On Saturday January 28th we played a Napoleonic game set during the battle at Sacile in 1809. Here are the set up details...
From Palse to Porcia
16 April 1809
As part of his push northward, Prince Eugene wished to drive the Austrians under Archduke John away from the area of Sacile to secure Venetia and provide an unmolested link between the Kingdom of Italy and its Dalmatian provinces. Eugene knew that the Austrians were at Sacile since their advance guard had heavily defeated his rear guard the previous day. Lacking any of the Marshals (an interesting situation of Eugene’s own making) to command Corps within his Army of Italy, Eugene instead created “Wings” or “Columns” instead. These formations were Corps in all but name and were led by his most capable Divisional commanders.
Seras was placed in command of an assault formation consisting of his division and that of Severoli with the order to seize the village of Porcia in order for Eugene to smash the Austrians. Eugene’s fault was in thinking that he outnumbered the Austrian army when, in truth, he was attacking a numerically superior foe. Seras smashed ahead and quickly took possession of Palse. After quickly reorganizing his units, Seras then pushed ahead towards Porcia. His force was then hit by the strong Austrian VIII Korps. As the fighting raged around Porcia, other French Divisions and Austrian Korps attempted to add their weight to the fight by attempting to hit the flanks of the troops engaged at Porcia.
Our scenario concentrates on the fighting between a portion of Seras’ French/Italian Division and Gyulai’s Austrian VIII Korps. In an attempt to make the engagement playable, the number of units involved and some unit strengths have been factored down to achieve something manageable.
Our scenario takes place after Seras has ousted Frimont from Palse and has begun an advance on Porcia. At this moment Gyulai’s VIII Korps also enters Porcia. Both sides wish to control this village as it will provide the stepping-stone for further attacks on the enemy’s flanks. This humble little village will be the center of an epic struggle.
The battle will take place in the open ground between the villages of Porcia and Palse. It is an agricultural area studded with small woods, brushy areas, fenced in fields, and fairly flat terrain. A few hedge lines have been put on our table to represent some of the fence lines and brushy patches.
Objectives:
French – Occupy the village of Porcia behind Austrian lines.
Austrians – Occupy the village of Palse behind French lines.
Sacile 1809
VIII Armeekorps
1 x AdC
| 12-pound position battery (6 guns) 3 Sections LINE 3-pound brigade battery (8 guns) 4 Sections LINE |
| Strassoldo Infantry Regiment Nr. 27 (2 battalions) 2x 24 figures each VETERAN Saint-Julien Infantry Regiment Nr. 61 (2 battalions) 2x 24 figures each LINE |
| Brigade: General-Major Anton Gajoli Franz Jellacic Infantry Regiment Nr. 62 (2 battalions) 2x 24 figures each LINE Johann Jellacic Infantry Regiment Nr. 53 (2 battalions) 2x 24 figures each LINE 2nd Banal Grenz Infantry Regiment Nr. 11 (1 battalion) 1x 24 to 32 figures VETERAN Banal Grenz Artillery 3-pound brigade battery (4 guns) 2 Sections LINE+2nd Class Firers |
| Brigade: Oberst Wilhelm von Fulda Ott Hussar Regiment Nr. 5 1x 12 to 16 figures LINE Hohenzollern Chevau-leger Regiment Nr.2 1x 12 figures LINE |
1. Commanders - Any commanders who lack a quality rating will roll on the command ability table during set up: 1 Poor, 2-5 Average, 6 Excellent
2. Brigade Tests – ANY brigade that fails a brigade test will trigger a brigade test to any brigade that has a unit within 18” of any units in the failed brigade. It is possible for two failed brigades to cause each other to take multiple tests. A brigade forced off the table edge is removed from play.
3. Half Strength Brigades – Brigades that suffer 50%+ casualties must make a Brigade Test EVERY TURN.
4. Artillery - ALL artillery batteries are classed as FOOT batteries.
5. Open Order - Veteran troops may form Grande Bandes
6. Woods - All woods are light woods and are classed as DIFFICULT and offer COVER -2 against firing. Woods visibility is 6”. I think 6” is too much, any thoughts on this? Woods block line of sight.
7. Hedges - The hedge lines/fence lines are -1 cover. Hedge lines DO NOT block line of sight. Any unit may move over a hedge line by paying a 2” movement penalty. Artillery must be limbered to cross a hedge line. Cavalry may not charge across a hedge line. The pretty lichen scattered around the edges of the woods are NOT counted as hedges.
8. Towns – The villages of Palse and Porcia are shown on the table edges only as decoration and may be removed if they hinder play. They offer NO cover as the two villages are actually located just off the board edge.
Army of Italy
Right Wing
2x AdC
| 35th Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions) 4x 24 figures each VETERAN 53rd Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions) 4x 24 figures each LINE |
| 2nd Brigade: General of Brigade Jean-Claude Roussel 106th Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions) 4x 24 figures each LINE |
| Divisional Artillery: Chef d'Escadron Battiston Foot battery (four 8-pound cannons, two 6-inch howitzers) 3 Sections VETERAN Foot battery (four 4-pound cannons, two 6-inch howitzers) 3 Sections VETERAN |
Portion of 1st Italian Division
| 2nd Italian Brigade: General of Brigade Luigi Peyri 7th Italian Line Infantry Regiment (2,100 in 3 battalions) 3x 24 figures each LINE Foot battery (four 4-pound cannons) 2 Sections VETERAN |
| Italian Cavalry Brigade: General of Brigade Antoine Pages |
1. Commanders - Any commanders who lack a quality rating will roll on the command ability table during set up: 1 Poor, 2-5 Average, 6 Excellent
2. Brigade Tests – ANY brigade that fails a brigade test will trigger a brigade test to any brigade that has a unit within 18” of any units in the failed brigade. It is possible for two failed brigades to cause each other to take multiple tests. A brigade forced off the table edge is removed from play.
3. Half Strength Brigades – Brigades that suffer 50%+ casualties must make a Brigade Test EVERY TURN.
4. Artillery - ALL artillery batteries are classed as FOOT batteries.
5. Open Order - Veteran troops may form Grande Bandes
6. Woods - All woods are light woods and are classed as DIFFICULT and offer COVER -2 against firing. Woods visibility is 6”. I think 6” is too much, any thoughts on this? Woods block line of sight.
7. Hedges - The hedge lines/fence lines are -1 cover. Hedge lines DO NOT block line of sight. Any unit may move over a hedge line by paying a 2” movement penalty. Artillery must be limbered to cross a hedge line. Cavalry may not charge across a hedge line.
8. Towns – The villages of Palse and Porcia are shown on the table edges only as decoration and may be removed if they hinder play. They offer NO cover as the two villages are actually located just off the board edge.
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| General Map and course of events |
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