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Grand Manoeuvre Scenario

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Grand Manoeuvre Scenario Castiglione-Solferino 5th August 1796. A scenario for: Grand Manoeuvre: Black Powder & Blue Steel Napoleonic Miniatures Wargames Rules By Michael CollinsCollins.... Castiglione-Solferino 5th August 1796. The Castiglione-Solferino game played at PAW 2011: Solferino bottom-left, Stafallo held by Schubirz`s light division at the bottom right, with the main Austrian positions stretching from Pozzo Catena to the Monte Medolano in the distance. Augereau`s corps is arrayed in columns poised to attack the Austrian right and centre. (Photo: Malcolm Williams) An AAR from this game is at the back of this booklet. Castiglione-Solferino: August 5 th 1796. Umpire`s Notes: The historical battle: In conjunction with two other previously fought engagements, the battle of Castiglione- Solferino, was a victory for Napoleon; pushing Wurmser away and preventing him from relieving the siege of Mantua. Wurmser`s army, already defeated in detail, was outnumbered and out manoeuvred at this battle, and as Bill Peterson points out in his “virtual battlefields” article on the napoleon series, it had many of the key “Napoleonic” elements of battle; an early, limited, diversionary attack, a grand-tactical flanking move by Sérurier’s Division, a massed battery of 18 guns against the redoubt of Monte Medolano, which anchored the Austrian left followed by an assault by Verdier`s grenadier battalions, and a final general attack on the enemy’s weakened left wing. This decisive action was largely carried out by Augereau`s corps and supported by Massena’s brigades. Wurmser`s historical dispositions. The Austrian general’s right wing, under the command of General Baron Paul Davidovich, rested upon the heights of the moraine in front of the village of Pozzo Catena; it was arrayed in two lines with a redoubt of 8 six-pounders in its centre. Although it might immediately look clumsy, this battle array makes sense because it protected the village of Solferino through which the Austrian lines of communication ran and the path of their retreat lay. Wurmser`s left was angled slightly outward from the lines formed by the right wing. This left wing included some of Davidovich`s units; Lipthay`s brigade and Gummer’s under the command of General-Major Baron Carl Philipp Sebottendorf. This wing was formed in one line that extended to the redoubt of Monte Medolano. The Austrian cavalry of General Placzek; 4 divisions of the 2 nd and 4 th Hussars (each division being comprised of two squadrons), was interspersed between the intervals of the Austrian regiments. The second squadron of Meszaros Uhlans was positioned behind the Monte Medolano redoubt. General Baron Anton Schübirz`s light division was stationed at Staffalo, and it guarded the right of Wurmser`s main position in front of Solferino. Napoleon’s historical dispositions. Augereau`s corps was the main force opposing Wurmser`s two wings. It’s left resting on the foot of the hills at the small settlement of Grole. Massena`s Corps was on the other side of the hills, to the north east on flat ground at Barche di Castiglione. The Reserve under Marmont was behind Augereau`s right flank . The scenario: Assuming that much of the opening moves have taken their course - amongst them Napoleon’s intended feint and retreat luring the Austrian line forward; the forces are finally arrayed, and this scenario begins at about 09:30 hrs. This scenario concentrates on the southern half of the battlefield and the rather more decisive combats between Augereau`s corps and Wurmser`s left, the reserve’s action on the Austrian extreme left and the arrival of Leclerc`s and Despinoy`s brigades and their advance across the heights towards Solferino. Therefore only a small part of Massena`s Corps present is involved in this scenario on the French left. With the arrival of Colonel Weidenfeld`s brigade the Austrian retreat was covered and this reinforcement appears for the Austrians late in the game too. Castiglione-Solferino: August 5 th 1796. Umpire`s Notes: Player deployments: Have the two players determine their more exact deployments separately by annotating copies of their own maps. After his deployment is completed, inform the Napoleon player that the flank attack by Serurier`s division under the command of Fiorella has been miss-timed, and Wurmser has managed to block the flanking movement to his left and rear. The consequence of this is that the decisive action must be made on the centre and right; on this battlefield alone You have therefore Augereau`s corps and the reserve to win the battle, part of Massena`s corps is beyond the hills and may engage or attack the Austrians advance guard which is believed to be in Staffalo. French Fatigue: From turn thirty-five in the game, French movement will be limited by the fatigue that had been caused by a week of marching and counter-marching leading up to this battle. From that turn, French infantry movement rates will be -4 centimetres and cavalry -5 centimetres. So this is a game that the French player must move his forces quickly to gain a result that will be better that the historical outcome. Arrival of General Bertin and Leclerc: Leclerc`s and Despinoy`s troops will be arriving at the point on the map marked with a French flag and “Despinoy” between 1 and 2 pm. Announcing that the reinforcements have been seen approaching the battlefield, at 1 pm the umpire is to roll two six sided dice: the red equalling plus turns and blue the minus. With 13:32 hrs being as the starting time, therefore the die rolls of red: +5, and blue: -2 will give a net result of +3 three turns from 13:32 hrs which will be at 13:44. Colonel Weidenfeld: In the same manner as the arrival of Despinoy, the appearance of this Austrian brigade is to be diced for by the umpire at 14:00. Weidenfield`s brigade may enter the table deploying from the road marked “B” on the map, or it may be immediately ordered by Wurmser to take up a position in the line as it enters the table. Castiglione-Solferino: August 5 th 1796. Umpire`s Notes: Victory conditions (some guidelines): Often the results of games are quite obvious to players and there is no need to count and compare each side’s points to determine who has won, but this is a game for the French to win! However, an early decisive result is needed before turn 35 for the French to gain a better than historical result. A decisive result would be for two Austrian brigades to be routing and for the French to have Augereau`s or Marmont`s infantry in an ordered pursuit of the enemy. In our game at PAW 2011, although their commands were routed, the Austrians managed to extricate their forces and so avoid total destruction - the Austrians left and centre had routed only after French fatigue had set in. We judged that Wurmser had lost the battle because he had two broken commands in his army, whereas the French only had three battalions in poor morale and that number included one battalion from Massena`s command attacking Staffalo. Until the arrival of Leclerc and Despinoy forces on the table will be fairly balanced. The main danger to the Austrian player is his left flank. The Austrian player’s placement of his commands will probably be crucial to the result. He will also have to protect his lines of communication and retreat through Solferino, his forces will be stretched. An Austrian player may claim a “victory” (and that is a better than historical result) if a withdrawal is ordered after 14:00 hrs and/or the game ends with only one of his brigades in poor morale. If the game is undecided, judge victory by the numbers of broken commands in poor morale on both sides at the arrival of Colonel Weidenfeld`s brigade. It is possible that game may be continued to a point at which the players are satisfied with the outcome and the nature of the victory to either side, if the arrival of Colonel Weidenfeld`s is timely and going to play a significant role (this brigade is quite a strong one). Castiglione-Solferino: August 5 th 1796. Austrian player/s briefing: Field Marshal Count Dagobert Sigismond de Wurmser: Your aim is to hold Bonaparte here from advancing to Mantua and to buy some time for the besieged Austrian forces there to replenish their supplies. Austrian dispositions: The main part of your army is to be arrayed between Pozzo Catena (in front of Solferino) and the redoubt at Monte Medalano. General Baron Anton Schübirz`s light division is stationed around Staffalo, guarding the right of your main position in front of Solferino. Between Pozzo Catena and Solferino there is the church of San Nicholas (described as a “castle” it provides a good defensive position, it is a square surrounded by some substantial buildings. The single building to its left on the map represents a Norman tower. The Austrian lines of retreat run from the two roads out of Solferino marked “C” and “D” at the bottom right of the Austrian map. Colonel Weidenfeld`s command is expected to arrive from Peschiera at approximately 14:30 hrs. Notes on units in the Austrian order of battle: Line and grenadier battalions with two bases are of a reduced strength and therefore will not be able to deploy skirmishers from their third ranks. Larger infantry battalions of about 900 - 1,000 men have five bases. The Grenz in Schübirz`s advance guard have two bases formed “E” class troops or two bases of “C” class skirmishers.
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