Congratulations to the developers of these games- Congratulations to the modders and lastly, Congratulations to Napoleon for creating such enigmatic history. Unfortunately, the bourbons , if left to their own devices, would have only given the pages of history, a neverending genius and greatness in personal flatulence.....
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Hiller glances at his pocketwatch, which displays the hour of 2 O' clock. He turns to an aide and remarks," Gott im Himmel , am I to fight this battle alone. Where are Loius' divisions. I hear no sound from Siegenburg." Hiller has every right to be agitated. His lines are starting to baulk under relentless Bavarian musketry and close quarter canister shot. He remarks with dismay over the breaching of Bavarian battalions, who suddenly turn and flee, only to just as quickly reform and rush back into line. Their stubborness is proving their saving grace. Austrian resolve is diminishing because of it. The Austrians under Provencheres have almost cleard the great forest and another Bavarian gun battery of 6 guns has been overrun, even though protected by a infantry battalion.
The bad news is that the Austrian 6th Chevauxleger, after having routed behind enemy lines to the very edge of Siegenburg itself has had to face the full impact of infantry fire from 3 of Wrede's infantry battalions and has been forced into the streets of the village by relentless Bavarian cavalry melee assaults , leaving it with no choice but to break and flee. It has lost well over two-thirds of it's troopers who litter the ground approaching Siegenburg and of course, the streets of the south-western suburb. The Austrian 49th line Regiment has broken and fled, allowing the Bavarians to turn 2 of their gun batteries against Hohenfeld at close range. Lefevre, at last seeing the imminent danger posed by the 6tth Grenz Regiment , has ordered the hero of Pfeffenhausen, "Minuzzi", to move forward with one battalion of the 2nd Division to bolster the line, and make sure that the remaining 2 Bavarian gun batteries are protected. These two batteries are inflicting a murderous fire on the Austrian Battalions before them who can only respond by exchange musketry fire with Bavarian troops close-by. Already a battalion of the 6th Grenz has fled, giving the Bavarians cause for cheer. What seemed to be a overwhelming weight of Austrians, has ground to a halt. The Austrian main gun lines are now offerring lesssupport in this area,and so have switched their facing slightly to support the Austrian right.
Lefevre has little to comfort him as losses are mounting. St.Sulpice's 2 Cuirrasssiers regiments have been ordered to retire and rest their blown horses. the 5th Cuirassiers Regiment has lost a lot of men from their intermingling with the Austrian infantry lines and even sustained a added loss to Austrian guns, firing at distance. Only the quick intervention of St. Sulpice with the second regiment, saved the 5th from near annihilation. The 5th, however in their desparate efforts to flee, by misfortune, created fortune, by effectively blocking and containing the largest Austrian infantry assault for 45 minutes, allowing time for the Bavarians to fire extra volleys into their ranks and allowing the safe retirement of their gun batteries. The Bavarian 2nd Battalion Lieb Regt has been ordered back to Abensberg as it is no longer combat worthy ,having lost 80% of it's initial strength; it follows the mass of walking wounded who already line both sides of the main highway to Abensberg.
2.00pm. Losses
Austrian Inf - 3262. Cav - 669. Guns - 3. Total -3931.
Bavarian Inf- 2067 Cav- 1463 Guns - 10. Total - 3530. Rechberg, Zandt, Stengel.
I am a bit surprised that the Austrians have greater loss, but on average the Bavariann infantry firepower was a bit more destructive and whereas the Austrian cannon have been shelling at long-range , the advance of the Austrian line to contact has mostly met with minimum range artillery fire, hence the loss of 2 Bavarian batteries. The Bavarian leader loss is also telling as they were heavily involved in melee attacks. That said, the Bavarian Prinz Royal Chevauxleger cavalry regiment has been wiped out and the 5th Cuirrassiers are down to 52% effective strength, so relative damage has been about equal. Lefevre has held his line and hopefully, the Austrians , under Hiller ,are very fatigued, so the likelihood of a withdrawal is high. The momentum passes to Louis' 5th Corps , who having taken an age to deploy, have less than 4 hours of daylight to have a measurable impact. The Bavarians may be saved by darkness.
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Action at Teugen- hausen.
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Rosenberg's 4th Corps has deployed in front of the southern Schneidhart woods. He can see before him a line of French infantry in Hausen and to the left and right of it. He estimates Divisional strength. He was intending to attack early, but was anxious over the appearance of French cavalry from the north-east, followed by a infantry column. He can only make the assumption that this is another French Division; whereas, it is in fact, the 3rd Brigade of St.Hilaire's 4th Division. By the good fortune of a dice-roll, Davout's position has assumed superiority, as Morand's 1st Division has made good speed and is approaching from the north-west fast. Rosenberg is about to be outnumbered, and he has no cavalry. Obviously, he does not know about Morand so there is a 50-50 chance that he will accept an engagement, although because he is waiting for Somariva's Division to come up, the likelihood of an engagement becomes less likely, so on a dice roll of 5or 6 , he will attack and probe modestly.
Historically, the Archduke Charles was stationed at the post-house in Rohr on the 19th-20th April, but in this game he is with Louis before Siegenburg; so I will make the assumption that Rosenberg will send an aide to tell Charles of the enemy's- French positions, just before nightfall and wait for more direct orders. He will no doubt ask for cavalry support.
Last edited by Marshal Lannes; 14 Nov 11 at 05:50.
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The austrian light infantryman is one of the rare ezjax pics that I do not like.
Can you imagine him fighting in the woods? He seems to come from a gala dinner
Austrian light infantry - circa 2123- metallised, but still recognisable. Girls always go for a guy in "metallic" uniform.
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Last edited by Marshal Lannes; 24 Feb 11 at 08:20.
Typical Austrian people, yes sir!
Napoleon at the taking of Ratisbon/Regensberg 23rd April 1809..
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Ratisbon at Twilight today - doubt it has changed much- very impressive............
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Last edited by Marshal Lannes; 25 Feb 11 at 07:10.
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What a difference 22 and a half minutes make- the relentless Austrian pressure is paying off, at last. Hohenfeld's first attempt to melee assault 2 Bavarian batteries with a Bavarian infantry unit in line, failed with a loss of 77 Austrian to 76 defenders. The second melee assault wiped out both batteries and routed what was left of the Bavarian infantry. The Austrian 49th line Regt have reformed , so now the Bavarian position is perilous on the right, especially as Louis' 5th Corps have started to press forward. Only a lone Bavarian battalion stands between the Austrians and Siegenburg. The Prinz Royal has been pushed back in the great forest and it is clear now that if the 1st Bavarian division does not pull back and form a new defensive line, linked to Wrede's Infantry- then they will be flanked and more importantly, uncover Wrede's right flank. There is no logical option but to withdraw- the loss of the crossroads will make a swift retreat by the Bavarians more difficult, but disaster only waits, without a withdrawal.
Lefevre is about to order a withdrawal to a new defensive line, and maybe the Bavarians can hold until nightfall and slip away under cover of darkness, back to Abensberg. The uncovering of the road west of Siegenburg would have been more decisive, if it was still morning, but with 3 and a half hours to darkfall, is now of no consequence, especially as the Austrians are fatigued and Friant's 2nd French division is almost at the Kelheim Bridge and will be in a position to defend Abensberg in about 5 hours.
Last edited by Marshal Lannes; 28 Feb 11 at 05:53.
It is 3.30pm. The village of Siegenburg is ablaze.. The Austrians are shelling it's timber-framed houses from two sides now. The Bavarian defenders of Wrede's Division watch anxiously as lines of white infantry begin to emerge from the southern orchard, intent on pushing them out. Deroi's 3rd Bavarian Division are engaged in musketry fire with Louis' Austrian lines and so are pinned in place. Lefevre , now knows that any breach in his lines will be fatal as there are no reserves to make a plug. The order for a full retreat has yet to be given .The Prinz Royal Brigade in the great forest has some brief respite as they do not have to suffer cannon fire and the Austrians under Provencheres here seem to be too fatigued, to be rash enough to continue fighting. Hiller has moved up his gun line ,not only to blast away at any attempt by the Bavarians to hold , but also to harass any withdrawal which is becoming more likely as time passes. The link up between Louis and Hiller has breathed fresh impetus in the Austrians to finish this affair, as both sides are aware that darkness will end it prematurely, anyhow . The 1st Bavarian Division has but 2 batteries left to face Hiller's 11. The differential in firepower will now be decisive. Wrede's men are stretched to the north-east and can give no support to Siegenburg's defence. Preysing's Bavarian Cavalry to the north are relatively fresh and are already discouraging Austrian infantry from moving beyond the safe confines of the woods they are in. Lefevre is counting on them and of course night ,to manage at least a orderly withdrawal and not a rout. The next 2 hours will decide which.
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Louis' V Corps is now fully engaged with Wrede and Deroi's men. The Bavarian guns on the Steinberg heights have knocked out 3 opposing Austrian field-pieces for the loss of only 1 gun.
Deroi seems to be holding quite well but losses in musketry fire favour the austrians at the moment as they use the cover of the woods to their full advantage.
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Berthier has just received word that Friant's 2nd Division is crossing the Kelheim Bridge and so has no hesitation in ordering them south to Abensberg and then to present a defensive line in the Rappersdorf region. The Bavarians will need time to rest and recoup.
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Some light skirmishing has occured between Davout and Rosenberg's men. Both sides seem to be waiting for their reinforcements to deploy. Rosenberg has seen the arrival of a French formation from the north-east and another column of French infantry approaching from the north-west. It would be a foolish general to commit his forces without knowing the full enemy's strength before him. As it will be dark in just under 3 hours- commitment is unlikely. Rosenberg's defensive deployment would under normal circumstances be perilous with a wood to his back, but with the onset of nightfall and the relative weakness, at the moment of the French left- any attempt to cut his retreat route is not a possibility, especially as Somariva is fast approaching.
Last edited by Marshal Lannes; 28 Feb 11 at 06:28.
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French attacking Ratisbon.
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Last edited by Marshal Lannes; 28 Feb 11 at 07:26.
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