| Palestro - 31st May
1859
This scenario was originally developed by Martin Soilleux-Cardwell and has been modified by Giorgio Baratto. Background: After the battle of Montebello of the 20th of May, the allied Franco-Sardinian’s plan was to move towards Novara and then to the capital city of Lombardy: Milan. Part of the Piedmontese army advanced to Robbio to cover the right flank of the marching allied force. On the morning of 30th May, the Italians cross the Sesia river, and after some hard fight they were able to take control of Palestro, Confienza and Vinzaglio. The next day, to test the true intentions of the enemy, Feldmarschall Fredrick Zobel was ordered to attack the village of Palestro with his two infantry divisions. The 4th Division of General Cialdini was positioned between Palestro and the road that led to Robbio, the piedmontese 10th infantry regiment on the left, the 9th regiment to defend Cascina San Pietro, and the 3rd Zouaves regiment on the right, on the big island called Sesietta. Also the King of Sardinia, Vittorio Emanuele II° was in Palestro, and followed the first part of the battle from the tower of the church of the village. The Austrians attacked the first line in front of Palestro only to be repulsed back towards Robbio, but also Cascina San Pietro was under heavy attacks by the white shirts coming from Rosacco. Seeing his men in trouble, Vittorio Emanuele at the head of the French Zouave charged the Austrians with fury, sending them back to the Brida bridge, where a lot of them drowned in the cold water of the river. Also the attack towards Confienza, held by the 1st Piedmontese division, was repulsed, ending the day, and the battle. The allied suffered 600 casualties, against almost 1500 casualties of the Austrians. In the evening, a delegation from the Zouaves regiment, awarded Vittorio Emanuele the rank of corporal of the Zouaves for the bravery he showed in battle Order of Battle AUSTRIAN ARMY, 14,000 men and 42 guns. Feldmarschall Zobel (CC, 7th Korps - counts as AC) Division Jellacic DC Ex = 8 Brigade Szabo
Brigade Koudelka
Division Lilia DC Ex = 6 Brigade Weigl
Brigade Dorndorf
Austrian Notes 1) 60% of the Austrian army has recently been issued the new Lorenz rifle musket. It has a range of 5" (no short range). 40% of the army still use the smoothbore musket. All the infantry of Genl Lilia’s Division are armed with smoothbore muskets. All the infantry of Genl Jallacic’s Division are armed with the Lorenz rifle musket. 2) The Right Wing of 12th Inf Regt counts as having grenadiers present. 3) Key to codes: g = grenadiers present; rm = rifle musket armed infantry; sb-f = smoothbore field artillery; sbm = smoothbore musket armed infamntry; ss = sharpshooter; sk = skirmisher; [S] = may detach 1 strength point as a skirmisher
PIEDMONTESE ARMY, 21,000 men and 36 guns. Army Commander King Victor Emmauel II of Savoy AC, Monarch 1st Division Lt. General Castelgordo DC Ex = 10 Brigada Granatieri, General Colliano
Brigada Savoia, General Perrier
(deployed in or within 6" of Confienza) 4th Division Brig Genl Cialdini DC Ex = 10 Brigada Regina, General de Villamarina
Brigada Savona, General Broglia
(deployed in or within 9" of Palestro) Attached French Zouaves, no exhaustion
Italian Notes: 1) All Italian formed infantry have smoothbore muskets. The Bersaglieri and Zouaves have rifle muskets. 2) For the purposes of this scenario only 9th Line Regt may detach 1x1-5 skirmisher which (if used) must be placed in Cascino San Pietro. 3) Key to codes: rm = rifle musket armed infantry; sb-h = smoothbore heavy artillery; sb-f = smoothbore field artillery; sbm = smoothbore musket armed infamntry; ss = sharpshooter; sk = skirmisher; [s] = may detach this strength point as a skirmisher; * = shock troops
Scenario Notes: 1) The Sartirana Ditch is uncrossable except by the Brida bridge. 2) Piedmontese 4th div holds Palestro. 1st div holds Confienza. 1st div must all be deployed either in or within 6" of Confienza. Historically 4th div was deployed thus: 10th Line Regt is astride the road facing Robbio on the edge of the Palestro plateau. 6th Bersaglieri are refused back on their left. 9th Line Regt is to 10th’s right with 1 detached skirmisher bn in Cascino San Pietro. 16th Line Regt occupies one town block of Palestro with 7th Bersaglieri and King Victor in the other. 15th Line Regt is in rear of 10th, touching the east edge of Palestro. Some guns were deployed to support 10th Regt, the others were in reserve near the town. 3) The Zouaves are in Sesietta ditch, a dry watercourse tributary of the Sesia. As long as they remain stationary they are hidden from sight unless a unit’s base touches the east bank of the ditch. They have no divisional commander and in fact King Victor left Palestro and gave them orders to charge the flank of Szabo’s brigade. 4) Genl Jellacic’s Austrian Division is on the left aligned to attack Palestro. Dorndorf’s Brigade of Lilia’s Division is with Koudelka as part of Jellacic’s attack. Weigl’s Brigade of Genl Lilia’s Division is on the right aligned to prevent any counterattack from Confienza. Szabo’s brigade begins the battle off table to the SE. It enters on turn 2 over the Brida Bridge. Historically the first attack on Palestro was made by Dorndorf’s brigade with 21st Jagers attached. When this failed to reach the village, Koudelka’s brigade was thrown in. Next Szabo’s brigade almost reached the village via the Brida bridge over the Sartirana ditch and Cascina San Pietro. Soon thereafter Weigl came under attack by part of 1st division from Confienza. 5) Both Divisions commence the game deployed east of and within 24" of Palestro except Brigade Szabo which enters the map from the SE corner, turn 2. 6) The level terrain is mainly given over to rice fields. This wet ground counts as difficult terrain. A unit may move up to half it’s movement allowance and remain ordered. If a unit moves over half it’s move allowance it becomes disordered. This does not apply to skirmishers or commanders. Changes of facing are included as movement, so a unit could change facing and move half it’s move and remain ordered but if it were to change face, move half and change face again (a permited move on clear terrain) it would become disordered. On this low ground, artillery may only move and unlimber unrestricted on or touching roads. If they move out of contact with a road they risk becoming bogged in the rice paddy. To represent this they may not move and unlimber in the same turn when not touching a road while on low ground. 7) The Austrians are under orders to conduct a reconaissance in force. The Italians have orders to hold both towns plus a line of communication between them and a link west to Vercelli. They should not go on the offensive as enemy strength east of Robbio is unknown and both divisions should be preserved for the major action Napoleon III is attempting to bring on in a few days. Consult the following table:
8) The Austrians attack first. Turn 1 is 10:00 a.m. The game ends after the 17:00 turn = 8 turns.
Orders of Battle - Half Scale Scales: 1SP : 200 men, 3 guns, 1 turn : 30 minutes, 1" : 50yards AUSTRIAN ARMY, 11,500 men and 30 guns. Feldmarschall Zobel (CC, 7th Korps - counts as AC) Division Jellacic CC Brigade Szabo DC Ex = 9
Brigade Koudelka DC Ex = 7
Division Lilia CC Brigade Dorndorf DC Ex = 7
PIEDMONTESE ARMY, 11,000 men and 18 guns. Army Commander King Victor Emmauel II of Savoy AC, Monarch 4th Division Brig Genl Cialdini CC Brigada Regina, General de Villamarina DC Ex = 10
Brigada Savona, General Broglia DC Ex = 10
Attached French Zouaves, Brig Genl Pelle DC Ex = 4
Note the Piedmontese 1st Division at Confienza and brigade Weigl have been deleted. In the battle these two forces faced each other off and saw no fighting. |