Rear Guard at Donauworth - Part 4

 Turns 9 - 11

As the French artillery bombardment reaches its peak, General of Brigade Viallanes commits his cavalry to the attack. Both the 2^nd and 12^th Chasseurs charge into the Austrian infantry squares, but the stalwart courage of the Austrians manages to hold. This forces the French light cavalry to withdraw and reform before they can try again.

French Cavalry Charge the Austrian Squares

Rear Guard at Donauworth - Part 3

 Turns 6 - 8

All across the battlefield, signs of Austrian withdrawal increases as French reinforcements continue to arrive and the assault on Donauworth intensifies.

More Austrian Battalions Disengage and Withdraw Towards the Danube River Crossing

Rear Guard at Donauworth - Part 2

 Turns 4 & 5

The French success is short lived as the 7^th Hussars, badly routed in their earlier cavalry charge, fail to rally and flee from the field. The loss of their comrades demoralizes the 1^st Chasseurs. The commander of the 1^st Chasseurs falls back to avoid combat with the superior numbers of Austrian cavalry, thus effectively ending the threat of French cavalry on the Danube River crossing.

French Cavalry Flee from the Field.

Rear Guard at Donauworth - Part 1

 (Note for any of my readers. I write these reports on a word processor and then move them on to my blog because I find it an easer task to conceptualize the structure of what I am writing. Recently I had to change word processors and so some of the style might have changed because of this.)

Battle 2 – During Turn 7 of the Campaign, late afternoon.

Attacker: French

Objectives: Take the town of Donauworth. Capture or destroy as many Austrian units as possible

Defender: Austrians

Objectives: Withdraw from the battlefield with more than 50% (three brigades) of remaining troops intact.

Battle End conditions: 50% (three brigades)or more of the remaining Austrian brigades are routed off the field or after 12 turns (I consider that by turn 12 night will have fallen on the battlefield. This is something that I did not make clear in the last battle report).

Battle Overview

This battle takes place immediately after the end of Battle 1 – The Battle of Donauworth & Heidenheim, that was fought using the Blucher rules. At the start of this battle portions of both the French and Austrian armies are engaged in combat based upon where the previous battle ended. The French are still attempting to capture the town of Donauworth and destroy as many Austrian units as possible while the Austrians are attempting to withdraw from the battlefield. Some of the effects of the Rear-Guard battle at Heidenheim will affect events in this battle.

Rear Guard at Heidenheim - Part 3 Conclusion

 Turn 3

A break in the smoke covering the battlefield brings a new beat to the sound of battle as a full brigade of French Cuirassiers charge the waiting Austrian Dragoons. Marshal Marmont has finally managed to get General of Division d'Hautpoul moving with his entire Cavalry Reserve Division. The French heavy cavalry lead the assault to break the center of the Austrian line while the remaining light cavalry of the 6^th Hussars and the 8^th Chasseurs charge the lines of retreating Austrian infantry.

The impact of the French Cuirassiers is immediately felt as half of the Austrian #2 Dragoons Hohenlohe regiment breaks immediately and disperses from the field. The other half of the regiment is locked in a vicious melee of rearing horses and slashing sabers.

Figure 31 - French Cuirassiers Break the Austrian Lines