Between running events, David, our principal Pen-Gin™, jumped into playing a game head-to-head with an advanced player. Lefebvre’s Bavarian Corps d’armée vs Hiller’s Austrian ArmeeKorps.
The central woodlot is an immediate issue for both armies. Lefebvre decides to rush his left into the pocket defined by streams north of the woodlot to create a salient and bring on initial contact. Hiller is initially hesitant to commit against the Bavarian left, uncertain if he will have enough frontage to bring superior force to bear.
Lefebvre has two cavalry brigades, one traveling with each infantry division. The cavalry moving with his 2. Infanterie Division under Wrede, pushes forward aggressively, hoping to split the Austrian attention and bridge the gap with the Bavarian left.
Battle lines quickly develop as both Forces deploy. Hiller decides to stretch his left to both screen Wrede’s 2. Infanterie Division and to help pressure the Bavarian left where the main attack is developing. While frontage is an issue for the Austrians Hiller smartly prioritizes getting as many batteries into action as possible and the early Fatigue these place on Lefebvre’s 1. Infanterie Division are quickly degrading it.
Meanwhile, things aren’t boring on the Austrian left either where Lefebvre has Wrede setting up to commit a crushing blow, that if successful… if successful… could decide the battle. Hiller’s left cavalry brigade has become the only element covering his left flank and behind them is an open road he currently knows as his line of communications and retreat…
In a prelude to what could be the decisive moment of the battle, Lefebvre’s left, very battered, is continuing to slip backwards, giving ground and pulling the Austrians more and more forward away from their line of communications. While looking tenuously successful, the Bavarian left is in bad shape and their supporting cavalry continue to doddle, out of position to assist and bleed off the building pressure.
On the Bavarian right, everything is building towards the decisive moment. Hiller’s cavalry there have been trounced, thrown back to the rear in a mess of exhausted horses and demoralized troopers. Lefebvre is about to order Wrede to attack and drive directly into the flank and rear of the Austrian left wing.
<Ding Ding Ding>
“Announcer: The next ESR Napoleonics Beginner Game is about to begin, would David please stop by to give the introductory briefing?”
<sigh>
And with that, our would be Franco-Bavarian hero taps out to perform some very important administrative duties and one of our volunteer GMs – a General Lord Hollier steps into the action.
Realizing the critical situation on the Bavarian left, our new Lefebvre focuses his attention there for a cycle too long… just after sending word to Wrede to attack, a courier arrives to inform Lefebvre that Wrede is dead, downed by Austrian skirmish fire from the wood line his division was just about to flush. Alas, 2. Infanterie Division is halted in its steps as Wrede’s junior officers transition duties.
The loss of Wrede is less significant than the loss of time, in the intervening ~20 minutes Hiller halts his attacks against Lefebvre’s left – which has now pulled back out of harm’s way – and this allows him to refuse his left flank stabilizing the battle lines. Lefebvre managed to save his 1. Infanterie Division but its sacrifices in the salient are in vein as his right wing’s attack came together all too late.
An indecisive victory for the Austrians but a victory all the same. Hiller inflicted significantly more damage than he received and is in no worse position than when he started.
Was the transition of French players responsible for a change in luck, Wrede’s death, and the delay that cost the game? Hard to say, but David was overheard to say what he learned from the game was: “When work calls… don’t answer the phone.”
