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Montebello - 9th June
1800
This scenario has been developed by Giorgio Baratto. Background: As a prelude to the most famous battle of
Marengo, in certain ways, the battle of Casteggio Montebello could be seen as a
replica, in miniature, of the former. After the fall of Genoa Bonaparte realized
that it was impossible to stop part of the Austrian army in Liguria and on the
8th of June ordered General Lannes to move as quickly as possible in the
direction of Voghera, sweeping away any Austrian resistance. The same day FML Ott moved toward
Alessandria with his 12,000 men. In the mist of the following morning O’Really's
light division repulsed the advance guard of the 6eme Legere. Thinking he was
facing no more then 6.000 French, O’Really sent a message to Ott who, beliving
in an easy victory, pushed his division toward the village of Casteggio. With a
bit of luck he could reach Piacenza the next day. But General Lannes was marching on
Casteggio. At 9 o’clock a renewed assault against the Austrian position was
made by the 6eme Legere, with O’Really on the defensive. When the division of
General Watrin fall upon the defenders of the village of Rivalta, the Austrian
understand that an easy victory could be changed into an hard day of fighting. The battle of Casteggio Montebello could be
seen as a “Little Marengo” with the Austrian advancing toward lesser French
forces and then assaulted by the reinforcements lead to the battle field by
General Victor. The following scenario is detailed at battalion level. Order
of Battle: Austrian Army, FML Ott (AC)Advance
Guard, FML O’Reilly (DC) Oberst Schusteck (BC), Ex=8
GM
Vogelsang (DC) GM Gottesheim (BC), Ex=14
FML Shellenberg (DC) GM Sticker (BC), Ex=13
French Army General Lannes (AC) Army
Troops:
Gen de Brigade Mainoni (BC), Ex=3
Gen-
Watrin (DC Gen Mahler (BC), Ex=9
Gen Gency (BC), Ex=4
Gen
Victor (CC) Gen Chamberlhac (DC) Gen Herbin (BC), Ex=5
Gen Rivaud (BC), Ex=10
Setup: Austrian Set Up: The Advance Guard of O’Really should be placed on the hill around the village of Rivalta. At 9.30 the first columns of Austrian troops starts their entrance from the road of Alessandria. First Vogelsang, then Schellenberg division. FML will enter when the first battalion of Schellenberg enters the table. All Austrian enter in march column. All Austrian infantry is mounted on linear bases. French Setup: The French player enters the
first round with the 6eme Legere, the 12eme Hussars Lannes and Watrin from the
road that lead to Piacenza, in any formation he desired. At 11 o’clock from
the same route will enter the rest of the Watrin Division followed at 12 noon by
the Mainoni brigade. The remainder of the French army, including Victor with the
Chamberlhac’s Division will enter the field on the 2pm move from the same
road. Game Length: The game will start at the 9.00 turn and
will end at the end of the 7pm turn or when one of the two army quits the field.
In the Battalion Level game each turn represents 30 minutes. The Map: The map can be downloaded for viewing off-line. To allow enough sufficent room to move the
reserves and the general flow of troops that enter the battlefield, the game
should be played on a table of 12' x 6' foot. All woods are open, but disorder
the linear troops when crossed. The river should be treated as a marshy banked
stream except that it does not cause a disorder result. Towns &
Villages: Montebello is represented by four town blocks. Casteggio is two town
blocks (the central ones) and two village blocks. Rivalte, Casa Giordana and
Casa Fertile are a single town block. The Castle (Castello) is a single town
block with all the benefit of a Fort. Victory Conditions: The French will win by exhausting at least two of the three Austrian divisions and forcing the Austrians to withdraw to Montebello. If the French are able to exhaust all the three divisions but the Austrians are still defending the bank of river Coppa then the battle is a draw. If the French are unable to reach the above conditions the game ends in an Austrian victory. |