MOAB '12: Sacile 1809 FoG:N style

At Moab this year I played in two demo games.

The first was a refight of the Battle of Sacile 1809 between the French dominated 'Army of Italy' and an Austrian army under the command of Archduke John. We played using FoG:N rules.

Deployment was as per the actual historical battle, and the scenario was straight out of the FoG:N rule book. Victory for the French required the Austrians being "Driven from the field", (which was always going to be tough).

 

Our plan was to pin the enemy in the centre and attempt to envelope both flanks, (well at least attack from our left)

The terrain was not very favourable for an attack, and my greatest concern as commander of the French was that the isolated 4th Division of Barbou would be singled out for some real punishment.

I say isolated as a river separated the 4th Division from the two French divisions on its left, and bad terrain on its right complicated any assistance coming from that direction.

As it turned out my worse fears were realised.

The Austrians were able to delay and stall any attempt at an advance on our left, and the terrain provided a real encumbent to an advance on the right. I should probably sat defensively in the centre, but the mission brief didn't allow for such caution and the central division was hammered by a combined arms assault that saw it destroyed.

 ABOVE: The river that runs between the 4th Division and 3rd Division.
BELOW: 3rd Division prepares for battle.

 BELOW: ADCs from 3rd Division gaze in the direction of the doomed 4th Division.

 BELOW: Severoli's small Italian Division.

 BELOW: Part of the Austrian Army.

 ABOVE: HUZZARS!!! (the Austrian type)
BELOW: The French Light Cavalry Division. They saw no action.

 BELOW: The 4th Division advance.

 BELOW: The 4th Division halt!

 BELOW: The Commander of the Light Cavalry Division stuck in a traffic jam of troops.

 BELOW: The Light Cavalry Divison attempt to fan out and find a way through the throng of troops.

 BELOW: 2nd and 3rd Divison troops stalled by an Austrian Mixed Division

 BELOW: Austrian Dragoons charge lead elements of the 3rd division who attempted to link up with the 4th Division.

 BELOW: 4th Division gets pummelled by a wave of Austrian 'Big' Brigades.

 ABOVE and BELOW: 4th Division is slowly but surely destroyed,...

 BELOW: Eventually 1st Division gets into action,...

 ABOVE and BELOW: 3rd Division and 2nd Division are checked by the Austrians as the remnants of 4th Division rout to the rear.

 ABOVE: General Barbou suddenly finds himself in Austrian company.
BELOW: 2nd Divison and the Light Cavalry Division are left to wonder what might have been.

 

The game was played to a conclusion in about 7 hours and I think everyone agreed the rules work well.