Nagy-Sarlo, 19th April 1849

The following scenario was developed by  William W. Haggart.

Overview:

The Hungarian Revolt was a strange Civil War. Revolution broke out over much of Europe in 1848, including Hapsburg Italy and Vienna itself. Because of this, the Hungarians were able to pressure the Emperor Ferdinand into signing the "April Laws" which gave Hungary autonomy and control over the Hungarian troops in the Hapsburg army. With Italy in full revolt and Vienna in the hands of revolutionaries, the Hapsburg conservatives paniced. Almost immediately, Ferdinand renounced the laws, and then was 'retired', his eighteen year old nephew Francis Joseph taking the throne. By law, Hungary needed to ratify Francis' Kingship over Hungary. The Hungarians decided to fight.

It went badly for the Hungarian forces in the latter half of 1848. Untrained Honved battalions(often called landwehr in contemporary literature) were no match for the professional Austrian forces. Then came a miraculous turn-about. After three months of winter, the Honved emerge more than a match for the Austrian troops. In a series of impressive victories, the Hungarian army recaptures their capital Pest, and are within one hundred miles of Vienna.

General Arthur Görgey, previously a lieutenant in the Hapsburg army, has been instrumental in the Hungarian revival. In April 1849, he now commanded an army of three corps in an offensive with two objectives. The first was to relieve the fortress of Komorn, and second to engage and destroy the Hapsburg army of Windischgrätz. Although he had defeated the Hungarians a number of times in 1848, the stunning series of defeats in the spring of 1849 led to Windischgrätz being relieved of command on April 14th just as Görgey began his offensive. An older Welden took command of the Austrian forces and gave orders to Wohlgemuth to stop any attempt by the Hungarians to cross the Gran River and advance on Komorn. Wohlgemuth commanded a polyglot force of about 20,000 men compared to Görgey's 40,000.

Wohlgemuth failed to stop the Hungarians from crossing the Gran below Lök and Zsemlér.

On the morning of April 19th, Wohlgemuth found himself facing two Hungarian corps, with one still crossing the River Gran. General Klapka was in command of the army during the battle. He reported that it was 'a beautiful morning' as he ordered the first assaults on Nagy Sarlo. It was 10 am. 

Order of Battle:

HUNGARIAN(Hovénsed)ARMY, Major-General Görgey commanding(absent from the battle), (39,550 inf and cav, 148 guns)

I Corps. Major-General Klapka (AC and CC), (9200 infantry, 1600 cavalry, 40 guns)

Corps Assets

  • Artillery Reserve(16 6# guns)    M5 [ ][ ] fld

  • Divisional Hussar Regts          M6 [s] lt

  • Méstztterházy Hussar Brigade     M6 [s][s] lt

1st Division, Geneneral Desewssy DC, Ex = 6   

  • Bobich Brigade(3Honvéd Bats.)    M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][s]

  • Dipold Brigade(3Honvéd Bats.)    M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][s]

  • 1st Div Art   (16 6# guns)       M5 [ ][ ]fld

2nd Division, General Kazinczy DC, Ex = 5

  • Záko Brigade (2 Honvéd Bats.)    M5 [ ][ ][ ]

  • Schulz Brigade (2 Bats.-39th)    M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][s] e*

  • 2nd Div Art  (8 12# guns)        M5 [ ] hvy

III Corps Major-General Damjanich CC, (9200 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 40 guns)

Corps Assets

  • Artillery Reserve (8 6# guns)    M5 [ ] fld

  • Divional Hussars Sqns            M6 [s] lt

1st Division General Wysocki DC, Ex = 8

  • Leiningen Brigade(3bats.-54th)   M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][s]

  • Kiß Brigade(3bats-PolLgn-60th)   M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][s] e*

  • 1st Div Art (16 6# guns)         M5 [ ][ ] fld

2nd Division, General Nagy Sandór DC, Ex = 6 

  • Knezich Brigade (2bats. -34th)   M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][s]

  • Kázonyi Cav Brigade(12 sqns)     M6 [s][s][s] lt lncr

  • 2nd Div Art (16 6# guns)         M5 [ ][ ] fld

VII Corps  Major-General Görgey CC, (14,400 infantry, 3150 cavalry, 68 guns)

Corps Assets

  • Benitzky Detachment(5 cos-Rfls)  M5 [s] s

  • Tisa Detachment (1bat+2 cos)     M5 [ ][ ]

  • Hussar Detachment (8 sqns)       M6 [s][s] lt     

1st Division, General Gaspár DC,  Ex = 6

  • Horváth Brigade (1bat.)          M5 [ ][ ]

  • 9th Hussar Regt (6 sqns)         M6 [s]lt

  • Waldberg Brigade(1bat. 60th)     M5 [ ][ ] e

  • Petheö Brigade(1bat. 4co Rfls)   M6 [ ][s][s]

  • 1st Div Art (18 6# guns)         M5 [ ][ ][ ] fld

2nd Division, General Kemty DC, Ex = 8

  • Gregely Brigade(2bats-1co)       M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][s]

  • Ujváry Brigade (1bat-2co Rfls)   M5 [ ][ ][s]

  • 10th Hussar Regt (6 sqns)        M6 [s] lt

  • Uechtritz Brigade (2bats)        M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ]

  • 2nd Div Art (18 6# guns)         M5 [ ][ ][ ] fld

3nd Division, General Pöltenberg DC, Ex = 6

  • Kossuth Brigade (2bats)          M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ]

  • Zambély Brigade (2bats)          M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ]

  • 3rd Div Cavalry (6 sqns)         M6 [s][s] t

  • 3rd Div Art (16 6# guns)         M5 [ ][ ] fld

Headquarters Column, General Simon DC, Ex = 4

  • Weissel Brigade (6 cos Gren)     M6 [ ][ ][ ][ ] e*

  • Tyrolese Sharpshooters(4 cos)    M6 [s] ss

  • HQ Artillery+2 rockets(11 how)   M5 [ ][ ] fld 

AUSTRIAN ARMY

4th Corps Lt. General Wohlgemuth (AC and CC) (18,000 men and 36 guns and 6 rockets) 

Wohlgemuth Division, DC unknown, Ex = 10

  • Brigade Herzinger(3bats-LW/Fr)   M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

  • Brigade Teuchert (3bats-Gren)    M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] e 

  • Brigade Theissing(2bats-LW)      M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ] e

  • Brigade Veigl (11 cos)           M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ]

  • Brigade Cavalry (7 sqns)         M5 [ ][ ] mixed (2 sq Cuir/3 sq Chevau/2 sq lancers) 

  • 1st Art(12 6# guns)              M5 [ ][ ] fld

  • 2nd Art(12 6# guns/rocket bty)   M5 [ ][ ] fld

Pr. Jablonowski Division, Gen. Pr. Jablonowski DC, Ex = 8 

  • Brigade Dreihann (3bats)         M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] e

  • Brigade Strasdil(4bats-Lw/Rfl)   M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][s]

  • Cavalry Brigade (5 sqns)         M5 [ ][s] lt lncrs

  • Div Art (12 6# guns)             M5 [ ][ ] fld

2nd Corps  Lt. Fieldmarshal Simunich CC (Optional)(11,000 infantry, 2500 cavalry, 64 guns)

Corps Assets

  • Artillery Reserve(12 12# guns)   M5 [ ][ ] hvy

1st Division, General Huller DC, Ex = 5

  • Brigade Zielz  (3bats-jaegers)   M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][s]

  • Brigade Haynua (3bats)           M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] e 

  • 1st Division Art (12 6# guns)    M5 [ ][ ] fld

2nd Division, General Nugent DC, Ex = 6

  • Brigade Struabel (3bats-Gren)    M6 [ ][ ][ ][ ] e* 

  • Brigade Otto     (3bats)         M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ] 

  • Brigade Zedtwitz(3bats-LW)       M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ] 

  • 2nd Division Art (12 6# guns)    M5 [ ][ ] fld 

Cavalry Division, General Gemmingen DC, Ex = 3 

  • Brigade Kinsky (6 sqns cuirs)    M5 [ ][ ] hvy

  • Brigade Benjowsky(8 sqns drag)   M5 [ ][ ] md 

  • 2nd Hussars      (4 sqns)        M5 [s] lt

  • Cav Div Horse Art(12 6# guns)    M6 [ ][ ] fld 

Notes:

The "e" Indicates elites present. It was easier to denote the few units with elites than all the ones without.  While * indicates Shock status.

All infantry are armed with smoothbore muskets. All Skirmishers, detached or otherwise, can be considered armed with rifled muskets.

Wohlgemuth's division is commanded by an anonymous DC stand in addition to Wohlgemuth's AC/CC stand with all abilities intact.

Hungarian Army:

All infantry battalions are experienced Honvéd volunteers unless noted. Hungarian Units with regular infantry like the 34th and 60th regiments are considered to have elites present. Some units contained the grenadiers from the regular units or special units like the Polish Legion, rifles,and Nógráder battalion. They were given shock status. The Kázonyi Cavalry Brigade of the III Corps has one sqn of Polish lancers, hence the lancer status. All other cavalry are Hussars. It is hard to evaluate the actual performance of the Honved troops, if only because of the startling reversals of they inflicted on the Austrians in such a short time. If the scenario feels unbalanced, make all Honved troops PT, poorly trained.

Austrian Army:

All army units were given a morale of 5 unless they contained Landwehr or Frontier troops of dubious quality(M4) or Grenadiers (M6)(elites present and if enough of them, shock status.)

Map:

The map is 5'X10' and North is the top of the map.  Each square is a foot on a side, the scale is 2/3rd--that is 1 foot = 1 mile.

All hills are one level. There are only two town squares, both in NagySarlo. The green woods are the dense woods/underbrush of Holveny. The other woods are open or orchards. The River Gran is in the upper right of the map and can not be crossed except at the bridge. Only one unit of infantry or artillery may cross a turn in road column. That is all they can do the turn:they cross. The bridge had been damaged.  All other outlined streams restrictions are normal. The light blue stream is provided for looks. It created no movement problems. The vineyards around Nagy Sarlo should be treated normally as heavily cultivated terrain/vineyards.

Deployment:

Austrian Setup:

Brigades Teuchert and Theissing are before Bese setup under the words "Wohlgemuth" with their DC.

Herzinger and Veigl are setup with all Corps assets and Wohlgemuth under the right hand "Wohlgemuth" by Nagy Sarlo. Jablonowski's Division is set up under "Jablonowski" No units may be stationary, but  Herzinger and Veigl as well as Jablonowski's two Brigades may set up in the town of Nagy Sarlo.

Austrian 2nd Corps: A D6 is rolled each turn and the numbers added together.If the die rolls accumulate to 24, the 2nd Corps may appear on the road from Komorn(only) that turn. This is to balance the game. Another way is to forget the VII Corps and assume it could not cross the Gran. (a real possibility) It is a hard fight for the Austrians.

Hungarian Setup:

The I and III Corps units set up under or within three inches of the red letters of their respective names, but no further south than the placement of the Corps names. The VII Corps starts anywhere on the north side of the River Gran. The VII Corps cavalry may begin on the south side of the river. The HQ Column appears on the north edge of the board either at the road to Lok or the road to Nagy Sarlo on the 2 pm turn. No units may be stationary.

The scenario lasts nine turns 9am to 6pm.

Victory Conditions: 

The goals of the Hungarians were to advance on Komorn and destroy the Austrian army blocking them. The Hungarians win if they open the road to Komorn OR bring both Austrian divisions to exhaustion or one to collapse. The road is open if at the end of the game, there are no Austrian units in Nagy Sarló and the entire road from Nagoyd to the opposite board edge. If none of the Hungarian victory conditions are met, the Austrians win.

Alternative Victory conditions:

  • 3 points: Capture of three of five town/village squares.

  • 6 points: Capture of all five squares(instead of 3 points)

  • 2 points: Clearing the Suranyer road completely of enemy units. The road through Bese was a secondary objective, as it led North of Komorn and towards Vienna.

  • 2 points: Exhaustion of an enemy division.

  • 3 points: Collapse of enemy division.

If the Hungarians have not achieved at least 5 points more than the Austrians, the Austrians win. It is a significant victory for the Austrians if they have more points than the Hungarians.


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