Elchingen 1805 AAR

Below is the Austrian setup for the Battle of Elchingen. The Austrian commander Riesch must attempt to hold the two villages and the Abbey. The Austrian 2nd Division deploys with its right flank on the village of Ober-Elchingen and the rest of the Division defending the ridge joining the two villages. A grenadier battalion defends the Abbey. The Austrian 1st Division will arrive to provide support some time after turn 3.

The French commander Ney must secure the bridgehead and take the heights of Elchingen. They enter the table on the near edge road and will have to cross the two bridges to engage the Austrians.

Turn 1

Ney and the French 2nd Division enter along the road at the south edge. The 1st Brigade marches towards Ober-Elchingen headed by the French Grenadiers. Mescery's Austrian Brigade waits in the village with 1 battalion forming up opposite the bridge with a Cuirassier squadron in support.

Rouget's Brigade gets a near-perfect command roll and the whole brigade crosses the stream except for the supporting light artillery. The French are now in position to deploy for an assault on the Abbey and ridge much quicker than the Austrian's would have hoped.

Turn 2

The Grenadiers lead Villate's Brigade over the bridge opposite Ober-Elchingen. The Austrian infantry loose a volley at the charging Grenadiers but to no avail and flee up the hill as the French make contact. French light infantry cross the stream to try and outflank the Austrian position.

Rouget's Brigade forms up in line and advances on the Abbey and the ridge.

The French cavalry Division led by Colbert arrive and head towards the right flank. The stream crossing is quite congested and delays the French artillery.

Ney has been able to maximise command rolls amongst his Brigades and is pushing hard to attack the Austrian position before any reinforcements can arrive.

Turn 3

Rouget's Brigade engages with the Austrian defenders in the Abbey as French dragoons sweep to the right flank behind them.

Austrian cuirassiers counterattack the French attack on the village, forcing French Grenadiers into square. French infantry pour over the bridge and assault the village directly.

Von Laudon's Ist Division arrives unexpectedly on the French left flank and force march their way towards the beleagured village of Ober-Elchingen. French light infantry form into skirmish to try and slow the attack. The French cavalry division has also been forced to split to meet this new threat.

Turn 4

Mahlen's 3rd Division arrives to support the French attack on the right wing while French dragoons move up the slope to threaten the Austrian left flank.

The French artillery on the ridge continues to pound the French infantry but with little impact at this stage.

Rouget's attack continues on the Abbey and the brigade artillery arrives to support the pending attack on the ridge (close up below).

The French attack on the village has stalled as the Austrian reinforcements force a realignment of the French position. Von Laudon's 1st Division has decided to march to relieve the village rather than threaten the French left flank.

Mescery can be seen in the background near the Grosser Forest hoping to rally a routing infantry battalion which is tucked in behind the wood.

Turn 5

The action hots up in turn 5. To the left of the village, the newly arrived Austrian infantry charge the exposed French Grenadier square, pinned in place by the Austrian cuirassier squadron. But the French hold firm and the Austrian infantry are forced to retreat.

In the village, the French rout the Austrian defenders and occupy the village. However, Austrian reinforcements are near at hand to attempt a recapture.

A view below of the French left flank. Artillery trade blows across the stream as the Austrian reinforcements march to support the village and the Austrian centre.

In the centre, the Austrian Grenadiers musketry forces a French battalion to retire but the Grenadiers have take a lot of casualties and may not last another turn.

In the far background, Mescery has managed to rally one of his battalions but a second battalion is routing towards him after being defeated in the village battle.

On the French right flank, Mahlen's Division closes fast as French dragoons pin the Austrian flank in square. The Austrian artillery finds it's mark on the advancing infantry but fails to halt the assault.

An Austrian cuirassier squadron moves to counter the dragoons at the top of the picture.

Turn 6

View from the French left flank. The French light infantry and grenadiers have retired back across the stream. The Austrian infantry have also retaken the village with a beaten-up French battalion routing back across the stream. A lone French battalion remains on the far side of the bridge with the Austrians closing in to secure the village and the bridge. It has been a serious set-back for Villate's Brigade and French hopes of a quick victory.

In the far background, Mescery rallies the second routing battalion, stabilising his brigade. Mescery also orders a battalion into the Abbey to support the Austrian Grenadiers under siege there.

Events are playing out better for the French on the Austrian left flank. The Austrian Cuirassiers gained an initial success by routing one of the French Dragoon squadrons. The second french Dragoon squadron then charged the Cuirassiers forcing them to retreat. Under cover of the cavalry skirmishes, the two French infantry brigades then hit the Austrian flank. The two Austrian battalions in square were overrun leaving the whole Austrian position exposed.

At the end of turn 6 the battle is in the balance. The Austrians have the upper hand on their right flank as have the French on the other flank. The centre is at a stalemate. Despite the weaker Austrian command quality, the Austrian generals have kept their forces remarkably intact. Mescery's Brigade was within a hair's breadth of folding and leaving the battle altogether but some adept command rolls has kept this brigade in play. 

Turn 7

The fight for Ober-Elchingen is becoming a battle of attrition. A charge by the Austrian infantry on the bridge was savagely repulsed by a French light infantry battalion and the Austrians flee up the hill.

Both sides arm-wrestle over the village itself.

On the French right flank the roll up of the Austrian wing continues with French infantry over-running an artillery battery. Austrian reinforcements from Coburg's Brigade arrive along the road and form up to face the French attack.

Turn 8

A view of the battle from the French side, the village of Ober-Elchingen in the centre, the Grosser Forest on the rise to the left and the main Austrian line on the ridge to the right of the Abbey.

Genegdegh successfully leads his 1st Brigade in an assault to secure the village and the bridge approach but is severely wounded in the attack.

On the French right flank, three French battalions charge the Austrian line. The Austrians manage to loose a devastating volley of musketry routing one of the French battalions (near right). But the weight of numbers tells and both Austrian battalion head to the rear (top right).

Mescery forms his brigade at right angles to the main Austrian line to try and hold the position. The Austrian cavalry retires to protect the open flank.

Turn 9

The Austrian successes around the village of Ober-Elchingen come to an end as French fire sends another battalion to the rear. The weakened battalion in the village retires before it too meets the same fate. Genegdegh's brigade is now near breaking point with Genegdegh's own wounds leaving the brigade in dire straits.

Rouget's Brigade finally expels the Austrians from the Abbey. 

On the French right, the French attack loses steam as casualties mount. Mescery's brigade has stabilised the flank for the present although Auersperg's 2nd Brigade is retiring off the field at the top of picture.

Turn 10

The Austrians pull back on their right flank after suffering heavy casualties in and around the village. The French take advantage and advance into the village and the Abbey.

A couple more Austrian battalions are routing to the rear at the top of the picture.

A fire-fight ensues on the Austrian left flank with Mescery's Brigade proving to be stolid defenders. The French infantry have suffered heavy casualties with one battalion routing (foreground) and several others at breaking point.

Rouget commences his attack in the centre, personally joining 2 battalions in an advance up the ridge.

In the background, the French cavalry sweeps around to threaten Auersperg's Brigade. The Austrian Brigade is close to breaking and only a last minute rally of the far battalion held the brigade on the table.

Turn 11

Villate's Brigade secures Ober-Elchingen while the Austrians prepare to defend the heights behind the village.

Rouget pauses his attack up the slope and engages in musket fire with the Austrian Grenadiers. The French artillery pounds the Grenadier line and the battalion on the left breaks.

The French attack on the right halts its advance and licks its wounds. Despite this, musket fire from the lead battalions rout an Austrian cuirassier squadron and an infantry battalion.

On the far right, the French dragoons rout the remains of Auersberg's Brigade which now leaves the battlefield.

Turn 12

The French fire finally wears down the Austrian defenders and the Austrian Left flank begins to crumble. Two Austrian battalions remain intact to hold the ridge as the last of the Austrian artillery is overrun.

The French cavalry have moved in behind the Austrian defense and are mopping up any stray retreating units (top right).

There is no change on the other half of the battlefield with the French consolidating their village gains and the Austrians trying to rally enough troops to attempt a last ditch attempt to win the village back.

Turn 13

Villate's Brigade brings forward two battalions across the stream to defend the captured village.

On the Austrian left flank, the French infantry move forward to engage the remaining defenders in close range range musketry. With the Austrian Grenadiers wheeling to face the fire, French infantry charge from the Abbey and hit the Grenadiers in the flank. The Austrians hold firm but suffer heavy casualties.

The Austrians are hanging on by a thread, and if it wasn't for the equally heavy casualties on the French attackers it would all be over.

Turn 14

The French infantry now systematically roll up the Austrian position. Austrian hussars charge in and take the French dragoons by surprise, sending a whole regiment back in retreat (right-bottom).

Turn 15

The French are methodically clearing the ridge of Austrians defenders. However a lone Austrian hussar squadron recklessly charged a whole French cavalry regiment and routed it completely. The remains of the French cavalry can be seen in the foreground while the Austrian squadron holds the field at the top right. This has dramatically removed any cavalry threat to the Austrian flank and bought the Austrians much needed time to organise an orderly withdrawal.

Turn 16

A view from the Austrian rear below. Units are routing everywhere although one or two have rallied. The inexorable march of the French infantry continues along the ridge above the village and Abbey.

It's only a matter of whether the Austrians can hold on until nightfall (turn 20) and retire somewhat gracefully. The Austrian cavalry successes have been the only thing that has forestalled a complete disaster.

Turn 17

The French bring some artillery up along the road to hurry the Austrian rout.

Turn 18

The Austrians try a last minute attack on the village with the only fresh brigade they have left. French musket fire halts them.

Turn 19

It's the next to last turn and the French have now pushed onto the ridge above Ober-Elchingen. The Austrians have lost 2 Brigades but have rallied the rest of the stragglers just before they exited the table (top of pic).

Turn 20

At the end of the final turn the French have captured all the major objectives and the Austrians barely escaped a massacre. Ney repeated his historical victory.

Final score was a decisive victory to the French:

Austrians = 26 (26 hits)

French = 130 (3 major objectives x 10, 14 destroyed units x 5, 30 hits)