Photo 1 T1 by E.R. Bickford Production: Lise Patterson 2011 Decision Games, Bakersfield, CA. Turn One 0600 Hours 14 June 1800 The game opens with the Austrians advancing from their positions across the Bormida bridge. Gen. Melas arrives with the second formation. Frimont s Battalion moves into contact with the French on the Fontanone. Then Frimont s battery moves into range of the French forces along the main road. Next the first formation arrives. Gen. O Reilly s cavalry advances to Chateau Peitrebona where it can attack the French infantry. Rousseau s Brigade enters the area in March formation along with the Right Wing Battery. The 11 th Infantry (4 th Formation) moves onto the map in march formation along with Haddick s Battery. Gen. Frimont s battery fires a barrage at the French 101 st Line on the Fontanone. This causes the brigade to retreat. Frimont s battalion engages in Skirmish combat with the 101 st but this has no effect. Gen. Chambarlac s Division reacts to the gunfire by advancing to the western side of Marengo. Gen. Victor is still ineffective so the French player leaves him stationary so that he can recover. Gen. Lannes Corps is deployed on the hills near Chateau Buzana. Although Lannes is ineffective, his corps moves out to buttress Victor s right as well as to cover Castel Ceriolo. Since the French Army headquarters starts on its ineffective side, the units must roll for their movement
Photo 2 T1 points. Lannes 28 th Line moves rather slowly toward Victor s position, while Watrin s Division heads toward Castel Ceriolo. Champeux s Cavalry moves to the French right and guards the trail crossing the Fontanone. Lannes, Victor, and the Army headquarters are flipped to their active sides. The French player conducts skirmish attacks against the Austrian advance troops. Gen. Melas and Frimont s Battalion are forced to retreat after receiving fire from the 44 th and 101 st Line Infantry Brigades. The 43 rd Brigade skirmishes with O Reilly s Cavalry. The Austrian cavalry pass their morale check and the French fire has no effect. Here, the French player attempts to take full advantage of the river s defensive benefit. Turn Two 0730 Hours Gen. Rousseau s Brigade moves along the Austrian right flank and into contact with Gardanne s Division. Gen. Melas leads Frimont s battalion and O Reilly s Cavalry to the French defenses west of Marengo. The 11th Infantry joins the attacking forces. Meanwhile, the rest of the Austrian Army moves onto the map. The 52 nd and 53 rd Infantry move in onto Melas left. Morzin s Division enters to Melas rear while the 1 st and 4 th Dragoons move on the Austrian left, outflanking Marengo. Austrian cannon fire is successful against the French 44 th Line, which opts to retreat. The rest of the bombardment fire fails. Rousseau s Brigade is repulsed by the 101 st Line on the Fontanone. Next, Gen. Melas orders the 11 th Infantry to attack the 43 rd Line and the French unit falls back in retreat. Both Napoleon and the Consular Guard fail their entry roll. Napoleon now arrives turn three and the Guard turn four. Lannes divides his corps sending the 6 th Light and 40 th Line to the French right near Castel Ceriolo. The 22 nd Line and 28 th Line both advance to cover Victor s right flank. Meanwhile, Victor s Corps tries to take full advantage of the defensive value of the Fontanone. During the combat phase, Victor s Corps issues skirmish fire which forces Melas to fall back in retreat. A2 AFTER ACTION REPORT
Morning Defeat, Afternoon Victory Turn Three 0900 Hours Gen. Melas coordinates the 52 nd and 53 rd Infantry, Frimont s Battalion and O Reilly s Cavalry in an advance on the French forces west of Marengo. Rousseau s Brigade launches another sally against the French left, which is ensconced in the Fontanone. Melas pushes forward on the center toward the town of Marengo. Meanwhile, Gen. Ott arrives and heads toward the north to outflank the French position. Rousseau s Brigade attacks the French 101 st Line on the Austrian Right Wing, with supporting artillery. This forces the French infantry to retreat. Rousseau advances to the Fontanone. The Right Wing Artillery runs low on ammunition. above Photo 3 T2 below Photo 4 T2 AFTER ACTION REPORT A3
above Photo 5 T3 below Photo 6 T3 Gen. Kain s Artillery bombards the French 96 th Line which is forced to retreat. The Austrian battery runs out of ammunition too. More artillery fire causes the 43 rd Line to become disrupted. Then Gen. Melas launches an attack against the French position due west of Marengo. The result is an exchange. The French 24 th Light is reduced a step and Frimont s battalion is eliminated. Both units have a safe line of retreat. Gen. Monnier s Division is delayed, failing the entry die roll. It will arrive on turn four. Napoleon and the Reserve battery arrive through army headquarters marching to the slopes near Chateau Guasca. Near Marengo, the 43 rd Line (disrupted) disengages, leaving the 24 th Light to cover. On the French left, both the A4 AFTER ACTION REPORT
Morning Defeat, Afternoon Victory Photo 7 T4 44 th and 101 st Line Infantry disengage and fall back. The 96 th Line advances to plug the gap in the French line. Gen. Lannes orders the 28 th Line to join Victor s 24 th Light which has been reduced. Also, the 40 th Line maneuvers from the flank to Chateau Barbotta. The 22 nd Line uses skirmish fire to drive Melas back from the French front lines. On the far right, the 6 th Light forces the Austrian 10 th Dragoons to give ground after skirmishing fire. Turn Four 1030 Hours Frimont s battalion is returned to the Turn Record Track after expending the Austrian replacement point. Gen. Ott s Left Wing advances on Lannes position near Castel Ceriolo. The 3 rd Dragoons cross over the stream and advance on Victor s right flank. On the Austrian Right Wing, Morzin s Division moves to outflank the French position at Marengo. Gen. Melas advances with the 47 th and 63 rd Brigades which prepare an assault on the French 96 th Line on the Fontanone. Austrian artillery bombardment forces both the 28 th Line and 44 th Line to fall back. Frimont and Haddick s batteries both run low on ammunition. Gen. Melas coordinates an attack against the 96 th Line which results in an exchange. The French 96 th is reduced a step and the Austrian 47 th Infantry loses one step. The Consular Guard arrives through Army headquarters advancing to meet Napoleon. Monnier s Division also arrives and advances in march formation. The 28 th and 44 th Line infantry move forward to the Fontanone allowing the 24 th Light and 96 th Line brigades to disengage. Lannes right flank units fall back to cover Victor s position which is quickly degrading. The 43 rd Line fails to recover from disruption. Gen. Lannes launches an attack against Gen. Melas and the 47 th Infantry due west of Marengo. The Austrians are forced to retreat. Then, Gen. Victor and the 44 th Line attack the Austrian 63 rd but are repulsed. The 101 st attacks Rousseau s Brigade, and this too is turned back. The French infantry retreat in order. Turn Five 1200 Hours Frimont s battalion returns to action from the TRT. Morzin s Division continues to push the French left AFTER ACTION REPORT A5
battalion join in an attack against Du Vigneau s cavalry, which also retreats. In the center, the Right Wing Artillery bombards Lannes 28 th Line and forces it to withdraw. Then part of Rousseau s Brigade attacks the 101 st just south of Marengo. The French infantry retreat again. The 23 rd Brigade and 52 nd and 53 rd battalions are coordinated for an attack against Lannes and the 24 th Light on the Fontanone. The Austrian attack is turned back, but Lannes becomes a casualty. Austrian artillery bombards the French infantry at Marengo and it is forced to retreat. Gen. Melas launches an attack against the French artillery at Marengo. The French are forced out and Marengo falls to Melas troops. Photo 8 T4 flank. Gen. Melas advances on the center with Kain s Division and is supported by O Reilly s cavalry. On the Left Wing, Gen. Ott moves into position near Castel Ceriolo. The 47 th Infantry recovers a step loss. Then the 3 rd Dragoons launch a charge against the French 40 th Line Infantry Photo 9 T5 near Chateau Barbotta. The French form square and the Austrian dragoons retreat and become disrupted. On the Austrian Right Wing, Lattermann s brigade attacks Kellerman s cavalry, which subsequently retreats to the village of Spinetta. Weidenfeld and the pioneer Gen. Desaix and Boudet s Division have failed to arrive, missing on the entry die roll. This formation will try again on turn six. Champeux's Cavalry races over to the French right flank to stem Ott s Left Wing advance. Then Watrin s Division maneuvers to the right as well. The 6 th Light and the 40 th Line attempt to block Ott s wing on the slopes. Marmont s artillery line is formed with Napoleon, removing the three batteries. The French 96 th Line uses a replacement point to return to full-strength. The 43 rd Brigade fails to recover disruption again. Watrin s Division makes a skirmish attack against Ott s troops, but this has no effect. On the French left, skirmish fire forces the pioneer battalion and Weidenfeld s Brigade to fall back. Turn Six 1330 Hours The 9 th Dragoons accelerate through the broken French line and stop on the slopes. These are joined by the 1st and 4 th Dragoons. Gen. Ott advances into contact with Watrin s Division on the Austrian Left Wing. The 3 rd Dragoons recover from disruption. Photo 8 T10 Gen. Melas attacks the weakened 24 th Light on the Fontanone. The 24 th Line is forced to retreat. Austrian artillery bombardment is used to push the 22 nd A6 AFTER ACTION REPORT
Morning Defeat, Afternoon Victory Photo 10 T5 and 28 th Infantries back in retreat. Gen. Ott launches an attack against the French right flank causing the 40 th Line Infantry to give ground in retreat. Gen. Desaix arrives with Boudet s Division. Finally. These quickly march forward to stem the Austrian breach. Watrin s Division falls back toward Villanova, with Champeux s cavalry screening the road. On the French left, Monnier s Division attempts to turn the Austrian flank and consequently maneuvers for an attack against Lattermann s Brigade. The 24 th Line accepts a replacement point and is returned to full strength. The 43 rd Line Infantry finally recovers from disruption. Photo 11 T6 AFTER ACTION REPORT A7
Photo 12 T6 Photo 13 T7 Gen. Monnier s Division attacks the Austrian flank forcing Lattermann s Brigade to retreat. Marmont s artillery fires on the Austrians in Marengo. Rousseau s Brigade retreats. Chambarlac s Division skirmishes with Melas troops but this has no effect. Turn Seven 1500 Hours The Austrian dragoons form up near Chateau Poggi. Gen. Ott advances further into contact with Watrin s Division near Villanova. On the Austrian Right Wing, Gen. Melas re-deploys his troops to absorb any French counterattacks near Marengo. Morzin s Division continues to hold the right flank. Ott s Left Wing attacks Watrin s Division in the hills near Villanova, A8 AFTER ACTION REPORT
Morning Defeat, Afternoon Victory Photo 14 T7 but the attack is repulsed by the French 6 th Light. On the Right Wing, Gen. Lattermann is also turned back. Weidenfeld is more successful and pushes the French 30 th Infantry back into the light woods. The 3 rd Dragoons charge Watrin s 22 nd Line to the north of Marengo. The French infantry quickly forms square, but is still forced to retreat. Murat and Rivaud s Brigade are delayed. Gen. Desaix leads Boudet s Division into contact with Ott s Left Wing, which is covered by the dragoons. This relieves some of the pressure from Watrin s Division which also prepares to attack Ott s position. In the center, Victor s Corps advances on Melas defenses while Monnier s Division maneuvers to strike the Austrian flank of the Right Wing. The 70 th Line and the 19 th Light attack the Austrian dragoons near Chateau Buzana. One squadron of the 9 th Dragoons is eliminated. Then a squadron of the 1 st Dragoons and another of the 4 th Dragoons retreat. Farther north, the French 40 th Line attacks a cavalry squadron of the 4 th Dragoons. The result is exchange and the Austrian squadron is eliminated while the 40 th Line is reduced a step. The 9 th Light skirmishes with the Austrian 18th and 19 th battalions, which subsequently retreat. This ends the combat with Ott s Wing. On the Austrian right flank, Monnier s Division attacks Weidenfeld s Brigade along with the pioneer battalion. The pioneer battalion is eliminated. Next, in the center, Marmont s artillery fires on Melas position in Marengo and the Austrian 23 rd Infantry Brigade becomes disrupted. Gen. Victor attacks Marengo with the 43 rd and 96 th Line Infantry Brigades. This attack is repulsed and Victor s men fall back. Then the Austrian 63 rd Infantry is dislodged from the Fontanone by skirmishing fire of the 24 th Light. Gen. Watrin s 22 nd Line attacks the blown cavalry on Melas left between Marengo and Ott s position. Two squadrons of the 3 rd Dragoons retreat to Chateau Barbotta. Turn Eight 1630 Hours Lattermann advances his Brigade back into contact with the French on the Austrian right flank. Rousseau orders AFTER ACTION REPORT A9
skirmishes with the Austrians on the Right Wing. Both Lattermann s and Weidenfeld s Brigades retreat. Additionally, one of Rousseau s battalions retreats. Skirmishing also causes the 52 nd and 53 rd Battalions to retreat from the Fontanone. On the Austrian Left Wing, one squadron of the 1 st Dragoons is forced to retreat after combat with the French 70 th Line. Another squadron is pushed back after an attack by the 72 nd Line Infantry. A squadron of the 9 th Dragoons is eliminated in an exchange with the French 19 th Light. In a last combat, skirmishing fire forces the Austrian 17 th and 18 th Infantry to retreat. Turn Nine 1800 Hours Photo 15 T8 part of his force to fill the gap in the Austrian line. One squadron from the 9 th Dragoons disengages from Desaix s forces near Chateau Buzana. The pioneer battalion is replaced on the TRT (turn 9). Then the Left Wing Artillery bombards Champeaux s Cavalry squadron. This has no effect. Kain s artillery battery fires on the 24 th Light which breaks, subsequently routing. The rest of the artillery is fired against Gen. Victor s Corps, but has no effect. Gen. Morzin s Division attacks the French left. The 9 th Light Infantry breaks and subsequently routs. Then Weidenfeld s Brigade attacks the 101 st Line. This results in an exchange. The 101 st is eliminated and Weidenfeld s troops take a step loss. The French player forgoes the FOW s earned from triggering units, because they all seem too risky. Murat and Rivaud s Cavalry arrive through Army Headquarters. The 101st is placed on the TRT turn nine, expending the French replacement point. Gen. Desaix pursues the Austrian dragoons from the hills near Chateau Buzana. Then on the French left, the 30 th and 39 th Infantry disengage, falling back. The 9 th Light Infantry recovers from disruption, while the 24 th Light fails to do so. Marmont s artillery bombards the Austrian infantry at Marengo. This has no effect. Monnier s Division Photo 16 T8 Weidenfeld s Brigade uses an Austrian Replacement point to return to fullstrength. Gen. Ott begins to fall back to Castel Ceriolo. His dragoons successfully disengage from Desaix s forces. Then Gen. Melas consolidates his position at Marengo. The dragoons fall back to join the infantry and the artillery are massed for fire. The French 43 rd Line is driven back by artillery bombardment. A10 AFTER ACTION REPORT
Morning Defeat, Afternoon Victory Also, the 96 th Line is also forced to retreat after an intense artillery attack. The 24 th Line recovers from disruption. Napoleon leads the center for an attack on Marengo. Desaix is on the French right flank and presses into Gen. Ott s Left Wing forces. Monnier s Division moves on the Austrian right flank. Marmont s Artillery line fires at the Austrian 23 rd in Marengo, but the enemy passes the morale check. On the French left, Monnier s Division attacks Lattermann s Brigade. This has no effect. On Napoleon s right, Gen. Victor orders the 43 rd and 44 th Line to attack the Austrian 47 th Infantry. Instead of retreating, the 47 th becomes disrupted. Then Napoleon attacks Marengo with the 59 th Line and Di Vigneau s Cavalry. The attack has no effect and Gen. Melas holds on to Marengo for a bit longer. On the French right, Gen. Desaix launches an attack against Gen. Vogelsang s 17 th and 18 th Regiments. The defenders fall back to the stream. Finally, Watrin s 6 th Light and 40 th Line push back Retz s Brigade near Castel Ceriolo. Photo 17 T9 The time has expired. The French do not have Marengo, so victory is determined by VP. The French have 4 VP while the Austrians have 2 VP. Since neither have at least 10 VP. The battle is Drawn. Photo 18 T9 AFTER ACTION REPORT A11