The sound of cannons ....... somewhere in a valley in Bavaria

The sides

An Austrian corps of 3 infantry and a cavalry division had an encounter with a Bavarian corps with some allies. (Just happened to be Nassau's)

Both forces were similar in composition though the Austrians had 2 grenadier battalion and an extra cavalry brigade.

The Set Up

We used D10 for initiative for each division.
Rules set used Shako
Battlefield 10 ft by 6 ft
Battle duration about 2 1/2 hours to a satisfactory conclusion

Both sides drew up their forces with the most of the Bavarian and allied cavalry on the right. Three infantry divisions and the guns in the centre and a cavalry unit protecting the left

Most of the Austrian cavalry was used as a reserve in the centre and the infantry strung across the battlefield pinned on a hill on the Austrian right.

Turn 1

The Bavarians fighting under French system won most of the initiatives , and moved first advancing all across the line. The Austrians counter moved slowly. The cavalry moving forward.

Turn 2

Poor dice rolling by the Austrian again. The Bavarians took the centre.

On the left and right a cavalry charge occurred with heavy losses on both  Austrian cavalry brigades that were sent reeling back. The breakthrough move by heavy allied cavalry took out an isolated cannon which rolling a 6 and  getting a tie was not good enough to save it.

At the end of the second turn, 2 Austrian cavalry units were smashed and a gun overrun. The Austrian Horse in the centre were blocked in moving as the infantry moved so much slower and I had not left a gap to let them out. So there was nothing to slow the Bavarian assault.

The Austrian columns shook out to form battalion mass as French and Bavarian cavalry was on the wings . The Austrian left became almost paralysed at this point of the game and bad die rolls was to leave my troops shaken for many turns to come.

The Bavarian centre advanced as Austrian cavalry eventually flung its itself at guns supported by infantry. Beaten back on the centre left a second charge on the centre right took out two French cannon. My only real success during the whole day. A later charge did take out the surviving Bavarian Foot gun.  But all  the Austrian cavalry was only 1 or 2 points away from being broken.

On the left, guns, horse and columns all came to bear on the Austrians which were hit in the flanks and fighting disordered. One unit amazingly beating off three while fighting disorderd. Skirmish fire by both sides saw similar  losses.

A cavalry regiment swept away 2 Austrian infantry battalions and skirmisher’s  that had taken shelter among them.

The Austrian left failed its first moral check having to retreat. With Bavarian horse next to it and Bavarian infantry to the front it was ruled  that it did not move. The Bavarian horse then did a recall in place and just sat there to recover from blown.

Failed Austrian volleys on a line supported by skirmishers did not help.

The battles in the Austrian Right went in favour of the Bavarian horse again. The Austrian centre likewise losing absolutely in melee. It was a real day for rolling 1's against Bavarian 6's or when ever I tied it was always against  better troops.

The left collapsed the next turn as one line driven back into the path of Bavarian horse ceased to exist and the division was removed. The Austrian centre right got a retreat order and the badly damaged cavalry wisely would flee the field.

The Austrian Grenadiers were nearly all that was left and a couple of guns.

The Bavarians lost 3 guns and an infantry battalion plus 2/3 points off a few of their surviving battalions.

The Austrians suffered about 16 strength points of cavalry, with one regiment completely gone. One gun, 8 (str 5) battalions, 2 skirmishers, plus 2-3 damage on all survivors except the  Grenadiers.

Conclusion

I mishandled the Austrians and should have deployed sooner rather than trying to advance towards the centre. The Austrian cavalry should have been placed somewhere where they could actually make a difference and advance.

French "doctrine" troops normally seem to trounce my Austrians but seem to have a lot harder time when the Russians take the field. An Austro-Russian force a side you do not normally try to attack with.