Refight of

The Battle Of Aspern Essling

21 and 22^nd May 1809 using Napoleonic Principles of War

Historical Overview

In 1809 encouraged by the fact that 200,000 French were tied down in Spain Austria decided to go to war again with France. In April Austrian columns invaded France’s ally Bavaria. Although this attack was initially successful, the arrival of the main French army under the Emperor lead to retreat to Vienna. Vienna surrender on 13^th May but Napoleon learnt that the main enemy army under Arch Duke Charles was North of the Danube. The Emperor planned to cross the Danube and bring the enemy to battle.

On 19^th May engineers and light infantry crossed the Danube to the island of Lobau and then the following day crossed to the North bank of the Danube. Soon Charles became aware and ordered the bulk of his force to concentrate at the villages of Aspern and Essling and try and fling the French back. Napoleon assumed there would be only a small Austrian force to oppose him and so ordered his army to cross. Soon he would find that he would be outnumbered and in a desperate fight to break out…

The Armies

Austrian

The Austrian had about 99,000 men at the battle in 5 columns and a reserve.

The French

The French had about 75,000 men at Aspern Essling in 3 Corps plus the Guard.

The Game

The game begins at 10AM Saturday and runs to 5 PM Saturday , then from 10am to 4pm Sunday. We will play up to 16 moves representing 60 mins each. The battle began about 3pm on 21^st May 1809. The Austrians have initiative on the first move. There are 6 moves on the 21^st and then 10 on the 22^nd. Assuming a beginning of battle at 4am on the 22^nd. if time permits nightfall would be at about 9pm which would be actually be 17 moves on the 22^nd for a total of 23 moves. However in reality time will run out before we reach that many moves. The last full move on Sunday will start no later then 3.30.

Initial orders

The initial positions are shown on the map.

The French

Legrand is on hold orders in Aspern.

Molitor is on attack orders to cross the stream into the Germainde Au and then to hold its western edge.

Boudet is on hold orders in Essling.

Lasalle is on engage orders on a line from Essling to the river.

Bessiers and Marulaz are on engage orders along the embankment between Aspern and Essling. They may move 12” forward of the Dyke if desired.

French artillery may be dispersed or under a staff officer between Aspern and Essling. Napoleon is at the Brickworks. Massena is at Aspern. Lannes (whose corps has not yet arrived has been given temporary command of Lasalle and Boudet)

Allies

Hiller is on attack orders toward Aspern apart from Nordmann who is on attack orders through the Germain Au. Then they must attack toward the bridge.

Bellegarde is on attack orders towards Aspern and then to the bridges.

Hohenzollern is on engage orders toward Aspern(supporting Bellegarde’s attacks).

Liechtenstein is on engage orders but only within 12” of their positition– effectively in reserve until orders are changed.

Rosenberg is on attack orders toward Essling and then the bridges.

Hohenlohe is on attack orders toward Essling, the area between Essling and the river and then the bridges.

Charles is with Liechtenstein. Charles is NOT a * general and can use his pips to affect any units on the table. Furthermore any Austrian units within 4” of him can be induced to fight in Assault column.

Reinforcements

The French problem is the fragile bridges across the Danube.

Every move from turn 2 the French roll a d6, on 3-6 a new division has arrived, on a 1-2 the bridges are down.

When a new division arrives place it in March column with the head on the south side of the Bridge crossing from Lobau. It may move on the same turn from that point.

When the bridges are down roll a d6 each move requiring a result of 4-6 to fix, the move following one division may cross automatically the move after start rolling again to see if the bridge holds.

Night comes after turn 6. There are 7 hours during the night.

Order of reinforcements: St Cyr , Young Guard, Old Guard, Guard Cav, Thareau, Claperde, St Hilaire, II Corps Artillery, Demonte then choose order of arrival of III Corps.

Austrians Reinforcements: the Grenadier divisions arrive at the start of day 2 at the Northern table edge.

Terrain

Aspern and Essling have special rules:

Each of them with have a template on the table. It will be divided into a number of 2” squares. These are built up zones. Most of these will count as defence 1. The church and graveyard at Aspern and the Granary at Essling will be defence 2.

Only 1 unit at any time can be in a zone. The unit is considered dispersed defending walls, loopholes etc and fights at melee factor 1. It has no rear or flanks. Only 1 enemy unit may attack each face of the zone. If a unit retires it may elect to fall back just 1 zone if the zone in the line of flight is unoccupied. ONE attacker may then move in and occupy the now empty zone. In other words ignore movement rules for zones – just move 1 zone at a time. Built up areas DO slow units down so no units get multipliers in melee.

The other built up areas, are all defence 1 and speed 2.

The Germaine Au and are speed 2 and no group movement but no defence effects.

The dyke is defence 1 but has no speed effects.

Objectives

In this game the critical objectives are the twin towns of Aspern and Essling. These are worth 25 pts each to the French and must be held. If they are lost they cost the French these points. The bridges are not worth points but Loss of the Bridges are worth 50 pts. Loss of any of these locations will indicate that the Allies have broken through.

If the French can hold these locations the game is a draw but with honour to the French. If the towns are disputed then the French loose half these points and the allies gain half- so its then down to casualties.

If the French can clear all allies from within 12” of the dyke northwards and themselves have at least 100 pts more than 6” north from the dyke they can be said to have broken out. That gains the French 25 pts and would mean a French victory assuming they still hold Aspern and Essling.

Changing Orders

Line of Command:

French CinC Napoleon>Corps Commanders> Divisional Commanders.

Austrian CinC Charles>Column commanders>Divisional Commanders.

Corps/Column Commanders may alter the orders of their divisions within the general parameters of initial orders. At the start the Austrians are basically attacking and ther French defending. Changing objectives more dramatically etc will need CinC orders.

French- use standard NPOW rules.

Austrians CinC to Column level – need to roll a 4-6 on d6 to get orders through. Otherwise it is delayed 1 turn. Column to Divsional level uses normal NPOW rules.

LOSSES and Divisional Morale

Commands may only be operate under ATTACK orders or be given ATTACK orders if they have at least 50% of starting units. If they fall below this they revert to ENGAGE orders.

Commands may only be operate under ENGAGE orders or be given ENGAGE orders if they have at least 33% of starting units. If they fall below this they revert to HOLD orders.

The Historical Outcome

Just before 3pm Aspern was attacked. All day the Austrians make several attempts to take the village but although they do get foot hold they are eventually ejected. Marlulaz’s Cavalry is sent north of the Dyke to disrupt 3^rd Column’s move to attack Aspern and they get involved in cavalry melees with Austrian Cavalry or clash with dense columns of Austrian infantry and eventually fall back. It is after 6 before Essling is attacked by 4^th column and after 8 before 5^th really becomes involved. The vast Granary at Essling and the long garden help the French repell all attempts to break in and the village holds.

French efforts to get reinforced suffer from the bridges collapsing or being attacked by Austrian mines on rafts. Slowly new troops trickle over throughout the night.

On the 2^nd day the Austrian renew attacks on the villages parts of which change hands several times- but the Granary never falls. The Guard is used to retake Essling on one occasion. Meanwhile Napoleon has assembled Lannes Corps for a breakout attempt. 26,000 Infantry storm forward toward the Austrian centre. Massena cavalry support on the left and Bessiers heavies on the right. The Austrians poor artillery into the attack which flounders. Massena cavalry cannot break though either but Bessiers heavy cavalry rout their opposition and a hole appears in the Austrian line.

This is the crisis of the battle. Legend has it that in this gap stood 200 Austrians clustered around a flag. Charles is said to have arrived and grasping the standard rallied the regiment whilst waving forward the Austrains grenadiers who seal the centre. IN any event the grenadiers repell the French attack.

After this Aspern fell finally and around 3pm Napoleon orders a retreat back across the river.

The Austrians lost 4000 dead and 16000 wounded while the French had 7000 dead and 16000 wounded. For the first time Napoleon had been defeated.