Saturday, January 15, 2022

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 2nd and 12th 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

Sunday, January 9, 2022

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

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Rear Guard at Donauworth - Part 2

 Turns 4 & 5

The French success is short lived as the 7th Hussars, badly routed in their earlier cavalry charge, fail to rally and flee from the field. The loss of their comrades demoralizes the 1st Chasseurs. The commander of the 1st 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.

Saturday, January 1, 2022

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.