The battle of Diendorf was designed as a "What If" scenario, to try out our club's newly acquired "Follow The Eagle Tactical" rules. The game itself was fought out at the Felixstowe Confederates purpose built clubhouse, on a 15ft by 6ft table. Part one of this article will outline the game setup, while part two will describe the course of the battle and how FTET shaped up to the challenge.

BACKGROUND TO THE BATTLE

On March 20th 1809, Austria launched its carefully planned attack on the French and Allied forces dispersed in Bavaria. To coordinate with the main attack, smaller offensives were launched into Italy and Poland, with raids into northern Germany. Due mainly to the sloth of the Austrian Korps commanders, Napoleon was able to concentrate his forces and launch a series of counterattacks which resulted in victories at Echmuhl, Landshut, Ratisbon and Ebersberg, forcing the Austrians to retire.

On 13th May, Napoleon entered Vienna, but the bulk of the Austrian Army had not yet been brought to a decisive battle and awaited the French on the Northern bank of the Danube.

On the 21st May Napoleon's attempt to cross the Danube and engage the forces of the Archduke Charles was foiled at the two day battle of Aspern-Essling. This was the first serious defeat of Napoleon's career. Subsequently, while the main Austrian army sat inactive awaiting the arrival of Archduke John's Army of Inner Austria marching from Hungary, Napoleon once more crossed the Danube and defeated the Austrians on the 5-6th July at the Battle of Wagram, thus effectively ending the campaign.

What if the Archduke Charles had not remained inactive after Aspern-Essling, but had attempted to capitalise on his victory by cutting the vulnerable French lines of communication beyond Vienna?

AUSTRIAN BRIEFING

The commanders of 3 and 5 Armeekorps have been ordered to attack the French lines of communication to the west of Vienna. On 28th June, 5 Armeekorps crossed the Danube and attacked the Bavarian VII Corps. Meanwhile, 3 Armeekorps used the manoeuvrings of 5 Armeekorps to screen its movements and crossed the Danube unopposed approximately 25 miles west of Vienna on 29th June. The next day found 3 Armeekorps in the vicinity of Diendorf, when news of the approaching French forces was received. You, Graf Kolowrat-Krakowsky have resolved to meet the French on this very ground.

OBJECTIVE

To defeat the French forces arrayed against you, but at the very least to stand your ground. But remember, that the Army is the instrument and guarantor of Habsburg rule and so must not be lost. The loss of a third of your forces will necessitate a withdrawal.

FRENCH BRIEFING

On 28th June, the Austrian 5 Armeekorps crossed the Danube west of Vienna and attacked the Bavarian VII Corps. Napoleon, believing that the Archduke Charles would be unlikely to risk a single Corps in a venture of this sort, dispatched the French IV Corps under the wily Marshal Massena to clear his lines of communication.

It has become apparent that another Austrian Armeekorps has used the operations of 5 Armeekorps to screen its movements and has crossed the Danube further West. After leaving a depleted Division with VII Corps, you, Marshal Massena, have resolved to crush this unknown force.

OBJECTIVE

To destroy the Austrian force as an effective combat unit, or at the very least to force it to withdraw.

SOURCES

Armies of the Danube Bowden & Tarbox
Crisis on the Danube James R. Arnold
Napoleon and the Archduke Charles F. Lorraine Petre
Swords around a Throne John R. Elting
Napoleon et L'Autriche Tranie and Carmigniani
"Battle at Flood Tide" (Article) Military History Magazine August 1991 ORDER OF BATTLE

French

FRENCH IV CORPS

MARSHAL MASSENA
Chief of Staff - General de Division Becker

1st Division General de Dvision Legrand (Detached to VII Corps)

2nd Division General de Division Carra St. Cyr

1st Brigade - Casson
24eme Legere (3 Battalions. Strengths of each - 576,546,616)

2nd Brigade - Dalesme

4eme Ligne (3 Btns. 677, 635, 651)
46eme Ligne (3 Btns. 554, 596, 670)

3rd (Hesse-Darmstadt) Brigade - Schinner)

Leib Garde (2 Btns. 788, 705)
Leib Garde Fusilier Battalion (710)
Leib Regiment Fusilier Battalion (736)
2nd Infantry 1st Battalion (736)
2nd Infantry Fusilier Battalion (710)
7/5eme Art. A Pied (6 x 6pdr, 2 x Howitzers)
2/1eme Art. A Pied (4 x 6pdr, 2 x Howitzers)
Hesse-Darmstadt Foot Artillery Coy (4 x 6pdr, 2 x Howitzers)

3rd Division General de Division Molitor

1st Brigade - Leguay
2eme Ligne (2 Btns. 597, 574)
16eme Ligne (3 Btns. 432, 469, 448)

2nd Brigade - Viviez

37eme Ligne (3 Btns. 435, 457, 448)
67eme Ligne (2 Btns. 438, 447)
21/1eme Art. a Pied (6 x 4pdr)
8/2eme Art. a Pied (6 x 6pdr)
1/4eme Art. a Cheval (4 x 6pdr, 2 x Howitzers)

4th Division General de Division Molitor

1st Brigade - Fririon
3eme Legere (2 Btns. 610, 660)

2nd Brigade - Valory

56eme Ligne (3 Btns. 462, 488, 357)
93eme Ligne (2 Btns. 596, 552)
1/7eme Art. a Pied (6 x 6pdr, 2 x Howitzers)
8/2eme Art. a Pied (4 x 6pdr, 2 x Howitzers)

Corps Cavalry Brigade - Marulaz

23eme Chasseurs a Cheval (3 squadronsa. Strength of 311)
1st Bavarian Chevaulegers "Prince Royal" (4 Sqns. 564)
Hesse-Darmstadt Chevaulegers (4 Sqns. 348)
(Two Bavarian Horse Artillery Batteries detached to VII Corps)

Reserve Artillery - Pernetti

3/5eme Art. a Pied (8 x 12pdr)

ATTACHED FORCES

Light Cavalry Division - General de Division Lasalle

Brigade - Pire
8eme Hussars (4 Sqns. 449)
16eme Chasseurs a Cheval (4 Sqns. 400)

Brigade - Bruyere

13eme Chasseurs a Cheval (4 Sqns. 493)
16eme Chasseurs a Cheval (3 Sqns. 287)

3rd Heavy Cavalry Division - General de Division Arrighi de Casanova

1st Brigade - Raynaud
4eme Cuirassiers (4 Sqns. 444)
6eme Cuirassiers (4 Sqns. 491)

2nd Brigade - Bordesoule

7eme Cuirassiers (4 Sqns. 444)
8eme Cuirassiers (4 Sqns. 491)
3/6eme Art. a Cheval (4 x 8pdr, 2 x Howitzers)

The French IV Corps was a newly constituted formation for the war, comprising a mixture of veterans and young conscripts. For the purposes of the game, the 4eme Ligne and 24eme Legere were rated as veterans, whilst the rest of the infantry were classed as either average or conscripts. The Hesse-Darmstadt Brigade were amongst the most reliable of allied units and were rated accordingly. Artillery were rated as average. the Cuirassiers were given veteran or average status, whilst the rest of the cavalry were rated mainly average.

AUSTRIAN

3 ARMEEKORPS

Feldzugmeister Graf Kolowrat-Krakowsky
Chief of Staff - Oberst Heldensfeld

Division Feldmarschall-Leutnant Graf Saint Julien

Brigade GM Lilienberg
Kaiser IR 1 (2 Btns. Strength 788, 701)
Wurzburg IR 23 (2 Btns. 711, 708)
1/3rd Regt. Brigade Battery ( 8 x 6pdr)

Brigade GM Bieber

Kaunitz IR 20 (3 Btns. 682, 690, 699)
Wurttemberg IR 38 (2 Btns. 502, 648)
2/3rd Regt. Brigade Battery ( 8 x 6pdr)
10/3rd Regt. Position Battery (4 x 6pdr, 2 x Howitzers)

Division Feldmarschall-Leutnant Freiherr V. Vukassovich

Brigade GM Grill
Wenzel Colloredo IR 56 (3 Btns. 683, 697, 679)
Karl Schroder IR 7 (3 Btns. 997, 1052, 1103)
3/3rd Regt. Brigade Battery ( 6 x 6pdr)

Brigade Wratislaw

Prager Landwehr Battalion (381)
1st Berauner Landwehr Battalion (349)
4/3rd Regt. Brigade Battery ( 6 x 3pdr)

Brigade GM Schneller

Lobkowitz Jagers (1 Btn. 723)
2nd Berauner Landwehr Battalion (377)
Schwarzenberg Uhlans UR 2 (6 Sqns. 667)
16/4th Regt. Cavalry Battery ( 4 x 6pdr, 2 x Howitzers)
11/3rd Regt. Position Battery (4 x 6pdr, 2 x Howitzers)

Reserve Artillery - Oberst Smola

14/3rd Regt. Position Battery ( 4 x 12pdr, 2 x Howitzers)
15/3rd Regt. Position Battery ( 4 x 12pdr, 2 x Howitzers)

ATTACHED FORCES

Grenadier Brigade GM Hammer

Grenadier Battalion Kirchenbetter (540)
Grenadier Battalion Bissingen (523)
Grenadier Battalion Oklopskin (557)
Grenadier Battalion Locher (553)
(Two Brigade Batteries attached)

Composite Cavalry Division - Feldmarschall - Leutnant Schwarzenbrerg

Brigade GM d'Hurbal
Erzherzog Albert Cuirassiers CR 3 (6 Sqns. 540)
Erzherzog Franz Cuirassiers CR 2 (6 Sqns. 485)
17/4th Cavalry Battery ( 4 x 6pdr, 2 x Howitzers)
(One Cavalry Battery detached)

Brigade GM Kroyher

Kaiser Cuirassiers CR 1 (4 Sqns. 423)
Moritz Liechtenstein Cuirassiers CR 6 (6 Sqns. 548)
(Two Cavalry Batteries detached)

Brigade GM Teimern

Rosenberg Chevaulegers CHR 6 (8 Sqns. 720)
Knesvich Dragoons DR 3 (6 Sqns. 489)
(One Cavalry Battery detached)

Brigade GM Wartensleben

O'Reilly Chevaulegers CHR 6 (8 Sqns. 720)
Blankenstein Hussars HR 3 (10 Sqns. 963)
(Two Cavalry Batteries detached)

The Austrian Infantry were rated as average, dependable types, if somewhat slow. The volunteers and Landwehr were rated accordingly. The Grenadiers were given veteran status. As with the French, the Austrian Cuirassiers were given veteran or average status. The O'Reilly Chevaulegers were also classed as veterans, whilst the rest of the cavalry and artillery were rated as average.

Battle of Diendorf Part 2