Mid-day fighting at the Battle of Abach

The battle resumes with the 10:30 turn. A view of the far right of the Austrian position, with extra terrain area added.

Starting positions of the French left flank.

The far Austrian right at the beginning of this continued battle, with more Austrian troops entering on the extended table.

The Center of the French line, showing opposing cavalry facing each other disordered as the battle continues.

Starting positions of the Austrian center-right, with a preponderance of artillery facing a French infantry brigade.

The mass of the French right flank at the continuation of the game, with disordered Austrian cavalry looking a bit overwhelmed.

The center-left and left flank of the Austrian line as the battle resumes.

The French right marches forward.

The cavalry in the foreground is the Austrian brigade that faced the entire French right flank solo. It has discretely fallen back in front of the Austrian left.

French infantry in front of the Austrian center-right. Note cavalry brigade on its way to scout the Austrian right.

A full corps of Austrian troops arrives on the right flank.

The French far left is still held by a brigade of light horse. The enemy has brought up some artillery batteries, and yet the horse were not driven off by fire--they simply fell back before things got too hot.

The Austrian line (at left) waits for the opening clash with a mass of enemy infantry tramping up the hill.

French heavy cavalry move to the center.

French forces mass at the bottom of the center of the hill.

The French right pushes steadily forward.

The Austrian left watches the maneuvering enemy intently.

A single French cavalry brigade charges to destroy some enemy artillery batteries.

More French! Another corps is sighted moving up along the road opposite the Austrian left.

A candid look at the Austrian players and referee. Note the fashionable hand position of the Austrian Archduke.

A fight is brewing on the French right.

French troops prepare for an attack on the center of the hill defenses.

French Tirailleurs (at bottom) work their way around the far Austrian right. These sharpshooters, and the cavalry, forced the Austrians to deploy cavalry and artillery to contain them.

A bird's-eye-view of the brewing French attack on the Austrian center-right.

Scores of French cavalrymen charge into the Austrian center-left to try to open a hole in the line.

French infantry attack simultaneously with the cavalry, but the Austrian line holds.

Conducting the melee combats took a lot of patience, tinged with terror. Note the use of fingers (up or down) to keep track of modifiers.

The Austrian line reels under the weight of the French charge. Note the infantry brigade displaced back, and the damaged artillery batteries limbered behind.

The new French corps on the right flank continues to march on.

Austrian cavalry, at left, plugs the gap opposite the French Tirailleur brigade (in the woods).

Austrian infantry brigades move up behind the center-right of the line to shore it up. More medium and heavy artillery batteries are available--making for an even more impressive concentration of cannon.

An overview of the action, as seen from the French right.

Austrian horse screen the far left flank as the enemy approaches.

The Austrian line in the center-left is restored as the infantry brigade advances with two damaged artillery batteries. French cavalry in front is disordered.

An impressive battle when you bring the camera down a little closer to the table. This view is from the French far left flank.

French troops crash into the Austrian center-left yet again.

Our "gourmet" lunch of fine Italian-American cuisine. Our teeth and tummies won this skirmish.

Skirmishing in the woods; French Tirailleurs, at right, pour fire into advancing Austrians. The artillery is left behind. It can't keep up in the woods!

A heavy attack on the Austrian center-right by multiple French infantry brigades.

Another view the attack on the Austrian center-right.

French forces on the far right prepare to engage enemy horse.

French attacks on the Austrian center-left have been repulsed yet again. But the defenders on the hill are slightly fewer in number.

The tiny war of nerves continues on the French far left. Austrian infantry have recoiled from the Tirailleurs in the woods, and Austrian cavalry edge closer.

Austrian infantry and artillery on the far right flank meet the advance of the Tirailleurs.

The Austrian center-right has held its ground. French forces wait and regroup at top.

French cavalry hurl themselves upon the Austrian center, taking advantage of a silenced enemy artillery battery, while French infantry crash into the enemy line to increase the pressure.

French troops in front of the center-left of the Austrian line. Heavy cavalry wait their turn behind, at top.

Meanwhile, the Austrian left is hit again by combined cavalry and infantry.

More manuevering on the French far right. The newly-arrived infantry are finally nearing the front line.

Loose the cavalry! A French combined attack on that same reinforced infantry brigade in the Austrian center-left.

Red is the color of blood, white the color of bone, graham-cracker crumbs the color of...er...whatever. It was a truely short-lived cherry cheesecake served at the end of the day's fighting.

Light military satire--or perhaps heavy-handed French propaganda? You decide.

As the gaming session closes, the Austrian left is shaken, but not destroyed. French attacks have had limited success.

A combined attack by Austrian cavalry and infantry against the French Tirailleurs has been knocked back. The stalemate on the French far left continues.

As this session ends, the French have pushed back the Austrian center-right. Fresh Austrian reserves have been thrown in to stop a penetration.

The Battle of Abach - 21 April 1809 - mid-day

From the GWC's ongoing 1809 Napoleonic campaign