The Danube Finale: The Battle of Znaïm (Day 1), 10th July 1809

This month I finally got around to reading John H Gill’s superb book The Battle of Znaïm: Napoleon, The Habsburgs and the End of the War of 1809 and thought that it would make a brilliant subject for a scenario or set of linked scenarios, including the potential for a fair amount of ‘what-if’.

If you have even the remotest passing interest in the 1809 Campaign and this book is not already in your collection, make sure you add it now!  However, please note that this book is not to be confused with Volume III of the same author’s excellent Thunder on the Danube trilogy, which also has Znaïm in the title…  It took me several years to realise it wasn’t the same book (having written Thunder on the Danube, Gill realised that the Battle of Znaïm deserved its own book and that he already had a wealth of information on the battle with which to write one).

It’s certainly not a battle I’ve wargamed before, largely due to there not previously having been a great deal of easily-accessible information about the battle and it’s often been simply dismissed from the various histories as an irrelevance, in much the same manner as all the little skirmishes and sieges after Waterloo (e.g. Scott Bowden’s Armies on the Danube 1809 only mentions Znaïm in a single sentence).  The truth of the matter is that despite his defeat at Wagram, Archduke Charles still had most of his army left in the field and without Austrian political shenanigans in the background, the war might not have ended so quickly or as favourably for France.

This therefore, is the first of three scenarios for Napoleon’s Battles, covering the Battle of Znaïm, each of which can be played as stand-alone scenarios or as a linked two-day or three-day mini-campaign:

The Day One Scenario covers the initial encounter on 10th July 1809, between General Marmont’s French Army of Dalmatia (a grand title for what was simply a small corps of two French infantry divisions, reinforced by a large Bavarian division and a large light cavalry division) and what he assumes to be the rearguard of the defeated Austrian army.

The Day Two Scenario will cover the second day of the battle on 11th July 1809, when Napoleon arrived with reinforcements to take command of the situation, while Masséna’s pursuing force finally caught up with Archduke Charles.

The Day Three Scenario will look at what might have happened, had both sides not agree to end hostilities on 11th July.  By 12th July Napoleon had considerably reinforced the forces in contact with Archduke Charles’ rearguard and finally had the opportunity to utterly destroy the major part of the Austrian army.

The Aftermath of Wagram, 6th to 10th July 1809

The cataclysmic Battle of Wagram of 5th & 6th July 1809 had been the largest battle in European history, with a little over 300,000 men locked in combat.  It had been a victory for Napoleon, finally correcting his earlier defeat at Aspern-Essling, but at a terrible cost for both sides.  38,870 Austrians had been killed, wounded or taken prisoner in those two terrible days, as had 35,050 French and their allies.  As the defeated Austrian army staggered away from the field, men continued to die from heat and thirst, following two days of combat on that waterless plain.

Archduke Charles was extremely bitter about his defeat, chiefly blaming Rosenberg the commander of the IV Corps.  Rosenberg had held the left flank, but had been turned by Marshal Davout’s infantry and General Grouchy’s cavalry, thus forcing the Austrian Main Army (Hauptarmee) to retreat away from the possible salvation of Archduke John’s Army of Inner Austria (Armee von Innerösterreich), which had been approaching from the east.

In the event, by the time it reached Wagram, Archduke John’s army only amounted to 15,000 men, or around half of what both Archduke Charles and Napoleon were expecting, so would have had little impact on the battle.  Archduke John’s approach late on 6th July caused some brief panic to the French, but with Archduke Charles’ army already retreating, John’s army fell back to a defensible position on the River March.

Emperor Franz meanwhile, already despondent about the progress of the war, had begun making subtle overtures for peace even before the Battle of Wagram.  Feldmarschalleutnant (FML) Weisswenwolff had arrived on 4th July at Napoleon’s headquarters in Vienna, ostensibly to discuss further exchanges of prisoners (Weisswenwolff himself had been exchanged only the week before), but with a secret secondary mission from Emperor Franz of investigating the possibility that Napoleon might be open to discussions for peace.  This mission would bear fruit a few days later.

Archduke Charles meanwhile, had retreated north-westward along the north bank of the Danube toward Stockerau, where the road divided and turned north toward Znaïm, Iglau and Prague.  As dawn broke on 7th July, the colossal Austrian baggage-train plodded slowly along the road, making for Znaïm.  The Austrian I, III, V and Reserve Corps were formed up in a strong defensive position covering the road on the forested Kreuzenstein Heights.  Klenau’s VI Corps meanwhile, had been left behind, forming a rearguard at the walled town of Korneuburg.  Rosenberg’s IV Corps had retreated north-eastward to the forested hills of the Hochleithen, guarding the main road to the Moravian fortresses of Brünn and Olmütz.  Between these two Austrian formations, Hohenzollern’s II Corps had made good progress, retreating northward by minor roads in the direction of Znaïm, through the wooded hills to Grossrussbach.

Napoleon’s exhausted army for the most part spent 7th July resting and reorganising, though Masséna’s IV Corps, with Saint-Sulpice’s 2nd Cuirassier Division and Bruyère’s Light Cavalry Division under command, was actively maintaining contact with the Austrian rearguard.  Marshal Davout’s III Corps meanwhile, with Montbrun’s Light Cavalry Division and Grouchy’s and Pully’s Dragoon Divisions under command, was maintaining contact with Rosenberg’s IV Corps.

Napoleon himself went from unit to unit, reorganising, encouraging and even pausing to elevate Generals MacDonald and Oudinot to the Marshalate.  He is often criticised for not aggressively pursuing Archduke Charles at this point, but the truth of the matter is that his army was utterly exhausted and he had no idea as to which of the two main retreating Austrian columns was actually the main army.  He was therefore happy to pursue both columns with corps-sized forces, while resting his reserves as he tried to determine the enemy’s exact dispositions.

However, Archduke John’s assumed 30,000 men (actually 15,000 men) were a threat that could not be ignored and to that end he ordered Prince Eugène’s Army of Italy (with Pully’s Dragoon Division) to hold off Archduke John and any other marauding Hungarian Insurrection forces, while Vandamme (in Vienna), Reynier (on Löbau Island) and Baraguèy d’Hilliers (in Pressburg) were to do likewise on the southern bank of the Danube.  In the meantime, Marshal Bernadotte’s IX (Saxon) Corps was disbanded and Bernadotte himself was dismissed from the Army of Germany.

Legrand’s Division of Masséna’s IV Corps pushed hard on the 7th, with the Baden contingent in particular, managing to outflank the Austrian rearguard position at Korneuburg and capturing the open rear gate, thus enabling the entire town and its garrison to be quickly captured.  However, Klenau’s full VI Corps was formed up on the hills beyond and Legrand simply didn’t have the strength to take them on.

Montbrun and Grouchy meanwhile, continued to harry Rosenberg’s retreating IV Corps, though were prevented from outflanking the Austrians thanks to the tireless FML Radetzsky’s flank-guard.  Rosenberg was retreating in accordance with verbal orders received; namely that the army would be retreating to Znaïm and that Rosenberg’s IV Corps would be protecting the left (eastern) flank.  To that end, Rosenberg intended to turn his corps off the highway to Brünn and Olmütz and instead directed his column to Laa on the River Thaya, which guarded the eastern approach to Znaïm.

However, while this made perfect sense to Rosenberg (and to most other people, to be fair), it was completely at odds with Archduke Charles’ operational concept.  Charles wanted Rosenberg to guard the roads to Brünn and Olmütz and then garrison those fortresses, maintaining them as a link between the Main Army now marching toward Prague, and Archduke Ferdinand’s VII Corps operating in Poland, as well as to Hungary.  He also had concerns that the Russians (ostensibly Napoleon’s allies) might drive through Moravia via those fortresses to link up with the French.  However, Charles had never actually told Rosenberg any of this…

Rosenberg’s move to Laa now threatened Archduke Charles’ strategy and Charles, already blaming Rosenberg for the defeat at Wagram, was utterly furious when he received word from Rosenberg of his intentions!

Napoleon meanwhile, was still in the dark as to whether Archduke Charles’ main army was the western group retreating toward Stockerau, or the eastern group retreating toward Brünn.  Napoleon judged that the eastern group was the most likely, as the occupation of Brünn and Olmütz would give Archruke Charles a central position, mid-way between Bohemia and Hungary and able to draw resources from both provinces and able to retreat to either.

However, he had also realised the importance of Znaïm as a likely way-point on the western group’s line of retreat and to that end ordered General Marmont and his grandly-titled ‘Army of Dalmatia’ (in reality the weak XI Corps with just two small infantry divisions and no integral heavy artillery or cavalry) to take command of Wrede’s 2nd Bavarian Division (now commanded by Minucci while Wrede recovered from wounds suffered at Wagram), Montbrun’s very strong Light Cavalry Division and two batteries of heavy artillery from the reserve.  With this force he was to advance on Nikolsburg and from there to Laa and Znaïm, conducting reconnaissance and taking prisoners in order to determine the exact disposition of Archduke Charles’ main army and hopefully interdicting the retreat of if not the main body, at least a considerable portion of the Austrian army at Znaïm.

In retrospect therefore, Rosenberg’s strategy was arguably the correct one; the road from Laa to Znaïm, if left unguarded, represented a very real threat to Archduke Charles’ line of retreat.  However, stern orders would soon be flying from Archduke Charles’ headquarters to Rosenberg, castigating him for assuming the importance of Laa and for leaving the Brünn highway open to the enemy and demanding that he rectify this situation!

Archduke Charles’ Main Army withdrew again during the night of 7th/8th July, retreating through Stockerau and up the Znaïm highway to another strong defensive position along wooded hills extending roughly eastward from Göllersdorf (now roughly 50km or halfway from Wagram to Znaïm).  Charles was now set upon establishing a final defensive position south of Znaïm at Jetzelsdorf and offering battle there.

Masséna was quick to follow up during the following morning and Stockerau was quickly abandoned to the French.  The direction of the Austrian retreat was now clear – north to Znaïm, instead of west along the Danube, though Masséna was ordered to send strong patrols west, in order to prevent any surprises from that direction.  However, Masséna had only two infantry divisions and two cavalry divisions immediately available to him, so had nowhere near enough troops available to him to take on the Austrian main position alone and was limited to harrying Klenau’s rearguard.

To that end, Masséna and Klenau fought another sharp action north of Stockerau toward evening, though casualties on both sides were light and Klenau withdrew once again during the night.  Both sides were now utterly exhausted and parched by the heat and lack of water.  Many troops had also not eaten since before Wagram.  To that end, both sides lost enormous numbers of men and horses from heat exhaustion, thirst and fatigue.  Even the normally inexhaustible Napoleon had to take to his bed through ‘fever of fatigue’.  However, the Austrians were most definitely getting the worst of it, as the French and their German allies had the morale advantage and any Austrian stragglers soon fell into enemy hands, whereas French stragglers were often able to recover and rejoin their units later.

There was however, one side-effect of the general thirst suffered by the troops of both sides; they were now marching into rich wine country and every farm and town, while often devoid of water, was frequently filled with full wine-casks that would quickly be broken open by thirst-crazed mobs.  Wholesale drunkenness now added to the discipline and attrition problems for both sides.

Hohenzollern’s II Corps meanwhile, proceeded toward Znaïm by the back-roads, almost completely unmolested by French patrols.  It was at this time that orders arrived from Archduke Charles, who had now realised the potential importance of Laa to the security of his line of retreat via Znaïm and his planned battle at Jetzelsdorf.  With Rosenberg having now been ordered to ignore Laa, Charles ordered Hohenzollern to post a detachment in Laa to protect the road to Znaïm.  However, perhaps not realising the importance of this mission, Hohenzollern decided to send his weakest infantry brigade, that of Generalmajor Alstern.

On the evening of 8th July, the bulk of Rosenberg’s IV Corps was already in position at Laa and deploying to defend the river-crossings while Radetzsky held off Montbrun’s cavalry near Staatz.  However, Rosenberg now received the set of angry missives from Archduke Charles, condemning him for failing in his duty to protect the road to Brünn!  Dumbfounded by this bollocking for disobeying orders that he had never received, Rosenberg nevertheless assured Archduke Charles that although he had never received any such orders, he would immediately take steps to rectify the situation and that once he had crossed over the Thaya at Laa, he would turn right and follow the north bank of the Thaya to Muschau, where he would hopefully arrive in time to once again block the road to Brünn.  This would however, leave a yawning gap of some 40km between Rosenberg and Archduke Charles.  In the middle of it was a road leading straight to Znaïm, which would only be defended by Alstern’s tiny command.

Grouchy’s Dragoon Division meanwhile, was pushing on up the Brünn road through Wilfersdorf without serious opposition (just a couple of squadrons of cavalry), followed by the leading elements of Davout’s III Corps and Arrighi’s Cuirassier Division.  Still uncertain as to the exact Austrian disposition, Napoleon, with the Imperial Guard, Oudinot’s II Corps and Nansouty’s Cuirassier Division, moved to a central position at Wolkersdorf on the Brünn road.  However, this reserve was now increasingly far from the action and would be slow to respond (roughly two days’ march) once Archduke Charles’ main army was finally located.

On 9th July, Rosenberg began his movement over the Thaya, turning right at Laa to follow the river to Muschau.  Radetzsky’s rearguard was now heavily engaged against Marmont, who quickly identified from prisoners that he was fighting the rearguard of Rosenberg’s IV Corps.  Marmont politely refused an offer of assistance from Davout, but the offer was possibly academic, as discipline had broken down in Davout’s III Corps, following the discovery of a massive wine-store and a consequent outbreak of widespread drunkenness and disorder!

Alstern’s brigade now arrived at Laa and managed to get over the Thaya just ahead of Montbrun’s cavalry, pulling up the bridge planking as they did so.  However, instead of staying to defend the vital river-crossing, Alstern took one look at the size of Marmont’s force and immediately ordered a rapid retreat toward Znaïm!  Quickly repairing the Laa bridges and confidently assuming that Alstern’s column was Rosenberg’s rearguard, Marmont soon set off toward Znaïm, though like Davout his corps also now descended into drunken debauchery as huge stores of wine were discovered by the thirsty troops.  Rosenberg meanwhile, quietly slipped away unmolested to his new position at Muschau, which he managed to reach ahead of Grouchy.

There was now almost nothing (apart from Alstern’s tiny command and large-scale alcohol-abuse) standing between Marmont, Znaïm and the trapping of Archduke Charles’ main army.  However, nobody on either side (except possibly Alstern) yet realised this…

In the west, Masséna spent 9th July once again clashing with Klenau’s rearguard.  However, unlike the previous light skirmishes, Klenau’s men fought hard in a series of dogged rearguard actions, culminating in bitter street-fighting within the town of Hollabrunn.  This continued until nightfall, leaving the town in flames and hundreds dead, wounded and captured.  Attempts by Bruyère’s cavalry to bypass the town were hindered by the expansive vineyards thereabouts and Legrand’s exhausted Franco-Badener spearhead division was forced to wait for the rest of Masséna’s IV Corps to arrive.

However, Masséna’s available infantry strength was markedly reduced by the need to leave Molitor’s and Boudet’s Divisions behind to guard the critical road junction at Stockerau.  The infantry strength of the Austrian rearguard therefore constantly outnumbered Masséna’s immediately-available infantry strength at the tip of the advance.  Klenau’s infantry, having performed magnificent work as the rearguard for the past few days, finally withdrew under cover of darkness, passing through Reuss-Plauen’s V Corps, who would now take over the role of rearguard and who had already established a new rearguard position a short distance to the north at Schöngrabern.

In the midst of this bloodshed, Emperor Franz and his brother Archduke Charles had agreed that peace was the best course of action.  Archduke Charles in particular, despite his role as Generalissimus, had disagreed with the war from the outset.  This was bolstered by the return of FML Weissenwolff from Napoleon’s headquarters, with news that Napoleon was open to a negotiated peace.  To that end, on 9th July an Austrian envoy managed to get through to Masséna’s headquarters, to advise the Marshal that Prince Liechtenstein had been appointed to negotiate with the Emperor Napoleon and that he would be passing through the lines on the 10th.

However, despite these moves toward a negotiated peace, it was looking increasingly likely that a battle was about to take place.  Archduke Charles was shocked to receive reports late on the 9th that French cavalry were on the road from Laa to Znaïm, but not as shocked as his brother the Emperor, whose court was now at Znaïm and had gone into abject panic at rumours that the French had come to capture Emperor Franz!

Perhaps persuaded by the proximity of French troops, or perhaps once again being influenced by the more warlike members of his court, Emperor Franz now took the strange decision to leave Archduke Charles’ army and make his way via Bohemia and Moravia, to Hungary and continue the war from there.  This was a very curious move to make when negotiations were imminent and his proximity to them might prove critical.  However, Franz’s mind was set and he was clearly very bitter toward his brother at the course of the war.  In a very cold letter written to Charles that night, he effectively sacked him as Generallissimus of Austria’s armies, leaving him responsible ‘only to the army under your command’.

However, Charles had more pressing concerns and ordered Prince Liechtenstein’s Reserve Corps to march immediately for the city and to secure it and the eastern approaches, while ensuring that the gigantic artillery train passed through safely and was put on the road to Iglau and Prague.  Generalmajor Schneller of Kolowrat-Krakowsky’s III Corps was ordered to take a regiment of Uhlans, to get a grip of Alstern and to investigate the situation on the road to Laa.  Hohenzollern’s II Corps was ordered to march to Laa to ‘dislodge the enemy’.  If this were to prove impossible, Hohenzollern was to cross the Thaya upstream and defend the approaches to Znaïm.

Finally receiving a message from Alstern at 0330hrs on the 10th, advising him of the critical situation between Laa and Znaïm, Charles realise that his early plan to make at a stand at Jetzelsdorf was now impossible and that his stand would have to be made at Znaïm.  Bellegarde’s I Corps was now ordered to march to Klein-Tesswitz and block the eastern approach to the city, while Kolowrat-Krakowsky’s III Corps and Klenau’s VI Corps were ordered to march to Znaïm and secure the line of retreat toward Iglau.  Reuss-Plauen’s V Corps was ordered to ‘spare no sacrifice’ in order to win time for the army, especially the huge train, to retreat safely through Znaïm.

At around 0600hrs on the 10th, Schneller arrived at Znaïm with the ‘Schwarzenberg’ Uhlans and met with Alstern and the Colonel of the ‘Hohenzollern’ Cuirassiers, who had been attached to Alstern’s expedition.  All initially seemed calm aside from the main Vienna-Iglau highway being absolutely rammed with retreating wagons, but contact-reports soon began coming in from Alstern’s skirmishers and the cuirassier picquets deployed east of Klein-Tesswitz, as they encountered the first of Montbrun’s cavalry patrols.

Thankfully, Archduke Charles, along with Liechtenstein’s Reserve Corps, was not far behind and as the Cavalry Reserve marched through to deploy in the more open country to the north of Znaïm, Prochaszka’s Grenadier Reserve deployed among the vineyards, in an arc around the eastern side of the city; Steyrer’s grenadier brigade moved to Klein-Tesswitz, where Schneller deployed him on the high ground to the eastern approaches to the village (while sending Alstern back to defend the artillery park at Znaïm).  Scovaud’s grenadier brigade was deployed south of the Thaya with Nostitz’s Reserve Light Cavalry Division, to watch for any move along the south bank of the river from the south-east.  The two remaining grenadier brigades were deployed in reserve to the east of Znaïm.  Schneller’s thin cavalry screen meanwhile was reinforced with the addition of Rothkirch’s cavalry brigade from Nostitz’s division.

Marmont’s men in the meantime had shaken off their hangovers and were on the march from Laa.  Screened by Montbrun’s troopers, Clauzel’s French infantry division arrived first and formed up on what would be the corps’ right flank, north of the Znaïm-Brünn highway.  Then came Claparède’s division, who formed up on the left and immediately engaged in a little light skirmishing with Austrian scouts across the Thaya.  Then came Minucci’s 2nd Bavarian Division, who were slotted into the centre.  Montbrun’s cavalry mostly deployed on the right, fending off Schneller’s and Rothkirch’s cavalry.

In front of Marmont were the fur-capped grenadiers of Steyrer’s brigade.  Although thinking it unusual that reserve grenadiers would be deployed in such a position, Marmont dismissively described them as ‘just a small rearguard’ and confidently stated that they would soon ‘hand those south of of the Thaya to Marshal Masséna’.  From his position he could not yet see the colossal column of baggage slowly making its way north and nor could he see the five enemy army corps advancing toward him!

Supported by artillery and preceded by swarms of skirmishers, the French and Bavarian infantry began their advance.  Steyrer’s grenadiers were hopelessly outnumbered, in a precarious position and could not possibly hope to hold back Marmont’s corps for long, though the tables would soon be turned…

At this point in the proceedings I would normally describe the historical course of the battle.  However, on this occasion I’ll leave it for Part 2, which will cover the scenario for the second day of the battle (11th July).

Part 2 will be playable as a stand-alone scenario in its own right, but I’ll also include the necessary rules to enable it to be combined with this scenario and played as a multi-day battle.

Scenario Outline

The scenario will last for 16 turns, starting with the French 1300hrs turn and ending at nightfall with the Austrian 2030hrs turn.  See below for the detailed schedule of reinforcements.

As usual, either side can win an outright victory by pushing the enemy army permanently beyond their morale limit.  Note however, that the Austrian morale limit will increase as reinforcements arrive (see the scenario schedule below), so they must be pushed beyond their maximum limit of 20M.

If neither side gains an outright victory, the battle will proceed to Day 2 (see the next article).

The scenario uses a 10′ x 6′ table, though I must confess that it should be approximately 15% larger, as the battle was fought over a VERY wide area.  However, I don’t know many wargamers with arms like Twizzle, who can reach the middle of an 7-foot table!  However, despite compressing the map-scale, there is still plenty of space in which to deploy the number of troops in the order of battle.

Orders of Battle

For the uninitiated, Napoleon’s Battles is a ‘grand tactical’ set, where each unit represents a brigade or large regiment and the man-to-figure ratio is roughly 1:100 (to be exact, it’s 1:120 for infantry and 1:80 for cavalry).  It would however, be relatively easy to convert to similarly-scaled systems such as Age of Eagles or Général d’Armée.

The ‘hieroglyphs’ on the orders of battle show the strength of a unit in figures, their nationality, the troop type and the point at which the unit will ‘disperse’ (i.e. become combat-ineffective).  For example, the code ’16 FrLN [6D]’ means a 16-figure unit of French Line Infantry, which will likely disperse when it reaches a strength of 6 figures.  The stats for French Line Infantry can then be found on the Unit Information Card at the bottom of this article.  I’m sure you can work out the rest.

Generals have a rating (e.g. General Roguet with ‘4″G(7)+1 [2F]’) which shows their command-span expressed in inches, a quality-rating (Poor, Average, Good or Excellent), an initiative rating between 4 and 8 (10 for C-in-Cs), a combat modifier (ranging from -1 to +3) which is added if they are attached to the unit in combat (a ‘D’ indicates that the modifier is only applied in defence) and the formation’s fatigue rating.  The C-in-C also usually has a number with ‘M’; this is the army’s morale rating.

Note that where a brigade is very large and/or comprising different troop-types, I will usually split it into two or more regimental sub-units.  E.g. ‘Henneberg’s Brigade #1’ and ‘Henneberg’s Brigade #2’.  The upper-limit of unit size in Napoleon’s Battles is 28 figures for infantry and 20 figures for cavalry.

The French Army of Dalmatia
Général de Division Marmont

12”G(10)+1 [8M]
[5 Free Rolls]

XI Corps (Army of Dalmatia) – Général de Division Marmont [5F]

1st Division – Général de Division Claparède                                       3”G(7)+1
Plauzonne’s Brigade (5e de Ligne)                                                              12 FrLN [5D]
Bertrand’s Brigade (79e & 81e de Ligne)                                                   20 FrLN [8D]

2nd Division – Général de Division Clauzel                                          4”G(7)+1
Delzon’s Brigade (8e Légère & 23e de Ligne)                                            24 FrLT [10D]
Bachelu’s Brigade (11e de Ligne)                                                                  16 FrLN [6D]

XI Corps Artillery Reserve
Artillerie à Pied                                                                                                 Fr12#
Artillerie à Pied                                                                                                 Fr12#
Artillerie à Cheval                                                                                             Fr6#

2nd Bavarian Division – Generalmajor Minucci                                3”G(7)+1
Minucci’s Brigade (3rd & 13th Infantry Regiments & 6th LI Bn)          28 BvLN [14D]
Becker’s Brigade (6th & 7th Infantry Regiments)                                     20 BvLN [10D]
Preysing’s Brigade (2nd & 3rd Chevauléger Regiments)                         8 BvLC [3D]
Light (Mounted) Battery ‘Caspers’                                                               Bv6#
Heavy Foot Battery ‘Dobl’                                                                              Bv12#

Light Cavalry Division Montbrun – Général de Division Montbrun 4”E(8)+2
Jacquinot’s Brigade (1er & 2e Chasseurs and 7e Hussars)                      16 FrLC [6D]
Pajol’s Brigade (11e & 12e Chasseurs à Cheval and 5e Hussards)          16 FrLC [6D]
Gauthrin’s Brigade (7e & 20e Chasseurs à Cheval and 9e Hussards)   16 FrLC [6D]
6/2e Artillerie à Cheval                                                                                   Fr4#

French Order of Battle Notes

1.  On Day 1 (10th July), Marmont acts as the Army Commander with the generalship ratings shown.  On Day 2 (11th July), Napoleon takes command of the situation and Marmont reverts to being a corps commander.  See the Day 2 scenario.

2.  Napoleon’s effects on the army in Napoleon’s Battles are that he increases the Dispersal rating of all units by one grade and increases the Fatigue rating of all formations by one.  I’ve arbitrarily applied these bonuses to Marmont’s XI Corps for Day 1, as his force is confident and buoyed up by the victory at Wagram.

3.  Generalleutnant von Wrede, commander of the 2nd Bavarian Division, was recovering from wounds suffered at Wagram and was temporarily replaced by Generalmajor Minucci.

4.  Minucci’s Bavarian Brigade (XI Corps), will gain an additional +1 Fire Modifier thanks to their organic light infantry battalion.  I’ve classed Delzon’s Brigade (XI Corps) as wholly light infantry, as the 8e Légère represented the majority of the brigade.

The Imperial & Royal Austrian Main Army
Feldmarschall & Generalissimus Erzherzog Karl

20”E(10)+2
[8M at start of Day 1, increasing as reinforcements arrive to 20M]
[6 Free Rolls]

Elements, II Corps (Hohenzollern-Hechingen)

Elements, Division of Generalmajor Wied-Runkel (under command of GM Schneller)
Alstern’s Brigade (Infantry Regiment 21 ‘Rohan’)                                    16 AsLN [8D]

Elements, III Corps (Kolowrat-Krakowsky)

Elements, Division of Generalmajor Schneller                            4”A(6)+0
Schuttermeier’s Brigade (Uhlan Regiment 2 ‘Schwarzenberg’)              8 AsLC [4D]

Reserve Corps – General der Kavallerie Liechtenstein        8”G(7)+1D [7F]

Grenadier Division of Feldmarschalleutnant Prochaszka       3”A(6)+1
Scovaud’s Grenadier Brigade                                                                          12 AsGN [5D]
Hammer’s Grenadier Brigade                                                                         20 AsGN [8D]
Melgum’s Grenadier Brigade                                                                           20 AsGN [8D]
Steyrer’s Grenadier Brigade                                                                             28 AsGN [11D]

Cavalry Division of Feldmarschalleutnant Hessen-Homburg      3”A(5)+0
Roussel d’Hurbal’s Brigade (KRs 2 ‘Erzherzog Franz’ & 3 ‘Erzherzog Albert’) 8 AsHC [3D]
Lederer’s Brigade (KRs 4 ‘Erzherzog Ferdinand’ & 8 ‘Hohenzollern’)    8 AsHC [3D]
Cavalry Battery                                                                                                   As6#
Cavalry Battery                                                                                                   As6#

Cavalry Division of Feldmarschalleutnant Schwarzenberg    4”A(8)+0
Kroyher’s Brigade (KRs 1 ‘Kaiser’ & 6 ‘Liechtenstein’)                              12 AsHC [4D]
Theimern’s Brigade (CR 6 ‘Rosenberg’ & DR 3 ‘Knesevich’)                    20 AsLC [10D]
Cavalry Battery                                                                                                   As6#
Cavalry Battery                                                                                                   As6#

Cavalry Division of Feldmarschalleutnant Nostitz                      4”E(7)+2
Rothkirch’s Brigade (DRs 1 ‘Erzherzog Johann’ & 6 ‘Riesch’)                 12 AsHC [5D]
Kerekes’ Brigade (Neutra & Primatial Insurrection HRs)                        16 AsILC [10D]
Cavalry Battery As6#

Austrian Reinforcements on 10th July

I Corps – General der Kavallerie Bellegarde                               7”A(6)+0 [3F]

Division of Generalmajor Henneberg 4”G(6)+1
Henneberg’s Brigade #1 (IR 17 ‘Reuss-Plauen’ & 2nd Jäger)                   20 AsLN [10D]
Henneberg’s Brigade #2 (IR 36 ‘Kolowrat’)                                                 16 AsLN [8D]
Elements, Fabré’s Brigade (IR 11 ‘Erzherzog Rainer’)                                16 AsLN [8D]

Division of Generalmajor Clary                                                             3”A(5)+0
Clary’s Brigade (IRs 10 ‘Anton Mittrowsky’ & 42 ‘Erbach’)                      24 AsLN [12D]
Stutterheim’s Brigade (CR 5 ‘Klenau’)                                                           12 AsLC [6D]
Cavalry Battery                                                                                                   As6#

I Corps Artillery
Position Battery                                                                                                  As12#
Position Battery                                                                                                  As12#

II Corps – Feldmarschalleutnant Hohenzollern-Hechingen      7”G(6)+1D [3F]

Division of Generalmajor Buresch                                                       3”A(4)+0
Quallenberg’s Brigade (IRs 25 ‘Zedtwitz’ & 54 ‘Froon’)                             28 AsLN [14D]
Buresch’s Brigade (IRs 15 ‘Zach’ & 57 ‘Joseph Colloredo’)                        28 AsLN [14D]
Schäffer’s Brigade (IR 35 ‘Argentau & 47 ‘Vogelsang’) (From I Corps)  24 AsLN [12D]

Division of Generalmajor Wied-Runkel                                            4”G(5)+0
Wied-Runkel’s Brigade (IRs 18 ‘d’Aspré’ & 28 ‘Frelich’)                          24 AsLN [12D]
GIR 13 ‘Wallach-Illyrian’ and 2nd & 4th Erzherzog Karl Legion            12 AsGRZ [7D]
Chevauléger Regiment 4 ‘Vincent’ (too weak to show – incorporated into I Corps strength)

II Corps Artillery
Cavalry Battery                                                                                                   As6#

III Corps – Generalfeldzeugmeister Kolowrat-Krakowsky      8”A(6)+1D [4F]

Elements, Division Schneller – Generalmajor Wratislaw                 3”A(5)+0
Wratislaw’s Brigade (Bohemian Landwehr & Lobkowitz Jäger)              20 AsFKI [12D]
Cavalry Battery                                                                                                    As6#

Division of Feldmarschalleutnant St Julien                                      3”P(4)+0
Chiesa’s Brigade (IRs 1 ‘Kaiser’ & 23 ‘Würzburg’)                                        24 AsLN [12D]
Lilienberg’s Brigade (IR 12 ‘Manfredini’)                                                       20 AsLN [10D]
Bieber’s Brigade (IRs 20 ‘Kaunitz’ & 38 ‘Württemberg’)                            28 AsLN [14D]

III Corps Artillery
Position Battery                                                                                                    As12#
Position Battery                                                                                                    As12#

VI Corps – Feldmarschalleutnant Klenau (Optional)      7”G(6)+1 [3F]

Division of Feldmarschalleutnant Hohenfeld                                  4”G(8)+1D
Hoffmeister’s Brigade (Hungarian IRs 39 ‘Duka’ & 60 ‘Gyulai’)               20 AsLN [10D]
Adler’s Brigade (IRs 14 ‘Klebek’ & 59 ‘Jordis’ and 3rd EH Karl Legion)  24 AsLN [12D]

Division of Feldmarschalleutnant Kottulinsky                                4”A(5)+1
Splenyi’s Brigade (Hungarian IRs 31 ‘Benjowsky’ & 51 ‘Splenyi’ and 3rd & 4th Vienna Volunteers) 20 AsLN [10D]

Division of Feldmarschalleutnant Vincent                                         4”A(5)+0
Vécsey’s Brigade (GIR 7 ‘Broder’ and 1st & 2nd Vienna Volunteers)        12 AsGRZ [7D]
Mariassy’s Brigade (HRs 7 ‘Liechtenstein’ & 8 ‘Kienmayer’)                      12 AsLC [6D]
Cavalry Battery                                                                                                      As6#

Austrian Order of Battle Notes

1.  The Austrian army starts Day 1 with a morale rating of 8M.  This increases to 20M as reinforcements arrive, as shown on the Game Schedule.  This of course, might be disrupted by formations arriving out of sequence if you’re using the Variable Arrival Times Rule (in which case, you’ll have to work out the current morale rating as you go along).

2.  An array of Austrian FMLs had been felled during the Battle of Wagram, so a lot of divisions are here temporarily commanded by GMs.

3.  Prior to the battle, Schneller was ordered by Archduke Charles to conduct a personal reconnaissance to the east of Znaïm with the 2nd Uhlans.  This means that he is detached from the main body of his division during Day 1 of the battle and is therefore treated as a very small independent division.  During the initial stages of the battle, Alstern’s Infantry Brigade, Steyrer’s Grenadier Brigade and Rothkirch’s Cavalry Brigade also came temporarily under his command and in game terms he may therefore take command of these units during Day 1 only.  Any losses are counted against their parent formation Fatigue Ratings.

4.  Alstern’s Brigade of Wied-Runkel’s Division (of II Corps) had originally been ordered to guard the road from Laa to Znaïm, but had fallen back in the face of Marmont’s advance before establishing a defensive position at the village of Klein-Tesswitz.  However, at the start of the game, Alstern has just been relieved by Steyrer and has been ordered by Schneller to fall back to a reserve position in the northern suburb of Znaïm.  This brigade may be commanded by Schneller during the first day of the battle.

5.  Steyrer’s Brigade of Prochaszka’s Grenadier Division was ordered to relieve Alstern’s Brigade at Klein-Tesswitz and there came under the command of Schneller, who had been ordered to take command of several disparate units in that area during the first day of the battle.

6.  Rothkirch’s Brigade of Nostitz’s Cavalry Division, positioned north of the River Thaya, started the battle separated from Nostitz’s main body, which was south of the river.  This brigade may be commanded by Schneller during the first day of the battle.

7.  Theimern’s Brigade of Schwarzenberg’s Cavalry Division was placed under Nostitz’s command south of the River Thaya during the first day of the battle.  Nostitz may therefore command this brigade during Day 1.

8.  While Schneller was off gallivanting, Giffling’s infantry brigade (IR 7 ‘Karl Schröder & IR 56 ‘Wenzel Colloredo’) from the same division was also detached, forming part of the rearguard.  This left only Wratislaw’s Brigade of Bohemian Landwehr & Volunteer Jäger present with the main body of III Corps.  I’ve classed this brigade as an independent formation commanded by Wratislaw.  I’ve classed them as Freikorps infantry rather than Landwehr, due to the large contingent of volunteers present.

9.  At around 1400hrs on Day 1, Archduke Charles sent Prince Liechtenstein to seek out Napoleon and seek terms for peace.  Liechtenstein therefore placed Schwarzenberg in command of the ‘Cavalry Reserve Corps’ during his absence.  From the Austrian Command Phase of Turn 4 therefore, Liechtenstein will be removed from play and will be immediately replaced in the same location by Schwarzenberg, who will be classed as a Temporary Corps Commander, with generalship ratings of 6”A(6)+0.  I don’t know who commanded Schwarzenberg’s division during this period, so just continue to use Schwarzenberg’s own divisional generalship ratings, representing his 2ic.  It’s not clear if Prochaszka’s Grenadier Division (often referred to as the ‘Reserve Grenadier Corps’, distinct from the ‘Cavalry Reserve Corps’) also came under Schwarzenberg’s command, but I have assumed so.

10.  Schäffer’s Brigade (IR 35 ‘Argentau’) and elements of Fabré’s Brigade (IR 47 ‘Vogelsang’) had become separated from I Corps during the retreat from Wagram and had been collected by II Corps during the march to Znaïm.  I’ve therefore shown them on Day 1 with Buresch’s Division of II Corps, as a single 24-figure unit under Schäffer.  This unit will be removed at the end of Day 1 and reunited with I Corps for the start of Day 2.  Any casualties suffered during Day 1 will need to be evenly shared between the two units when they are added to I Corps.

11.  I’ve incorporated the strength of Chevauléger Regiment 4 ‘Vincent’ from II Corps into Stutterheim’s Brigade of I Corps, as the Vincent Chevaulégers are too weak to represent as a unit in their own right.

12.  Most of II Corps’ artillery had retreated from Wagram with Rosenberg’s IV Corps, leaving II Corps with only three unspecified batteries.  In game terms I’ve therefore only included a single 6pdr cavalry battery.

13.  Klenau’s VI Corps arrived late in the day, was immediately placed in reserve and played no part in the day’s fighting.  It may therefore be considered to be an optional formation and may be left out of the scenario (though still add the formation’s strength to the Army Morale level).  Kolowrat-Krakowsky’s III Corps also played little part in the battle, but was at least used to threaten Marmont’s right flank, so may as well be left in.

13.  Reuss-Plauen’s V Corps was fighting a rearguard action against Masséna at Schöngrabern during Day 1.  His corps arrived during the night and participated in the second day of fighting at Znaïm.

14.  I’ve no idea if the Austrian divisions were numbered at this time.  They had been numbered 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc within each corps at the start of the campaign, but there had been many reorganisations and commander-reshuffles since then and every source I’ve read just identifies them by name.  In order to simplify unit labelling, I’ve arbitrarily numbered each division within each corps on the game labels below.

15.  Henneberg’s #1 Brigade (I Corps) includes a regular Jäger Battalion and will therefore gain an additional +1 Fire Modifier.

16.  I often use my own unofficial ‘Archduke Charles Rule’ (very similar to the official Napoleon’s Battles ‘Blücher Rule’) whenever Archduke Charles is present during 1809 battles.  I haven’t actually posted it here in any scenarios yet, but it will appear when I get around to posting my Aspern-Essling scenario.  However, the ‘Archduke Charles Rule’ may not be used in this scenario.

Initial Deployment

Marmont starts the game with all of the reinforced XI Corps, except for the Artillery Reserve, which will arrive as reinforcements.

Archduke Charles starts the game with Liechtenstein, the Reserve Corps, Schneller’s detachment and Alstern’s Brigade.

As this was an encounter battle where neither side had any detailed knowledge of the enemy’s strength or dispositions, both sides deploy their units as per the map, though the French may rearrange the exact deployment of brigades within their divisional areas.

Marmont may be positioned anywhere at the start, but Archduke Charles and Liechtenstein must start the game at the newly-established Army Headquarters in the village of Brenditz (near the top of the map).

Infantry and cavalry units may be deployed in any formation.

All artillery starts the game limbered.

Austrian cavalry units may have React Markers at the start.

Game & Reinforcement Schedule Day 1 (10th July)

Turn 1 – 1300:  Game starts with French turn.  French XI Corps Artillery Reserve arrives at Point C.

Turn 2 – 1330:  Bellegarde with Henneberg’s Division (I Corps), arrives at Point B.  [Austrian Army Morale increases to 10M]

Turn 3 – 1400:  Clary’s Division (I Corps) & I Corps Reserve Artillery arrives at Point B.  Kolowrat-Krakowsky with Wratislaw’s Brigade (III Corps) arrives at Point A.  [Austrian Army Morale increases to 12M]

Turn 4 – 1430:  Liechtenstein is replaced by Schwarzenberg as commander of the Reserve Corps.  St Julien’s Division (III Corps) & III Corps Reserve Artillery arrives at Point A.  [Austrian Army Morale increases to 14M]

Turn 7 – 1600:  Hohenlohe with Wied-Runkel’s Division (II Corps) arrives at Point B.  [Austrian Army Morale increases to 15M]

Turn 8 – 1630:  Klenau with Vincent’s Division (VI Corps) arrives at Point A.  [Austrian Army Morale increases to 16M]

Turn 9 – 1700:  Buresch’s Division (II Corps) & II Corps Reserve Artillery arrives at Point B.  [Austrian Army Morale increases to 18M]

Turn 10 – 1730:  Hohenfeld’s Division (VI Corps) arrives at Point A.  [Austrian Army Morale increases to 20M]

Turn 11 – 1800:  Kottulinsky’s Division (VI Corps) arrives at Point A.  [Austrian Army Morale remains at 20M]

Turn 16 – 2030:  Scenario ends at the end of this turn (nightfall).

All units arrive in March Column formation.

Miscellaneous Rules and Terrain Effects

1.  The Thaya River is unfordable, except via the bridge at Oblass and the fords at Pumlitz and Mühlfraun.  All bridges and fords may be crossed by all troop-types at the normal Column or March Column rate.

2.  The Leska Stream between Points Y & Z sits within a deep, steep-sided ravine.  Between these points it is only fordable to infantry and cavalry (not artillery) as 2 inches of Rough Terrain and additionally, all units will immediately become Disordered.  A unit defending the bank will gain a +1 defensive modifier (in addition to the attacker getting the -3 penalty for being Disordered).  All bridges and fords may be crossed by all troop-types at the normal Column or March Column rate.

3.  All Other Streams (including the Leska below Point Z) are passable to all troop types as 1 inch of Rough Terrain and are not disordering.  A unit defending the bank will gain a +1 defensive modifier.  All bridges and fords may be crossed by all troop-types at the normal Column or March Column rate.

4.  The Pond at Kukrowitz is impassable to all troop-types.

5.  All Villages have a cover modifier of -2 and a defensive modifier of +2.  Some villages have more than one Built-Up Sector (defined by the brown rectangles) and each Sector my accommodate an infantry brigade.  Villages with roads running through them may potentially accommodate more than one unit, but only if the additional units are passing through in Column or March Column formation.

6.  The City of Znaïm is mostly surrounded by high Mediaeval walls (defined by the thick black line) which may only be accessed through one of the four gates marked in red and only by troops in Column or March Column formation.  Attacking units may only assault a gate in Column formation.  Units defending a gate gain a +4 defensive modifier against units attempting to attack into the city from outside the gate.  The city is divided up into six adjacent Built-Up Sectors, each with a cover modifier of -2 and a defensive modifier of +3 (if attacked from an adjacent sector and not through a gate).  The three adjacent Built-Up Sectors along the river bank are outside the city walls and are classed as a village.  Note that attacking the River Gate of Znaïm is virtual suicide, being up a steep, narrow and enfiladed approach.  The defender will gain +1 for the slope, plus the +4 for defending the gate!

7.  Hill Slopes provide a +1 defensive modifier to the defender.  I appreciate that this map has very complicated topography and will undoubtedly need some simplifying for game purposes (unless you have a sand-table, Geo-Hex or some other flashy terrain system).  I’ll have a stab at a simplified map and will include it in a future update, but for now we’ll have to make do with the ‘proper’ map.

8.  Woods provide a -1 cover modifier, but no positive combat modifier, just the usual negative combat modifiers, depending on troop type (suffered by both combatants, provided the defender is within the wood).  Woods are classed as Rough Terrain for movement for all troop types, though are not particularly dense and do not therefore disorder troops passing through them.  Firing through woods is limited to 2 inches range.

9.  Vineyards are defined by the brown areas shown on the map.  These provide no cover modifier and no positive combat modifier.  Both sides suffer the negative combat modifiers normally used for woods.  Vineyards are classed as Rough Terrain for all troop types, but do not block line of sight.  I should say that the position of vineyards is not exact and their layout is based on a couple of pretty vague maps, so feel free to vary them.  Essentially the lower half of the map (along the Thaya valley) was very thickly covered in vineyards, while the upper half was considered better ‘cavalry country’.

10.  Earthworks had been dug by the Austrians (probably in 1805) to cover the southern approaches to Znaïm from the Vienna highway.  These were three small positions for ‘a few guns’ and for game purposes I have reduced this to two positions, one on the low ground and one on the high ground, each big enough to hold a full battery.  The earthworks provide the battery with a -2 cover modifier and a +2 combat modifier.  Each emplaced battery may pivot by up to 45 degrees and remain in cover.  The earthworks are not sufficient to accommodate an infantry brigade.

11.  Roads are coloured either grey for the main paved highways or brown for the local roads and tracks.  There is no real difference in game terms, though if your terrain collection only includes a limited number of road-pieces, do the grey highways as a matter of priority, along with any roads passing through woods or vineyards, as well as river-crossings.

12.  The Vienna Highway leading from Point A to Oblass, Znaïm and Iglau was absolutely rammed with retreating Austrian traffic.  Only those formations arriving at Point A (III Corps and VI Corps) may therefore use the Oblass Bridge.  Formations arriving at Point B (I Corps and II Corps) may only use the Pumling Ford.  However, Nostitz’s Cavalry Division and Scovaud’s Grenadier Brigade (who start the scenario positioned south of the Thaya) may use either crossing.

Scenario Balancing Options

At first glance, this scenario seems very heavily stacked against Marmont.  However, note that the Austrians, while there are a lot of them, are committed to the battle piecemeal and with very limited avenues of approach, so I’d perhaps play this through at least once before making any major changes.

However, I would seriously consider leaving Klenau’s VI Corps out of the scenario, as they simply marched past Znaïm and didn’t get involved in the battle.

Another option might be to force Kolowrat-Krakowsky’s III Corps to remain in March Column formation and on the main highway until they reach Point Y, which is where they historically deployed off the road and advanced to threaten Marmont’s right flank.  This move could of course be cancelled if they came under attack.

One more option might be to ban the Austrians from using the ford at Mühlfraun as a sneaky way to outflank the French.  Although Hohenzollern did have orders to explore options to cross the Thaya in that area, the Austrians were very worried about Marshal Davout approaching from that direction, so were reluctant to place themselves in a position where they would then be outflanked in turn.

Unit Information Card

French Unit Labels

Austrian Unit Labels

Part 2 to follow soon!  In the meantime I’ve been indulging in a little sci-fi action with the superb Core Space game-system.  I’ve had a couple of solo games and a game with an actual human and it’s an absolutely brilliant game! 🙂  It also includes a lot of really nice scenery and there are lots of expansion options… I must be strong…