First Blood: Battle of Montenotte (1796)
We refought Napoleon Bonaparte’s first victory as the commander of the Army of Italy at the community centre on 20 March. I was umpiring this French Revolutionary Wars game using my ‘First Consul’ rules and my 28mm figures.
Forces
The French army (Paul S., Richard, Scotty, Josh, and Paul B.), consisted of five infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade, and six artillery batteries.
The Austrian army, historically one corps led by Count Argenteau (Rob, Doug, Alex) had three infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade, and four artillery batteries.
Jonathan, Phil, and Patrick were also at the game.
Objectives
Each enemy unit destroyed or routed off table – 5 points. Capture/retain village of Montenotte – 10 points.
Terrain
Battlefield terrain was hilly with the village of Montenotte at the base of the Austrian table edge, and numerous woods.
Deployments
The French deployed in two areas – right and left flanks respectively.
On the right flank Paul S. commanded Rampon’s brigade, occupying the Mount Negino redoubt.
Richard controlled two brigades of Laharpe’s division (one of which was 1st class) and three guns, to Paul’s left.
On the left flank was Massena’s division. Scotty and Josh controlled the French cavalry and one infantry brigade, while Paul B. commanded the other infantry brigade and three guns.
The Austrians deployed with their largest brigade under Rob on the left with one battery; Doug in the centre with another brigade and a battery; and Alex on the right with the final brigade with two batteries.
The Game
The French set off from their deployment zones.
Massena’s division on the French left under Paul B., Scotty and Josh, was initially quite slow, having been delayed by bringing on the French guns ahead of the army.
The French cavalry set off towards the centre of the table.
Five turns of Austrian initiative had led to several casualties from Alex’s guns and skirmishers on the Austrian right.
Scotty’s cavalry attacked Doug’s Austrian infantry but lost and had to retreat 12″ inches.
By now Massena’s infantry had advanced, and the French light companies were peppering Doug’s cavalry with skirmish fire.
The battle was fluid, though, and the French lost an infantry battalion in square to ranged fire. Some of Paul B’s infantry had to retreat but eventually rallied.
Meanwhile Richard’s two brigades were advancing strongly against Doug and Rob in the centre…
…As Paul S’s brigade, in a phalanx of three lines, fixed Rob’s infantry in place on the French right, inflicting several casualties.
Paul B nevertheless lost a second battalion to Alex’s infantry firing twice (using an initiative point). Four of six battalions in Massena’s division remained.
Josh and Paul had meanwhile been advancing from the French left to the centre of the table.
Here, Doug’s Austrian light cavalry crashed into one of Scotty’s battalions, forcing them back, then attacked another unit and forced that one back too.
Alex was winning against Paul B, and forced back some of the French artillery with infantry fire. The French left seemed to be disintegrating, but the French right and centre was advancing. Scotty’s cavalry again advanced on Doug’s infantry but had to retire.
On the Austrian left, Rob launched a counterattack against Paul S’s brigade, and forced two of the latter’s battalions back after both reached their maximum resilience score of 7 hits.
However, Doug’s cavalry, already weakened after melees, was destroyed by Scotty firing on them from a nearby wood. The Austrian centre was under pressure.
As Richard destroyed one of Rob’s infantry units, the Austrian centre was soon wide open. Could the French break the Austrian line?
On the Austrian right however, Alex began to advance against Paul B’s faltering brigade, forcing one of his units back after the Austrian infantry won a melee.
Richard now began the critical assault on the centre. One of his 1st class battalions fought a close combat with one of Doug’s, and the Austrian infantry was forced back 12″, vacating the centre. Elsewhere, Paul S. lost a battalion to Rob’s fire.
Scotty added further pressure to the Austrian line by charging his French cavalry against one of Doug’s infantry, who passed a morale test and blasted the horsemen with five hits of closing fire – destroying the cavalry in the process!
The Austrian centre was now held by just two units in a ‘V’ formation, with six of Richard’s units converging against them, and Scott’s French infantry not far away.
Meanwhile the French left were on the defensive, having done their job of distracting the Austrian right. Paul soon lost another battalion (he had one left).
Back on the Austrian left, Rob had only two battalions (of four) left to face Richard’s six and Paul S’s two. Richard sent two battalions against Rob’s flank, forcing Rob to pull back from his attack on Paul S.
The end was in sight for the Austrians. Doug had to withdraw his two infantry units from the centre, and his artillery was destroyed by Richard’s advancing infantry in a melee. On the French left, Josh fired on Alex’s infantry, and one unit of Austrians had to fall back.
Finally, Richard occupied the Austrian centre, and took Montenotte with his second brigade! As both sides had lost nine units (including skirmishers), the 10 points gained from taking the village amounted to a French victory.
Conclusion
A fun game using simple rules with a decisive result. Historically Massena’s division on the left delivered the powerful flank attack, whereas in our refight it was Laharpe’s division (Richard) which was instrumental in victory. The Austrians did well to defend a wide front, but had 10 battalions to the French 15 battalions. Even so the result was not a foregone conclusion and Alex, Doug and Rob all had moments of success against the attacking French. The game saw the first use of our new lush wargames mat from Deepcut Studios. More importantly, I believe everyone enjoyed themselves, and thanks to all who played. My French Revolutionary Wars games will continue, with many more actions to choose from. Vive le Premier Consul!
