would force the Tanaro, screen the Austrians in Bassagnana without becoming heavily engaged, and press on to the bridge over the Po.

The initial objective of the Spanish army was to secure the Po bridge before Austrian reinforcements could cross over in support of their scattered forces on the south bank of the Po.  Only when the Po bridge was secure would Spanish forces turn toward reducing the defenders of Rivarone and Bassignana.  De Gages' hope was that the French could handle the enemy in the south and then drive to take Pavone.  See planning map below: 

Franco-Spanish plans of attack.
Map by Andrè Hanselmann

At the last moment before setting his plan into motion, de Gages received an ADC from Maillebois into his HQ.  Opening the package, de Gages saw the following letter from the French Marechal:

Courtesy Andrè Hanselmann

This missive translates to:

Monsieur!
Please allow me to present to you my plans, which will most probably find the approval by his royal highness the infant of Spain. I have already some plans in my mind how you could act against the Piedmont position in front of Arambou. Arambou's infantry could form line against Rivarone and his cavalry could be so kind to support Pignatelli's horse. Three regiments will be sufficient to overwhelm the Piedmont cavalry between Bassignana and Rivarone.
I will personally assist your attack on the Piedmont center at Rivarone with my own cavalry under Danois.
Please be so kind to confirm the arrival of my message.
Your most obedient
Maréchal de Maillebois

After reading the instructions from Maillebois, de Gages quickly wrote a reply, handed it back to the Maillebois' ADC, and bid him adieu. De Gages' reply to Maillebois read,

My Dear General,

Your ADC has successfully delivered your instructions.  Arambou's cavalry will support Pignatelli in driving the Piedmontese from between Rivarone and Bassignana.  The primary mission of the Spanish on this day is to drive on the bridge on the Po to prevent the enemy from reinforcing its troops on the south bank.  After the bridge is seized and enemy reinforcements cut off, I will turn upon Bassignana and Rivarone to drive the enemy from the field.  Arambou's remaining command will observe and harass Rivarone until either your force comes up to attack or the bridge is secured.  In either event, Arambou will join in on an attack against Rivarone.

Yours,

de Gages

Battle of Bassignana. Photo courtesy Andrè Hanselmann

To see how this battle played out, please visit Andrè's blog to read the two part battle account of Bassignana (links provided above).  Andrè presents a very engaging battle report presented in both German and English with lots of helpful in-battle photos.  The battle is fought in 1/72nd.  Great job, Andrè!