If you read the narrative about the 1809 Austrian Invasion, then you know that Snappy Nappy rules require all communications to go via courier (through the umpire). I thought it would be interesting to put all the messages, French and Austrian, into a timeline to see how the commanders acted and reacted to threats (real and imagined!).

The game started at 12:00 noon and plays in real time. Here are most of the messages, some must have been lost to posterity, others, especially in the pre-game verbal conference, were not listed or written down. For example, III Corp was ordered to concentrate and head west. Look at the OOB and map for starting positions, the follow along with the fog of war...

The time represents the time the message was SENT. Usually, it was delivered 15 minutes later, although if the commander was engaged in battle or very far away, it was up to 30 minutes. If you add 15 minutes and look down the list, you'll seee the effect shortly thereafter. I added [parenthetical explanations] where I thought it would clarify the note. I left upper and lower case emphasis as was written in the messages, but cleaned up capitalization and punctuation. I substituted Corp numbers for names for clarity.

French Corp numbers are Roman numerals. Austrian Corp numbers are in Arabic.

Enjoy.

12:05 To Jellacic (in Munich, way off table) from Charles: "Move from Munich to Moosberg."
12:24 To Charles from 6th Corp: "Have contacted french west of Moosberg. Request Attack orders."
12:24 To 1st/2nd Corp [not in play] from Charles: "Probe to Ratisbon."
12:25 To Charles from 1R/2R Corps: "Where to after Gieselhausen?"
12:26 To Charles from 1R/2R Corps: "Found French infantry in Gieselhausen. Will attack."
12:43 To Napoleon from III Corp: "No sign of Austrians anywhere. Awaiting new orders at Teking."
12:44 To Charles from 6th Corp: "A second French corp has engaged me east of Moosberg. I am outnumbered. I will try to withdraw to Moosberg and defend the River Isar."
12:44 To Napoleon from IV Corp: "Things looking good. Going to attack with both [corps: II Corp was part of the command]. About 1/3 of the way to Moosberg."
12:46 To 6th Corp from Charles: "Attack."
12:55 To Charles from 1R/2R Corps: "Have taken Gieselhausen, French infantry unit and artillery unit have withdrawn across the river."
12:58 To napoleon from VII Corps: "Austrian division moving north from Rotenburg to Gieselhausen. Deroi [brigade] withdrawing toward Pattendorf to link up with Lt. cav."
12:59 To Napoleon from III Corp: "2nd request. Morand brigade is in Ratisbon. Lt. Cav is watching the Ratisbon-Eckmuhl road at Ober Traubling. The rest of the corp is on the roads in the vicinity of Teking. Absolutely no sign of Austrians (north or south). I need new instructions."

1:01 To 4th/5th Corps from Charles: Scout Eckmuhl. If no enemy. move west to Paring and continue to Leurndorf and lankwat. Inform me when you reach Leurndorf."
1:03 To 6th Corp from Charles: "Defend Moosburg--I'm unable to link up at present. Encountered French (VIII Corp) at Lengfeld. If successful, I will move south behind your French friends."
1:06 To Napoleon from III Corp: "3rd Request. Have received reports of Austrian cav scouts on the Ratisbon -Eckmuhl road at Mangolding. First sign of the Austrians. STILL awaiting instructions on the roads around Teking."
1:14 To III Corp from Napoleon: "info follows: Austrians are in battle with II/IV Corps east of Moosberg. Austrians are marching along road from east to west toward Sigenburd. Vandamme is intercepting. Have received to information from bavarians. I believe Austrians are crossing Gross Laber River at Gieselhausen, heading towards Ahnersdorf. Orders: Go to Tann and scout. Look for Austrians crossing from that direction."
1:15 To 1R/2R Corps from Charles: "Cross river, head SOUTHWEST to just north of Lengfeld--I hope to have you flank French encounter with [Austrian] 3rd Corps."
1:30 To Napoleon from III Corp: "Large (corp sized) infantry formation marching north through Mangold. Due to my orders, I cannot attack. Need instructions."
1:34 To Napoleon from IV Corp: "Things going well. Got tangled up with the enemy. Hope to free Oudinot [II Corp] in one or two turns. Will send to Pfafenhausen ASAP.
1:38 To Napoleon from III Corp: "I am at Bachel on the road to Unter Einbach. No activity. I will await further orders at Unter Einbach."
1:39 To 4th/5th Corp from Charles: "What is your situation?"
1:39 To IV Corp from Napoleon: "Please detach a corps north to Pfaffenhausen. This should take Austrians in rear. Austrians are currently trying to cross [Gross Laber River] at Gieselhausen. Also moving from Pfaffenhausen to Sigenburd along road. DO SO QUICKLY. YOU WILL DEVASTATE CURRENT AUSTRIAN DEPLOYMENT. HOLD YOUR AREA WITH 1 CORPS NOW.
(1:45?) To Napoleon from VII Corp: "Being Overwhelmed--send help immediately."
(1:45?) To IV Corp from Napoleon: "USE ALL SPEED to complete previous order. 1 corps must attack towards Pfaffenhausen."

2:00 To 4th Corp from Charles: "Continue to Lankwat to Adelhausen to Rohr. Advise if enemy is encountered."
2:02 To 5th Corp from Charles: "What is your position?"
2:03 To 1R/2R Corps from Charles: "What is your situation?"
2:04 To 6th Corp from Charles: "What is your situation?"
2:09 To Napoleon from IV Corp: "Front broken. Enemy retired. Sending Oudinot."
2:11 To III Corp from Napoleon: "Attack towards Gieselhausen. Austrians (1 corp) are crossing against VII Corp at Gieselhausen."
2:18 To Napoleon from III Corp: "Two Austrian Corps marching north towards Ratisbon. Austrians spotted near Unter Einbach. Corp sized. Will engage to hold crossroads."
2:21 To Charles from 6th Corp: "Have suffered losses. Have retired to Moosberg. Situation precarious, but hope to hold river position."
2:23 To 4th Corp from Charles: "Where is "Leurnby? I assume you are at Leurndorf--continue to Lankwat-Adelhausen."
2:25 To Napoleon from IV Corp: "I am going to Pfaffenhausen, sending Oudinot to Moosberg. have reduced enemy 50%."
2:30 To III Corp from Napoleon: "Napoleon is at Sigenbund with Lannes."
2:41 To Charles from 1R/2R Corps: "Have crossed river. Encountering 8+ French [brigades]."
2:47 To Napoleon from III Corp: "Attack orders to Gieselhausen received. Will proceed immedately."
2:56 To Charles from 6th Corp: "Have safely moved behind Isar. Wish to "Rally" [order] and then Defend [order]."
2:59 To Charles from 5th Corp: "5th is south of Ratisbon. Moving 4th to Leurndorf."
2:59 To 4th/5th Corp from Charles: "Critical you get to Adelhausen then Unter Elnbach to pattendorf. 1st and 2nd Reserve Corps has encountered 8 French brigades."

3:10 To IV Corp from Napoleon: "Pleas determine if you can hold bridge at Moosberg with one division. If so, I will need the remainder of the corps elsewhere. Please advise immediately."
3:11 To 6th Corp from Charles: "Rally. If possible, defend at Moosburg."
3:11 To Charles from 4th/5th Corp: "5th nearly to Ratisbon. Have been misguided. 4th on way to Unter Elnbach."
3:14 To 5th Corp from Charles: "Defend Ratisbon until 1st and 2nd Corp Arrive [never did], then go south to Abbach and then Teugen."
3:18 To Charles from 6th Corp: "I have rallied my corps and wish to advance to reinforce Moosburg and the Isar River. request sequential orders to "attack to the Isar at Moosburg and Defend."
3:24 To Napoleon from III Corp: "Two Austrian Corps are marching south along the Danube road. they are avoiding ratisbon. My corps is engaging at Gieselhausen. The Austrians appear to be moving along the Bachel road."
3:28 To 1R/2R Corps from Charles: "4th Corp coming from north near Unter Elnbach."
3:29 To Napoleon from IV Corp: "Can't currently determine. Enemy has recovered strongly [behind Isar]. Massena is 1/2 way to Pfaffenhausen but still needs to locate ford."
3:30 To Charles from 4th/5th Corp: "4th will hold at river crossing at Feking Bach, 2000 yards south of Abbach. 5th is moving north to take Ratisbon."
3:32 To III Corp from Napoleon: "Please provide info on Ratisbon situation as soon as received."
3:32 To 6th Corp from Charles: "If unable to hold Moosburg, withdraw across river and destroy all bridges."
3:33 To Charles from 1R/2R Corps: "The 1st/2nd Reserve Corps have been driven off by French VII Corps. Severe losses."
3:40 To III Corp from Napoleon: "Report on current position. I am near Sigerbund. I would like to speak in person. Advise to location. I will meet you."
3:42 To Napoleon from III Corp: "The Austrians have changed their minds and are sending one corp to attack Ratisbon."
3:45 To III Corp from Napoleon: "Your note of 3:24 mentions Austrians moving south along the Danube road. Where are they now? You also mentioned Austrians moving along Bachel road. In which direction? Where are they currently? Please be more precise. Are these Austrians in two separate groups? Please be specific."
3:45 To Napoleon from VII Corp: "We are disordered, but Austrians are pushed back across river towards Gieselhausen. III Corp moving up in good order towards bridge at Gieselhausen."
3:48 To 4th Corp from Charles: "Imperative you move south to Teugen then to Hausen then to Tann then to Bachel then to Rohr then to Ahnersdorf ASAP."
3:55 To Charles from 4th/5th Corp: "5th is sieging Ratisbon. 4th has screened road to Bechel. 1 enemy infantry brigade near Rohr. Orders?"

4:02 To Charles from 4th/5th Corp: "4th enroute to Rohr and south, etc. 5th is still sieging Ratisbon unless ordered otherwise."
4:04 To Charles from 1R/2R Corps: "Lost bridge [at Gieselhausen]. Remainder of corps deployed east of river. Do you wish me to continue the attack? I face two French corps of at least 8 [brigades]. I have 5 [brigades] operational."
4:13 To 4th/5th Corp from Charles: "Proceed to Unter Elnbach and defend at river."
4:26 To 1R/2R Corps from Charles: "Defend for now. Rally and/or maneuver if possible."
4:27 To IV Corp from Napoleon: "You need to hold this position at or near Moosburg. No need to attack. Find the best defensive position that denies the enemy use of the road. Order is to DEFEND."

ILLUMINATING, EH?

Remember, messages are delayed 15 minutes (usual) to 30 minutes (rare), so messages are constantly crossing in transit. If you follow threads throughout the messages, you'll notice certain events stand out--like the wanderings of the 4th/5th corps that never did get to Lankwat, or the ultra fast rally of the 6th corp, or the inactivity of III Corp for a while, or the urgency of detaching IV Corp to Pfaffenhausen.

Yet for all these events that did not occur, you read of many that did. The crushing flank attack by III Corps just in time to save VII Corp (guess all that waiting paid off!). 6th Corp essentially pinning twice its numbers. Detachments of III Corp pinning two Corp for a while. An Austrian attack that developed relatively smoothly, then faced an even smoother French counterttack. The stubborn defense of the Gross Laber River line by VII Corp.

Finally, a word about the C-in-Cs. If you think it is easy to coordinate far flung attacks by corps separated by distance and time, guess again. Even standing in the same basement with only five tables and a relatively streamlined command set, you can see how player initiative can really gum up the best laid plans or salvage a rapidly deteriorating situation. Part of the trick is to anticipate what will go on. Part of it is not to panic. And part of it is to gather the best intelligence you can--and how we may believe we would always be clear in reporting enemy positions, movements, and strengths, but sometimes, we have a failure to communicate.

Napoleon and Charles did extremely well in keeping track of positions and providing orders and guidance in support of their vision of what the plan would accomplish.

More Snappy Nappy

Snappy Nappy: Austrian 1809 Invasion
Snappy Nappy: Commanders Perogative 1809
Snappy Nappy: 1809 Large Map (114K)
Snappy Nappy: 1809 Jumbo Map (545K)