Scenario: Abensburg 1809

Here is a General de Brigade scenario based around the fighting at Abensburg in 1809. If you try it, please tell me how your game went!

On the flanks at Abensberg

Advance on Siegenburg 19/20 April 1809

Background:

Archduke Louis of Austria, and most of his troops, had sat largely idle during 19/20 April 1809 as the Battle of Abensberg raged on the plains below his position atop Perka Heights. His units moved a distance of less than 5 miles in the course of 9 hours, from Ludmannsdorf to an area between Siegenburg and Rohr. Louis had little military experience and lacked a firm idea of what he and his command were supposed to do. The young Archduke was under the guidance of Hiller and it was Hiller who eventually coordinated the Austrian withdrawal when the Austrian line began to falter under heavy pressure.

French general Vandamme’s units moved across the Abens River behind Wrede’s Bavarians at Bilburg, then turned southeast, and fell upon Bianchi’s Austrians who had been left exposed by the withdrawal of supporting units.  Vandamme’s Wurttembergers supported Wrede’s Bavarians as they drove Bianchi back into the main body of the Austrian V Armee Korps. Word from Archduke Charles eventually reached Archduke louis and the Austrians fell back toward Rottenburg.

Our scenario is based heavily on the Frenchman Petre’s account of the battle and supposes a more vigorous participation by Vandamme’s provisional corps of Wurttemberg troops. Archduke Louis’ V Armee Korps has been slow to react to orders and has become strung out and isolated as they had moved with poor coordination into their positions on the 19^th & 20th. As units withdrew on each side of them, the Austrian V Armee Korps was left exposed and was hit by Wrede’s Bavarians, Lannes’ Frenchmen, and Vandamme’s Wurttemburgers.

Our Scenario:

The Austrians hold a ragged line from Siegenburg northeast towards Kirchdorf. The Wurttembergers are trying to pry the Austrians away from Siegenburg and disrupt their positions so that units approaching from the north can snare the Austrians in a trap. Hiller has determined that the Austrians must hold Siegenburg and the road to Rottenburg until the road clears sufficiently to allow the Austrians to withdraw.

The objectives are the village of Siegenburg and the road to Rottenburg.

See the scenario notes at the end for specifics…

Map from Wikipedia 

Scenario designer disclaimer:

The size of the scenario (number of units) has been kept to a, comparatively, low number in order to allow room to maneuver and to force commanders to choose where to position units during the battle without their troops standing shoulder to shoulder. This also represents the lack of cohesion in the Austrian side as V Armee Korps was spread wide and in turmoil without clear leadership. By the same token, we are also representing an increase in the Wurttembergers’ role in the battle to take advantage of Jeff’s nice collection.

If both sides feel that more is needed then each side can add another cavalry brigade. The brigades will be identical. They enter anywhere along the owning side’s baseline after turn 1.

French General de Brigade Croquette
Chasseur a Cheval	12	Line
Chasseur a Cheval	12	Line

General-Major Francis, Baron of Krokett
Chevauxleger	12	Line
Chevauxleger	12	Line

Portion of V Armee Korps and Light Division

FML Prince Heinrich XV of Reuss-Plauen

ADC Major Gunthermann

General-Major Frederick Bianchi, Duke of Casalanza
Duka Infantry Regiment #39 1st Battalion	24	Line
Duka Infantry Regiment #39 2nd  Battalion	24	Line
Gyulai Infantry Regiment #60 1st Battalion	32	Veteran
Gyulai Infantry Regiment #60 2nd Battalion	32	Line

General-Major Franz Johann Schulz von Rothacker
Beaulieu Infantry Regiment #58 1st Battalion	24	Line
Beaulieu Infantry Regiment #58 2nd  Battalion	24	Line
Vienna Freiwilligers 1st Battalion	24	Line	Up to ½ battalion can be deployed as 2nd Rate SK
Vienna Freiwilligers 2nd Battalion	24	2nd Line

General-Major Joseph, Baron von Mesko de Felsö-Kubiny
Broder Grenz Regiment #7 1st Battalion	24	Veteran	1st Rate Skirmish
Broder Grenz Regiment #7 2nd  Battalion	24	Line	2nd Rate Skirmish

Colonel Ritterbach
Kienmayer Hussar Regiment #8	16	Veteran
Archduke Charles Hussar Regiment #3	12	Veteran

2 Artillery Batteries of 3 Sections 6lb Foot/Line to be attached to any 2 of the 3 infantry brigades

Württemberg (later VIII) Corps

GdD Dominique Vandamme

ADC Major Hummels

General-Major Franquemont
Prince Royal Regiment 1st Battalion	24	Veteran
Prince Royal Regiment 2nd Battalion	24	Line
Duc Wilhelm Regiment 1st Battalion	24	Line
Duc Wilhelm Regiment 2nd Battalion	24	Line
Neubronn Fusilier Regiment 1st Battalion	24	Line	Up to ½ battalion can be deployed as 2nd Rate SK

General-Major Scharfenstein
Phull Regiment 1st Battalion	24	Line
Phull Regiment 2nd Battalion	24	Line
Camrer Regiment 1st Battalion	24	Line
Camrer Regiment 2nd Battalion	24	Line
Neubronn Fusilier Regiment 2nd  Battalion	24	Veteran

General-Major Hügel
König Jäger Battalion	24	Veteran	1st Rate Skirmish
Wolff Light Battalion	24	Veteran	1st Rate Skirmish
Bruselle Light Battalion	24	Line	2nd Rate Skirmish

General-Major Stettner
König Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment	12	Veteran	Superior Mounts
Duc Louis Chevau-Léger Regiment	12	Veteran

2 Artillery Batteries of 3 Sections 6lb Foot /Line to be attached to any 2 of the 3 infantry brigades

  

General map of battlefield

Scenario Rules:

Commanders - The quality of ALL generals must be determined by dice roll.  Vandamme cannot be POOR. Any roll of a 1 for Vandamme is a re-roll until he proves to be average or excellent.

Set up - The table will be divided into 4 zones from left to right. Each brigade must roll to determine which zone it is in at the beginning of the scenario. Two brigades may NOT occupy the same zone. The exception to this placement is the Austrian Baron von Mesko’s Grenzers – this brigade may be placed in any zone prior to the Austrians rolling for other brigades. Roll a d10 to find set up zone:

1-2 Zone 1

3-4 Zone 2

5-6 Zone 3

7-8 Zone 4

9-10 You pick

Deployment - Each side may deploy up to 24” in from table edge.

Woods: - Difficult terrain per the book. These are sparse woods so sighting distance into/out of them is 6”. Woods offer a COVER -2 modifier.

Village - The village can hold up to 1 battalion of 24 figures. The village gives a COVER -2 modifier against musket fire. Due to large stacks of firewood situated within the village there is a Special Cover -3 modifier to incoming artillery fire

Roads - The roads offer movement bonus rates to units in road column for the entire turn.

Winning the Scenario:

Holding Siegenburg and the road to Rottenburg are the goals for both sides.

Withdrawal - The Austrians are holding until Hiller (guiding/advising/commanding Archduke Louis) gives the word that Austrian units in the rear have cleared sufficient room to withdraw, if necessary. After completing 8 turns the Austrians roll 2d6 (each turn) with a 9+ indicating withdrawal begins in 1d6 turns. Add 2 turns to the withdrawal time if Prince Heinrich has been killed or captured.

To “own” Siegenburg, you must have had a formed unit (in good morale status and able to follow an order) as the last to have occupied/moved through the village. Unformed, faltered, retreating, or rout do not count! If a unit entered the town in good morale but eventually dispersed without an opposing unit then moving into town then the dispersed unit was the last to occupy town…

To control the road… the Austrians cannot allow any formed French unit to be within 36” of the roads exit point at games end. For Vandamme’s troops to control the road the Austrians must have a less than 4 formed infantry battalions within 24” of the exit point at game’s end.  Units in bad morale status (falter, push back, retreat, rout), unformed, in skirmish, or on brigade retreat orders do not count as formed for either side.