Rear Guard at Heidenheim - Part 2 The Battle

 Turn 1

The rear-guard action starts with both von Werneck and Marmont issuing orders to their ADCs to be passed on to the division and brigade commanders. Marmont focuses on calling up his artillery and ordering his 1^st Infantry Division to assault the Austrian grenadiers to their front. Von Werneck orders some of his ADCs to seek out General Mack while the rest of his ADCs hurry to issue orders to the grenadiers facing the French advance. Word quickly comes back to Marmont that the II Corps Artillery is moving up and will arrive on the field shortly and that the infantry assault of the 1^st Division will commence immediately. Much to Marmont’s frustration, General of Division d’Hautpoul commander of the Cavalry Reserve, seems to have only ordered one of his two brigades forward, instead of moving the entire division forward as was ordered. This will slow down the planned French attack on the Austrian center.

Von Werneck does not fare much better, as no word seems to have come back from the ADCs about the status of General Mack’s reinforcements. There is also some hesitation in a few of brigade commanders on the field due to the situation at hand, causing a delay in the withdrawal of the Austrian 3^rd Infantry Division towards the Danube River.

Following his newly arrived orders from Marmont’s ADC, General de Brigade Soyez commander of the 2^nd Brigade in the French II Corps 1^st Infantry Division orders his battalions to charge the opposing Austrian Grenadiers. The 2^nd Battalion of the 35^th Line and the 1^st Battalion of the 11^th Line lead the charge with the remaining two battalions in the brigade lending support to the attack. As the assaulting battalions clear the brigade’s skirmisher screen the waiting Austrian grenadiers fire off volleys of well-coordinated musketry into the advancing French columns. The result is devastating on the already worn-out battalions of Soyez’s brigade and the attacking battalions break instantly under the brutal fire causing panic in the entire brigade. The attempt to quickly brush aside the exhausted Austrian grenadiers has failed for the moment and Soyez is forced to try and rally his brigade to avoid a general route of his two regiments.

Figure 1 - Austrian Grenadiers Hold off the French Assault.

Figure 2 - The Austrian Grenadiers Finally Live up to Their Reputation.

Figure 3 - Aftermath of the Failed French Infantry Assault.

Over on the Austrian right flank, the Colonel of the French 8^th Chasseurs takes advantage of a possible opening to hit the Austrian 3^rd Infantry Division in the flank. The charging light cavalry fails to catch the Austrian infantry by surprise and the Austrian 2^nd Battalion of the #11 Line regiment manages to form square just before the charging French Chasseurs hit the battalion. Subsequently the French cavalry is forced to fall back and regroup before they can try again. For this charge in hindsight, I am pretty sure that I messed up the results and did not adequately take the impact of the flank attack into account since my brain was thinking how do you hit the flank of the square at the time? Not thinking that concept was that the battalion was being charge from the flank while in line and therefore should have had penalties throughout the resulting rolls.

Figure 4 - Charge of the 8th Chasseurs a Cheval.

As these charges were underway, the French 1^st Brigade of the Cavalry Reserve under the command of Colonel Noirot began moving forward to exploit the gap in the Austrian lines. General of Brigade Dessaix commanding the 1^st Brigade in the French II Corps 1^st Division also began deploying his 18^th Light Regiment to take over where the 2^nd Brigade had just failed in their attack on the Austrian grenadiers. 

Figure 5 - French Cavalry Advances.

To counter the French charges and deployments, von Werneck orders that the 4^th Infantry Division’s 2^nd Brigade under the command of Oberst Frohauff to about face and occupy the town of Heidenheim, in order to hold open a route by which the Austrian 3^rd Infantry Division can withdraw towards the Danube River. 

Figure 6 - Austrian Grenadiers Begin Occupying Heidenheim.

To plug the gap in the Austrian lines, General-Major Weissenwolf commander of the 2^nd Brigade in the Austrian 2^nd Cavalry Division, orders his squadrons of the #2 Dragoon Regiment (the Hohenlohe Regiment) to deploy into the fields blocking the advance of the French Cuirassiers. The Dragoons remain close to the town of Heidenheim so as to force an attacker to come into range of the guns of the defending Austrian grenadiers.

Figure 7 - Austrian Dragoons Deploy in the Farm Fields outside of Heidenheim

Over on the Austrian right, after repulsing the French cavalry charge, General-Major von Lindenau begins order his Austrian 3^rd Infantry Division to disengage and withdraw towards the Danube. Unengaged battalions in the rear of the Division’s lines form column and about face to begin their withdrawal.

Figure 8 - Austrian 3^rd Infantry Division Begins to Withdraw.

The ever-present sound of musketry fire picks up in intensity as both side open fire with volleys of fire into one another. The fire from the 2^nd Brigade of the French II Corps 1^st Division is ragged and uncoordinated due to their recent repulse at the hands of the Austrian grenadiers. Fire from the French 18^th Light does eventually force one battalion of Austrian grenadiers to disperse.

Figure 9 - Overview of the Musket Fire.

Infantry of the French 18^th Light Regiment open fire on the Austrian Dragoons that are stationed north of Heidenheim. Taking advantage of the rare opportunity for infantry in line to fire upon cavalry. This may not be the case in for much longer.

Figure 10 - Opportunistic French Infantry Fire into Waiting Austrian Cavalry.

To the north, the French focus fire on the square formed by the 2^nd Battalion of the Austrian #11^th Line Infantry Regiment as a result of the earlier charge by the French Chasseurs. This Austrian battalion was already worn out from the days fighting and soon disperses from the field under the pressure of French skirmisher and volley fire.

Figure 11 - The Effects of the French Cavalry Charge Cause Problems for the Austrians.

This broken battalion leaves a gap in the Austrian 3^rd Infantry Division line that could be exploited by the French to attack the withdrawing Austrian infantry battalions in the rear. General-Major von Lindenau will be forced to re-route withdrawing battalions to prevent a French breakthrough.

Figure 12 - A Hole Opens in the Austrian 3rd Infantry Division Line.

Turn 2

At the start of turn 2, the French II Corps artillery finishes moving onto the field and deploying their guns. Two batteries of guns deploy on the high ground behind the French 1^st Infantry Division while a third battery deploys near Napoleon’s headquarters.

Figure 13 - French Artillery Enters the Battle.

Figure 14 - The French Rally for Another Push Against the Austrian Grenadiers.

Marshal Marmont sends his ADCs to issue orders that the artillery should begin targeting the Austrian infantry and cavalry deployed outside of Heidenheim. Further ADCs are sent to try and get all of General of Division d'Hautpoul’s Cavalry Reserve Division on the move. Von Werneck tries again to see if his ADCs can make contact with General Mack, but they prove unsuccessful again, the rest of his aides rush across the battlefield attempting to help motivate the Austrian troops in their withdrawal from the field.

Primary among the orders that the Austrian ADCs are rushing across the field, is the order to charge down the advancing battalions of the French 18^th Light Infantry Regiment. The 1^st and 2^nd squadrons of the #1 Dragoons, the Archduke John Dragoons, charge at the advancing 1^st Battalion of the French 18^th Light Infantry Regiment. This elite infantry unit is able to quickly form square and force the attacking Austrian Dragoons to withdraw into Heidenheim.

Figure 15 - Austrian Dragoons Charge French Infantry in Square.

Figure 16 – Remaining Austrian Dragoons Wheel to Make Further Charges.

The 1^st Brigade of the French Cavalry Reserve is still the only elements of d'Hautpoul’s Division that is on the advance causing further consternation in the on looking Napoleon and Marmont. Colonel Noirot, the 1^st brigade commander of the Cavalry Reserve, orders his Cuirassiers to begin to spread out preparing for a charge against the awaiting Austrian Dragoons. He plans to charge the Austrians with or without support from the rest of the division. The Colonel may get a promotion to General of Brigade after this battle.

Figure 17 - French Heavy Cavalry Deploys.

Moving up behind the French heavy cavalry, the Chasseurs and Hussars of the French II Corps Cavalry Division prepare to charge into the ranks of the Austrians infantry once more while battalions of the French 2^nd Infantry Division move forward to exploit the gap left in the Austrian lines caused by their musket fire. 

Figure 18 - French II Corps Cavalry Division Advances.

Figure 19 - French Skirmishers Advance upon the Austrian Line Ahead of French Battalions.

Major-General von Mayer commander of the Austrian 2^nd Brigade in the 3^rd Infantry Division attempts to block this move from the French by ordering another one of his battalions to plug the gap in the Austrian lines. The entire Division may be forced to turn and fight the French if they cannot disengage soon.

Figure 20 - Austrian Battalions on the Move.

The artillery of the French II Corps booms across the battlefield as the gunners let loose with their first volley of fire signaling the start of renewed French attacks.

Figure 21 - French Artillery Open Fire.

The remains of the 1^st Brigade in the Austrian 4^th Division can no longer stand the punishment they are receiving from the combined volleys of two brigades of French infantry. The brigade soon breaks under pressure with the men dispersing across the battlefield.

Figure 22 - Austrian Grenadiers are Overwhelmed by Musket Fire.

To the north of the battlefield, both the French and Austrian lines are obscured by the volume of fire that both sides unleash at each other. Both sides take casualties, but the lines stand firm under fire. 

Figure 23 - Continuing Clash in the North.

The situation is looking dire as the Austrians have had their first brigade break and flee the field, leaving only the grenadiers in the town of Heidenheim and the Austrian Dragoons left to protect the bridge across the Danube River.

Figure 24 - Overview of the End of Turn 2.