San Martino Battle: Game 2 Part 2

The most recent Battle of San Martino begun in July was fought to conclusion a few weeks ago.  The first part of the battle report can be found at Battle San Martino Game 2.

At the stopping point in the first battle session, Benedek and his Austrian Corps held the central position and controlled the tempo of the battle.  By acting aggressively, the Austrians gained all of the Objectives on and around the San Martino Heights early on.  Pushing beyond these objectives, the San Martino Heights were soundly in Austrian hands.  As Sardinian reinforcements reached the battlefield in a piecemeal fashion, Benedek was able to rebuff each reinforcing column's progress one at a time.

Situation at 10:30am

When the battle resumed on the 10:30am turn, the situation finds Durando's Sardinian division pressing upon the Austrian left, threatening the objective of Madonna del Scorpeta.  Heavy with grenadiers, Durando makes headway against his Austrian counterparts.  Koller and Gaal's Austrians, detached from the 5th Corps fighting to the south, are pushed back through the woods.  Mollard's third brigade to reach the field under the command of Morozzo begins to deploy as his brigade reaches the railway line.  With Mollard's recce column practically destroyed in the early morning fighting around San Martino, wresting control of the heights falls upon Morozzo's shoulders.  Cucchiari's two-brigade division takes on a similar task.  With Benedek holding all of the objectives and switching over from offensive operations to a strong defensive mindset, would the Sardinians have the force to throw the Austrians out of their strongpoints?

Durando's Sardinians pressing the Austrian left

Austrians form a defensive line as
Sardinian reinforcements arrive

Facing a tough white wall of Austrians, the Sardinians swallow hard and step off towards the Austrians lines.  Almost immediately, Morozzo's brigade finds itself under pressure on the approaches to San Martino as the Austrians wheel in on the left of his Sardinians.  As the Austrians swing in, a few Sardinian battalions are sacrificed in an attempt to refuse the flank and establish a more defensible position.

Morozzo under pressure early

On the Sardinian right, Cucchiari's 5th Division is hit by repeated volleys from the longer-ranged Austrian rifled muskets before the smoothbore carrying Sardinians can close.  The lead battalions in Pettinengo's brigade are all shaken by the hail of lead.  Luckily, Gozani's brigade reaches the village of Centenaro, defended by Austrian jagers, almost intact. 

The Austrian reinforced line looks formidable

Sardinians suffer in the advance

At this point in the battle, the situation is mixed.  Durando's Division continues to pressure the Austrian left with Koller and Gaal giving up ground begrudgingly.  The Sardinians are well placed on the ridge but losses continue to mount as the Austrians stand back and blast the Sardinians as they emerge from the cover of the woods.  The contact point between Cucchiari and Durando is becoming tenuous.  With Austrian resistance mounting on this front, Sardinian troops must flip to a defensive posture.  

The hinge linking Cucchiari and Durando weakens

Seeing the momentum shift in the valley, the Austrians waste no time.  Collecting a force of both infantry and cavalry, the Austrians strike into the weakening Sardinian position between the intersection of the two Sardinian divisions.  Already shaken from earlier losses, the Sardinians crumble when facing the cavalry and break.  The Sardinian gun narrowly escapes as the Sardinian position collapses  

An Austrian breakthrough

Not realizing that the Austrians have affected a split between his own division and Durando, Gozani attempts a similar ploy by concentrating and attack against the hinge of the Austrian line.  His hope is for a successful breakthrough.  Still ignorant to threat to his flank, Gozani attacks.  If the successful Austrian breakthrough turns upon his flank, Gozani may find himself in serious jeopardy.

Overall situation about 11:30am

Not seeing the Austrian breakthrough off to his right, Gozani begins his assault against Centenaro.  Gozani's brigade experiences surprising success as first the jaegers are pushed from the village and then a gap appears in the Austrian line as an Austrian battalion withdraws from the fighting.

Gozani attacks the defenders of Centenaro

The Austrians take more casualties and disruption as battalions are forced back onto their supports causing more battalions to waver.  Have the Sardinians finally found and exploited a weakness?  If the Sardinians could gain the initiative before the Austrian gap is plugged, this breach could turn into a breakthrough.  Of course, Gozani, still does not recognize that his own line has similarly been breached.

Sardinians breach the Austrian defenses

Despite the breach in the line, the Austrians coolly fall back and reform.  Bringing up the reserve artillery into the second line of defense, this line looks more imposing than the original.

Austrian second line forms

Will every attack upon the Austrian positions stymied and Berger's Austrian division threatening to envelop Mollard on the Sardinian left, the King calls off the attack.  Benedek performed his job superbly on this day preventing both the Sardinians from linking up with the French to the south at Solferino and cutting off the Austrian line of retreat. 

Situation at end of battle

That was a hard-fought battle with the Sardinians coming up short throughout the day.  Having never seized the initiative made the Sardinian situation one of reaction rather than action.  Being back-footed throughout the battle was agonizing.  The larger, Austrian battalions coupled with their superior rifled-musket made for a tough day on the field of battle.  Casualties were severely lopsided.  The Sardinians suffered greatly while attempting to get within smoothbore range.  In the few situations where they did manage to get in close, close combat saw some success.  The Sardinians must realize that in these situations the bayonet is a friend.  Closing with the more powerful Austrians proved nearly impossible.  Even Austrian cavalry saw success when it attacked weakened units and drove them from the field.  In the final analysis, the Austrian infantry were likely over-rated in this contest.  The combinations of their Combat Effectiveness, size, and weapon superiority were too much to overcome.  Next time these troops take to the field, I will give the Austrian infantry a downgrade and see if that improves play balance.  

As the Sardinian commander, I was outplayed, outwitted, and outlasted...but it was fun!

San Martino BatRep - Game 2

The San Martino battle in May resulted in an abrupt Austrian capitulation due in part to aggressive handling of the Sardinian grenadier division, timid Austrian play, and a few rules' oversights (See San Martino Game 1).  Wanting to give the scenario another workout under more representative conditions, the forces were reset and the battle reconvened.

In this replay, Jake took on the role of Benedek commanding the Austrians while I stepped in as King Vittorio Emanuele II of Sardinia.  Would we experience a replay of the first game, something similar, or something completely different?

Since I commanded the Sardinians in this replay, most photos will be taken from the Sardinian perspective, behind the Sardinian lines.  The Sardinians enter the table from the north.  Austrians attack from the south.  West is on the right and east is on the left in most photos.  On to the battle account. 

Earlier in the morning (0700), Sardinian General Mollard, in provisional command of a recon formation, pushes Austrians from the high ground around San Martino.  As the Austrians fall back from the heights, Sardinian Bersaglieri take up positions in both the village of San Martino and the fortified villa of Contracina.  The three battalions of 7th, 8th, and 11th Infantry Regiments prepare themselves for the Austrian counterattack they know will fall upon their exposed and isolated positions.

Sardinian lead elements control the San Martino heights.

Mollard's small force prepares a defense

Having seen the advance elements of his Austrian Corps thrown off the San Martino Heights, Benedek orders the Corps into action.  With Mollard isolated from the Sardinian Army with no support in sight, Benedek seizes the opportunity to retake the heights with limited risk.  Given the prospect of crushing an isolated foe, the Austrians advance upon San Martino without delay.  "Without delay" is exactly how Lang's Austrian Division responded.

Austrians prepare to assault the heights

Reichlin's Brigade advances upon San Martino Heights

While Reichlin's ad hoc, four battalion brigade (comprised of the 4th battalions from 9th, 18th,19th, and 27th Infantry Regiments) works around the southern approaches to the heights, Phillippovic and Lippert's brigades commence the task of reclaiming the heights in a head on assault.

The initial Austrian assault against the Sardinian-held heights sees success from the outset.  Mollard's three, unsupported line battalions are pushed back from the crest with seemingly little effort.  The Bersaglieri barricaded in among the walls of Contracina put up a more determined defense.  Casualties are light among the attackers but the Sardinians, caught in a deadly crossfire suffer greatly.  Still, the Sardinians cling to Contracina and the northern slopes of the heights.

Mollard's troops pushed from the heights

Berger's Austrian Division moves from the hill overlooking Pozzolengo on a straight path to cut Mollard's line of retreat.  With only two squadrons of Sardinian light cavalry protecting this flank, envelopment of Mollard becomes a distinct possibility.  Mollard sends couriers back in search of reinforcements.  

San Martino position looks untenable for Mollard

By 0830, the first brigade capable of reinforcing Mollard reaches the embanked railway.  Assistance arrives in the form of the Cuneo Brigade under Arnaldi.  By this time, however, Mollard's detachment has been pushed off the heights with only one battalion of Bersaglieri still having a toehold in the village.  The Austrians succeed in pressuring the Sardinians from the east while maintaining heavy pressure in the center.  Arnaldi's brigade will be needed in an attempt to stabilize this quickly deteriorating situation.

Cuneo Brigade arrives

Austrians flank San Martino as Mollard falls back

To prevent the envelopment of the San Martino position and Mollard's command, Arnaldi quickly clears the tracks and deploys his brigade to counter the Austrian advances.  Sacrificing men for time to allow Mollard to escape the tightening noose, Arnaldi's brigade begins taking casualties as they advance under fire into close range.  Unfortunately for the Sardinians, the Austrians are armed with rifled muskets while they carry only smoothbore muskets.

Arnaldi's Sardinians step in to plug a gap

Arnaldi's timely intervention allows Mollard's battered formation a chance to regroup with its back against the railway embankment.  Given the size and determination of the Austrian Corps, more troops than Arnaldi can muster will be needed to stem the White Tide.

Mollard gets a brief reprieve

The Sardinian right has not been inactive during the early hours of battle.  Already on the march to contest the vital bridge when the Austrians attacked, Durando's Sardinian 1st Division presses on.  Durando marches to engage the enemy on the far western edges of the battlefield screened by the cover of a wooded hill.  He is tasked with turning the Austrian left flank and threatening the Austrian Line of Communication leading back to the main Austrian Army fighting hard at Solferino.  If the small village of Madonna del Scoperta can be taken, the tables will be turned and Benedek's command will be isolated.   

Sensing the danger, two brigades are detached from Austrian V Corps to the south and march on Madonna del Scoperta.  While the two brigades of Gaal and Koller arrive too late to prevent the western most bridge from falling into Sardinian hands, these two Austrian brigades rapidly deploy to contest Madonna del Scoperta.  Both brigades cross over to the north side of the river and take up defensive positions in the wooded hills to the west of San Martino.

Battle heats up on the Western Front 
(right side of table)

With a bridgehead over the river secure, the bulk of Durando's division turns east to attack Gaal and Koller.  Fighting is hard as Durando's grenadiers take heavy casualties closing with the Austrian positioned in the woods.  With lines of infantry taking shape along the wood line, Perrier's brigade (Durando) attempts to outflank the hill.  As the Sardinians work around the wooded hill, Benedek sends more troops to counter this threat.  Casualties are high as the Sardinians are driven back upon supports.  The Sardinians see first hand that the larger Austrian battalions provide formidable opposition.  

Elements of Durando's Div. attack out onto the plain

Hard pressed on the Sardinian left and center, relief for Mollard arrives at 1000 in the form of Mollard's Pinerolo Brigade under the leadership of Morozzo.  Lang's Austrian Division comes down from the heights and threatens both Mollard's battered forces in the center and Durando's Division on the Sardinian right.  Morozzo is yet to bring his brigade into combat.

At this point on the 1030 turn, play was halted to be continued on a later date.  When play resumes, where will Mollard direct Morozzo's fresh brigade?  Will Sardinian reinforcements arrive in time to counter Austrian early successes?     

Situation at 10:30

The Austrian attacks centered around San Martino have seen great progress, thus far in the battle.  Mollard's small recon formation, while fighting valiantly, was no match for the numbers the Austrians put into the field.  Benedek has controlled the tempo of the battle as his troops successfully pushed back all opposition.  The Sardinians, heavily outnumbered, have suffered much more than their adversary in the opening hours of battle.      

Austrians push on to the west

Austrian Reserve artillery moves up to the front

The Sardinians are not without hope, however.  Durando's Division took a vital bridge across the river and is seeing the fruits of its labors against the Austrian brigades of Gaal and Koller in the southwest.  While Gaal and Koller still have a strong hold on the objective of Madonna del Scoperta and defend in depth, the Austrians are beginning to show signs of wear as Durando's grenadiers repeatedly attack the Austrian positions all along the wooded hill.  

Durando's grenadiers engage Austrians from V Corps

While Benedek's Corps has taken and continues to hold all of the victory objectives, the Sardinians are hoping this situation will soon reverse.  In all of this carnage, only one half-battalion of Bersaglieri has been destroyed.  As in the historical battle, the Sardinian army arrives onto the battle intermittently.  The result of this uncoordinated arrival is that Sardinian attacks and defenses are forced into piecemeal responses.  Tough start for the Sardinians but Morozzo has arrived onto the battlefield at 1030 to lend support.  The Austrians have no uncommitted reserve remaining.  Two more Sardinian brigades march to the sound of guns.  Perhaps this will be a situation of losing a battle in the morning only to secure victory in the afternoon?

Rules of Engagement: Summer of '59
Figures: Freikorps 15s, Lancashire Games, Mirliton, Old Glory

Battle of San Martino - Game 1

As scenario designer, one anticipates how the scenario is likely to play out.  When drafting an historical scenario, an attempt must be made to allow for the possibility of reproducing the historical outcome.  Overfitting a design to a specific battle account should yield to a broader narrative within the confines of the rules, scenario, and historical situation such that the historical outcome is possible but not guaranteed.  Objectives are set to help in guiding that narrative.  The translation from concept to reality is sometimes very different.  Luck plays a role in the scenario's outcome as do the actions and reactions of the players.  Sometimes, other factors, altogether, conspire to change the outcome.  Warfare leads to uncertainty.  The first run-through of the San Martino scenario is a case in point.

The San Martino scenario is large.  With two players committed to participate, a two-player game would provide a lot of troops under each individual's command.  Too many troops to command?  Perhaps, but feasible.  I would act as umpire.  As often happens, I was convinced to take an active player role in the game.  I took command of the two reinforcing Austrian V Corps brigades entering on the south edge of the table.  With most objectives concentrated around San Martino, this small secondary command would likely not be the primary focus of the action.  Wrong!  

The battle began as expected with the Sardinians under Mollard skirmishing with lead elements of Benedek's Austrian Corps for control of the San Martino Heights.  Rather than strike hard against Mollard's recon column, Benedek committed few troops to this action.  Throughout the action, Lippert's Austrian brigade fought gingerly over the heights in an attempt to wrest control of the key villages from the Sardinians. 

Skirmishing on San Martino Heights

The Sardinians showed more activity than the Austrians and did not waste time.  Upon the arrival of the Cuneo Brigade to San Martino, Mollard directed Arnaldi on his task.  Arnaldi was to deploy his brigade on Mollard's left and relieve pressure on the attacks against San Martino.  Drawing up on Mollard's left also prevented the Austrians from flanking the San Martino position from the east.  The Cuneo Brigade, in position to deploy, fanned out to the left of Mollard.  At this point in the battle, Mollard launched two of Monferrato's light cavalry squadrons to disrupt the Austrian countermove to oppose Arnaldi.  Miraculously, the Sardinian cavalry succeeded beyond expectations in this spoiling attack.  The target of its charge panicked and fled to the rear.  Turning its attention to the closest enemy infantry battalion, these Austrians, likewise, fell back from the attack.  Blown but pleased with their success, the Sardinian troopers returned safely to friendly lines.

Arnaldi deploys on Mollard's left

In response, Benedek reinforced and extended his right flank while keeping the bulk of his formations in reserve.  These large Austrian formations would remain inert for the entire battle.

Much of Benedek's Corps remains in reserve

On the road from Lonato, Durando's Sardinian division, consisting of two regiments of grenadiers and supporting Bersaglieri and cavalry marched quickly to the south.  Their objective was the bridge spanning the river.  Getting there first provided an opportunity to drive a wedge between Benedek's Corps and the bulk of the Austrian Army busy fighting at Solferino.

Gaal's Austrian V Corps brigade arrived near Madonna del Scoperta and passed through the town.  Gaal's objective was to reach the bridge before Durando's division.  It would be a race against time.  Gaal reached the bridge first but only just.  Durando's Division was deploying along the river banks almost as Gaal entered the town.  The intense firefights pushed many of Gaal's battalions back from the river.

Battle lines forming along the river

Gaal's small brigade was no match for the power offered from Durando's grenadiers.  Even armed with rifles against the Sardinian smooth bores, the Austrians were outclassed.  Some of this mismatch was not of their doing!

Firefight along the river

As Sardinian troops from Lonato continued arriving on the battlefield, the Sardinians prepared for an attack against the San Martino Heights from the west.  To counter this threat, Benedek ordered Reichlin's ad hoc brigade to march around the high ground to address this situation.

Reichlin marches to the sound of the guns

Reichlin was not alone to respond to the call to arms.  The second V Corps brigade arrived at Madonna del Scoperta and rather than setting up a defensive position to backstop Gaal, Koller's Brigade began crossing the river near Madonna del Scoperta to place his brigade on the north bank of the river.

Koller marches to sound of the guns

Without support from Koller, Gaal's brigade was in serious trouble.  As each of Gaals' battalions fell back from the river, confidence rose among Durando's grenadiers.  The time was ripe for an assault across the river.  The Sardinian grenadiers splashed across the water obstacle nearly unhindered and crashed into the already wavering Austrians.  In a few minutes, Gaal's brigade was done for and went streaming back from the field of battle.

While fighting continued over the San Martino Heights, Durando's grenadiers, having crossed to the south bank of the river, were a big concern.  What was Benedek to do?  Release his reserve formations in an attempt to take the heights before more Sardinians arrived or protect his Corps and the Austrian line of communications back to the Mincio River?  

Fighting for control of the heights

With Sardinian reinforcements arriving from the north and the heights threatened from both the north and west, Benedek called for his Corps to disengage from battle.  There would still be a hard fight to hold Pozzolengo long enough to allow the army, defeated at Solferino, to retreat to safety.  Little value in holding San Martino at this point in time.

Leaning over the table and surveying the situation, Benedek declared enough is enough.  Disengage!  To lunch!  The Sardinian Army and King Vittorio Emmaneule II are victorious on this day!

With hands on table, Benedek surveys the action

With a concession after two hours of battle, plenty of time remained in the day.  Rather than reset the battle for a second attempt, Commands & Colors Ancients was pulled off the shelf for an afternoon session of gaming.  Good fun!

As for the San Martino battle, a handful of mistakes were made in play.  Having not had the rules out for an exercise in over a year, my memory was a bit foggy.  Even though the rules are of my own design, I forget key facets without regular exercise.  The big mistake in this battle was forgetting that size DOES matter. Austrian infantry battalions are classified as LARGE in size while Sardinian infantry battalions are classed as AVERAGE.  Light infantry half-battalions are classified as SMALL.  The larger Austrian battalions should have been able to give and take more punishment than they did.  Similarly, the half-battalions of light infantry should not have been as effective and suffered losses much more quickly.  Would these changes have affected the final outcome?  Perhaps not.  The battle may have been more closely contested, though.

Expect to see more of San Martino in the future; hopefully, with rules of engagement correctly applied.             

Battle of San Martino Setup

Mollard defends San Martino

The battle lines are drawn for the 1859 Battle of San Martino.  In the early morning hours, elements of the Austrian VIII Corps have been driven out of San Martino by a Sardinian recon column under direct command of LTG Mollard.  A second Sardinian recon column is probing to the west towards Madonna del Scoperta in an attempt to flank the Austrian VIII Corps from the bulk of the Austrian Army engaged to the south at Solferino.    

Austrians advance from Pozzolengo

In command of the Austrian VIII Corp, FML Benedek is tasked with two objectives.  The first task is focused on safeguarding the right flank of the Austrian Army and keeping an avenue of retreat open back across the Mincio River.  If defeated at Solferino, the Austrians will need to hold the strategic town of Pozzolengo until the army can cross the Mincio.  If Pozzolengo falls too early, the Austrian Army may be trapped.  Benedek's second task is to tie up as many Sardinians troops as possible to prevent the Sardinian Army from reinforcing the French at Solferino.

Battlefield with initial deployments
viewed from the east

For their part, the Sardinian Army under the command of King Vittorio Emmanuel II is to destroy the Austrian VIII Corps to its front, take Pozzolengo and cut off the Austrian Army's line of communication across the Mincio.  The Sardinians expect to eventually see three divisions on the field against two Austrian divisions plus elements detached from nearby formations.

Battlefield viewed from the south

Which combatant is better situated to achieve its objective?  The stage is set, what will tomorrow hold?

Montebello: The Empire Strikes Back

Once more, back to the battlefield of Montebello and facing off against my worthy opponent, Jake.  While the first two games saw Jake commanding the French, this time, Jake takes the helm as the Austrian commander, Stadion.  I lead the French and Sardinians (as Forey) in an attempt to thwart the Austrian aggressions in the foothills of the Apennines.

As the battle opens, French general Forey responds quickly to reports of Austrian capture of Genestrello.  Lead elements of Beuret's brigade take fire on the approach to the village.  As Austrian musketry increases, two French battalions are repelled from Genestrello.  Beuret's 4kg guns are disorganized as Austrian jaegers concentrate their fire upon the now exposed guns. 

French advances on Genestrello meet tough opposition

Bringing up reinforcements, Beuret forces the 3rd battalion of IR39 out from Genestrello, disorganized, while half of the 3rd Jager Battalion falls back to cover the left flank of Montebello.  Baum's Austrian brigade, facing Cascina Nuova, falls back to the grain fields to the north of Montebello.  Seems Stadion has no stomach to maintain an advanced position! Instead, he chooses to fall back and prepare a defense.

Austrians ejected from Genestrello

Beuret redoubles effort against Genestrello

With Genestrello in French hands, Austrian wing commander Hesse in the north remaining immobile, and Baum falling back from the center, Stadion's plan for conducting this battle begins to emerge.  The Austrian battle plan seems to focus on a delaying action around Montebello while Paumgarten's center wing is brought up to reinforce Urban as quickly as possible.  No flanking maneuver with Hesse.  Stadion intends to stand and defend in depth!  

Overview of early stage of battle

The Austrian defensive wall begins to align using Montebello as a fulcrum.  No pressure upon Calcabobbio from Hesse in the north and the important rail bridge at Cascina Nuova is safely in French hands.  Scaffgotsche abandons any claim upon Genestrello as the second half of the 3rd Jaeger departs the village on its way to cover the southern approaches to Montebello.

Austrians abandon Genestrello

Montebello, key to the Austrian defense

As the Austrian defensive line stiffens, Forey continues his advance upon these newly formed positions with thoughts of breaking through.  In the north, Sonnaz' Sardinian light cavalry skirmish with Hesse's lancers.  No advantage gained in the north for either combatant.

Forey advances upon Austrian positions

Battle overview from behind French lines

Having committed to a defensive line in the center and Paumgarten's reinforcements arriving in a constant stream of humanity, Stadion stakes out his ground and defies Forey to wrest it from his control.  Without hesitation, Forey obliges his opponent's wishes.

Forey prepares to attack the Austrian line

With Austrian batteries deployed all along the line, the French have great difficulty approaching unscathed.  French casualties mount in trying to close on the tough Austrian positions.

Arrayed in depth, French attempt assaulting
the Austrian positions

Unable to bring the two French batteries into position, Forey presses on without their support.  Taking casualties in the open without redress, French resolve begins to waver while the Austrians suffer few casualties.  In an effort to break the stand off against Hesse on the northern flank, Sonnaz launches repeated charges first against the Austrian cavalry and then against newly arriving infantry.  French suffer great casualties in these efforts with little gain.

Cavalry action in the north while line forms in center

French casualties mount in front of Montebello

As the cohesion of his fighting force deteriorates following wave after wave of French infantry crashing upon the white rocks of the Austrian line, Forey decides that discretion is the better part of valor. Unable to press his attack to push the Austrians back across the Coppa River, Forey orders a general withdrawal back to the security of Voghera.  Forey chooses to live to fight another day.

French cavalry in disarray after repeated charges

What a fine battle!  Jake played out a brilliant hand by foregoing the use of Hesse in the north as a flanking move and rushing Paumgarten's center wing pell-mell to the front.  While Paumgarten raced to the front, Urban pulled back his forward forces to consolidate a line centered on Montebello.  Few casualties were suffered by the Austrians as the French captured Genestrello almost without a fight.

The Long White Line stands firm

The French, upon approaching the Austrian defensive line, suffered greatly from Austrian fire.  Battalion after battalion failed to press on.  Taking even light casualties was sufficient to stop the French attack in its tracks as the French juggernaut repeatedly failed response tests.  This was a battle in which the French really never got into the fight.

Congratulations to Jake as he stymied French efforts at every turn and every roll of the die.  Despite their success in stopping French aggressions, the Austrians were awarded a minor victory.  Pursuing the French back to Voghera would have been an unlikely outcome.  Still, a great victory for Jake and Austria as Stadion pulls out the first victory for the Austrian empire in the mulit-game series on Montebello 1859.

For Jake's battle preparations, see Jake's comprehensive plan of battle (see Operation Design Montebello).  Reading through Jake's post on his pre-game planning, I wager the French had little chance!  I was outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted.  

After cleaning up the carnage from the battle, the table, now devoid of troops, awaits the deployment of troops for the 1800 Battle of Montebello. 

The barren landscape readies for Montebello 1800