Young Bonaparte in Italy VI: Bassano

Last evening we played the sixth scenario in Chris Pringle’s series of scenario about the young General Bonaparte’s campaigns in Italy, 1796 using his Bloody Big Battles rules modified for campaigns where a turn equals a day. In this case, a turn equals two days. The Austrians are trying to raise the siege of Mantua, at the bottom of the map. The French are seeking to cripple Austrian morale by capturing the Adige River valley villages and possibly exploit down the Brent River valley to take Bassano, while seeking to keep the Austrians out of Peschiera and/or Castiglione (guard their own supply line). Both sides also seek to knock out more enemy units than they lose. It looked like a hard job for the Austrians. Looks weren’t deceiving.

We began on my mat, a 4 X 5 foot version of the map above. Rick has the unenviable task of holding off my French attack up the Adige valley. He had 3 brigades to start, with two more peeled off the rear of Wurmser’s column. Coming at him were 7 brigades under Bonaparte, most of them in action from the start while his were fed into the action a couple at a time.

Ken was tasked with delaying Wurmser’s column, which sought to relive Mantua.

Ken had only an infantry brigade and Kilmaine’s cavalry brigade, while Wurnser had two infantry brigades and a cavalry brigade.

At the end of the game, 3 Austrian units had been knocked out in combat while the French lost one unit. This gave the French the only victory point scored and the win. That said, Ken had cut the Austrian supply lines from the east edge of the table so in theory all Austrian units save the garrison of Mantua and a brigade that had escaped off the north side to the Tyrol were gone. In any case, it was still French 1, Austrians zip. It took us 2 hours to play 7 turns. French losses were 6 infantry, 1 cavalry and Kilmaine was wounded and out for 4 days (2 turns).

My attack up the Adige River valley saw a large number of tied assaults, which means each side loses a base and the attack is immediately done again. In one case, there were two ties in a row, the combat needing three rolls before being resolved. I didn’t like it at the time, hoping for an elegant win. But heavy losses favor the French because their veteran troops stand it better than the trained Austrians. The heavy losses led to the collapse of units in the Austrian valley force, which gave us the game. The sparse numbers of Wurmser’s column allowed the small French force in the east to cut the supply lines, so that also gave us victory, the same 1 point. Having seen the labors required of the Austrians, I wasn’t looking forward to switching side after dinner.

Dinner was lengthy and entertaining, as usual. Linda’s fig cake was a big hit.

Then we set to the rematch. Ken left early and Andrew, arriving late, sat in for him.

I led the defense force in the Adige valley, facing Rick. Turn about is fair play. Andrew had Wurmser, keeping all 5 brigades with the injunction to kick Jay’s ass. Short story; Rick did not get a load of ties against my forces and they didn’t collapse. They were driven back across the mountainous terrain and were handled roughly a couple times. Andrew got into a brawl with Augereau’s forces (two infantry brigades, one cavalry). His larger force was able to protect our supply lines to the east but got no further south than Vicenza, and that only after hard fighting.

Trient finally went under and Rick got the die roll that had evaded me in the earlier game.

The French scored the only victory point in the game by collapsing the Austrian theater morale, winning the game. Seven turns took 90 minutes. French losses were 3 infantry bases, 2 cavalry and 1 run off, and Kilmaine was wounded badly, out of action for 6 months. Austrian losses were 4 infantry bases and 1 cavalry.

All noted this as a rough game for the Austrians. They don’t have that many troops if you don’t count the diseased garrison of Mantua and the Adige valley can be flooded with French troops at the start of the game. Jay noted that the severe defeat the Austrians took in the first game counted exactly the same in game terms as the somewhat gentler defeat in the second game. In any case, relieving Mantua seems near impossible and cutting the French supplies only a dim dream should the French be so kind as to let the Austrians through their lines. It seems the most unbalanced of the scenarios so far. That said, playing twice in an evening and switching sides was entertaining. As in all the scenarios, it made what went on a lot clearer than the accounts I have read in several books. The beer with dinner didn’t hurt.

We are not going to revisit Bonaparte in Italy for a few months, Next session will see us play the 1862 battle of Puebla (the Cinco de Mayo). After that, extensive traveling will keep me away from the game table until some time late in June.

Our Puebla game will be the standard BBB rules, with the whole game representing the one day of battle, with firing phases, various formations, etc. Our 1870 French will stand in for the 1862 chaps while a mix of Union, Confederate and possibly 1866 Austrians will stand in for Mexican troops. Stay tuned.