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Sacile Scenario Ammendments The following has been researched and compiled by Keith McNelly. The following scenario revisions have been produced primarily from Epsteins "Prince Eugene at War 1809", Frank Chadwick’s "Austria Stands Alone" and Bowden’s "Armies on the Danube - 1809". There are several differences between Bowden’s OOB, his map and the detailed written description presented by Epstein. This article therefore can not be viewed as 100% accurate, but rather an amalgamation of ideas from several secondary sources. I don’t claim to be an expert on this battle, but instead offer this for discussion and feedback. Indeed, if you have some more information please feel free to contact me. This scenario has for sometime intrigued me. In my mind the V&B "1809: Austria Stand’s Alone" scenario book has gone a long way to offering a good starting ground for wargaming the battles in Italy. Certainly it was the catalyst for my interest in the affairs in Northern Italy in 1809. I would also highly recommend Epstein’s very readable history of Eugene during the 1809 Campaign. Deployment: Epstein’s description of the Austrian deployments at Sacile differs considerably from the deployment shown in the V&B scenario book. The flow of the historical battle described within the scenario book however is very similar to Epstein’s account. Key items of the battle are:
This flow is difficult to achieve using the deployment shown in the scenario book, which it would seem is based much on Bowden’s reproduction of an Austrian map, but unfortunately from a later part of the day at 2pm. Exploring Epstein’s account we must start the day before the main battle of the 16th. We must look at the 15th when advancing Austrian forces had pushed the French Italians back. Epstein writes of May 15th at the end of the fighting "….John sent Frimont with six battalions and two squadrons to occupy the villages of Porcia, Talponedo & Palse, which were west of Pordenone. From these villages Frimont could observe the French at Fontana-Fredda and could cover the western approaches to Pordenone. Meanwhile, John massed the rest of his army around Pordenone." [Note 1] Epstein then details the remaining Austrian troop positions in some detail and also states the troops were in similar positions the following day as the battle began. [Note 2] The key point here is that the bulk of Austrian troops should be massed around Pordenone, which is not the case on the scenario deployment map. I’ll detail their positions later, but for now we will return to Frimont. The French attack on Palse began around 9am. When the attack began Epstein states that Frimont "divided the bulk of his infantry between Tolpondo, Porcia and Rorai Piccolo, while the garrison at Palse (1 battalion) remained where it was. Frimont’s cavalry (ten squadrons) and a battery of horse artillery were all placed on the main road to act as a reserve". [Note 5] Rorai Piccolo is a small village west of Porcia, it doesn’t appear on the V&B scenario map, but can be found on Bowden’s map of Sacile – if you are very careful and have a good eye! I would suggest it is some 600 yards from the northern point of Porcia directly west. This small village is again mentioned later and is a key reference point. Frimont only had 2 squadrons on the 15th, and it would seem this has risen to ten by the morning of the 16th. I’m confused as to what actual formations make up the ten squadrons of cavalry under Frimont’s command at 9am on the 16th. To add to the confusion a number of cavalry regiments seem to have been moved around between the divisions. This is best illustrated by comparing the positions of Bowden’s map with his original OOB for the start of the campaign. Certainly Spleny’s cavalry are discussed being positioned elsewhere in the morning of the 16th and being used to reinforce Frimont’s right, this is also supported by Bowden’s map. I therefore suggest that Frimont’s 10 squadrons are not part of Splenyi’s brigade for game purposes. Frimont was reinforced by troops from VIII Korps during the morning of the battle. [Note 2] By the time these reinforcements arrived Porcia had been captured by the French/Italians. I’m unclear on the time that Porcia was captured, Franck Chadwick gives the time around 12 noon, and this seems to be supported by Bowden’s map. [Note 3] The Austrian reinforcements for Frimont that arrived were under command of Albert Gyulai, who also commanded in this section of the battlefield, and consisted of two brigades of VIII Korps. The reinforcements include Colloredo’s brigade of six battalions (IR 27 & IR 61) which reinforced Frimont’s right and Splenyi’s cavalry who were positioned at Rorai Piccolo to act as a reserve. [Note 4] We now have two reserve cavalry positions. One north, of 10 squadrons, and the other of Splenyi’s brigade at Rorai Piccolo. While the infantry formations are clear, a degree of confusion remains about the cavalry. Bowden’s map, showing the positions at 2pm, I suspect holds the key. At this point in the battle, there are four major cavalry formations.
The V&B scenario book OOB does not show this fourth cavalry stand, the map however does, as it is based on Bowden’s map and perhaps added to the map in error or left off the OOB. Looking at Bowden’s map you will probably become very confused – I did. Some cavalry units seem to have been "transferred" from IX Corps to the right wing of VIII Corps, all pointing in my opinion to a compromising of which regiments are where and more to "are the key cavalry formations depicted". If you except the four cavalry positions are their late in the morning as per Bowden’s map and you also except Epsteins deployment of 10 squadrons with Frimont along with Splenyi being sent forward to act as a reserve at Rorai Piccolo and later on the committed to Frimont’s right I suggest the following:
Then Frimont’s command can be modeled at deployment time as:
No other Austrian troops are deployed forward. All stands of Frimont’s command should just be within command radius, presuming the Austrian player positions places Frimont at Porcia, excluding the garrison at Palse. Moving on from Frimont command and Splenyi’s cavalry Epstein also details the following dispositions for the remaining portions of the army: "Expecting trouble, John deployed the VIII Corps in two lines between Pordenone and Maruzzi. [Note 6] The first line consisted of the eleven battalions of the brigades Colloredo (IR 27 & IR 61) and Gajoli (IR 53 & IR 62). The second line consisted of Spleny’s and Fulda’s light cavalry brigades, totaling 18 squadrons." [Note 7] This accounts for all troops of VIII Corps except the Grenzer Regiments. GR 10 was positioned on the southern flank at LaMotta, which is off table, while Epstein describes Volkman’s brigade, which effectively consists of GR 11, was sent to hold Rovoredo. [Note 8] Therefore in our revised scenario I suggest the elements of VIII Corps be positioned in two lines between Pordenone and Maruzzi with two wings, each acting as "divisions" as described in the V&B order of battle. The second line in both cases being formed by the cavalry and horse artillery. Volkman’s GR 11 would be, in Volley & Bayonet terms, "out of command" in Rovoredo. Moving to IX Corps Epstein continues: "Behind VIII Corps north of the Pordenone Vavasone Road, the IX Corps was deployed in three lines. The first was formed by Kalnassy’s and Marziany’s brigades totaling some eight battalions. Kleinmayer’s brigade of six battalions formed his second line. Hager’s dragoons, consisting of twelve squadrons formed the third." For game purposes three lines, as described above, can be formed from the elements of IX Corps. The "right wing" as defined in the V&B OOB being the first along with the Corps assets, followed by the Grenadiers and GR 4 and finally Hager’s dragoons and horse artillery. Finally, John should be positioned somewhere north of Pordenone, possibly between Pordenone and Maruzzi so as to issue orders to Albert Gyulai. In summary, I think the above dispositions will allow the battle to flow more as described by Epstein and Frank Chadwick description of the battle in the 1809 scenario book. It sees the repositioning of all of VIII Korps and the accounting of all of Frimont’s command. IX Korps is still free to be committed to it’s flanking movement via Rovoredo. Victory Conditions & Reinforcements: The following is a suggested change to the scenario. In is aimed to create for the Austrian commander the unknown of additional French cavalry. John was concerned, until the afternoon, that more French cavalry was available and would be deployed against him. This can be simply modeled by not making the Austrian player aware of the date of the battle and if the additional French/Italian troops will arrive until later in the game. He can then take a risk or not as he wishes. Therefore, at the beginning of the game and before play begins the French/Italian player selects to attack on the 16th or 17th of April. His choice deciding his victory conditions and the possibility of additional troops. If he selects to wait until the 17th he may be able to obtain additional reinforcements, but his victory conditions are more difficult, see the "Optional French Reinforcements" rule in the V&B scenario book. He should not declare if he is waiting for reinforcements or not, instead he should roll a die each turn including the 1st turn keeping John in the dark. When the first 6 is rolled he declares his previous selection and gains reinforcements or not. Orders of Battle: Use the order of battle described on page 20 of the V&B scenario book with the following exceptions: French/Italians:
Austrian:
Other Scenario Errata: The following minor points should also be noted or added:
Notes:
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