Finally got everyone deployed for Eggmuhl. I started doing individual unit ratings, but it was just taking too long, especially since I have to do both sides. Decided to just go with the average rating for each unit type to speed things up. Enough banter, let's get to the photos!
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| This is the French right, with the Bavarian divisions closest. They will be looking to make a good showing after a poor performance -- and reprimand from the Emperor -- in the last battle. Austrians are strung out across a ridge line with a strong center position. |
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| A view from behind the French legions. As you can see, deployment is a bit tight to start. And look at that mass on the French left (Davout's corps) ready to bust through the thin Austrian right. I think those are a pair of grenz sitting out there all alone. |
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| Way down the French right and behind the Austrian mainline are the Wurttembergers across from Eggmuhl. They performed exceptionally well in the last battle and are looking to pick up more honors today. |
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| The end of the Austrian defense along the river. |
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| A slightly different view -- those are the Wurttembergers in the lower left - the upper part of the photo is the rear of the Austrian main defense. |
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| The relatively strong Austrian center position anchored on the ridge and the town. |
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| Austrian reinforcements on their right. |
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| An aerial view of the same area -- Eggmuhl is the town in the upper left. |
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| Ground level -- to show the ridge line. I would hate to live in that house on the hill -- everything would slide off your dinner table! |
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| Austrian reinforcements on their right... |
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| Looking back toward the Austrian center. |
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| A view from the French side near the Bavarian divisions. |
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| A view from the far side of the river looking toward the Austrians. |
The scenario is from "Blunders on the Danube" scenario book, which I highly recommend. It's slightly non historical in that the nearby Austrian IV corps (or maybe it was III, I don't have the paper in front of me) actually came to help its isolated brother. After deploying the forces, I can see why this change was made!
This will be challenging because even though the French have the numbers, they have to move very quickly to trap and destroy as much of the Austrians as possible, at a certain point in the battle, the Austrians start earning points for every unit they retreat off the board on either of the two roads. So the French have to do a lot of damage and try to stop the Austrians -- or at least delay their retreat -- to win.
I play solo, so I always come up with a general plan for both sides that I try to stick to, barring major changes. For the French, I want to soften up a few units with artillery, then immediately send Davout on the left punching through the Austrian line. I have no intention of attacking the strong center position and intend to simply maneuver them off the hill by flanking them on the left while the reinforcements push down the far side of the river and cross between Eggmuhl and the main defense line. With enemy units behind them on both sides, they will have no choice but to retreat off the hill or face complete destruction -- and when they retreat, the French will hunt down and destroy as many as possible.
The Austrian plan is to reinforce the right with the troops moving up along the road while building a second defense line with the artillery coming up now. If they can hold the line long enough, the whitecoats should be able to give the French a bloody nose until the final withdrawal order arrives. Everyone can then fall back behind the artillery line and make a hasty retreat.
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