San Martino: Game #2

Having seen the battle report from the San Martino game with the Rejects, Mike (Dieroll Volleys) threw his hat into the ring to give the battle and remote gaming a try.

Assessing the situation, Mike thought the Sardinians were the underdogs in this engagement and offered to take command of the Sardinians.  I would command the Austrians in a two-player game.  Mike's friend, David, would watch in.  For battle briefing, please visit,

On the Table Today.

Let's see how the battle played out.

As the battle opens, Sardinian division commander, Mollard, holds San Martino and clings to the Heights with his reconnaissance column.  Two Bersaglieri battalions hold Ortaglia and San Martino while one battalion of the 7th IR holds the villa of Contracania on the Sardinian right. 

Mollard holds San Martino

Facing Mollard is the might of Benedek's Austrian Corps of three brigades.  Spread out along the banks of the Fossa Redone, Lippert's Brigade is on the left, Philippovic's Brigade is in the center, and Watervliet's Brigade holds the right.

Mollard outnumbered as the battle opens.

Benedek deploys for battle.

Benedek sets his corps quickly into motion in an attempt to engage Mollard before Sardinian reinforcements arrive.  Lippert advances, concentrating his attack upon Mollard with an eye toward taking Contracania.  Lippert sends one battalion of the 59th to cover San Donnino while the rest of the brigade moves smartly toward Contracania.

Philippovic and Wavervliet look toward pinning Mollard at San Martino while turning Mollard's left.  Before these maneuvers can be carried out, Sardinian reinforcements arrive.  Arnaldi advances astride the road toward San Martino to support Mollard with part of his brigade fanning out to the east.  Skirmishing with Watervliet begins as the two opposing brigades close upon one another.

The two armies close.

On the Sardinian right, Morozzo wastes little time in bringing up his large brigade.  Lippert is driven back from Contracania relinquishing his advanced position on the heights as Morozzo covers Contracania from the west.  Lippert's 59th takes heavy casualties in the exchange as Sardinian guns and long range musketry pepper the Austrians as they cross the open ground.  The Sardinian defenders of both Contracania and Ortaglia prove too stout to dislodge even with supporting fire from Philoppovic and Watervliet.  Two Austrian battalions are lost before Benedek can bring up his reserve artillery.

Morozzo on the attack!

With Lippert's attacks on the center repulsed, Mollard holds the San Martino Heights, Ortaglia, San Martino, and Contracania.  Having Morozzo shoring up the Sardinian right, the Austrians may make little progress on this front although fighting over Contracania remains heated.  Pressure is mounting from the Austrians on the Sardinian left, however.

Mollard stands firm at San Martino.

Morozzo covers the Sardinian right.

With Morozzo advancing in strength upon San Donnino and the vital bridge, Benedek brings up his reserve artillery and hussar regiment to cover this threat.  Having personally overseen the positioning of the reserve artillery, Benedek seemingly dares the Sardinians to continue their advance.

Benedek brings up the artillery.

Mike looks comfortable with his
 positioning of the Sardinian Army.

On the Sardinian left, both Watervliet and Philippovic move to outflank Arnaldi and attack San Martino from the east.  Arnaldi takes up positions in the vineyards around San Martino.  Arnaldi even launches spoiling attacks from out of the vineyards.  These attacks see some success in halting the Austrian advance although Arnaldi suffers casualties he can ill afford.  While the Sardinian right looks solid, the Sardinian left looks fragile.

Austrians work to outflank the Sardinian position.

Situation Turn 5.

Arnaldi's pre-emptive attacks only buy a little time and wreck his brigade.  Arnaldi orders his brigade to retire back toward the main road covering San Martino.  Having advanced beyond San Martino, Watervliet turns his brigade west toward the objective.  In desperation, Monferrato launches cavalry charges into the advancing Austrians.  While the jagers are scattered, Monferrato's cavalry is spent for the day.

Monferrato's desperate cavalry charge.

With Arnaldi retiring, the way opens for Watervliet to drive upon San Martino from the east.  Philippovic, for his part, is still embroiled in a firefight with elements of Mollard's recon column.  The defenders of both San Martino and Ortalgia are proving very stubborn.  Even when a Sardinian battalion is thrown out of Ortaglia, Mollard cycles a fresher battalion into its place.  

Watervliet turns the Sardinian left.

Morozzo, having stabilized the Sardinian right, begins shifting battalions to support Mollard on San Martino Heights.  Lippert, with his brigade wrecked, can only look on as the enemy shifts away from his depleted defenders.

Austrian hussars watch on as
 Morozzo redeploys to the Heights. 

On the Sardinian left, losses are high with many battalions scattered.  Yet, the Sardinians still cling to Contracania and San Martino.  The Austrian army is in not much better shape.  Lippert is wrecked and both Philippovic and Watervliet have sustained heavy casualties.  Many of the Austrian battalions are only one hit away from collapse.

Austrian casualties are high.

Sardinians hold Contracania

and Ortaglia on the Heights.

Sardinians cling to San Martino.

At the end of eight turns, we agree that the Austrians will have a difficult time taking San Martino.  Contracania is well out of reach for the Austrians and the capture of San Martino looks unlikely in the time given and Austrian casualties suffered.

With that, we declare that the Sardinians have hung on to win another minor victory.  Congratulations to Mike.  Well played!

After we closed out the session, I noticed that Mollard's Brigade had broken on Turn 8.  With two brigades broken, the Sardinians would have been compelled to withdraw from the field.  Still, Mike deserves a hard-fought victory given the state of Benedek's decimated Austrian Corps.

Hopefully, Mike, we meet on the field of battle another day so that I may even the score.

Great fun and thank you!