THE IX CORPS’ ATTACK AT WAGRAM, 5 JULY 1809 THEME SAXONS ON THE

DANUBEThe Battle of Wagram was the last major act of the war in 1809, fought over two days in July between the greatest powers in Europe at the time, Napoleonic France and Hapsburg Austria. The war had started with the Austrians taking the offensive and advancing into to take revenge for the humiliating defeat of 1805. Moreo- ver, with the support of funds from Britain, Austria sought to re- dress what they saw as a French overthrow of the balance of power.

By Derek Bruce

ince the War of 1806, many would be seen as a liberating force to prevent the Austrian westward ad- of the German states that from the revolutionary and modern- vance in Bavaria with a combination had once been part of the ising influence of the French and a of French and allied German Confed- Austrian-controlled Holy Ro- chance to restore the old order. eration armies. Contrary to the expec- man Empire had been forced tations of the Hapsburgs, rather than Sto join the Confederation of the In April, the War of the Fifth Coalition welcoming the invading Austrians, Rhine, which was under French in- (1809) began with the Austrian armies the German members of the Confed- fluence. The Hapsburgs believed advancing along the valley eration made a huge contribution to that many of these German towards Bavaria and the German stopping their advance. At Landshut, states would welcome principalities, as well as mobilis- the Confederation was a match for their armies, that they ing in Italy and Poland. , the Austrians twice, and at Eggmühl with the support of his indepen- a week later, an allied army stopped dently acting marshals, was able the Austrians, who were then forced to retreat back towards – the capital of the .

In May, at the Battle of -Es- sling to the north of Vienna, Napo- leon’s pursuit was checked. Although the French had occupied the capital, the Austrians did not feel defeated. Two months of consolidation and planning followed, giving the French and their Confederation allies time to plan their crossing of the Danube. To achieve this, Napoleon assem- bled engineers and pontooners to construct many bridges on the south bank of the river, with the plan being to float them out across the torrent

and subsequently form a bridgehead. Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 99 x Napoleon surveys the field of battle in this 1836 1 painting of the Battle of Wagram by . © Public domain The allied French and Saxon forces close on the Austrian positions.

In July 1809 Napoleon attacked main body. During the movement The Saxons had been given the task across the wide and fast-flowing over the river the Saxon corps was of holding the left flank while keep- Danube. He was aware of the need not seen as a priority. It had taken ing contact with both flanks: on the to cross the river and consolidate most of the day to get the troops right, the Army of Italy, and on the his forces and then to break out across the Danube and into position. left, Masséna’s Fourth Corps. to engage the assembled Austrian army at Wagram. Napoleon had amassed an army of approximately 190,000 men and over 600 guns, Espin © Rocío split into several corps.

The Saxon army at Wagram formed the IX Corps, commanded by the French marshal Bernadotte. He origi- nally had three divisions, totalling approximately 18,000 men, and 38 guns under his control. Each of the three divisions of infantry had sup- porting cavalry and guns, in the French style of organisation. Berna- dotte’s command had been reduced over the days leading up to the bat- tle. Many of the Saxon troops had been used in different tasks; one divi- sion was protecting the bridgehead, while some of the cavalry had been co-opted to other commands.

Most of the guns had found getting across the Danube bridges difficult and had become detached from the A map of the town, cities, villages and general terrain in the area surrounding Wagram.

Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 99 2 the Saxon army. For this game Berna- dotte should be classed as Average.

© Rocío Espin © Rocío Things were not helped by the lan- guage difficulties between the troops and the insistence that orders were issued in French.

All the Saxon brigade commanders should either be diced for or graded average. (To give an accurate feeling of uncertainty, I would recommend that their ability is only diced for when first needed, not at the start of the game.)

Bellegarde He was cautious by nature and for this reason should either be graded poor or have a deduction made for Deployment zones for the Austrian and Saxon forces near Wagram. his lack of opportunism. His decision not to use to keep in touch THE GAME Saxon victory conditions with the Third Corps left a gap in the The time is approximately 6.00 pm Victory: Have troops in or on the edge Austrian defensive line, inviting an on 5 July. I have used the General de of Wagram and prevent the Austrians attack by the French army. Brigade rules, as I believe they give a from breaking your left flank. good feel of warfare in the Napoleonic Glorious victory: Capture Wagram The Austrian brigade commanders age. I also like the command ideas and and push back the Austrian cavalry. should be graded as average or diced how they add delay and confusion to for as per the rules. the outcomes. This size of game could COMMANDERS be played with many other sets of rules. Bernadotte HISTORICAL DEPLOYMENT He was a good commander and Saxon Austrian victory conditions had previously shown great abil- Both infantry divisions deploy to Victory: Hold the village of Wagram ity. However, at the time of Wagam, the right of Aderklaa and within at the end of the game. Napoleon’s trust in his ability was in one move of the right table edge Glorious victory: Push the Saxons doubt. It may have been Napoleon’s (one battalion must remain within back south of Aderklaa and break at lack of faith in him that led to Ber- one move of the right table edge; least one Saxon brigade. nadotte being given the command of this is to recognise that the rest of

ORDER OF BATTLE Von Low’s infantry battalion: 1 x 32 figures No. 11 infantry regiment: 2 x 24 figures Von Cerrini’s infantry battalion: 1 x 32 figures No. 47 infantry regiment: 2 x 24 figures Saxon IX CORPS – C-IN-C MARSHAL Second Brigade (GM von Steindal) Brigade battery BERNADOTTE, PRINCE OF PONTECORVO Prinz Anton’s infantry battalion: 2 x 24 figures 6 x 6-pdrs Advance guard (GM von Gutschmid) Prinz Maximilian’s infantry battalion: Saxon : 2 x 12 figures 2 x 24 figures Second Division (FML Fresnel) Prinz Clemens: 2 x 12 figures GM Clary’s brigade Saxon artillery No. 10 infantry regiment: 2 x 24 figures Second Heavy Battery: 4 x 9-pdrs First Division (GL von Zerschlitz) No. 42 infantry regiment: 2 x 24 figures First Brigade (GM von Hartitzach) Cavalry brigade (GM von Feilitzsah) GM Motzen’s brigade Leib- battalion: 1 x 32 figures Leib-Garde kurassiers: 1 x 12 figures No. 35 infantry regiment: 2 x 24 figures Second Grenadier battalion: 1 x 32 figures Garde du Corps regiment: 1 x 12 figures EH Carl’s legion: 1 x 48 figures Second Schützen battalion: 1 x 18 figures Karabinier regiment: 1 x 10 figures Second Brigade (GM von Beschau) Brigade battery König’s infantry battalion: 1 x 32 figures Austrian 6 x 6-pdrs Von Niesmeuschel’s infantry battalion: FIRST CORPS – C-IN-C GENERAL OF Artillery reserve 1 x 32 figures CAVALRY BELLEGARDE Position battery: 6 x 12-pdrs Saxon artillery First Division (FML Dedovich) Cavalry reserve division: First light battery 4 x 4-pdr GM Henneburg’s brigade FML Hessen-Homburg No. 17 infantry regiment: 2 x 24 figures Second Division (GL von Polenz) brigade: 2 x 10 figures No. 36 infantry regiment: 2 x 24 figures First Brigade (GM von Lecoq) Cuirassier brigade: 2 x 10 figures Prinz Clemens’ infantry battalion: 1 x 32 figures GM Wacquant’s brigade brigade: 2 x 10 figures

3 Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 99 The Saxons of this period still wore their distinctive white uniforms with bicorne hats. the Allied army is to the right, and try placed in it. Aderklaa consisted Using the General de Brigade rules, its flank must be protected). of poor-quality buildings and of- I put all the Austrians on a Hold or- fered little protection; cavalry and der to start with, as well as restrict- Only one artillery battery can be artillery can only pass through via ing any movement until turn 3; this deployed with the infantry at the the road. will allow the Saxons to deploy. In start; the other is on the baseline this refight the game started with a awaiting orders. The wooded stream was deep in cavalry clash. places and had fairly steep sides, The advance guard should be placed making it impassable for artillery and behind Aderklaa. The cavalry bri- The Saxons found it a tough nut to difficult going for other troops. gade is behind the advance guard crack trying to get to Wagram as the on the baseline awaiting orders. casualties mounted. By keeping the SPECIAL RULES infantry in two lines they were able Austrian 1. The Austrians should not move to rotate the units before the final as- First Division: to the Left of Wagram from their positions until turn 3. sault. The numbers in the orders of behind the wooded stream without 2. I have discounted the battalion battle recreate the problems of de- the guns, which can arrive after the guns from the Saxon army. ployment and restricted space. third move to the right of the stream. 3. All Austrian infantry should be graded as line, and the cavalry A couple of ‘what ifs’: Second Division: in and in front of and artillery as veteran. Op- Wagram but behind the stream. 1. The Austrians did not defend tionally, one cavalry brigade Aderklaa – in one game I al- Both brigades start on a Hold order. can be graded as elite. lowed one unit of 24 skirmish- The cavalry reserve arrive on the sec- 4. The Saxon infantry is line; the ers from Motzen’s brigade to ond move on their right flank. and Schützen are be deployed in the village on a veteran and the latter can be Hold order. TERRAIN deployed as skirmishers. The 2. Massena was defeated on the Most of the terrain is open fields with- advance guard and cavalry Saxon left – an Austrian force out significant problems for formed are all veteran apart from the could appear on the left flank, troops. The small rise to the south-east Garde du Corps, which have with cavalry from the Reserve of the field would let artillery placed on elite status. The Saxon artillery and infantry entering along the it fire over intervening troops. is second line. road to the south-west. 5. The Saxons attack and move in 3. Napoleon sees the possibili- The road only gives advantage line only. ties of pressing the attack – he through the villages and a move moves forward with the guard bonus for artillery if traveling the THE REFIGHT deployed at . whole move along it. I found that in historical refights the 4. The Army of Italy is pushed back Wagam was a small unfortified vil- outcome has been similar to the ac- on the Saxon right and the Aus- lage, but would give cover for infan- tual battle. trians enter from the right. WS&S