The fictitious Battle of Abach, 2nd day

The Battle of Abach - 22 April 1809 - start of day

From the GWC's ongoing 1809 Napoleonic campaign

A 25mm wargame fought on Saturday, May 31, 2008

Documented here is the fighting at the beginning of the second 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 end-of-day fighting, click here.

A view of the battlefield as the 2nd day of fighting begins. The French arc across the board along the left, the Austrians along the right.	A view of the Austrian left flank, ready to move up to the front slopes of the hill.	Forces in the French center-right, with plenty of cavalry.	A small salient in the French line, top right, is faced by a solid Austrian gun line supported by infantry.	A closer view of the French salient in the center-left of their line. The French center is at top.
The French left flank (bottom) is well supplied with cavalry. One Austrian corps is assembling across the stream, and another is yet to enter the board.	A frantic Archduke checks in with his doughty flank commanders.	The game room is filled with bodies of all shapes and sizes. War is the great leveller, as they say.	The Austrian far right flank is strengthened with a new cavalry corps. An attack is developing!	The French left flank is less numerous, and prepares an active defense.
French troops in the center-left move near the salient.	A general advance is sounded along the French center and right.	The French far right flank is a mass of cavalry.	The salient in the French center-left is beginning to expand to engage the enemy.	Austrian guns watch the expanding salient with some interest.
The number of Austrian units in their right flank builds to bursting point, and the French meet the inevitable attack.	A general view of the board, from the French left flank. The sheer density of the battle is mind-boggling.	The French commander on the left prepares his guns to form a grand battery.	More French units move from the center to fight alongside the forces in the salient.	Part of the general French advance in the center. Enemy foot and artillery hold inside the woodline.
The Emperor (right) confers with a strange man wearing a beret, as an Austrian corps commander tries to eavesdrop.	There was much gnashing of teeth and checking of rules. Davout computes his odds.	The left shoulder of the French salient prepares to meet an Austrian advance (lower left).	The French attack in the center continues.	The Austrian right flank bounces back from the enemy, and the French form a defensive line farther back.
Austrian pressure starts to build against the left side of the French salient.	Crash! The Austrian center is takes its first hits.	Behind the crestline of the hill (marked by the white string), the Austrian left flank waits for the inevitable French cavalry assault.	Okay. The battle is in full swing, but we need to break for lunch.	The Italian contingent has provided the victuals for the hungry officers.
The French grand battery has been assembled, and begins to blast away at the Austrian right.	The Austrian right makes a big push, managing to assault the grand battery (top right) with a couple of cavalry brigades!	The grand battery has repulsed the enemy with heavy losses; but it was a close-run thing.	French attacks continue in the woods in the center.	French cavalry in the right flank hang back as several batteries are daringly deployed against the crestline (center right) to blast the Austrians at close range.
The struggle of the Austrian right flank continues. Note several batteries have been deployed forward with cavalry cover.	French cavalry (top right) make a daring charge into a huge column of Austrian infantry.	Another huge column of Austrians charge the grand battery, and are baptised with cannister for their trouble.	Cavalry meet cavalry on the Austrian right.	Heavy infantry fighting along the left side of the French salient.
The Austrians manage to push the French back along the salient to take the small hill.	A satisfactory day's worth of fighting is always followed by a sweet repast...	...a fine German chocolate cake is about to be consumed on Bavarian soil!