The Battle of Raab 14th June 1809 (The Game)

Following on from my revised scenario for the Battle of Raab, here’s my after-action report from our recent play-through of the scenario at W.A.S.P.

Andy James took the role of Archduke John, commanding the Army of Inner Austria, while I took the role of Archduke-Palatine Joseph, primarily taking responsibility for the coming cavalry battle on the Austrian left flank.

On the French side, Dave Llewellyn took the role of Viceroy of Italy, Prince Eugène de Beauharnais, while Gareth Beamish played General Baraguèy d’Hilliers, commanding the XII Corps and the various independent formations on the French left flank.

If you skipped the scenario or simply weren’t paying attention, the game was played using Napoleon’s Battles (4th Edition) rules, which is set at a ‘grand tactical’ level, where each unit represents a brigade or large regiment and the figure-ratio is roughly 1:100.

Above:  The overall view of the game, roughly aligned with the map above.

Above:  The French right wing, with Grouchy’s cavalry corps (Montbrun’s and Guérin’s Divisions) in the foreground and Grenier’s VI Corps (Durrutte’s & Seras’ Divisions) on their left, with Lecchi’s Italian Royal Guard in reserve.  Montbrun is understrength and is still waiting for Colbert’s Brigade to arrive.

Above:  The French left wing, with Sahuc’s Light Cavalry Division in the lead, followed by Pully’s Dragoons.

Above:  On the right of Sahuc’s light cavalry are Lauriston’s Baden Contingent and then Baraguéy d’Hillier’s XII Corps (Severoli’s and Pacthod’s Divisions).

Above:  A closeup of XII Corps in the French centre; Severoli’s white-coated Italian regiments are in the foreground with Pacthod’s Frenchmen bringing up the rear.  The Italian Royal Guard and Prince Eugène himself can be glimpsed beyond the village of Csanak.  On the left of the picture is Durutte’s Division of Grenier’s VI Corps.

Above:  So to the Austrian side.  On the Austrian left, Mecséry’s massive Left Wing Corps of regular and Insurrection hussars forms up along the Pandsza stream.

Above:  Another view of Mecséry’s magnificent mass of hussars.  They look pretty, but can they fight…?  Even by Austrian standards, Mecséry does have a massive problem in terms of command & control with so many sub-units to command.

Above:  Yet another view of Mecséry’s hussars.  You perhaps won’t be surprised to learn that I don’t have all that many Hungarian Insurrection regiments in my collection!  I only have two such hussar regiments, as they come in handy for the two such regiments that turned up at Aspern-Essling and Wagram (the ‘Primatial’ and ‘Neutra’ Regiments).  One of them is pictured in the foreground here and I profiled them on the blog a few years ago.  I’ve used two green-coated regular regiments to represent the two regular hussar regiments present with Mecséry’s force and the remaining regular hussar regiments in my collection have filled out the rest of the Insurrection regiments, along with a regiment of SYW hussars (it’s entirely possible that most of the Insurrection hussars were still wearing busbies in 1809, as their dress regulations had only recently changed to the shako).

Above:  The Austrian centre.  Colloredo’s Centre Corps is deployed around the Kis-Megyer Farm, while Jellacíc’s Right Wing Corps is deployed around the straggling Szabadhegy village in the foreground.  Frimont’s Reserve Corps is formed up to the rear on Szabadhegy Hill, though Frimont himself has absented himself.

Above:  A close-up of the Kis-Megyer Farm.  Ungerhofer’s Landwehr Brigade is holding the farm itself, while Lutz’s regular infantry brigade (IRs 61 & 62) deploys with a 3pdr cavalry battery to guard the bridge.  Beyond the farm are IR 27 ‘Strassoldo’ and Ghilyani’s Brigade of Hungarian Insurrection infantry.

Above:  Jellacíc’s Right Wing Corps takes up position around Szabadhegy village; Sebottendorff’s Brigade of regular infantry (IRs 32 & 45) takes up position in front of the village, with Markus’ Insurrection Infantry Brigade filling the gap between the village and Kis-Megyer Farm, while Legisfeld’s Landwehr Brigade takes up position in reserve to the rear of the village and their cavalry battery covers the bridge.  Grenze Infantry Regiment (GIR) 10 (1st Banal) is pushed further out on the right flank and deploys in skirmish order, screening the front of Frimont’s cavalry.

Above:  FML Frimont is the commander of the Army Reserve, but on this occasion has been ordered to take command of Jellacíc’s cavalry, as well as the cavalry of the Reserve, and deploy on the right flank.  Besan’s Brigade consists of a number massed regular dragoon, chevauxleger and hussar squadrons (they were mostly dragoons, so I’ve used a regiment of dragoons to represent the brigade), while Paszthory’s and Siegenfeld’s Brigades consist of yet more Hungarian Insurrection regiments (I used an actual Insurrection Hussar regiment for Siegenfeld’s Brigade, but I must confess that Paszthory’s Brigade is represented by the British 15th Hussars, as I’d run out of Austrians and their white-laced blue dolmans and red shakos look vaguely similar if you squint…).

Above:  The rest of Frimont’s Reserve Corps is left to its own devices on Szabadhegy Hill.  GM Gajoli commands the First Line, consisting of the regular Hungarian IR 19 ‘Alvinczy’ and his own brigade of light infantry (mostly Grenzer, but also including some Jäger and Freikorps detachments), plus a 12pdr position battery.  GM Kleinmayrn commands the Second Line, which consists of IR 16 ‘Lusignan’, Kleinmayrn’s own grenadier brigade and another 12pdr position battery.

Above:  Prince Eugène seems to have adopted the same plan I used in our first refight, which it has to be said, is the obvious one; push hard with Grouchy’s cavalry and Grenier’s corps on the right, force the commitment of the Austrian reserves to that sector and then strike on the opposite flank with Baraguèy’s corps, the Badeners and the Italian Guard.

Above:  Guérin brings the 1st Dragoon Division up, aligning with Montbrun’s right flank.  Grouchy meanwhile, has gone back to bring up Colbert’s brigade from Nagy-Barathy.

Above:  As the French right wing advances on the Pandzsa river, Mecséry orders the three units on his right to cross over the Viczay stream to extend the corps out to the left.  However, he has already made a fatal error in failing to defend the highly-defensible riverbank!

[Concerned about the strong French artillery support, I foolishly held back and decided to engage them after they had advanced and masked their guns]

Above:  Having discussed the need to maintain a strong reserve in the centre and not to move it until ABSOLUTELY necessary, Archduke Joseph gallops off to help Mescéry on the left flank, confident that his brother John will make the right decision as commander-in-chief…

Above:  “OK lads, my brother’s gone now… The Reserve Corps will wheel to the left!  Quiiiiiick MARCH!”

Above:  Concerned by the great mass of French infantry about to overwhelm IR 27 ‘Strassoldo’ on the riverbank, Archduke John moves the reserve 12pdrs to the Chapel Knoll, from where they can dominate the likely crossing-points.  The reserve infantry meanwhile, descend from the hill and march through the vineyard to plug the gap between Kis-Megyer and Mescéry’s cavalry.

Above:  Archduke John rides over to the other side of the hill, to assess the situation on the right…

Above:  … Where absolutely nothing is happening.  Frimont moves his cavalry battery forward to engage Sahuc’s cavalry at long range, but the French horsemen merely withdraw out of range.

Above:  However, it’s all now kicking off on the left flank!

Above:  Montbrun, leading Jacquinot’s light cavalry brigade across the Pandzsa, is immediately set upon by Gosztony’s brigade of Insurrection Hussars and the regular 2nd ‘Archduke Joseph’ Hussars.

Above:  The Hungarian charge ends disastrously for Gosztony’s Insurrectio, who are routed by Montbrun’s experienced troopers.  However, the French cavalry are matched by the regular Archduke Joseph Hussars and both sides fall back to lick their wounds.  Archduke Joseph himself meanwhile, attempts to rally Gosztony’s hussars.

Above:  As Montbrun and Jacquinot fall back to reorganise, Guérin crosses over with his dragoons and south of the river, Grouchy deploys Colbert’s newly-arrived light cavalry brigade.

Above:  As Archduke Joseph (out of the picture) attempts to rally Gosztony’s Insurrection Hussars, his own regiment of regular hussars fall back to their lines.

Above:  As Kleinmayrn’s grenadiers advance to the Pandsza and start to become embroiled in a firefight with Valentin’s 23rd Légère, Gajoli’s light infantry deploy to the Viczay stream, in preparation for when the donkey-wallopers inevitably lose to the French horse.

Above:  Archduke John has returned to the Szabadhegy Hill and watches with satisfaction as his 12-pounders begin to tear holes in the French infantry.

Above:  And not a moment too soon, as IR 27 ‘Strassoldo’ is starting to come under extreme pressure on the riverbank.

Above:  Ungerhofer’s Landwehr, defending the walls of the Kis-Megyer, watch the approaching Frenchmen with increasing nervousness…

Above:  Back at Csanak, Lecchi and his Italian Royal Guards (some of whom are proxied by the French Empress’ Dragoons) wait patiently for orders.

Above:  Things are heating up on the riverbank, with Valentin’s 23rd Légère and IR 27 ‘Strassoldo’ taking particularly heavy casualties.

Above:  Colloredo, not confident that Ungerhofer’s Landwehr will be able to hold the Kis-Megyer, orders Ghilyani’s Insurrection Brigade to relieve them and assume responsibility for the defence of the farm complex.

Above:  Meanwhile on the Austrian left, Mecséry is coming under ever-increasing pressure.  Supported by the effective fire of a battery of 8-pounders, Seras’ French infantry division is able to mount a successful assault across the Pandzsa, with Roussel’s 106th Regiment successfully capturing Mecséry’s defending cavalry battery.  Hadik’s Insurrection Hussar Brigade and the regular 5th ‘Ott’ Hussars attempt to intervene, but Moreau’s 53rd Regiment manage to form square and so to everyone’s surprise, did the raw youngsters of the Provisional Légère Regiment!  The hussars are beaten off and fall back over the Viczay to lick their wounds.

Above:  On the left flank, there is another fairly indecisive cavalry clash, as Mesko’s Insurrection Hussar detachment and the 2nd ‘Archduke Joseph’ Hussars have a go at Guérin’s Dragoon Brigade.  Although casualties are only light, the Austrian hussars are forced to fall back some distance, to avoid retribution from the fresh Italian dragoons and Colbert’s light cavalry.  However, the good news is that Archduke Joseph has managed to rally Gosztony’s previously-routed hussars.

Above:  As Guérin’s French dragoon brigade redresses its ranks, his Italian dragoon brigade (on the right flank) prepares to charge.  Grouchy meanwhile, personally brings Colbert’s Brigade forward to join the action.

Above:  Prince Eugène takes a close personal interest as Seras’ squares secure the north end of the bridge.

Above:  As the Austrian Reserve Corps secures the line of the Viczay, a new crisis emerges behind them!  IR 27 ‘Strassoldo’ has broken in the face of very heavy fire from Durutte’s Division and has fled to the vineyard!  Taking advantage of this new gap in the Austrian lines, Dessaix has pushed the 62nd Regiment across to secure a bridgehead right in front of Kis-Megyer!

Above:  Concerned for the security of the 12-pounders now that the Reserve Corps have buggered off, Colloredo pulls Lutz’s Brigade of regulars back from the river, with the intention of securing the guns.  Markus’ Insurrection Brigade (of Jellacíc’s Right Wing Corps) now assumes responsibility for this section of the riverbank (not that anything is happening here).

Above:  Wasting no time and disregarding the storm of shot coming from the Austrian 12-pounders, Durutte orders Dessaix to assault the farm!

Above:  Astonishingly, the Austrian gunners panic, aim too high and completely fail to destroy the impetuous French infantry!  Ghilyani’s Insurrectio also seem to have been supplied with damp cartridges as they also fail to stop the charge against their walls!

Above:  Fate is certainly smiling on the French, as at this moment, the supporting French 8pdr battery manages to smash a breach in the walls of Kis-Megyer, demoralising the Insurrectio just as the French 62nd Regiment storms the walls!  The French seem to have the luck of the devil, as Kis-Megyer falls at the first assault.  Ungerhofer’s Landwehr jeer in derision as the Hungarians flee up the slope.

Above:  With casualties passing through 25%, Kleinmayrn pulls his grenadiers back from the riverbank and prepares to mount a counter-attack to recapture Kis-Megyer.  Gajoli pushes the fresh Hungarian IR 19 ‘Alvinczy’ forward to continue the firefight with Valentin’s remarkably persistent 23rd Légère.  However, Gajoli’s light infantry are getting the worst of their firefight with Seras’ Division.

Above:  Archduke Joseph, on the far left flank, takes personal command of two of Mecséry’s rallied units; Gosztony’s Insurrection Hussar Brigade and his own 2nd Hussar Regiment.

Above:  Having taken personal command of Gosztony’s Brigade, Archduke Joseph is immediately set upon by a marauding bunch of Italian ruffians!  However, while they might be just a bunch of Insurrection Hussars, at least they’re not Italian… The Italians soon scurry back to their French mates… OK, it wasn’t exactly a crushing victory, but it was our first success of the day, so you’ll forgive us for gloating!

Above:  With Kis-Megyer having unexpectedly fallen, Colloredo halts the march of Lutz’s Brigade and leads them personally in a charge to recapture the farm complex while the French are disordered in the aftermath of their victory.  They are joined in the assault by Ungerhofer’s Landwehr.  However, General Grenier, commander of the VI Corps has just arrived and thanks to his personal encouragement, the 62nd Regiment successfully defend the walls after a tough struggle.  Both Austrian brigades fall back to reconsider their options.

Above:  Having crossed the Pandzsa while the Austrian gunners were busy with other targets and buoyed up by the success at Kis-Megyer, Pacthod gets a rough of blood to the sabre and leads the 52nd Regiment up the slope in a frontal charge on the guns!  Durutte follows on in support with Dessaix’s 102nd Regiment.

Above:  The 52nd suffer appalling losses, but heroically charge on through the storm of canister to take the guns!  Any gunners foolish enough to hang around are cut down without mercy by the vengeful bluecoats.

Above:  Appalled by this turn of events, Kleinmayrn is swift to exact vengeance and launches his depleted grenadier brigade over the knoll, into the flank of the jubilant, yet disordered 52nd.  In order to prevent any supporting fire from Dessaix’s Brigade, Kleinmayrn also launches the fresh IR 16 ‘Lusignan’ into the 102nd Regiment.

Above:  Kleinmayrn’s counter-attack is completely successful; IR 16 ‘Lusignan’ routs the 102nd Regiment and after a surprisingly difficult struggle, the Austrian grenadiers force the 52nd back over the Pandsza, with Pacthod only escaping by the skin of his teeth!

Above:  However, the French have completed their mission and have successfully removed one of the most powerful Austrian assets, the 12-pounder artillery reserve.

Above:  On the banks of the Viczay meanwhile, things are coming apart for Gajoli’s Brigade, as both the light infantry and IR 19 ‘Alvinczy’ suffer the worst of their firefights.

Above:  Bloodied and bruised, but not yet broken, the great mass of Austrian hussars awaits the next onslaught.

Above:  Happy to oblige, Grouchy orders his cavalry forward once again.

Above:  Over on the opposite flank meanwhile, the French horse are nowhere near as keen to get stuck in…

Above:  Frimont’s men meanwhile, sit around and wonder what all the noise is…

Above:  The Guard wonder if the Viceroy has forgotten about them…

Above:  To be fair, the Viceroy has been busy personally directing the battle on the eastern flank and thus far, hasn’t put a foot wrong.

Above:  The French cavalry come on in the same old way… On the flank, Guérin’s brigade of Italian dragoons has another crack at Gosztony’s Insurrection Hussars, while alongside them, Montbrun once again leads Jacquinot’s Brigade against the 2nd ‘Archduke Joseph’ Hussars.

Above:  The result is a disaster for the Austrians!  This time the Italians rout Gosztony, sending his hussars fleeing from the field.  Archduke Joseph, caught up in the melee, falls wounded but is rescued by his aides from the unfolding disaster.  His own hussar regiment meanwhile, is completely destroyed as they heroically cover their Inhaber‘s escape.

Above:  Skilfully maintaining control of their men, Montbrun and Jacquinot wheel the brigade to hit Mesko’s Insurrection Hussar detachment in the flank!

Above:  Mesko’s hussars are completely destroyed!  However, the French cavalrymen now have a blood-lust and Montbrun and Jacquinot fail to maintain control!  The brigade raggedly charges on into Andrassy’s Insurrection Hussars, but the stalwart, busby-wearing proxy hussars from the SYW manage to break Jacquinot and send his horsemen packing!  Montbrun narrowly manages to avoid death [through gratuitous deployment of the last re-roll markers!].  However, Guérin’s Italian dragoons also don’t seem to have much self-control, as having routed Gosztony’s Insurrection Hussars off the table, they immediately follow them in a chaotic pursuit and remove themselves from the battle.

Above:  Having halted Montbrun’s rampage, Andrassy manages to control his men’s temper and maintains their position in reserve of what’s left of Mescéry’s corps.  However, things seem to be rapidly falling apart in front of them as Gajoli’s entire reserve formation (Gajoli’s light infantry brigade and IR 19 ‘Alvinczy’) is broken by the fire of the French VI Corps.

Above:  At Kis-Megyer, Colloredo leads Lutz’s infantry brigade in a second heroic charge against the walls, but this valiant effort is comprehensively smashed, with Colloredo himself numbered among the fallen!  Colloredo’s Centre Corps has now been almost completely destroyed; only Ungerhofer’s Landwehr and the divisional cavalry battery remain.

In desperation, Archduke John (now joined by his brother Joseph, who has been patched up by the surgeon) now brings Jellacíc and the bulk of his Right Wing Corps (Markus’ Insurrection Brigade, Legisfeld’s Landwehr Brigade and Legisfeld’s Brigade of Hungarian regulars) over the hill to short up the collapsing left.  However, this will surely leave the right dangerously exposed while Davidovich’s recently-arrived (though very weak) corps of Hungarian Insurrectio takes over responsibility for the right wing.

Above:  Jellacíc’s move has not gone unnoticed on the other side of the field, however.  Lauriston’s uncommitted Baden Contingent is soon on the move, aiming to establish new bridgehead west of Kis-Megyer…

Above:  Severoli’s Franco-Italian Division is also on the move, with the same objective.

Above:  Even the Italian Guard are now on the move!

Above:  Sahuc’s and Pully’s cavalry, not so much…

Above:  The earlier assault by Pacthod’s and Durutte’s Divisions across the Pandsza may have been defeated by Kleinmayrn, but all French regiments have been rallied, are still present in considerable strength and sill represent a considerable threat to Archduke John’s rapidly-dwindling left wing.

Above:  With no hope of recapturing Kis-Megyer and with the position rapidly collapsing, Archduke John orders the fresh formations (Jellacíc, Frimont, & Davidovich) and what is left of Mecséry’s cavalry (which to be fair, has only been lightly engaged, as the French are not willing to attack across the Viczay) to cover the army’s retreat as he concedes the field to the French!

In game terms, the Austrians have lost eight formed units: HR 2 ‘Archduke Joseph’, Gosztony’s Insurrection Hussar Brigade & Mesko’s Insurrection Hussar Detachment from the Left Wing, IR 27 ‘Strassoldo’, Lutz’s Infantry Brigade & Ghilyani’s Insurrection Brigade from the Centre and IR 19 ‘Alvinczy’ & Gajoli’s Light Infantry Brigade from the Reserve, as well as one cavalry battery, two position batteries, Colloredo being killed and Archduke Joseph being lightly wounded.  The French have therefore more than fulfilled the conditions for a Partial Victory.  The destruction of only three more units would result in Total Victory.

The French meanwhile, have suffered the loss of no units whatsoever!  Most of Grenier’s infantry brigades, one of Pacthod’s brigades and Jacquinot’s cavalry brigade have suffered moderate casualties, but overall the French casualties have been relatively light, unlike the Austrians, who have been almost smashed!

Above:  “So how do you think the battle’s going…?”

[Davidovich’s Corps should actually be marching along the road at this point, but I didn’t bother bringing them on!]

A quick note on models, etc:  The figures are almost all AB 15mm figures (yes, I know that the kewl kidz call them 18mm…), with the Badeners being ancient Battle Honours Bavarian figures and the proxy unit of SYW hussars being Old Glory 15s.  Most of them were painted by me, though Jase Evans painted the Italians (he left his collection with me for safe keeping when he deserted to NZ) and Gareth Beamish painted a few of the French infantry units and the Baden infantry.  The Austrian flags are by Fighting 15s, while the French, Baden and Italian flags (aside from one Fighting 15s French flag carried by the Légère) were all painted by me in the days when we couldn’t get decent printed flags!

Thanks to Dave, Andy and Gareth for a great game and a thorough trouncing!  There’ll be more Napoleonics coming soon and I also need to catch up with my painted SYW units…