Montebello For Four!

Round four of the Montebello replays took place last week.  The three previous accounts can be read at No Duke of Montebello, Still No Duke of Montebello, and Lannes Is Still Dead.  Rather than seeing one-on-one contests as in the previous three games, Game #4 pits two against two.  Chris and Dave B (DB) take command of the Austrian Army while Dave C. (DC) and Dave G (DG) take command of the French Army.  There are a lot of "Dave's" on the field this day! 

As a reminder, the table and opening positions look like,

With Austria leading the series two games to one, can Lannes and his French Army pull out a victory in Game #4?  Let's find out!

Elements of Lannes' command, under Watrin (DC) arrive onto the battlefield along the highway and approach Rivalta.  While most of the French are content to drive down the road, units break off to the north entering the rye fields while other units climb the heights to the south.  Without being under immediate attack, O'Reilly (Chris) places most of his command on Reserve to await the attacks he expects will develop.  His artillery quickly limbers and retires to the crossroads in the rear.  Jaegers are positioned to protect the southern flank.

Watrin arrives.

O'Reilly does not wait long to see attacks develop.  Up through the rye advances the 40th line.  Austrian light infantry unleashes withering volleys into the French as they move north of Rivalta.  Casualties are horrific.  Seeing the French waver, Austrian hussars are sent in against the enemy.  Like a cat among the pigeons, the 40th is cut to pieces as the Austrians fall upon their prey.  Not a good start for Watrin's attack!

Fight for the rye fields...

does not go well for the French!

While the destruction of the 40th was unexpected, perhaps its attack is only meant as a diversion to the main attack against the defenders of Rivalta?  If so, then this ploy produces some good results.  The grenz defenders of Rivalta are ejected with great loss and scatter to the winds.  O'Reilly, a second battalion of grenzers, and the light infantry continue to hold the rye fields to the west of Rivalta.  Watrin prepares for another push against O'Reilly as Vogelsang (DB) brings up his Austrian division to Casteggio and the heights to the south in support.

Clearing out Rivalta...

as the Austrians fall back on Casteggio.

Vogelsang forms a solid defense.

With Watrin leading the attack to the south of Rivalta, a second assault goes in against those stubborn boys of the light infantry to the north.  Watrin's attack pushes the grenz out of the rye and then scatters them in pursuit.  To the north, a familiar scene unfolds.  The Austrian light infantry unloads another punishing volley into the attackers.  Coming out of reserve, a body of Austrian hussars charges into the disordered infantry.  One battalion of Frenchmen is cutdown but the supporting legere form square and repel the attackers.  Still, French casualties are horrendous.     

Heavy fighting near Rivalta

Watrin's follow-up pursuit against the grenz brings his men into artillery range.  Fire from Vogelsang's light battery near Casteggio tears through the French ranks.  Maintaining their composure, the French discharge their muskets and the hussars to their front disappear.  Watrin advances to the crossroad.  Casteggio is within sight.    

Coming under artillery fire!

Watrin receives reports that Lannes (DG) has reached the battlefield.  Lannes is bringing up infantry up quickly to Rivalta while his hussars swing out to the south.  Vogelsang continues to shore up a defensive position at Casteggio with one battalion coming forward to support O'Reilly's guns.

Lannes brings up his troops...

as a solid Austrian wall awaits.

Sensing that Watrin is over-extended, O'Reilly sets his hussars into action.  First, a squadron of hussars swings around to catch the weakened 6th legere to the west of the rye.  Remaining calm, the interlopers are driven off as the legere forms square.  Not getting off so easily, Watrin and his light infantry are attacked by O'Reilly and his other hussars.  While one body of hussars is sent away, the second squadron breaks through and destroys the legere before it can form up into square.  In the heavy fighting both Watrin and O'Reilly are killed and both commands are broken.  

Withstanding cavalry attacks from every direction!

The destruction of O'Reilly and Watrin.

Lannes leads an attack into the rye!

With an island of Austrian light infantry remaining fixed in position in the rye, Lannes sets himself to dislodging these stalwart defenders from their place on the field.  Attacking through the rye, Lannes leads a supported attack into the enemy.  Bringing to bear overwhelming force, those brave Austrians are cut down.  The path to Casteggio is now open!  Remnants of Watrin's Division press on to the west as Victor and Chamberlhac (DG) are seen finally reaching the battlefield.  Unfortunately for the French, reports of Schellenberg (Chris) reaching Montebello filter in. 

Destruction of Austrian light infantry.

The French press on!

As Chamberlhac leads his division toward Casteggio, Victor rides off to take over command of Watrin's Division.  Well, what is left of Watrin's Division, that is.  Lannes presses on toward Casteggio while Vogelsang prepares his division for what lies ahead. 

French reinforcements!

Vogelsang needs not wait long.  First, O'Reilly's battery is overrun at the crossroads and then Chamberlhac leads his light infantry in attacks against the defenders positioned in front of Casteggio.  One Austrian battalion is destroyed and a second falls back.  The French suffer too.  One battalion is destroyed in their efforts.

Fighting in the outskirts of Casteggio...

sees some French success.

Schellenberg emerges from Casteggio to the north with his dragoons leading the way.  The remnants of Watrin's Division, on the outskirts of Casteggio, are ridden down in quick succession.  Seeing Schellenberg's success to the north, Vogelsang orders a vicious counterattack in front of the town.  Attacking with support, Vogelsang drives the enemy back.  There appears no chance that the French can make anymore headway toward Casteggio on this front.

French success short-lived as Austrians counterattack....

as the French are driven back...

and destroyed.

With Watrin's Division broken and seeing much of his old command dead on the field, Victor can do more with this brittle formation.  Lannes' command is not in a much more favorable situation.  His command is unraveling too.  In one last effort to throw the jaegers out of the stronghold of Cascina il Giardina, Lannes sends in his hussars.  The jaegers are evicted from the farmhouse and the French take the high ground.  Still, with Lannes nearly at his breaking point and Casteggio firmly in Austrian hands, Lannes has seen enough.  He orders his command to withdraw from battle.

Fighting at Cascina il Giardina...

leaves the farm in French hands.

Casteggio firmly in Austrian control.

In a four-and-a-half-hour session (and late-night for the players), the Austrians can claim victory.  Congratulations to Chris and DB!  Well-played, my friends.  My condolences to the other two Dave's, DC and DG.  You fought hard but it was not to be on this day.

Looking at the Butcher's Bill, losses were roughly even.  O'Reilly and Watrin's commands nearly ceased to exist.

Butcher's Bill

In Retrospect

What are the key takeaways from this action?

• O'Reilly's conduct was the key to Austrian victory.  Of the four games played, Chris steered O'Reilly to best outing yet.  Not only did Chris manage to keep his advance guard in the fight longer, he crippled Watrin in the process.  O'Reilly, alone, blunted the fighting power that Watrin's Division possessed.  The light battalion situated in the rye field to the west of Rivalta gave out much more than it took in the hard fighting.  A swift use of hussars to attack these weakened formations sealed Watrin's fate.  Well-played, Chris!
• Vogelsang's command took up a strong position in and around Casteggio.  Deployed on the high ground, in depth, attacking such positions would have been difficult even with fresh troops. 
• While we hate to bring it up, DC's dice rolling performed up to the standard we expect.  That is, his dice were terrible!  His troops had difficulty hitting the broadside of a barn and any morale tests needed were invariably failed.  Still, DC is always gracious even when the dice are against him.
• Reinforcements.  Both Schellenberg and Victor arrived on the last turn possible in the variable reinforcement schedule.  In the historical battle Victor arrived just in time to turn the battle by pressing on with his fresh division.  In this game, Victor arrived but not in the nick of time.  He arrived much too late to bring his powerful division fully into play.  Had Victor arrived three turns earlier, he may have been in position to assault Casteggio before Schellenberg could pass through Casteggio and overcome the river obstacle.  Faced with fresh and better quality opponents, Vogelsang may have experienced a much harder fight.
• Finally, in perhaps a moral victory, Lannes made it through this battle uninjured!

Very enjoyable game, guys, thank you!