San Martino BatRep - Don't Throw a One!

After a week's intermission, I was back to the table with the Rejects to resolve the final act in the Battle of San Martino.  For a battle refresher, please visit, Battle of San Martino - Part 1. 

For the battle's concluding session, we lost Ian and David but gained Ray.  David even made a brief appearance from a pub during his travels.  Now, that is dedication!  Ray picked up Ian's Sardinian command.  Lee took over command of David's brigade.  Having grasped the rules quickly in the first session, I was curious to see if strategy and tactics may have evolved over the weeklong hiatus. 

We pick up the action at the start of Turn 6.  

When we left the battle, the Austrians were advancing cautiously upon San Martino and the heights.  Having dispatched the Sardinian light cavalry causing havoc on the Austrian left, Lippert orders his brigade to bypass the heights and concentrate on covering the vital bridge near San Donnino.  Morozzo still maintains four battalions of the 13th Infantry Regiment protecting the Sardinian right.  Would Morozzo drive on the Austrian positions at San Donnino or remain content to screen the Sardinian right?  With a change of commanders from Ian to Ray, a change of approach may be forthcoming. 

Start of the action on Turn 6.

On the Austrian right, Philippovic and Watervliet continue their cautious approach toward San Martino.  Knowing that a small chance exists to end the battle abruptly at the end of Turn 8, the Austrians may need to press on if the objectives are to be in Austrian hands before battle ends.

Austrians advance on the right toward San Martino.

Facing the white-coated juggernaut on the Sardinian left is King Victor Emmanuele, himself, leading the 14th Infantry Regiment.  Knowing the 14th IR suffered monstrous casualties in the opening stages of battle, its combat effectiveness may be in question.

With a cautious approach upon San Martino, Mollard is allowed time to ready defenses for the attacks he expects to come.  Having his recon column cover the central position astride the main road and defend the heights, Mollard orders Arnaldi to deploy half of his brigade into the vineyards to the east of San Martino while supporting Mollard's Bersaglieri in Contracania and Ortaglia upon the heights.

Mollard consolidates the central position.

Lippert completes his redeployment to protect the bridge by covering its approaches by three of his four battalions. Benedek, near San Donnino, oversees this maneuver while bringing up the reserve artillery and hussars.  Morozzo slowly advances south toward Lippert's position with skirmish fire breaking out in places. With the longer range of the Austrians rifled muskets, Morozzo is hard-pressed to win this uneven contest.

Lippert shifts left.

Skirmish fire, likewise, breaks out across the battlefield as Philoppovic and Watervliet move on the enemy.  Still, progress is slow and methodical.  With an advantage in both quality and quantity, a quick drive by Watervliet upon the Sardinian left may see that flank collapse under the weight.

View behind Austrian lines, Turn 7.

Having primarily deployed to the east of the road, Philoppovic moves off to the west to pin the Sardinians on the heights.  Is Philoppovic the anvil to Watervliet's hammer?  Still, skirmish fire and artillery bombardments intensify on this front as two Austrian batteries pound Sardinian positions at Ortaglia and San Martino.  One of Morozzo's batteries deployed in front of San Martino is driven off by artillery fire.  The path to San Martino could be opening up.

Philoppovic presses on in the center.

In the center, Philoppovic advances up onto the heights to support Lippert's guns and challenge the defenders of the fortified farms.  In a dashing charge, the 1st Hussars scatter the Bersaglieri below Contracania.  With Austrian small arms' greater range and a cautious approach, Austrian casualties are light.

Hussars scatter Sardinian Bersaglieri
near Contracania.

As noted earlier, the battle has a variable number of turns.  With a one-in-ten chance, the game may last only eight turns.  Probability of ending increases on each successive turn.  At the beginning of turn 8, I roll one D10.  On a '1' the battle will end with the conclusion of Turn 8.  Holding onto the objectives of Contracania and San Martino, the Sardinian players are hoping for a '1'.  For the methodical Austrians, they hope to see anything but a '1' to continue their systematic advance.

Dispositions beginning of turn 8.

To use Ray's blog name, the Austrians hope I "Don't Throw a One!"  I make the roll.  It comes up a

'1'!  

The Sardinians are elated.  The Austrians not so much.

The Austrians advance toward San Martino

Despite the deflation of hopes to securing the objectives, the Austrians press on for the final turn.  Fighting intensifies on the heights while vigorous attacks go into the vineyards in front of San Martino.

Close combat at the vineyards.

In last ditch efforts to take the vineyards and almost reach the outskirts of San Martino, the Austrians are bloodily repulsed.  The Sardinians have hung on to claim a minor victory.  Hooray for the Sardinians in their quest for throwing off the Austrian yoke of oppression!

Sardinians hold San Martino for victory

For the Sardinians, this was a jubilant resolution to battle.  For the Austrians, they really required a few more turns to bring their might to bear given their battle plan.  Well played by all. 

That was good fun and a terrific way to meet wargamers whose blogs I have followed for a long time.  A good discussion followed the session with more thoughts and comments coming in via email.

The Rejects unanimously and generously agree to tackle another Franco-Austrian war battle another day.  Much to consider for another game.  The rules seemed to work well with little ambiguity, I think.  Players caught on to most game attributes very quickly.  A game, decision-making, and rules retrospective I leave for another day.

For a superb, full battle account of the two-session game of San Martino told from the Austrian commander's perspective, please visit Richard's blog at,

The Battle of San Martino

Thanks to all players participating over the two-session game.