Bonaparte in Italy: Battle of Castiglione (1796)

We had a large turnout on 28 November as I umpired the first French Revolutionary Wars game using my new 28mm figures from Irregular Miniatures and my ‘First Consul’ rules. The game was the Battle of Castiglione (1796) set in Napoleon’s Italian Campaign, around the time of the French siege of the Austrian fortress of Mantua.

The battlefield was flat, apart from hills, a village and redoubt on the Austrian right flank, and a redoubt on their left.

Philip (left – Massena’s infantry, and most of the artillery), Paul (centre – Augereau’s infantry), and Rob (right- Serrurier’s infantry and Beaumont’s cavalry) were the French under Napoleon, with 18 infantry units in six brigades, two cavalry units, 12 skirmish units, and 4 guns. Patrick later joined as a French player.

Richard G. (left – Davidovich’s infantry and Erdody’s cavalry), Richard P. (centre – Von Melas’ infantry) and Doug (right – Quasdanovich’s infantry) were the Austrians under Wurmser, with 15 infantry, 1 cavalry, 6 skirmisher units and 4 guns. Brian and Phil were also present.

Philip began an advance with Massena’s division on the French left, as Paul and Rob advanced in mixed order formation. Philip’s grand battery managed to force one of Richard’s batteries to retreat.

The Austrians too began their advance. Richard G. managed to destroy or push back three of Paul’s skirmishers from Augereau’s division screening the French centre.

Richard G. also moved up his cavalry on the Austrian left, which initially stopped short of Rob’s cavalry.

By turn 3, Rob’s artillery was damaging Richard G.’s cavalry. Rob initially formed the right-hand unit of his mixed-order brigade into square. But in my rules units on the flanks of the mixed-order formation can form outward-facing squares automatically.

Paul’s men in mixed order caused two casualties to Richard G.’s infantry of Davidovich’s division. Richard G. responded with five hits on Paul’s men, which eventually resulted in two French units being lost. Richard G. now moved up his infantry on the Austrian left.

A cavalry clash led to the Austrians acquiring five hits and retreating 12 inches, to the French 1 hit. As the Austrians began to move in the centre, the Austrian cavalry rallied and went in again. This time the French broke, and Richard G.’s cavalry followed up, which led to a draw with the second French cavalry unit. However the Austrian cavalry was destroyed by Rob’s artillery and musketry.

Patrick now deployed Despinoy’s division, which had been left off the table. As in the real battle, a French force attacked the Austrian flank and rear. Patrick had three battalions and two skirmishers, and caught Richard G.’s advancing infantry by surprise. The Austrian infantry suffered 7 hits from French skirmish and infantry fire…

By now, Philip’s French were edging ever closer to Doug’s men holding the village on the Austrian right.

Paul deployed his remaining four units in the centre into line, as the Austrians began to approach by interpenetrating their infantry. The lack of artillery in the French centre was hampering Paul, who was locally outnumbered.

Richard G.’s flank was crumpling, and he lost an infantry unit and some skirmishers to Patrick’s advancing infantry and skirmishers. The Austrian left was collapsing, and the French were closing in on the Austrian redoubt there.

Patrick advanced against the redoubt, his skirmishers damaging the Austrian artillery stationed there, which was soon forced out and retreated.

Meanwhile Paul lost some infantry to Richard P.’s advancing Austrians in the centre. The French centre looked to be at risk… and soon another of Paul’s battalions was destroyed, which exposed the French to a wholesale Austrian advance.

The French were winning on the right, but losing in the centre, with the left still unresolved.

On the Austrian right, Doug fired on Philip’s advancing division, inflicting 2 casualties. French fire had dislodged the Austrian gun from the redoubt.

On turn six, Paul lost his fifth unit, leaving just one left and a skirmisher base. Richard P. had broken through!

Nevertheless, Richard G. was facing the brunt of the French assault, and fell back with two infantry units from the Austrian left to form a new line in the centre.

As the Austrian left contracted, both Patrick and Rob attacked, adding mounting pressure to the Austrian centre which had now pushed forward to occupy the space formerly held by Paul’s infantry, which was soon entirely wiped out.

Patrick destroyed another of Richard G.’s infantry, and soon added a few more units to his tally in the final turn. The Austrians were at risk of envelopment from the rear.

Philip’s attack, delayed by rough ground, finally went in, and eventually destroyed one Austrian unit and pushed back another.

The French centre had been broken, but the Austrians there under Richard P. were facing attacks from Rob and Patrick and losing more units. Rob’s cavalry attacked one of Richard P.’s infantry units, but took closing fire before the melee, which they won (pushing the infantry back), but were destroyed in the process by racking up more hits than their total resilience value.

The game ended with the centre largely vacated, but fighting still occurring on both flanks. The Austrians had lost 6 battalions, 4 skirmishers, 1 cavalry unit, and 2 guns. The French lost 6 battalions, 5 skirmishers, and 1 cavalry unit. Overall a marginal French tactical win, and also an operational success given the consequent failure of the Austrians to relieve Mantua.

Conclusion

I believe everyone enjoyed themselves in a decisive game of twists and turns. I always aim to combine historical realism with playability and straightforwardness in my rules. Some tweaks to the rules might be made however, particularly given the power of the Austrian use of interpenetration which seemed unrealistic.

The use of mixed-order on the night was not particularly effective. Three units in mixed-order formation get the firing dice of a line with two additional dice, and the flank protection of the columns. This is less dice than having all three units in line. But three lines do not always fit into the space available on the tabletop. Ultimately it is up to players to decide which tactics suit them.

Even so, the overall effect of the figures, terrain, and a good atmosphere, was very positive. Richard G. in particular did well to hold the line for as long as possible, and Richard P. was very effective in the centre. Paul took the brunt of the Austrian attack, which is what Napoleon had planned, in order to pin the Austrians before a decisive flank and rear assault. The French Revolutionary Wars are a great spectacle and a virtually untapped period at the club, so I will enjoy painting more figures and putting on more games in future. Thanks to all!