Raszyn - 19th April 1809 © Keith McNelly

This scenario was developed by Keith McNelly.

Background:

Austria intended to attack on three fronts during the campaign of 1809. The major thrust was  along the Danube and required the major elements of the Austrian army. In addition Archduke John was to advance into Italy and finally Archduke Ferdinand was to advance into Poland. It was this later advance which resulted in the battle fought at Raszyn, just south of Warsaw. 

Ferdinand was entrusted with VII Corps, which amounted to some 30,200 men. His advance into Poland was to achieve several goals. Firstly it would knock Poland out of the war. Secondly it would screen the Austrian empire from any Russian intervention on the side of the French and finally it was hoped that this advance would draw Prussia into the conflict against France. Further, if Ferdinand's campaign was successful against the Poles, and the Russians remained at peace with Austria, Ferdinand  was  to swing west and combine with the main army in south-central Germany. Ferdinand and his army crossed the Polish border on the 15th April heading for Warsaw.

Pontiatowski assembled his small Polish-Saxon army of some 14,000 men and 41 guns along the Mrowa stream some ten kilometres south of Warsaw and waited for the advancing Austrians. Assisting the Poles was a small combined-arms Saxon force under von Dyherrn. This force was to remain with Pontiatowski for the battle but immediately after, and debatably before a resolution of the battle had been reached, departed to Saxony in accordance with recently received orders.

The Polish were inexperienced and outnumbered, though bolstered by the well drilled Saxons even though they clung to outdated tactics. The Austrians however were of generally good quality troops even though there was straggling in the advance.

In the area of the battle the Mrowa stream was marshy and only crossable at three points by bridges at the villages of Michalowice, Raszyn and Jaworow. Poniatowski determined to defend theses crossing points. Further small detachments were held in reserve or on the extreme flanks to prevent any outflanking movements.

Converged Polish brigades were placed at each of the strong points created by the villages. A brigade with an artillery battery was each placed at Michalowice and Jaworow. A further converged brigade under GB Sokolnicki with an artillery battery was placed as an advance guard at Falenty. The remaining Polish infantry and the bulk of the Saxon infantry and artillery remained in the centre at Raszyn.  A reserve of Polish cavalry with a cavalry battery along with the Saxon Hussars were stationed North and west of Raszyn. Finally GB Rozniecki commanded a screening force of  cavalry and horse artillery several kilometres to the south.

Historically Ferdinand approached the Polish positions in the late morning of the 19th April and had driven Rozniecki’s screen back by noon. His main effort was on Jaworow, which sat astride the direct route to Warsaw. Making no headway Ferdinand changed the focus of his attack onto Falenty around 3pm. By 5pm he had evicted the Poles and in the confusion the Austrains advanced on Raszyn and crossed the stream. The Saxon artillery fire however halted the advance and a spirited counter attack by the Saxon infantry pushed the Austrians back across the stream. Ferdinand reinforced the attack and renewed the assault around 7pm recapturing Raszyn.

The struggle had cost the Poles some 1,400 casaulties including 300 Saxons. In a late night Council of War the Saxon commander von Dyherrn informed Poniatowski he was required to depart for Saxony leaving Poniatowski and his Polish troops little option but to retire. As a result Warsaw was captured by the Austrains, but the Polish army remained together retiring north and was reinforced in strength in the coming weeks.

Order of Battle:

Polish-Saxon Army, Prince Poniatowski (AC)

Polish Infantry Division, Unknown Divisional Commander, Ex=10

  • Sokolnicki’s Advance Guard          M5 [ ][ ][ ][s][s] PT

  • Kamieniecki’s Brigade               M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ][s] PT

  • Bieganski’s Brigade                 M5 [ ][ ][s] PT

  • 2nd Polish Infantry Regiment        M5 [ ][ ][ ][s] PT

  • Polish Artillery                    M5 [ ][ ] Fld

  • Polish Artillery                    M5 [ ] Fld

Polish Cavalry Division, Genl Rozniecki (DC), Ex=5 

  • 2nd Lancers                         M5 [s][s] Lt, Lncr

  • 3rd & 6th Lancers                   M5 [s][s][s] Lt, Lncr

  • 1st & 5th Chasseurs                 M5 [s][s] Lt

  • Converged Polish Horse Artillery    M6 [ ][ ] Hrse, Fld

Saxon Division, Genl von Dyherrn (CC), Ex=3 

  • Saxon Converged Infantry            M5 [ ][ ][ ] Linear

  • Saxon Artillery                     M5 [ ][ ] PT, Fld

  • Saxon Hussars                       M5 [s] Lt, Linear

Notes:

1. The battalions of a number of the Polish infantry regiments were divided up and formed into converged brigades.

2. Historically the Polish artillery was divided up to support the infantry detachments. To represent this 1SP of foot artillery may be removed from the roster, this SP is assigned to two Polish infantry regiments giving them both a battalion gun capability. The unit selected is at the Polish players preference. The Saxon artillery moves as heavy artillery, but all other times it is considered field artillery.

3. The Saxon converged infantry included a high percentage of Grenadiers. This formation therefore counts as having elites present but does not gain shock status. Polish infantry skirmishers do not count as PT when detached.

4. For simplicity I have merged the Polish horse artillery into one stand.

5. The Saxon Hussars were only some 200 strong, normally to low to represent in V&B. However, because of the small numbers of troops in the Saxon/Polish army I have included them in the Order of Battle. Historically they were broken up in detachments, however I have chosen to represent them as one formed unit for the battle.

 Austrian VII Armeekorps, Archduke Ferdinand (AC)

Corps Troops 

  • Reserve Heavy Artillery             M5 [ ][ ] Hvy

  • Reserve Position Artillery          M5 [ ] Fld

Light Division, Mohr (DC), Ex=7 

  • Grenzer Regt 16                     M4 [s][s][s] NE, BG

  • Grenzer Regiment 17                 M4 [s][s][s] NE, BG

  • IR 48 Vucassovich                   M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] NE, BG

  • Hussar Regiment 1                   M5 [s] Lt

  • Cavalry Battery                     M6 [ ] Lt

Infantry Division, Monda (DC) 

Left Wing, Under command of Genl Monda, Ex=10

  • Position Battery                    M5 [ ] Fld

  • IR 34 Davidovich                    M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] NE, BG

  • IR 37 Vins                          M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] NE, BG

  • IR 63 Baillet                       M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] NE, BG

Right Wing, Under command of Genl Monda, Ex=9

  • Position Battery                    M5 [ ] Fld

  • IR 30 de Ligne                      M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] NE, BG

  • IR 24 Strauch                       M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] NE, BG

  • IR 41 Kottulinsky                   M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] NE, BG

Cavalry Division, Schauroth (DC), Ex=3 

  • Hussar Regiments 11 & 12            M5 [s][s][s] Lt

  • Cuirassier Brigade                  M5 [ ][ ] Hv

  • Cavalry Battery                     M6 [ ] Lt

Notes:

1. Two Grenzer Regiments and several cavalry squadrons have been detached for remote duty and are therefore not represented in the above OOB.

2. Some sources indicate a number of Austrian regiments have suffered through straggling hence they are six strength points. IR 24 Strauch being apparently worse than some and is thus rated as 5 SP.

3. Due to the size of the Austrian infantry division it has been divided into two wings. There is however only one divisional commander. Historically the Austrians had three “Brigades” each of two regiments. However giving a divisional commander per brigade gives them too much flexibity, while one large division will be impossible to exhaust. One option would be to allow the Austrian player to have one "wing" of four Regiments and the other "wing" as only two.

Additional Troops:

Troop numbers at this battle are low for the area of the battlefield. The 12th Polish Infantry arrived in the area of the battle the following day, it is possible therefore to allow it to arrive as in this scenario. If both players select this option roll a die each Polish turn, if a six is scored the stand arrives on the Raszyn road that turn in road column. If it arrives the exhaustion of the Polish Infantry division is adjusted to 12.

Polish Infantry Division: Ex=12

  • 12th Polish Infantry Regiment      M5 [ ][ ][ ] PT

Gill states that some sources mention 90 Cuirassiers of the Zastrow Regiment were with von Dyherrn. Gill goes on to comment that this is unlikely and that it refers to an earlier posting, the detachment having rejoined the regiment by the time of the battle. However, this makes for an interesting “what if” and if you select to use it the Saxon Hussars could be merged with the detachment to become:

  • Converged Saxon Cavalry            M6 [ ] Md, Linear

 Downloaded the full OOB as a PDF file.

Map:

The map for Raszyn is very large some 12' x 6' using full scale. If this area is beyond the space avaliable to the gamer remove the western four feet of the table. In this case the Polish player may attempt to march the garrison of Michalowice onto the the western edge of the table starting on the 3pm turn. The stand arrives on a roll of 5 or 6 and this score is increased by one each turn there after. In this case a 1SP detachment is presumed to be left at Michalowice as a garrison and the brigades strength is adjusted accordingly.

The Mrowa stream is uncrossable except at the marked bridges. All woods are considered open. All towns and villages are considered "Timbered" rather than "Stone".

Deployment:

The Polish and Saxons should be deployed as follows: 

Bieganski's brigade at Michalowice; Kanienieckl brigade at Jaworow and Sokolnicki brigade at Falenty. Sokolnicki has both skirmish detachments deployed with the remaining formed stands in Falenty. The Polish foot artillery may be allocated as battalion guns or allocated as batteries/battalions at the Polish player's choice. Most of these stands begin the game out of command but stationary. The remaining Polish infantry brigade is placed in Raszyn. Pontiatowski begins the game at Raszyn while the Polish infantry divisional commander can be placed at Michalowice or Jaworow. 

The Polish Chasseurs are deployed 24" north of Raszyn on the road but out of command. The 3rd & 6th Lancers are located at Inn with the Polish horse artillery and Rozniecki - the cavalry divisional commander. The 2nd Lancers start the game off table and arrive in road column at 12 noon at point "B" or "C", during this first turn they are considered to be in command. Historically they were deployed forward and arrive in the area of the battle having been driven in by the advancing Austrians. 

The Saxons are depolyed just north of  Raszyn.

The Austrian player is allowed a greater degree of flexibility over deployment:

The primary point of advance is on and around point "A" on the map. However he may in addition select to advance on alternate axis with one a maximum of one division arriving at points "B", "C", or "D". These "flank marches" must be written down at the start of the game.

At the start of the battle one Austrian division is deployed up to 16" from point "A" in field formation. An additional division is placed on table in march column formed behind this division. Additional Austrian forces arriving at point "A" arrive in road column.

Austrian divisions allocated to flank marches arrive as follows: 

  • If arriving at point "B" - 1pm in field formation.

  • If arriving at point "C" - 2pm in road column.

  • If arriving at point "D" - 3pm in road column.

It is possible for a portion of the Austrian army to be held off table and be brought on at point "A"any time. This simulates the risk of a flank march and forces the Polish player to maintain garrison as at each of the crossing points.

The game starts at 11am and the Austrians move first. The battle finishes at the end of the Polish 8pm turn.

Victory Conditions:

Historically the Austrians gained a minor victory as they forced a crossing of the river and forced the Poniatowski to abondon Warsaw, however Poniatowski retained his army in the field and in time would prevent Ferdinand carrying out his greater objectives. Therefore the Austrians must drive the Poles from the table and inflict heavy casualties on their army to claim a decisive victory. 

To simulate this the Austrian player is allocated points as follows: 

  • Saxon division driven into exhaustion  = 1 point 

  • Each Polish division driven into exhaustion  = 2 points

  • Each Polish division driven into morale collapse = 2 points

  • One bridge (and associated town) captured = 3 points 

  • Each additional bridge (and associated town) captured = 1 point

The Polish army must hold the crossings points and retain the army in being. To simulate this the Polish player is allocated points as follows:

  • The towns of  Raszyn, Michalowice and Jaworow Polish/Saxon control = 4 points 

  • Each unexhausted Polish division = 1 point

  • Each Austrian division driven into exhaustion = 1 point

If one army has more points at the end of the game it is has a minor victory. If the difference between the victor's score and the losser score is  four or more then the victor has gained a decisive victory. 

Sources:

  • "With Eagles to Glory: Napoleon & his German Allies in the 1809 Campaign", John Gill.

  • "Armies on the Danube - 1809", Scott Bowden & Charles Tarbox.

  • "The Battle of Raszyn, 19th April 1809", an article by Jack Gill.

  • "Austria Stands Alone - The 1809 Campaign", Volley & Bayonet Scenario book by Frank Chadwick.

   

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