Quistello for Four

Given the close ending to the Quistello game with the Rejects (see Quistello with Rejects Part II), I was curious to see how a different group of players would approach the challenges that the battle (and scenario) offered.  While the Rejects' game ended in an historical outcome with the Allies forced to retire from the field, the battle outcome was much more even than the historical accounts suggest.

For today's game, four players were present to take up arms.  The Two Daves (DB and DC) were relegated to commanding the Franco-Piedmontese (Allied) armies after both Doug and Chris raised their hands first to command the Austrians.  Army and troop dispositions are shown in the table photos below: 

Battlefield with Austrian attack plan.

Army dispositions.

As in the previous battle, the Allies begin the battle encamped with a possibility of being surprised when the Austrians attack in the early morning.

Poised for battle!

Let's see how this quartet handles the battle.

Konigsegg and Wurttemberg's columns (Chris) step off toward the Secchia River without much hesitation.  Those two columns splash across the river above Quistello.  With the two Austrian columns in motion, von Waldeck (Doug) attacks Quistello.  De Contades' (DB) French regiment and artillery deployed in Quistello, itself, is caught by surprise when Austrian grenadiers storm into the village.  Isolated and found in a state of unpreparedness, the French capitulate quickly against overwhelming odds.  The guns are lost in the confusion.  Not a good start for the Allies!   

Austrian grenadiers attack...

clearing Quistello of French!

As Konigsegg works his way across the Secchia above Gaidellina and forms up into line, Neipperg leads two grenadier battalions in against Gaidellina.  De Broglie is surprised but manages to slip away before the weight of the Austrian attack falls upon the defenders.  In a matter of minutes, the Frenchmen are scattered and the grenadiers have taken the farm.  The Austrian grenadiers do not pause to loot.  On they advance into another unsuspecting French regiment encamped to the north.  These poor fellows suffer a similar fate and are scattered to the wind!  Having three French regiments break in quick succession, de Contades' Brigade is wrecked before he can offer much resistance.  Austrian progress is slowed as de Bonas (DC) brings up his cavalry and de Broglie brings up one of de Contades' regiments to plug a gap.        

Austrian grenadiers clear out Gaidellina...

Konigsegg crosses the Secchia.

de Contades' Brigade is wrecked!

Konigsegg pushes on...

giving the French cavalry a crippling volley.

In the center, one of de Contade's regiments falls back along the road with an artillery battery joining up.  De Contades, himself, rides over to his left to encourage his troops guarding the river where the enemy prepares to cross.  Von Waldeck brings infantry both across the bridge at Quistello and prepares a frontal assault downstream into de Contades' waiting men.

French fall back from the river in the center...

while von Waldeck's Austrians press on.

von Waldeck readies his assault.

Battle overview.

While cavalry face off across the Secchia in the north, von Waldeck attacks!  In a supported assault across the river, de Contades' infantry lining the banks are driven off.  More than driven off, that is, they are cut down where they stand. 

Cavalry standoff

von Waldeck's assault.

With much of the Austrian army across the Secchia and losses mounting as the King's Piedmontese begin to engage in an attempt to stem the tide, de Broglie realizes that discretion may be the better part of valor.  Orders quickly go out for the army to retire to the north behind the canal.  From there, a defensive line can be formed.  A sensible plan but the Austrians are applying too much pressure and the Allies continue suffering losses in retreat even before the canal can be crossed.  Orders are changed once again from defend the canal to general retreat.  This battle is over as the Allies attempt to disengage and live to fight another day.

de Broglie orders the army to fall back to the canal... 

turning into general retreat as losses mount.

The Austrian army presses forward...

with the enemy before in full retreat!

Piedmontese King and his cavalry look on.

Congratulations to Chris and Doug for a finely executed attack!  The Austrians managed to drive the Allies from the field.  To the Two Daves, you fought hard but fate did not smile on you this day.  The Butcher's Bill illustrates the lopsided casualty counts.

Austrian front line when the Allies disengage.

Butcher's Bill

While the result ended in an Allied defeat as in the Rejects' game, the battle developed and unfolded differently.  Much differently!  The Allies seemed unable to get their legs under them after the first attacks during the surprise turns.  From the historical accounts, this game probably reflected actual events more closely than the earlier game.  Still, I believe that the Allies hold a fighting chance as we saw in the Rejects' game.  Today, it was not to be.  How will this battle play out next time?  Well, we will see!  I have a few ideas on strategies to test out when I take up command.

Thanks for an entertaining and enjoyable contest, fellas!