Return to Bassignana 1745

Ah, Bassignana.  We have seen Bassignana on the table before.  Almost two years ago, if I am counting correctly.  In the 2024 edition, Spanish units can now play Spanish and Piedmontese units can now present as Piedmontese.  After having fought a number of Italian Wars battles over the last two months, I decided to return to a different period and different rules.  With War of Austrian Succession seeing action at the end of 2023, I figured bringing that conflict back to the table would provide a welcome change.  Besides, I had a few requests for a return to horse & musket gaming as well.     

With Bassignana on the schedule last week, player counts initially showed a six-player game.  By game day on Thursday, numbers dropped and four players took to the field to contest the ground.  Mark and Alan would take command of the Franco-Spanish Army while Tony and Doug took up the task of commanding the Austro-Piedmontese Army.  While Mark and Tony had played the rules (Fields of Honor), Doug and Alan were new to the rules.  Player commands and army dispositions are illustrated in the photo below:

For the Austro-Piedmontese, Tony commands the Left including taking the role of King Emanuele III; Doug commands the right.  For the Franco-Spanish Army (Gallispans), Mark (General Maillebois) commands the French on the Left while Alan commands the Spanish on the Right.  

The French hold the Gallispan Left Wing.

Piedmontese hold Chiesa de San Germano.

The Spanish hold the Gallispan Right Wing. 

Piedmontese hold Rivarone in the Center.

Battle Briefing

Rather than fight as separate armies as seen in the previous year, the Bourbon armies decided to coordinate their activities on the Italian front in 1745.  Opting against an approach on Piedmont-Sardinia from the southwest, they would advance from the southeast in order to threaten either Piedmont-Sardinia or Lombardy and keep the Worms’ alliance guessing.  Bourbon strategists figured this approach may encourage the Piedmontese and Austrian armies to split with the Piedmontese retiring to protect Turin and the Austrians retiring to protect Milan.

When Pavia fell to the Gallispans on 22 September, the Austrians reacted.  Commander of the Austrian army, Count Schulenburg, decamped from the wedge of land between the Po and Tanaro where the two armies were situated near Bassignana.  The Austrians were sent to the north bank of the Po toward Vigevano to counter the increasing threat to Lombardy.  Charles Emanuele III and his army were left alone on the south bank of the Po in the triangle formed by the confluence of the Po and Tanaro rivers.

As soon as the Gallispans received word of Schulenburg’s retreat, plans were put in place to attack the Piedmontese who were left confined within the wedge near the fortress of Bassignana.  If the Pietmontese could be defeated, the north Italian plain would be open for the taking.  With Piedmontese and Austrians armies now split and Schulenburg marching northwards, Charles Emanuele and his capable Piedmontese army found themselves heavily outnumbered.

Could Schulenburg be convinced to return to the south bank of the Po to fight before his Piedmontese ally is overwhelmed?  Historically, no, but it may happen today.

The Piedmontese begin battle with their army thinly positioned strewn along the high ground on the banks of the Tanaro River.  The Bourbons are ready to strike.  De Gages is positioned to attack from the south toward the fortress of Bassignana, itself, while Maillebois has the weight of his command poised against the Piedmontese center.

Historical Outcome
The French, under Maillebois, attacked the Piedmontese center vigorously. Despite a tenacious defense from the Piedmontese guard and grenadiers, d’Aix’s position was ruptured and the Piedmontese position was split.  Concerned with being trapped in the wedge at Bassignana, Emmanuel gave up Bassignana to de Gages.  When de Gages destroyed the pontoon bridge over the Po, Emmanuel would see no relief from Schulenburg. Emanuele ordered a full retreat toward Casale.

Enough with the formalities, let's get to battle!

The Battle

De Gages and his Spaniards lead off the attack as his army marches toward the bridge crossing the Tanaro River on the road to Bassignana.  As the Spanish reach the river, King Emanuele leads his cavalry in against Arambou's cavalry as it splashes across the river.  De la Chiesa moves one of his infantry regiments to support the King's cavalry.  With fewer troopers and caught midstream in crossing, Arambou's cavalry are dispatched quickly.  Arambou, himself, is lucky to escape.  De Montal crosses the river driving back de la Chiesa's infantry that had only just reached the river.   One of Arambou's infantry regiments presses on across the Tanaro.  As it reaches the opposite bank, the Spanish are met with a volley from a body of Piedmontese light infantry.  Where did they come from?  From the nearby woods, I guess.  The Spanish suffer from this sudden volley and hesitate.  Their hesitation is at the wrong moment.  With their left uncovered by the scattering of Arambou's cavalry, these Spaniards are struck in flank by the King's victorious Piedmontese cavalry.  The lead Spanish infantry regiment crumbles before it can even set foot on the north bank of the Tanaro.  As the King's cavalry withdraws, the vacuum is filled by the Piedmontese light infantry.  The Piedmontese occupy the bridge!         

The King attacks!

Spanish cavalry are dispatched...

and the Spanish infantry handled similarly.

Piedmontese occupy the bridge to Bassignana.

On the Piedmontese Center and Right, the French advance.  In the center, de Montal moves against Rivarone.  On the right, de Grammont moves against San Germano while Senneterre advances upon Montecastelle. 

Seeing the enemy advancing slowly against their positions on the high ground, d'Aix orders his grenadiers and guard forward to contest the river crossings.  Volleys ring out and the river is blanketed in smoke.  When the smoke clears, d'Aix sees that one of Senneterre's cavalry regiments has slipped behind his lines and occupies Montecastelle! Having run the gauntlet of Piedmontese musketry, the cavalry occupying Montecastelle is only a few squadrons strong.

Piedmontese await the attack upon San Germano.

Grenadiers come down from the heights
 to contest the crossing.

Volleys erupt...

as Spanish cavalry slip into Montecastelle.

Seeing d'Aix commiting his brigade to a forward defense at the Tanaro (actually defending in the river!), de Grammont, brings up his brigade.  As de Grammont swings his cavalry around wide left, his infantry move up on the Piedmontese straddling the river and give them a blast of musketry. Liguane brings up half of his cavalry brigade to throw the Spanish out on Montecastelle.  Scattering the remnants of Senneterre's cavalry requires little effort.  Montecastelle is back in Piedmontese hands!

Piedmontese coming under French pressure at the Tanaro.

French cavalry ejected from Montecastelle.

With Montecastelle retaken, d'Aix resumes his advance against Senneterre's Brigade.  Already battered by the devastating volleys of d'Aix' grenadiers and guard, Senneterre gives ground as the Piedmontese push on.  Casualties are heavy across the board.  Senneterre falls.  d'Aix urges one of Liguane's dragoon regiments to join into pursuit. 

Senneterre falls back with d'Aix in hot pursuit!

While de Grammont pins a Piedmontese infantry regiment at the Tanaro, a French dragoon regiment slips into San Germano.  Luckily for the Piedmontese, Schulenburg has heeded calls to cross the Po.  Austrian cuirassiers arrive at San Germano just in time to throw the French out. 

French cavalry slip into San Germano...

but cannot hold long.

Situation looking from the southeast.

Back on the Piedmontese Left, the battle rages.

While the Piedmontese light infantry continue to hold up the Spanish, de Gage brings up infantry to prepare for an assault across the shallow Tanaro.  The King counters by bringing forward an Austrian infantry regiment from Bassignana.  Schulenburg's second cuirassier regiment arrives on the scene having crossed the pontoon bridge over the Po.

Heavy fighting at the bridge.

As Arambou launches his assault against the defenders of the bridge, Schulenburg attacks with his heavy cavalry into de Gage's cavalry crossing the Tanaro to the west.  The Piedmontese light infantry are scattered as the Spanish splash across the river.  As the Spanish infantry emerge, they are met by a devastating volley from the newly arriving Austrians.  The Spanish are cut down and their momentum stalls.  Overmatched by the Austrian cuirassiers, de Gage's Spanish are given a rude welcome.  The Austrian heavies smash into the lighter Spanish cavalry and send them reeling back.  In the chaos, de Gage falls.  

Arambou's Spanish carry the bridge!

Overview looking from the east.

In distance, de Gage's cavalry are beaten.  De Gage is dead.
In foreground, Spanish attack stalls.

With two Gallispan brigades broken, three generals dead on the field, and the army in tatters, French General Maillebois calls off the attack.  The Gallispan Army is beaten.  The Austro-Piedmontese did not get off lightly, though.  Both d'Aix and de la Chiesa's Brigades are wavering and teetering on the breaking point.  In addition to the four units lost, five of the Piedmontese units are down to but a single strength point.  The King's army is in no position to pursue.  They have held their ground but just barely.  

Dead Piles.

This Bassignana outing produced another riveting clash with lots of drama, tension, and so many casualties.  So many casualties.  Had Schulenburg dallied longer on the north bank of the Po, the result could have been very different.

Great job by all players but especially to Tony and Doug for their fine tactical work of being aggressive even when tasked with a difficult defense.  By popular vote, Tony's Piedmontese light infantry were awarded the MVP of the battle.

Outstanding game!

Thank you! 

Any interest in a rematch?