A Second Look at Madonna dell'Olmo

After an illness enforced break during the holidays, gaming returns to the table mid-January.  Following December's Battle of Madonna dell'Olmo (see Madonna dell'Olmo), the three players agreed that a rematch would be entertaining.  With three players, Mark volunteered to take command of the Austro-Piedmontese Army alone while Chris and David would team up to command the Gallispan Army.  We had an observer for the game too.  Welcome Erik!

As a refresher, the battlefield and army deployments are as shown in the photos below:

Madonna dell'Olmo terrain features

Madonna dell'Olmo Army Deployments

Army deployments looking from South.

Will battle plans change from Game #1 with players swapping sides?  Well, Chris will remain a Gallispan for Game #2.  Let's see how the battle played out.

After the simulation study on how to maximize King Emmanuele's opening moves (see Computational Combat Statistics), I expected Mark to follow the math in attacking Madonna dell'Olmo (Md'O) with full force.  I was wrong!

Spanish grenadiers occupy the earthworks in front of Md'O.

Rather than bring both Sardinian grenadiers and Grenz in a supported attack, Mark opted to bring up the Grenz, give the Spanish a volley, and then close assault the Spanish grenadiers with the Sardinian grenadiers.  General de Corbeau would lead the way into the earthworks.

Corbeau attacks!

The Grenz fire off a volley into the earthworks and many Spanish are cut down. With de Corbeau leading the way, the Sardinians attack Md'O.  Still reeling from the Grenz' volley, the shocked Spanish are overwhelmed.  Md'O is in Piedmontese hands!  While not the suggested method to take the earthworks, Mark's method produced the same result.  D'Aix' Brigade moves forward as it advances upon Spanish positions.  

Give 'em a volley and charge!

Having lost Md'O so quickly, Spanish General de la Mina counters by moving his brigade to put an end to Piedmontese gains.  In a change of tactic from Game #1, Baden negotiates the sunken road to bring elements of his brigade across to threaten the enemy left.  Cincan's Brigade looks on as it refuses to cross the obstacle.

de la Mina moves up to defend the Spanish Right.

von Baden crosses the sunken road. 

Cincan looks on from the safety of the sunken road. 

As the Piedmontese step forward, French artillery rings out.  The bell tolls for a number of Piedmontese as their numbers are reduced.  The Spanish move forward to meet the attacks they know will come.  The French infantry supporting the guns in Cascina Pasquale come under artillery bombardment.

French artillery punishes the advancing Piedmontese.

Spanish move up to secure the Right.

Cascina Pasquale comes under artillery fire.

To counter enemy artillery bombardment against Cascina Pasquale, Chevert leads two regiments of dragon forward.  Standing in their path is a regiment of Swiss.  Having already suffered from French artillery, the Swiss are quickly dispatched.  That is the good news.  The bad news is that the French dragoons are now open to enemy artillery, themselves.

French dragoons attack the Swiss...

but victory leaves them exposed.

Shifting from the Center to the Piedmontese Left, Cincan begins climbing out of the sunken road as von Baden presses on.  Cincan manages to bring his artillery across in anticipation of putting the French Left under threat.  Von Baden attacks the French in Cascina Rullione driving them off.  In turn, General de Courier leads an attack against the farm.  Von Baden is driven out! 

Cincan crosses the sunken road.

von Baden attacks!

de Courrier counterattacks!

Back to the action in the center, Chevert leads his dragoons in against the Piedmontese guns positioned in the earthworks at Valentina.  Despite having seemingly, overwhelming odds, the dragoons are repulsed.  The artillery stands firm.  Having weakened the defenders of Cascina Pasquale, through artillery and musketry, the Piedmontese attack.  In a sharp fight, the defenders are either ejected or destroyed.  Victory is short-lived.  The exhausted Piedmontese are struck in the flank from Camposanto's cavalry.  They are scattered with many taken prisoners.  D'Aix' Brigade is broken in the attacks.  The French move up Camposanto's infantry to plug the hole and consolidate the center.   

Chevert's cavalry attack the guns
while the King sends infantry to take Cascina Pasquale.

Chevert is repulsed.

Piedmontese only hold Pasquale
 briefly before being overrun.

Support arrives to Cascina Pasquale.

With the danger to the French Center reduced, de la Mina goes back onto the attack against Md'O.  Unleashing a supporting volley before the attack, del la Mina leads the attacks against the Spanish grenadiers holding the church.  The pressure is too much and the Sardinian grenadiers evaporate under the Spanish attacks.  Corbeau's Brigade is broken.  The Spanish once again control this vital piece of real estate.

With center stabilized, focus returns to the Right.

The Spanish attack vigorously...

and eject the Sardinians!

Seeing that Md'O has been retaken, Chevert tries again to breech the enemy line at Valintina.  Again, Chevert and his dragoons are repulsed as the Piedmontese gunners refuse to budge.

Repulsed again!

With the Spanish holding onto Md'O only by a thread, Corbeau leads Grenzers into an assault.  To cover the left, the Royal Cavalry charges into the Spanish holding the ground to the south of the church.  Both attacks are successful in driving the Spanish back.  De la Mina's Brigade is broken in these attacks.  

Corbeau attacks!

Madonna dell'Olmo is retaken!

While Md'O has changed hands three times in this battle and in Piedmontese hands now, the hour is late.  After four hours of play, we stop to assess the situation.  

The body count is high and neither army could muster a Sudden Death Victory.  The Gallispans came close to breaking through in several places but simply could not cut their way through the stubborn defenses.  Even though both armies were only one broken brigade removed from collapse, time had run out.  Even a minor victory was not possible.  While the Piedmontese had regained Md'O, they carried two broken brigades to one.

Butcher's Bill

The battle was declared a tactical draw.  Given the strategic implications of the battle, the Austro-Piedmontese Army and King Emmanuele were awarded a strategic victory.  The Gallispans could not defeat the King's field army and the siege of Cuneo could not be sustained.  The Gallispans would need to retire back across the Alps for winter.

Another enjoyable but hard-fought battle ending in a tactical draw.

Great game, fellas!  Well-played all.  Thank you so much for playing.

Until next time.