#2 Gunzburg, 1805

A letter describing the recent battle to General Mack of the Austrian forces:

Well, general, you may rest easy this day. This very evening, forces from Napoleon's Grand Armee attempted to take us in the flank and take the city of Gunzburg, which as you know would give them a secure crossing and force us to change our army's position.

The first shots were aimed at the elite troops of which I was personally in command, and while they weakened our numbers slightly, no major losses can be reported. After strategically repositioning into Gunzburg itself, I ordered my men to secure the two crossings on our flanks and repel any invading French forces. I was dismayed upon receiving a note that the town of Reisenburg on our right flank was already under French control and we were in danger that they might be reinforced soon. I took action and part of my division swept around toward that flank. My forward troops stopped the reinforcements in their tracks and forced them to flee. I did not choose to take the town at this time, sir, because French were also beginning to cross on my left flank.

I took command of an artillery division and directed their constant fire at the infantry trying to cross the swamps and the bridge at the flank. A large number of French had massed there, and soon after, two battalions had crossed and were assaulting my forces. With our cavalry, we cut off their retreat back across the bridge and opened fire on the now-trapped French. Commander Lefol was killed in the crossfire and what was left of the two French battalions surrendered.

My Austrians put an end to any major threat on the left flank.

With that threat gone, our attention turned again to the right flank, where more of the invaders under Delabasse were attempting to cross over. We stopped them again, and for the second time this night, a French commander was killed while retreating.

My men rallied and took back Reisenburg from the enemy. Part of our success was due to our grand battery that had been positioned on the hills overlooking the field and constantly inflicted casualties on the enemy. In a last, deseperate attempt, the Mahler's French center tried to take the bridge crossing straight into Gunzburg. My men were able to stand their ground, and the French morale finally broke. The battle was over! A glorious victory, sir, is all ours!

The French attack after I threaten to win the battle next turn by gaining a temporary victory banner for the towns.

The French strike, but my troops hold their ground!

Yours,

General Major d'Aspre

Historical Result: French victory

Today's Result: Austrian victory

Austria 7 – French 2

Total Banner Count

Third Coalition Forces: 12

Napoleon's Grand Armee: 4

#1 The Battle of Wertingen, 1805

From the journal of Field Marshall Lieutenant Auffenburg

When I awoke on this foggy morning, there was news that the advance guard of Napoleon's Grand Army under Marshalls Murat and Lannes had crossed the Danube and was sitting opposite my army, just on the other side of Wertingen. We were taken a little unprepared: two of our infantry brigades were in an exposed position on my left flank, while nearly a third of my army under the direction of Prince Hohenzollern was some distance away and I feared that he could not bring those forces to bear before the battle was underway.

There was not even enough time to shave before I heard the sounds of gunfire from the vulnerable left flank. I later learned that Oudinot's dangerous French infantry had moved forward into the woods for cover, but my men engaged them immediately and the French Light infantry was in rout! Glorious!

Not wanting further engagement in such an exposed position, I ordered my left flank to retreat and rejoin with the main body of the army in the center of the field. My plan was to set up a defensive position centered around the hills until Hohenzollern's men could arrive and flank the French.

I watched as my left flank moved back toward the town of Geratsdorf under gunfire from elite French troops who had moved up against them. From out of nowhere, the French cavalry charged with great elan toward my exposed men! They desperately formed battalion mass and were able to stop the charge for a time.

The French Cavalry attack!

I hardly had time to think when a large number of cavalry surged forward across the field and charged my line of infantry who were not yet prepared to move onto the hills. Traditional infantry squares and battalion mass were formed all around until the field was in a chaotic mess of squares and horsemen. I joined my staff and moved to the hills behind Gottmannshofen. From here, we would plan our counterattack!

The brigade I was near was soon charged by cavalry, which our men repelled. I could not tell what was happening on the rest of the field. I desperately sent another courier to Hohenzollern for rapid assistance. With our field artillery holding Gottmannshofen in front of me, we would send canister into the attacking cavalry! The cavalry line was stalled for a time while my artillery prepared.  Some of the horsemen were retreating, and we fired upon them to chase them away further. My left flank was still in a desperate situation. I received word that what was left of some of my shattered brigades had moved into the Geratsdorf on the flank and were preparing to defend against the incoming infantry from the left.

Just then, the squares in front of my position finally broke under the cavalry pressure combined with some horse artillery that had moved and was set to pummel my men in square. I issued a courier to my own cuirassier cavalry to charge the guns and remove their threat from my defending men.

The spent French cavalry retreat from my line.

The battle turned at this point in our favor. The French artillery was in a complete rout, most of their cavalry had been repulsed and taken heavy losses while harassing my squares, and I could see that Hohenzollern's men were now beginning to arrive to strengthen my right flank. I heard great Austrian cheers from the town, and soon received a note that Hohenzollern's cavalry had charged the enemy and were in pursuit of the tired French troops. I rallied my men to press the attack, and soon the entire French army was fleeing the field. What had begun as a woefully unprepared situation had become a decisive victory for the crown! So much for Le Gran Armee!

Although the French hold Wertingen, my forces have quickly taken the field.

Historical Result: French Victory

Today's Result: Austrian Victory

Austria 5 – France 2

Total Banner Count

Third Coalition Forces: 5

Napoleon's Grand Armee: 2