General Wrede orders his corps to advance towards the bridge to contain the enemy bridgehead.
Orders – Hold Salzburg
6 Command Point
Artillery fire on enemy cavalry, but out of range
Limber artillery
Move artillery towards bridge
Move infantry towards bridge and form column of attack
Reposition general
2 Austrian Corps
General Klenau must get his infantry over the ford and secure his bridge head
Orders – Move to Salzburg
5 Command Points
Move cavalry forward
Move infantry towards ford
Limber artillery and move towards ford
Austrian infantry approach the ford
Bavarian infantry and artillery move towards bridge
Summary The Bavarian artillery is moving within range of the enemy cavalry holding the ford. Neither cavalry brigades want to risk a melee unless their artillery can cause casualties on the enemy first. Both artillery are being repositioned to fire on the enemy cavalry.
General Wrede orders his corps to advance towards the bridge to contain the enemy bridgehead.
Orders – Hold Salzburg
6 Command Point
Change orders “Move to the bridge”
Move infantry towards bridge
Manhandle gun towards bridge
Double move reserve infantry towards river
2 Austrian Corps
General Klenau must get his infantry over the ford and secure his bridge head
Orders – Move to Salzburg
4 Command Points
Move general within command distance of infantry
Double move infantry towards the ford
Reposition the general
Austrian infantry move to secure ford held by cavalry and artillery
Bavarian infantry move forward to prevent enemy crossing ford
Summary Now that it is obvious that the Austrians intend to cross by the ford, Klenau must get his infantry across the river whilst the cavalry are still able to hold it. Should the hussars be driven off the Austrian attack must fail.
General Klenau is committed to crossing the river Salach by the ford and must get his cavalry over before the enemy can move to prevent them crossing.
Orders – Move to Salzburg
3 Command Points
Commander move within command distance of cavalry
Move cavalry 8” across the ford
Cavalry form line
11 Bavarian Corps
General Wrede can now see that the Austrians will cross by the ford to his left.He must redeploy his corps to counter this attempt.
Orders – Hold Salzburg
7 Command Point
Move cavalry 8” towards ford and form line
Manhandle artillery 2” towards bridge
Move reserve infantry forward to protect gunners
Move commander to central position
Austrian hussars have crossed the river and are supported by artillery
Bavarian infantry, cavalry and artillery all move to counter Austrian advance
Summary At this critical stage Klenau has only rolled a 2 with the average dice. He has moved the cavalry over the river, but has no more command points to bring up his infantry. A large gap is developing between elements of his corps which means the commander must use his precious command points to move within command radius of different brigades
General Wrede moves first.He must wait to see where the Austrians attempt to cross the river Salach before he can move his troops to react.
Orders – Hold Salzburg
6 Command Point
No action taken
2 Austrian Corps
General Klenau has decided that rather than try to force a crossing by the bridge, he will attempt it by the ford downstream and force the Bavarians to redeploy to stop him.
Orders – Move to Salzburg
5 Command Points
Whole corps moves 8”
Artillery move 8” and unlimber
Cavalry move 16”
Austrian artillery deployed to cover the hussars as they reach the ford
Summary The decision to cross by the ford is a risky one. Being a Poor commander Klenau only adds 1 pip to an average dice for command points. General Wrede is an Average commander and adds 2 pips each turn.
If Klenau rolls too many low dice he may find that the Bavarians have redeployed before he can cross the river. Worse they could attack his artillery over the bridge and catch his corps as they cross the river.
General Klenau has three options to cross the river Salach.He can storm the bridge or he can cross by the fords both upstream and downstream of the bridge.Artillery can only cross by the bridge.He wants to keep his options open, so he approaches the bridge to prevent the enemy reacting to a move against either of the fords
The game opens with the Austrians on “blinds”.These are skirmish stands and until the enemy roll a high enough dice to “spot” the enemy no figures are placed on the table.It means that the whole corps can move 8” each move if in column of march (one stand wide) or 4” per move if deployed (two or more stands wide)
Orders – Move to Salzburg
5 Command Points
Three 8” moves in column of march (one stand wide)
Form column of attack (two stand wide)
One 4” move in column of attack
The last move brings them into long range “spotting distance”.Bavarians roll 10 on 1D10 and spot them.Blinds removed and figures placed on table.
11 Bavarian Corps
General Wrede must hold the enemy at the river Salach.The civilian population is in open revolt and he can expect them to assist the Austrians if they approach the town.He has deployed two infantry brigades in Salzburg to hold the town and kept the remainder in reserve until he determines how the Austrians plan to cross the river.
Orders – Hold Salzburg
5 Command Points
No action taken
2 Austrian corps were spotted after they had completed their hidden movement. The figures had to be placed on the table behind the two blinds used. This means that they can be in any formation, but must not exceed the width covered by the two blinds.
Summary The Bavarians have held their position until they discover where the enemy will attack. The Austrians approach the bridge, but could easily move to their right or left to cross the river Salach on one of the two fords.
General Wrede has orders to hold Salzburg and the surrounding area until the main army is ready to start their counter attack further north.
General Klenau has orders to move to Salzburg and occupy the town
The battle starts at 0800 20 June 1813.
Wargames table at start of game
Wargames Table
Salzburg is the town on the left centre of the table.
The road bottom to top is from Italy (bottom) to Hochburg (top)
The road left to right is from Inzell (left) to Mondsee (right)
11 Bavarian corps are in and around Salzburg
2 Austrian corps will enter the table on the Mondsee road
The river Salach has one bridge which can be crossed by all arms.There is also a ford top and bottom which can be crossed by infantry and cavalry, who will move at half speed and be Disordered whilst crossing.
Salzburg
There is one brigade in each section of Salzburg, with another in reserve.The artillery are deployed on the left to cover the bridge, with another brigade in square.The cavalry are also in reserve behind the town.
Archduke Charles Charles is encouraged by his limited victory at Branau and orders a general advance on Munich.
HQ – move to Franken 1 corps – move to Branau 2 corps – move to Salzburg 3 corps – move to Franken 4 corps – move to Mattsee
Marshal Oudinot Oudinot is pleased that he has brought 9 corps south of the river Danube. However the defeat at Branau means that he must concentrate his army at Reishach-Hochburg to strike at the advancing Austrians. He will hold Salzburg as its loss would encourage the local population to join forces with the Austrians.
HQ – move to Reishach 9 corps – move to Reishach 10 corps – move to Reishach 11 corps – hold Salzburg 12 corps – move to Hochburg
Marshal Oudinot has issued all necessary orders and must now leave it up to his corps commanders to do the best that they can.
Orders
5 Command Points
No new orders required
Move within command distance of town and right hand brigade
1 Austrian corps
General Lichtenstein moves to occupy hill
Orders – Move to hill
5 Command Points
Artillery fire on shaken square, total 2, miss
Move cavalry to engage enemy artillery on hill
Move three infantry towards hill
Remaining infantry form square to protect gunners
3 Austrian corps
General Gyulai is desperate to will press home his infantry attack on the town before nightfall
Orders – Engage enemy
6 Command Points
Artillery fire on town, roll 2, miss
Move commander to central position
Move two infantry forward
Skirmish two brigades against enemy line, no casualties
9 Bavarian corps
Marshal Vandamme has exposed his artillery and must halt to regroup
Orders – Move to hill
6 Command PointsAustrian cavalry test to opportunity charge limbered artillery, fail morale
Commander changes orders to “Halt”
Artillery withdrawn to infantry support
Infantry withdrawn behind hill
Poor Card
10 Bavarian corps
General Bertrandwithdraws Shaken infantry out of artillery range
Orders – Hold Branau
4 Command Points
Shaken infantry form column of march and withdraw
Gunners enter town
Infantry test morale, roll 3, make morale
Gunners test morale, roll 1 – remain Shaken
Austrian CinC
Archduke Charles must again miss his move due to Poor Card
3 Bavarian corps attack on Branau inflict no casualties
1 Austrian corps secure hill and enemy withdraw behind crest
Summary Despite their early advantage the Austrians have failed to take Branau. However their advantage in cavalry and artillery made it difficult for 9 Bavarian corps to deploy.
As night fell the Austrians had just captured the hill, and were engaged in a skirmish fight with Branau.
Marshal Oudinot is at a distinct disadvantage. As night fall he orders a withdrawal towards Reishach. The lack of resolve on the part of the Austrians allows him to recover his artillery and make good his withdrawal
The Austrians suffered 3 cavalry casualties.
The Bavarians has suffered 5 cavalry and 1 infantry casualties.
These are heavy cavalry casualties, and will result in a reduction in the class of both brigades.
Archduke Charles must urgently change 1 corps orders so that they can take the hill on their right rather than continue to advance towards Branau
Orders
5 Command Points
Move to commander 1 corps
Change 1 corps orders to “Move to Hill”
9 Bavarian corps
Marshal Vandamme must move his corps towards hill
Orders – Move to hill
5 Command Points
Move artillery onto hill
Move 2 infantry onto hill
Move 2 infantry towards hill
10 Bavarian corps
General Bertrand must hold as best he can
Orders – Hold Branau
6 Command Points
No new orders required
Square test morale, roll 2, still Shaken
Bavarian CinC
Marshal Outinot has issued all the necessary orders, it is now up to his corps commanders to do the best that they can
Orders
5 Command Points
No new orders required
3 Austrian corps
General Gyulai decides will press home his infantry attack on the town before nightfall
Orders – Engage enemy
5 Command Points
Artillery fire on town, roll 9, one hit
Garrison test morale, roll 5, make morale
Move three infantry forward
One brigade skirmish town – no hits
Cavalry move behind corps to regroup
1 Austrian corps
General Lichtenstein moves to occupy hill
Orders – Move to hill
6 Command Points
Artillery fire on shaken square, total 3, miss
Move Lichtenstein to central position
Manhandle gun forward
Corps move change all infantry into column of attack
Cavalry advance
Poor Card
No effect as all Poor commanders have moved.
3 corps artillery fire on town but no casualties
Grenadier brigade skirmish town again no casaulties
All infantry now in column of attack and move to engage enemy Cavalry now reformed behind supports, but too many casualties to risk engagement
1 corps artillery fire on square but miss
All infantry now in column of attack
Cavalry cover advance
Summary Both 9 Bavarian corps and 1 Austrian corps have orders to take the hill. The Bavarians have reached it first but they will have to fight to hold it.
3 Austrian corps is desperate to attack the town before night stops play