After the Battle of Magenta and the fall of Milan, Gyulai's Austrian forces in northern Italy fell back on the quadrilateral fortresses of Mantova, Legnago, Verona and Peschierra. Within the safe haven of these strongpoints he aimed to reorganise his army and await reinforcements from Austria.
In order to slow the advancing French Gyulai ordered the V Armeekorps, under Count Stadion, to hold the bridges over the Fiume River for as long as possible. Stadion accordingly deployed his corps just west of the small town of San Giorgio, knowing that any attempt to outflank the position would involve a long diversion to the north or south. Furthermore, the Fiume River was in high spate after torrential downpours and finding fording places would not be easy.
Marshal Macmahon, commanding the leading French II Corps d'Armee, realised that such a delay would rob the French of their impetus and resolved to take the bull be the horns. Consequently, early next morning his leading troops began probing towards San Giorgio and the all-important bridges.
The field of battle, with the hamlet of Bistagno in the centre. The French advance-guard is just appearing over the ridge, top left.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/San%20Giorgio/003.jpg)
The centre advance-guard, consisting of two squadrons of the 7th Chasseurs à Cheval, the 1st battalion of the 2nd Zouaves and a 4" foot battery reaches the heights above San Giorgio.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/San%20Giorgio/004.jpg)
The Austrian right, holding the bridge at Fiarella, consisted of the grenadier battalion of the 32nd Infantry Regiment, the 1st battalion of the 3rd Oguliner Grenz regiment and a battery of 6 pr guns. At right can be seen the leading unit of de Castagny's French brigade.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/San%20Giorgio/005.jpg)
On the Austrian left the French 11th Chasseurs à Pied, supported by a battery of 4" MLRs, open a long-range fire-fight with the Austrian garrison of Bistagno.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/San%20Giorgio/007.jpg)
The 4th squadron of the 7th Chasseurs, having discovered a way across the Fiume, launch a charge which breaks the Austrian grenadiers and their supporting artillery and drives them pell-mell back into the village.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/San%20Giorgio/008.jpg)
In the centre, the arrival of Brigade Festetics from corps reserve gives the Austrians some respite. The brigade is immediately ordered to Bistagno.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/San%20Giorgio/010.jpg)
The reason is at once obvious. The arrival of the remainder of Gault's French brigade to support the foot Chasseurs is causing consternation in the hamlet.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/San%20Giorgio/012.jpg)
Meanwhile the gallant Croats had seen off the Chasseurs à Cheval and were now in a spirited fire-fight with de Castagny's Foreign Legion regiments. Two squadrons of the Austrian 12th Ulans had arrived from the centre and a fierce cavalry battle was in progress to the south of Fiarella.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/San%20Giorgio/013.jpg)
Regretfully, the battle had to end there. The action was fought at the SELWG convention and time constraints (and the opportunity to chat to interested parties) had ensured a premature end to the game. All involved expressed themselves satisfied with the way it had gone and a good day was had by all. Rules used were my own Voice of the Guns (downloadable at www.rulesdepot.net (http://www.rulesdepot.net)). All figures were by Pendraken and the buildings were from a variety of sources.
EDIT: Pics embedded.
Superb reports and photos! Nice one sir! :)
Very nice indeed
Great stuff Ray !
Cheers - Phil.
Very good write up and pics.
Excellent write up and really nice pics.
Fascinating even if this isn't my period - erm...yet? ;)
Most excellent Ray - really nicely done 8)
Great report!
Mollinary
Merci, mes braves (Oops, what a giveaway!) :D
Great looking game.
What size table? Looks HUUUUUUUGEEEEE!
8' x 4', Nosher. Built to fit my table at home, which in turn is a standard builders' sheet of chipboard.
Now, that is someting useful to know.
Cheers Hertsblue ;)
Downloaded the rules they do look interesting and will be giving them a go with FPW.
One question on scale of battles, do your units represent Individual battalions or Brigades? My forces are based to Principles of war (3 x 3cm x 1.5cm per unit) and trying to figure how I will make up units of ten bases etc withouit having to rebase which is not likely! I am thinking that if I group my POW units together in Brigade Level Groups, then ten bases per 'unit' is not unachievable
Nosher, the rules work on "elements", which in my case are 2cm x 2cm modules. However, provided both sides are based similarly they should work and it really doesn't matter if you call your units battalions, regiments or brigades.
If you get any problems drop me an e-mail. Address is on my profile.
Quote from: mad lemmey on 18 October 2012, 07:49:32 AM
Now, that is someting useful to know.
They might have gone metric now, Lemmey. But I'm willing to bet they're still the same size. ;)
Metric feet again! 2.4384m x 1.2192 metres. I hate these rounded numbers... :P
Hertsblue - thanks and Will do ;)