Bonaparte in Italy V: Castiglione, 1796 BBB

Continuing our series of Bonaparte in Italy, we tested the draft Bloody Big Battles scenario of Castiglione 1796 last night. Two of the Fencibles were elsewhere, at theater and concerts. Bill played young Bonaparte the first game and I the Austrian Wurmser. Andrew showed up later and took over my right flank as Quosdanovich. The three goals at game end: control of Brescia (French supplies), Austrians getting a brigade from the relief army into Mantua, and knocking out two more units than your own side loses. The French need two more for a win, one more for a tie. The Austrians have some leeway as to how the relief forces arrive. I opted for the historical arrival.

A brawl broke out between Wurmser’s column and the French which would go on for the rest of the game, with heavy losses.

Dogged by bad movement rolls, Andrew struggled to take Brescia by game end.

And now I blew it. My final attack threw a chance for victory out the window.

Bill chuckled that I had fallen into his trap. The French had Brescia and knocked out 5 units to their 2 once Quosdanovich’s supply line was cut for two points. The Austrians had just managed to relieve Mantua on the last turn for one point, making the game tied. French losses were 13 infantry and 2 run away. our house rules determined that Serurier was out of action for 1 day, Massena killed outright, Augereau out of action for 6 days, Kilmaine dead and Despinoy out of action for 4 days. The house rules for leader casualties are based on single day battles. For mini-campaigns like this we should roll during the game since some of the leaders might return during the game. We played 10 turns in 3 hours. Austrian losses were 8 infantry and 3 ran away, plus another 12 out of supply at game end. It was time to break for dinner with Andrew’s fine wine, followed by my wife’s excellent fruit tart.

We returned to the fray. I was now Bonaparte, Bill was Wurmser and Andrew reprised his role as Quosdanovich. I decided to abandon the siege of Mantua immediately and attack Quosdanovich. It worked for Bonaparte in the actual thing. What could go wrong?

Meanwhile…

Post game use of our house rules for officer casualties revealed that Bonaparte was badly wounded. The bullet was removed successfully but he died of infection. What will we call the wars that followed? Massena lost a leg and never returned to service. Despinoy was out of action for 5 days. I had hoped to use the superior quality of the French infantry and their greatly superior leadership to rapidly eradicate Quosdanovich. They still went to work but without the array of movement bonuses conferred by all the generals who’d been laid low.

Sauret was out of action for 2 days.

Critical stuff that didn’t get in photos because fighting wasn’t directly involved: the Austrians just barely failed to relive Mantua, having gotten too caught up in trying to hit the French rear. French cavalry rode into Verona, cutting two Austrian supply roads, but for naught since supply could be drawn through Legnago and Mantua. The only brigade in Quosdanovich’s column that hadn’t been destroyed or spent fought its way through the French and into supply with Wurmser’s column. I knocked out 3 Austrian units and lost 2, not enough for any points. The Austrians had no points, having failed to relive Mantua. The French had one point for holding Brescia, a tie again. I realized if Augereau had stayed in Legnango (and managed to hold it) much of the Austrian army would have been out of supply. Of course, they might have started moving to relive Mantua earlier. The game lasted just under two hours.

French losses: 8 infantry, 2 run off and that long list of generals down, starting with the mortally wounded Bonaparte. What a disaster. This is the second scenario in a row that I’ve gotten Bonaparte hit. Austrian losses: 7 infantry, 3 run off, 2 cut off at game end.

The scenario was a lot of fun. The French must respond to the Austrians. The variable arrival for Austrians ensures that there’s no single “solution” to the game. I can see this one having a lot of replay value. Now if I can get the mat for Wurmser’s second offensive done before our next session in two weeks…

Edit 4/3: The mat is coming along nicely.