As stated in part one of this article, the main purpose of the game (apart from hopefully having a good scrap!), was to test out the club's newly aoquired "Follow The Eagle Tactical", (FTET), rules under "combat conditions". Having completed the research and designed the scenario, the logistics were tackled next. I had previously seen the rules used during a small game, but had never actually used them myself, so it was with some trepidation that I invited the two opposing commanders around for a briefing and a "keying in" session.
Approach March
Firstly both commanders were given a copy of the background to the battle, their briefings, their orders of battle and a map. No details of the enemy were given at this stage. Then whilst one commander contemplated his order of march, marked the entry points onto the battlefield map and then issued initial orders to the Divisional commanders, the other commander entered his forces into the computer and then Visa Versa. As this was to be a meeting engagement, I deliberately restricted the time available for order writing. After both players had finished, I collected all the orders etc. back into my charge, to be given out to the other players on the day of the game.
Keying in....
The keying in procedure for FTET is very straightforward. Each unit is given a strength in actual men present and certain characteristics, such as its nationality, its type (Light Infantry, Dragoons etc), weapons (Musket, Rifle), training (Veterans, Conscripts etc), whether skirmish capable, whether it has a standard (boosts morale) and its speed of deployment.
Next, the Command Groups are created by giving each general in the order of battle a name, rank, ability and troop loyalty rating. For the purposes of the game, all generals represented by players, were given average ratings, whilst the Brigade Commanders were randomised using the programme's random option, with some startling (and sometimes amusing) results. The Command Groups are then organised into Corps, Divisions etc, with finally, the units themselves being allocated to Command Groups.
My initial trepidation was ill-founded, as although the above may look like causing a throbbing pain behind the eyeballs, the system is very user friendly, with much automatic duplicating and "Hot Keying" which makes life much easier for the game organiser, (Something I'm all in favour of 1). Indeed the keying in of the not inconsiderable forces was completed in less than two hours!
March to Contact
There was an air of expectancy and suppressed excitement in the clubhouse as the players arrived and viewed the terrain for the first time. After all, this was our largest game so far, with over TWO THOUSAND 15mm figures on the table.
Lasalle's Light Cavalry Division was given the task of securing the heights west of Besuchwald, to protect the left flank of the Corps and to support the attack on Diendorf.
CARRA ST. CYR'S 2nd Division was order to advance and occupy Diendorf. He was reminded that a vigorous progress was expected!
MOLITOR'S 3rd Division was to initially form the reserve, but was to hold himself in readiness to support 2nd Division's advance on Diendorf.
BOUDET'S 4th Division was to advance on the northern flank of 2nd Division, occupy Der Bauernhof and to sever the road-link with Diendorf.
MARULAZ'S Corps Cavalry Brigade was to form a reserve but was to hold himself in readiness to act as the Corps Northern flank guard.
CASANOVA'S Heavy Cavalry Division was to support the attacks on Diendorf and Der Bauernhof and to engage enemy cavalry emerging between the aforementioned.
VUKASSOVICH was to ensure that Diendorf was occupied, to ensure his right flank was secure and then probe towards Neumarkt.
SAINT JULIEN was to secure Der Bauernhof, link with Vukassovich and advance on Neumarkt.
SCHWARZENBERG was to support and cover Saint Juilen's left flank with the two light cavalry brigades. The heavy cavalry were to form behind Saint Julien's main body and were to engage any enemy heavy cavalry venturing to their front.
HAMMER'S Grenadier Brigade was to form behind Vukassovich's Division and to act as a reserve under Kollowrat's direct command.
The battle opened with Carra St.Cyr's Division making a rapid and spirited advance on Diendorf. Casson's 24eme Legere just failed to reach the outskirts before the town was
occupied by Grill's brigade of Vukassovich's Division. The 1/24eme Legere assaulted the town, but were roughly handled by the 1st Battalion Wenzel Colloredo Regiment. The jubilant Austrian battalion pursued the French beyond the town, but unfortunately for them, Lasalle had positioned
Pire's Brigade just to the East of Besuchwald. The 8eme Hussars swooped on the flank of the hapless Hapsburgs and cut them to pieces, taking the Liebstandard and over 400 prisoners. The first trophy had been won, with much rejoicing on the French side.
However, it was soon the turn of the Austrians to laugh, as Marshal Massena came to realise that he had transposed the deployments of the 3rd and 4th Divisions. Much to Boudet's disgust, he would find it extremely difficult to execute his orders as they now stood. Looking suitably
chastened, Massena launched himself into a flurry of order writing to the 3rd and 4th Divisions and the Corps Cavalry. (With FTET, orders are input into the computer along with the distance between the sender and recipient, to be generated, via primer or screen, after a suitable delay).
Meanwhile, Carra St. Cyr continued to press the attack on Diendorf, with Casson and Dalesme's brigades attacking from the East and Schinner's Hesse-Darmstadt brigade working its way in from the south. The 2/4eme Ligne managed to gain a foothold on the Eastern side and the
Hesse-Darmstadt Leib Regiment Fusilier Battation assaulted the church and bundled the 3rd Battalion Karl Schroder out into the square. Vukassovich continued to feed in troops in the form of Wranislaw's Landwehr Brigade to cover the north of the town.
Kollowrat, sensing that Diendorf could well fall, released Hammer's Grenadier brigade and the Korps artillery reserve to Vukassovich, thus committing the Austrian's only reserve. New orders were also sent to St. Julien. On the Southern flank Lasalle's Cavalry had gained the heights to the West of Besuchwald and were menacing Vukassovich's flank. Vukassovich countered by deploying a cavalry battery and the Schwarzenberg Uhlan Regiment to meet them.
Concurrently, in the no man's land between the two armies, the ground shook with the thunder of hooves as Casanova's and Schwarzenberg's cavalry clashed between Diendorf and Der Bauernhof. Neither side seemed lo have an advantage, until Wartensleben's Brigade gained the flank of
Raynauld's Brigade and the O'Reilly Chevaulegers charged the flank of the 6eme Cuirassiers and rode them down, capturing their Eagle and taking the survivors prisoner. The jubilant Austrian cavalry pressed their attacks and severely mauled the French Cuirassiers.
Eventually, Casanova called for the retreat to be sounded and the remains of his Division retired behind the 3rd Division to lick their wounds. During the height of the cavalry
combat, Massena had formed the artillery of the 2nd Division, 3rd Division, Heavy cavalry division and the Corps reserve into a great crescent between the Diendorf/Neumarkt road and Fuchswald and advanced to within enemy cannon shot of the Austrian lines.
At this point, Boudel received the orders he had been waiting for. The 41st Division was to advance south of Diendorf, swing West behind the town and drive in the Austrian flank. Massena also ordered Marulaz' Cavalry brigade to advance to the north of Fuchswald to prevent
Schwarzenberg from turning the French right flank.
As the 4th Division neared Diendorf, Lasalle launched Bruyere's Brigade to clear the Cavalry and guns to his front. The Schwarzenberg Uhlans countercharged and fought the 13eme and 16eme Chasseurs a Cheval to a standstill. Back in Diendorf, the Hesse Darmstadt Leib Garde totally
overwhelmed the Bissingen Grenadier Battalion and captured its standard. The French were making steady progress in the town, but were beginning to tire. On the northern flank, Schwarzenberg turned his attention to Marulaz and quickly bundled the French Cavalry behind Fuchswald.
Meanwhile, Molilor's 3rd Division had received new orders to advance between Diendorf and Der Bauernhof to split the Austrian Centre. As Molitor's battalions advanced their Voltigeurs, (FTET allows you to detach flank companies to act as skimmishers), in preparation of the
main assault, Massena's plan became clear to all. Carra St Cyr was to pin the enemy and gain his attention, Boudet was to tum his flank and Molitor was to rupture his centre.
But Kolbwrat had plans of his own. Saint Julien had been ordered to threaten the French Northern flank and so Ulienberg's Brigade began to advance its infantry and artillery towards Fuchswald, supported by a brigade of Cuirassiers, to attack Molitor's flank.
Back at Diendorf, 2nd Division's assault was faltering due to fatigue, with more units now refusing to charge. Knowing his task to be critical, St. Cyr forced his troops on. To the West, Bruyere's Light Cavalry eventually drove the Uhlans from the field and overran the Cavalry battery, but were themselves driven off by fire from the rear of Schneller's Brigade.
As Boudet's Division, resembling some huge column, advanced past Diendorf to begin its turning manoeuvre, Vukassovich rushed three batteries and his last two Grenadier Battalions to form a firing line. Close range canister fire tore huge gaps in the closely packed French
with the Grenadiers adding their own fire to the carnage. Two Battalions of the 56eme Line, braver than the rest charged the Oklopsin Grenadier battalion, but were defeated after stiff hand to hand fihting by the stalwart Austrians. Boudet's attack had ground to a halt. Also St. Cyr's gallant troops were now exhausted and would attack no more.
Over on the Northern flank, Schwarzenberg had driven Marulaz from the field, for the loss of the Rosenberg Chevaux-legers and the Knesvich Dragoons. Lilienberg's Brigade had gained the Fuchswald unopposed and was preparing to attack Molitor's exposed flank and rear. To add to his
troubles, four of Molitor's battalions were forced into square by the Austrian Cuirassiers and were being reduced to red ruin by Lillienberg's artillery firing at short range. When the
remains of Casanova's Cuirassiers refused to charge the Austrians, Molitor was compelled to retire. Massena now realised that the situation was hopeless and issued the painful order for the corps to retire, with 3rd Division acting as rearguard.
For those who like the casualty figures, the final score was 3941 for the French and 3723 for the Austrians.
Consensus
The general consensus amongst the players was that the game had been a success, with a realistic result achieved, due mainly to the FTET system. As referee, I found that I was able to control the battle and use the computer without to many difficulties. The players
particularly liked the prompt driven firing and combat procedures, the novel chain of command and courier systems, the end of move sit-reps from the brigade commanders and the facility for detaching light companies from a unit for independent skirmish action. The system certainly speeded up play. All in all a big yes vote for "Follow the Eagle."
After the players had been given their briefing sheets and orders the two armies began to deploy. See Map 1.
The French
The Austrians
Pas de Charge
With the withdrawal of the French Heavy Cavalry, this mass of guns now proceeded to pound the Austrian centre. See Map 2.
Masse de Manoeuvre
Masse De Rupture
The Austrians had gained the field. See Map 3.
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