Age of Eagles - Game Report 1

Encounter at Perlach 15 April 1809

Introduction

I was lucky to make contact with Matthew, through the entoyment facebook page. He is another Napoleonic Wargamer with 6mm figures and he was looking for a set of rules to play. I suggested introducing him to Age of Eagles, as I thought from our conversation that this would be an ideal set of rules for the sort of game he wanted to play. I suggested a game based on the first encounter of my 1809 Campaign.

Strategic Context

In the campaign this is just as Napoleon has assumed command. He has ordered his Corps forward to find out where the Austrians were as Berthier seemed to be struggling to make sense of what the enemy were doing. Napoleon was particularly concerned about his right flank and the crossings over the Isar River. If the enemy seized these then there was  strong danger of being attacked from the South as his forces tried to concentrate closer to the Danube. 

He ordered Massena and his IV Corps D'Armee south to find, fix and delay any large Austrian forces against his far right flank, and to secure the southern crossings over the Isar River. On the 15th April Massena seized the river crossings south of Munich and advanced east to find the Austrians. This he managed to do later that morning. Both he and the commander of the Austrian V ArmeeKorps decided to deploy from the line of march to engage.

Orbats

A guide to the unit strengths if you do not know Age of Eagles. Infantry are 360 men per stand, Cavalry are 180 men per stand and an artillery battery represents  between 6-8 guns. Therefore a unit which has, for example "10/8/5" means that at full strength it has 10 stands and is "Fresh", when it is reduced to 8 it is "Worn", and it is "Spent" when it reaches 5 stands.

French Orbat

Austrian Orbat

The Battlefield

The village in the right foreground is Putzbrun, with Haching in the left foreground, and Perlach in the middle of the battlefield. In the North are the suburban sprawl of Munchen. The ground is open pastureland with some small hills . The woods do restrict movement. The view is looking from SE to NW.

Initial Moves

Both sides were deploying from line of march.

The Austrians, led by their Advance Guard Division, headed to Perlach to seize the village. The two line divisions came on left and right of the road from the east. The road represented the interdivisional boundary. 

The French were concentrated in the centre, and heading to Perlach. The light cavalry have just arrived and are deploying on the left flank.

Initial Contact 1000hrs

Both French and Austrian forces have made contact around Perlach and the woods to its north. The Austrian Line Divisions are deploying to pass through the advance Guard to attack the woods to the North and Perlach. The Advance Guard cavalry are deploying to the left flank, with the 8 Huss Regt falling into disorder from long range artillery fire.

The Cara St Cyr's Division is well positioned to hold the western side of the village of West side of Perlach. Legrand's Division has deployed to their right, with the Baden Bde  moving to secure the gentle hill North of Haching. Ledru's Bde has fallen into disorder from Austrian artillery fire, but this is only a temporary setback for them.

The Austrian columns managed to throwback Dalesme's Bde from the wood, but a swift counter-attack from Cosson's Bde halted the Austrian advance before they in turn were counter-attacked by the Austrians and forced out of the wood. 

The French Counterstroke 1130hrs

The Austrian Cavalry were directed to try and move around the French right flank. As they did so they left the Austrian batterys exposed, and General de Brigade Ledru seized the opportunity to attack the batterys column. Despite taking losses they overran and captured three artillery batterys from the Advance Guard Division. 

The Austrian Cavalry launched an immediate counter attack, but were forced back by Ledru's Bde, which had time to form square. This counter attack and supporting fire from the French Corps and Divisional batterys broke the will of the Austrian Cavalry and they took no further part in the battle.

Meanwhile the Baden Bde has continued to refuse its flank against the possible Austrian cavalry movements.

The French Counter Attack 1230hrs

While the Austrian left was having its problems, the Austrian right was menaced by Marulaz's Cav Division. The German Lt Cav Bde launched a premature attack against the Austrian IR22 defending the right flank. They beat back the German cavalrymen, who retired and eventually broke. Castex's Bde simply stayed outside range of the Austrian's and pinned down their right flank.

In the centre the French were starting to have some progress and forced the Austrians out of the wood, and Perlach.

On the Austrian left the defensive line is being formed to try and hold of the French counter-attack. Ledru's Bde continues to take fire and losses from artillery and musketry, but continues to advance even  though it is now "Worn"

The cumulative effect of Austrian losses is now starting to have an effect. Following the retirement of the Austrian cavalry the 8GIR follow them in leaving the battlefield. The remainder of the Austrian forces morale is rapidly diminishing with more and more units departing the field. By 1430hrs most of the Austrians were clearly in retreat protected by a rearguard. Massena decided not to pursue immediately. 

Outcome

Losses in men were relatively even with the Austrian's losing 5400 men KIA/WIA, and the French 5000 men KIA/WIA. The more worrying issue for the Austrians were that 10000 men routed and would have to be recovered, and the loss of 4 batterys of artillery captured by the French.

In the daily Army dispatch the Emperor would heap praise on the performance of the IVeme Corps D'Armee, and specifically general de Brigade Ledru. Ledru was elevated to the Napoleonic peerage as Count of Perlach. His units received unit commendations for their Eagles. 

Meanwhile Ludwig was castigated by Archduke Charles for the loss of the artillery, and he was severely warned about his future in Austrian service.

Game Thoughts

This was the first time I had fought Age of Eagles with an opponent. I was very pleased with the way the rules played and the feel it gave for a grand bataille. Matthew was equally impressed he certainly liked the way the rules played and particularly in this scale. Food for thought for him. Would he rebase his own 6mm Adler figures? He was certainly impressed enough to buy the rules.