OPENING MOVES The French were quicker off the mark than their Austrian counterparts, thanks to a succession of winning initiative rolls. Their cavalry commands were the first units forward; two of the light regiments coming into line just South of Monastery Hill. The Lancers advanced across the rear slope of the hill. The "attached" horse artillery went "out of command" and galloped up to the road on Monastery Hill, just to the right of the Monastery. Here, they unlimbered, hoping to range fire on the expected advance of the Austrian Dragoons and Uhlans to their front. The French infantry moved more tentatively. Though in colurrm formation (normally a boost to movement rates), the 13 battalions presently on the field marched slowly and steadily toward the North-South road. The Guard "reserve" was still off the field at this early hour. The forward artillery battery of the central command unlimbered after traveling a short distance, and prepared to bring the Austrian line under long-range fire. Ironically, it was the French who were brought under fire first. The 16th Hussars took several hits from the recently deployed batteries of the center Austrian command group. As a result, the Hussars were thrown into some disorder and withdrew in confusion away from the belching guns of the Austrian position batteries. Further, this first blood-letting cost the French three (3) morale chits. The initiative then "turned" to the Austrians, and they made up for any initial French advantage by moving their commands forward. And smartly. On the left flank, the Grenzer Regiment was moving through the first two "sections" of Gerasdorf. In the center, the Jaegers were rapidly approaching the North-South road. The main bodies of infantry followed these advance elements. They maintained their attack colurrm formation. On the right flank, the Austrian cavalry moved up to contest the French. There was no contact as yet, but the Austrians certainly looked imposing enough. The Uhlans especially: what with lances raised and pennants flying in the warm morning air. A GENERAL ACTION DEVELOPS In the 7:30 a.m. hour, the French right was approaching Gerasdorf. While the light infantry battalion provided a protective screen, every following line regiment changed from column of companies to attack colurrm formation. The supporting battery of the far right brigade unlimbered on the road, about 12 inches from the western section of the village of Gerasdorf. The following battery did not deploy in turn, but swung off the improved road and followed its infantry into the "gap" between Gerasdorf and the stone bridge. (As a result, both batteries were ruled "out of command".) By this time though, the Austrians had moved very close to the stone and wood buildings of the village. Indeed, the Grenzers were now darting in and around the outer edges of the western section of the village. The two position batteries of the brigade were still in train, and very near the "entrance" of the village. On either side of the road leading into the village, three battalions of Austrian line infantry were posted. In terms of numbers, it looked to be a relatively even contest. With respect to position however, a clear advantage lay with the white-coated officers and men of Rosenberg's left. In the center of the field, both sides continued to advance as much as terrain and other formed bodies of friendly troops would allow. The Jaegers took cover - too late as it was determined (and hence, the loss of a morale chit) - from a salvo of 81b cannon balls from the deployed foot battery in the French front line. Company officers loudly reminded their men to check their intervals. In response, the Hussars endured more artillery fire from the position battery that had wrecked both men and horses minutes before. The 3rd Battalion of the 46th Regiment also fired a volley at the Hussars. While much noise and smoke were produced, very little in the way of damaging results was recorded against the already "wounded" unit. Army Commander Rosenberg selected this moment to trot on to the field. His suite followed, but the troops of his command remained in reserve. French cavalry remained temporarily inactive, much in the way the Austrian regiments did. The French horse battery on Monastery Hill did prolong its sections forward in order to gain a little more range and angle on the opposing Dragoons. Back over on the French right, a contest took shape in and around the northwest section of the village of Gerasdorf. The French skirmishers had advanced almost up to the cross road - not deploying into the village, but moving in and around the buildings. Their Austrian counterparts disputed the advance, but to no real effect. And when a supporting line regiment came up for the French light infantry, the Austrian Grenzers withdrew in the face of this formed pressure. In addition, just North of the village, volleys were exchanged between battalions of the 44th Bellegarde Regiment and the 30th Ligne Regiment. Here, the French succeeded in knocking down several files of Austrians, but again, the fire was more smoke and noise than anything. While this exchange was taking place in the fields outside of Gerasdorf, the Austrians began to deploy their artillery batteries across the field. Behind the village itself, the two position batteries of Command Group 4 unlimbered. If the French sallied forth from Gerasdorf, they would be looking down the close barrels of some 12 cannon. In the center, the final two batteries of the original three in the Austrian front line unlimbered and set up as well. This was a little tricky, given the proximity of some of the line units. But after some side-stepping and realignment, all was back in order. It was just in time too, for the depleted 16th Hussars launched a charged against the 3rd Battalion of the 46th and its neighboring battery. In the sharp melee that followed, the reduced cavalry routed the gunners but could make no real impression on the infantry. Even as the pieces were abandoned, the 3rd followed the retreating Hussars with a withering volley; emptying more saddles and bringing down more horses in the process. At the same time, but to the Austrian right of this action, another French cavalry regiment advanced into melee. The 5th Chasseurs galloped into the standing 4th Uhlan Regiment, who responded with a charge of their own. Supporting these maneuvers, the 7th Lancers were starting to descend Monastery Hill and the heavy "brigade" of dragoons and cuirassiers was advancing toward the North-South road. The initiative did not remain with the French for long, however. In response to these attacks and advances to attacks on their right, the Austrian horse swept into action. On the far right, a dragoon regiment advanced up Monastery Hill to take the French Horse Battery. The regimental commander misjudged the terrain, and his troopers fell short of the French guns. Initially surprised by the appearance of enemy cavalry, the first salvo from the six guns went high. The crews recovered quickly and loaded another ball in each piece. This second fire found the massed target and a number of Austrian horsemen were rendered hors de combat. (Still feeling unsafe, the French played a tactical moral check chit against this cavalry regiment - in an attempt to force a withdrawal. The Austrians rolled well, and shrugged off the effect of the cannon fire.) On the other end of the line, its sister regiment charged forward into the right-hand regiment of French Dragoons. Back in the middle of this sector, the remaining Uhlan Regiment advanced into contact with the French Lancers at the base of the hill. In short order then, there were three separate, swirling cavalry melees taking place around Monastery Hill. Coincidentally, there were three separate melees taking place on the opposite end of the field. These were not cavalry v. cavalry, however. After firing ineffectually against the Grenzers, the French light infantry moved into the southern two sections of the village and tried to come to grips with the Austrians. Small groups of skirmishers from both sides dashed about the buildings, walls, and fences, trying to isolate and eliminate one another. Just outside the village, four line battalions were locked in a similar struggle. This combat was not as scattered as the one taking place in the village. At a very close range, blue and white-coated infantry stood, blazing away at one another with leveled flintlocks. After about ten minutes, all four units involved were enveloped in thick clouds of black powder smoke. Back over on the Austrian right flank, instead of smoke, it was confusion that enveloped the units engaged in combat. For no apparent reason, the Cuirassier regiments turned around and started to move toward the rear. General Major von Schneller could not help but notice this, as he followed the disbelieving stare of the faces of two of his aides. He stared too, at first, and then swore mightily. He then tried to issue orders to all the regiments under his command, but it was too late. First one and then another regiment disengaged from the enemy, turned tail (literally) and trotted back in his direction. It was not an orderly withdrawal or retreat, by any stretch of the imagination. The General swore again, realizing that he had lost any control over this wing of the Austrian force. It was now the French troopers who stared in disbelief at the backs of the Austrian cavalry. After several volleys, units of the 44th Bellegarde Regiment and of the 30th Ligne Regiment advanced into melee. Here, fortunately for the Austrians, there was no sudden disengagement and retreat. In fact, they were the ones who were able to stand (those men that survived the fighting) and look upon the backs of the running Frenchmen. The 4th Battalion of the 44th Bellegarde routed the 3rd Battalion of the 30th Ligne. Closer to Gerasdorf, the 3rd Battalion of the 44th had a tougher fight with the 1st Battalion of the 30th Ligne. Though the French were pushed into a state of some disorder, both line units remained in contact and continued to fight. It was not that prolonged a fight however, as by 8 of the clock, this second French line unit was retreating in disorder as well. In the village of Gerasdorf, fighting and sniping continued between enemy skirmishing elements. Here too, the Austrians were gaining an advantage. Whether due to the skill of the Grenzers or because the French suddenly had no neighboring support, no one involved could state for certain. The Austrians were quick to follow up this local success. The bloodied 4th Battalion of the 44th moved obliquely and proceeded to engage the 4th Battalion of the 30th Ligne. These French troops were almost at the South end of the stone bridge when they were assaulted by the Austrians. The sister battalion of the 4th, pursued the retreating Frenchmen and caught them from behind. In a matter of moments, this French unit disintegrated. Dozens were shot or stabbed from behind, and dozens more surrendered. Those few leading the retreat, threw down their muskets and packs and ran. They did not stop. The 4th Battalion of the 30th Ligne did not stop either. Firing, that is. And just as quickly, the Austrian success in the gap between Gerasdorf and the stone bridge was dealt a sharp blow. The 4th of the 44th Bellegarde was decimated by successive French volleys, and it was their turn to throw down packs and run away. Still, there was a rather large hole in the French line on the near side of the stream. One Austrian line regiment was now in the village, supporting the skirmishers. Others were moving up behind and to the right of Gerasdorf. The French had only a couple of unsupported artillery batteries of this left side, and they were deployed a fair distance from the immediate fighting. Over on the right of the road however, near the woods, a brigade of three line battalions was advancing. Accepting the state of the French right and their fortune against the Austrians to this point, one had to wonder if three battalions would be enough to secure, if even contest the possession of Gerasdorf. In the center of the field, both lines of infantry and artillery remained outside of musketry range. They seemed, for the time being, content to eye one another across the grassy plain. They seemed too, to be waiting for a resolution on either flank. This did not prevent the occasional fire of an artillery battery into or through a skirmish line, nor prevent the advancement of a reserve battery into position to assume such duty. While some casualties resulted from this fire, in the main it was ineffectual. Major General von Schneller was finally able to rally and resume command of two of his six disordered regiments on the Austrian right. The 3rd Uhlans were put into line and facing the 7th Lancer Regiment of the French wing. The 7th Dragoons were also reformed into attack column and prepared to charge up Monastery Hill and destroy, capture or force the French Horse Battery from this terrain. The General also succeeded in rallying another two units, but was not able to bring them back into the command group. By supreme effort, von Schneller had restored order to a very sticky situation on the Austrian right. And yet, one-third of his mounted arm remained in a confused retreat (one regiment of cuirassiers and one of dragoons). While this was taking place, the French infantry commands in the center and of the reserve were spurred into motion. The Guard marched on to the field with standards flying and drums sounding a steady beat. In the center, the seven line battalions moved up to the North-South road. In the process, the leading three units brushed back the Austrian Jaegers. However, they also effectively screened the one battery to their direct rear and caused hesitation from the battery commander on the right side of their approach. He determined the angle to close to try and fire in support of the infantry. And so, it looked as if the French would face enemy battalions that had not been subject to preliminary cannon fire. True, they were just trained militia ... but they were well-formed and enjoyed the close support of two Grenadier battalions. Not wanting to lose the initiative he had regained on the right, Major General von Schneller ordered his reformed regiments to charge the waiting French horse. The 3rd Uhlans plowed into the 7th Lancers and routed them completely. A full threefourths of the Lancers' saddles were emptied. In a brilliant display of self-control, the victorious Uhlans held fast - though disorganized - and did not pursue the retreating French troopers. If they had done so, the Uhlans would have been facing no less than three heavy regiments of enemy cavalry. Their sister regiment, the 4th Uhlans, also scored a definitive success. In a separate melee against the 5th Chasseurs, the Austrians routed these showy horsemen as well, and just as completely. In the space of several minutes then, the French commander of the light cavalry witnessed the destruction of cavalry. In the village of Gerasdorf, the Grenzers, with the support of the line regiment that moved into one section, pressed their advantage against the French light infantry. It was just too much, and the French broke contact, routing out of the village and into the face of the advancing 17th Ligne Brigade. No disorder resulted however, as the small groups of skirmishers simply ran around the attack columns of the formed line infantry. Aside The French held a significant advantage in moral chits at the start of the engagement. Due to the collapse of the light cavalry, trouble around Gerasdorf, and two phases wherein the French commander "bought" down the Austrian initiative to a more "comfortable" level, in a little over an hour of "real time", the French had but seven morale markers left to the Austrian count of 17. A quick count of routing or destroyed units revealed the following: five for the French and just two for the Austrians. The main bodies, or center commands if the reader will, of the opposing forces finally came to grips in the 8:30 a.m. hour. Immediately prior to this, the 31b position battery of the 46th Brigade fired on one of the advancing French line battalions and knocked down several files of men. Not at all shaken by this, the French battalion and the rest of the line advanced into the face of the waiting Austrians. On the right of the French attack, two rapid volleys felled a number of Austrians, but the trained militia held the line. (In fact, the French player risked a moral chit on the poorlyrated troops, but the Austrians passed the morale check with ease.) In the middle contest of this three battalion attack, a similar result was reached. The Austrians were bloodied but otherwise unfazed. Then on the left of the French line, an inconclusive exchange of volleys took place. As before on this field, there was a lot of smoke and flash, but no real damage inflicted. In these localized exchanges, the French realized some success. However, as a result of previous losses (especially on the left wing) and a as a result of having a large number of units "out of command", French morale deteriorated. A regiment of cuirassiers, while under no immediate threat, simply turned around and started trotting off the field. A number of artillery batteries did the same. This was most vexing as the majority of these pieces had not fired a shot in the contest. It was presumed that their battery commanders thought it best to retire, given the apparent resiliency of the Austrian battle line. In belated attempts to snatch a physical victory from the jaws of a mental defeat, the French attacked and routed two enemy units on opposite ends of the field. Just outside of Gerasdorf, a unit of the 17th Ligne Regiment destroyed a line battalion of the 44th Bellegarde Regiment. And over on the French left, a regiment of cuirassiers fell upon the rear of a disordered Austrian dragoon regiment, subsequently cutting it to pieces. These one-sided victories were hollow, however. The French, uncharacteristically, had no spirit left to continue the engagement. Marshal Davout, even now just coming up and on to the field, was besieged by couriers from the various commands. Each rider held a dispatch from Davout's subordinates, and the message within each was not good. A few of the couriers were even bold enough to speak out to the Marshal, explaining and exclaiming that things were not going well and that a withdrawal was in order. It was now Davout's turn to act out of character. Having been appraised that his light cavalry was no more; that a number of infantry battalions were decimated; and that an equal number of artillery batteries were not being brought into line of battle; it was obvious that the spirit of his small army had been broken. Heaving a great sigh, the Marshal issued orders for an immediate, fighting withdrawal. More Gamble at Gerasdorf French v. Austrians in 1805 Introduction Scenario Development and Order of Battle Terrain, Deployments, and Plans Moves Analysis and Commentary Back to MWAN #113 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2001 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com