The fictitious Battle of Abach, gaming session 4

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

From the GWC's ongoing 1809 Napoleonic campaign

A 25mm wargame fought on Saturday, April 26, 2008

Documented here is the fighting at the end of the first day of the epic Battle of Abach, fought by the Gourmet Wargaming Club. Austrian troops under Archduke Charles fought a defensive battle against a series of attacks by the French under Napoleon and Davout. We fought with 25mm miniatures using Age of Eagles rules.

To see photos of the previous mid-day fighting, click here.

To read the referee's statement at the end of the April 21st day of battle, click here.

An overview of the battle as we begin. The Austrian positions consist of the river valley (left), the hill (center), and the woods (right).	A view of the French forces on their right flank, poised to thrust down the valley.	Austrian forces on the left that face the French strike force in the woods.	A close-up of the Austrian center-right, astride the hill.	Here is the Austrian right, deployed in the woods flanking the hill.
Another Austrian Corps (bottom) is entering the battle at the end of the day.	French forces form on their left to face the new Austrian threat.	And the French have their own troops entering deep behind their lines of battle.	This is the view from the French center-right, a long cannon-shot from the enemy in the valley. The string marks the crestline of the hill.	The mass of French infantry on the right prepare to storm the valley.
Austrian troops deploy across the valley to stop the French right.	More French units mass in the center-left to prepare a frontal assault on the Austrian hill positions.	Another overview of the battle, with the Austrian defenders massing to the left of this photo.	The Archduke likens the act of war to making a "terrible sandwich." We are, indeed, working in the delicatessen of hell.	Nevertheless, spirits are high in the Austrian camp. A French collaborator (left) is wooed with promises of all-you-can-eat schnitzel and beer after the battle.
"See if you can squeeze one more French unit into the attack. We seem to have an endless supply."	The referee (sans scarf) is flanked by the opposing commanders-in-chief. They seems a little fatigued.	War is hell. But quite comfortable, considering.	The first French attack crashes into the Austrian center.	Austrian reserves rush to counter-attack the French blow.
Austrian cavalry on the far left move to threaten the flank of the French mass in the woods in the valley.	French troops charge into the Austrian hill position on their center-right.	French attacks resume against the center of the Austrian position. The Austrians still hold the hill.	French forces on their far right flank steadily advance through the woods.	"My dog has no nose." "Then how does he smell?" "Awful!"
French infantry engage the Austrian right in close fighting in the woods.	Another heavy French assault whacks the Austrian center-right, shaking the hilltop defense.	The French far right emerges from the woods and plows into the Austrian defenders in the valley.	Austrians give ground on the hill. Combined-arms attacks by the enemy are beginning to take their toll.	French infantry in the center eye their opponents, who seem to be falling back off the hill.
The French right is thrown back, with losses on both sides.	The Austrian hill defense has broken, and French forces grind ever forward as their enemies prepare another defensive line.	And here the Austrians are bringing up reinforcements (including lots of artillery) to hold positions in the valley.	An Austrian counter-attack hits the front units of the French far right.	Davout and the Referee survey their handiwork.
More Austrian units enter the board opposite the French far left flank.	An overview of the new Austrian positions in the valley, with the right flank detached and holding the opposite side of the woods from the main force.	One more victim: this homemade chocolate cake did not survive the day. No one lamented its passing--quite the opposite, in fact.