The fifth version of this engagement took a great turn when Hohenlohe and Hiller took the opportunity to coordinate entirely against Lannes, who, strangely, obliged them. Vandamme was shocked to see that Hiller turned his entire korps right, moving away from him and exposing their flank and rear. However, while this moved looked risky, Hiller felt it was imperative he combined his Force with that of Hohenlohe to take on Lannes – who was moving with great haste directly for Hohenlohe’s position.
Hohenlohe was potentially very vulnerable. His lead division, under Ulm, was stalled crossing a shallow river at Blauehäuserweißerfensterlädenstadt and Lindeneau’s Grenadier Division was still a good two miles behind. In Vandamme’s quadrant, the general was doing everything he could to push forward on Hiller’s flank in the hope of taking pressure off of Lannes, but his fellow commander appeared determined to drive forward without concern or regard.
Despite Vandamme’s efforts and repeated warnings, Lannes locked himself in combat with Ulm’s Division, he called up St. Sulpice’s cuirassiers but after an abortive charge through dense woods, followed by a second against the front of Lindeneau’s grenadiers, they withdrew from the field exhausted. Meanwhile, his right wing was taken from the flank and rear by the arrival of Hiller. Vandamme was forced to look on as disaster struck.
In three hours, we completed four hours of battle (13 turns), Hiller escaped Vandamme’s pursuit, and Lannes suffered a horrible setback with two divisions broken against a superior foe without motivation to hold back. All rules, terrain, and miniatures, are available in our online store.
The Battlefield Lannes on the March Ulm’s Division Vandamme at Blauegelbefensterlädenstadt Hussars Scout Forward Escorting the Lead Division Moving into the Open Discovered! Notify Marshal Lannes! Move Directly onto Blauehäuserweißerfensterlädenstadt! More than One Road to Rome Perhaps I Ought Move… Hiller is Decisive All Forward! The Cavalry have Arrived Deploy on the March Rear Guard Just a Mile Off Vandamme Pushes Mission Accomplished Vandamme at Windmühl Hill A Broad Front Pajol is on the Wrong Flank French Légère of Lannes’s Corps Lannes’s Observes the Cuirassiers The Advance of Lannes’s Corps The Approach of Hiller Ulm Confronts the French The 3rd Chevaulégèrs From Rear Guard to Flank Guard to Avant Garde Having Waited this Long… The View of Lannes’s Left Hiller’s Luck The Threat is Real Vincent Sees the Moment Vandamme Sighs… Chasing Hiller Just Before Contact Over Extended Ulm Retreats Vincent Pounces Lindeneau vs St. Sulpice Counter-Attack the Counter-Attack! Blocked! Confronting Hiller A Desperate Fight Vandamme’s Folly Hiller Takes Aim Hiller’s View Cuirassiers Charge! The Loss of So Many The Combatants