2nd March 1814 - Battle of Strasbourg

Strasbourg Campaign Area

5^th French corps has been in Strasbourg for 24 hours and has orders to hold the city.

They have 1600 infantry, 100 cavalry and 30 guns

1^st Austrian corps is ordered to attack the city without first carrying out a full recce.

The Austrians are unaware that the town is occupied but must carry out the attack anyway

They have 1600 infantry, 100 cavalry and 30 guns

The river Rhine can only be crossed by the three bridges

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Strasbourg and 5^th French corps are on the left

1^st Austrian corps has entered the table from the right

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

The French have not deployed until they see where the Austrians attempt to cross the river

The Austrians are advancing either side of the main road hide their intention from the French

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

The French have 12 pounder guns, long range than the Austrian artillery

They have unlimbered them to cover the centre bridge

The Austrians are just out of artillery long range

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

The Austrians have taken advantage of the 16” multi move rule to push their cavalry ahead and secure the nearest bridge.   Under this rule a commander can use his command point s to move one brigade as often as he likes, providing that they remain out of 16” of the nearest enemy.   Their artillery has unlimbered near the centre bridge to dominate e the ground the French will want to use to react to the cavalry advance.

 

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

French react to Austrian flank attack.

Cuirassiers use 16” move to deploy to their right flank opposite Austrian hussars

Nearest infantry form square to protect French right flank

Infantry start to move from left flank to right flank

Austrian artillery manhandle into long range of French infantry

Infantry continue to move towards nearest bridge

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

French infantry continue to move towards their right flank

French gunner limber and move to join them

Austrian infantry approach bridge

Gunners limber and move to support river crossing

 

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

French cuirassiers move forward to charge Austrian hussars

Austrians charge first and win melee, forcing cuirassiers to withdraw shaken

French infantry redeploy to cover proposed river crossing

Austrian infantry reach bridge

Austrian artillery unlimber to cover crossing

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

Austrian hussars charge shaken cuirassiers

French lose the melee and retreat again, still shaken

Nearest infantry square fire on hussars but miss

Austrian infantry cross the river

Leading brigade form square until cavalry melee is decided

 

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

Austrian hussars again charge shaken cuirassiers

This time they kill 10% and the remainder rout

French corps commander orders general retreat

Cavalry melee

Wargame Rule 14 covers cavalry combat

The hussars have plus 3 on combat factors

They need a total of 10 with 2D6 added to their 3 to rout the cuirassiers

They roll 2x6.   Cuirassiers lose 10% casualties and rout

Game Casualties

French has suffered 400 infantry and 100 cavalry casualties

In addition their cavalry brigade had broken and ran from the field

Austrian have suffered 400 infantry casualties

Game Summary

A decisive Austrian victory

The French were unlucky to lose this battle

They had a strong defensive position behind a river line

But they were very unlucky, they consistently rolled poor dice

The Austrians were clever to keep the French guessing which bridge they would attack

They could then reach the chosen bridge before the French

They needed to win the cavalry melee, and they did

Had they lost it would have been a French victory

The French choose to retreat before the Austrians could cross the river and attack in strength.