Caldiero 1805 - Part 3

At the end of Part 2 the French under Marshal Massena were about to assault the Austrian defences in the centre of the field whilst cavalry of both sides faced off on the Austrian right.  On the left, mixed Austrian arms advanced in an attempt to envelope the French right. The following AAR covers two and a half hours of game time from 12.30 to 15.00. That's five game moves.

The French continue massing in the centre for a decisive push

In the meantime the Austrian left continues to swing around the French flank but now face the village of Gambion, firmly held by the French. In the centre the defenders put down a withering fire, disordering the French and temporarily stalling the assault.

The assault stalls and morphs into a firefight. Note the disordered markers for the two lead French brigades.

However, while the Austrian commanders fret about the imminent attack on the breastwork defences, the French hurl an elite grenadier division straight at the Colognola Heights. The defenders crumble under the assault and the French columns scale the heights unopposed!

 

There is consternation among the Austrian command since most reserves have already been committed

 

In an attempt to ease the pressure, the defenders sally forth from the breastworks and launch a counterattack on the French centre........

 

........only to be promptly repulsed and sent reeling back to their starting positions!

All is not gloom for the Austrians, however, as their cavalry chase off their French counterparts on the right.  The hapless French infantry now have no choice but to form square.

 

Concerned of the cavalry threat to his right, Massena is loathe to venture deeper into the Austrian lines and calls off the attack in the centre. Bewildered, his grenadiers are ordered to retire despite punching a hole in the Austrian line.

 

It is now two in the afternoon. Faced with two virually unopposed cavalry brigades the French withdraw their left, abandoning the village of San Zeno in the process.  In the centre they must withstand the hellish fire being poured down on them from all sides but they hold on.

 

The Archduke orders the counterattack!  The grenadier brigade occupying Caldiero had been ordered to form up behind the town and now swings into the disordered French.

 

Despite being fatigued and disordered, the French manage to stave off much damage and get away with a mere retire. However, the flank of their assault line is now in danger of being exposed.

 

Focus now shifts on the French left where the remnants of their cavalry mount a last desperate challenge to the Austrian elites.

 

 

The two sides meet in a thunderous clash of hooves and steel.

 

Outnumbered and outclassed the brave French troopers are ridden down to a man! 

In the centre Camus' beleaguered brigade repulses yet another assault by the superior Austrian elites and become automatic candidates for this year's Legion d'Honneur awards!

 

Initiative swings to the Austrian side and their cavalry gather ominously.  In the distance a lone French cuirassier brigade approaches, having been called up from the right flank to shore up the left.

 

In the centre, Camus' brigade finally gives in to another assault. Now a spent force, they are forced to retreat. The French line is now dangerously pierced.

 

Overview of the field from the French right at this point.  The time is 14.45.

 

Gambion village under siege.

 

Massena now has no option but to retire. The French are now jacknifed hemmed in by cavalry on the left and outnumbered by infantry in the centre. Will they be able to hold on?

This is where we left the game last evening.  It is now 15.00 hours and there are still three hours of daylight left - six moves in all.  So a lot can still happen even though the French seem to be in grave difficulty.  But there's still a lot of fight in them so no result can be discounted.  Hope to put up another instalment soon.