The Corlears Hook Fencibles played two games of the 1859 battle of Montebello Thursday evening using the Bloody Big Battle rules. The first game saw Ken as the Austrians and Rick the French. I observed. The Austrians get a total of 5 infantry and one artillery units. Every turn that the French have not attempted a close assault the Austrians can roll for one of another 5 infantry and artillery units to arrive on the table, representing the aggressive French action keeping the historical Austrian commanders confused.
Rick began by having his cavalry charge the lead Austrian unit, both in road column. The infantry repelled the cavalry and formed into line.
Ken's movement rolls were good. He didn't have a traffic jam at the bridge over the Coppa River. A reinforcing infantry unit occupied Montebello. The lead unit that had deployed blasted the Italian cavalry off the field.
The lead French infantry fell back across the stream and more Austrians poured onto the field, including optional ones.
French reinforcements arrived, outnumbered by the swarms of Austrians appearing.
Artillery opened on each other.
On the last turn Ken decided to see if he could attack the village of Genestrello and go for a victory. He needed full moves for one or both of two units to assault the village. Both only moved half speed so he didn't bother move at all.
He probably should have moved closer earlier if he wanted to attack, but Austrians in this scenario are often happy with a tie. The losses were some 500 Italian cavalry. They played 7 turns in 82 minutes. We broke for dinner.
Ken decided to observe the next game. I wanted the French badly so Rick played the Austrians. I wanted them badly and that's how I played them. I began the second game by having my cavalry charge the lead Austrian unit as the French infantry moved close behind in road column. The Austrians fired well (the first of many times in this game) and chased the cavalry back behind the infantry.
The Austrians then deployed and disrupted the French infantry bunched up on the road. They were shooting well, those Habsburg dogs. The French infantry rallied and formed line. I only got half a move so could not charge. The Italian cavalry rallied and got half a move so I shifted them to the left. More French infantry trotted down the road. The Austrians got an optional unit.
The cavalry was disrupted again by rifle fire.
The reinforcing 74th Line regiment marched into Montebello in column. The lead French infantry unit suffered losses as that lead Austrian unit blazed away, going low on ammo. I had a French victory if I could hold the village unitl the end of the 7th turn.
Even though low on ammo, the lead Austrian unit (39th regiment) blazed away again (those Austrian dice!) and scattered my lead infantry unit. The 74th in Montebello was looking mighty lonely.
Austrians poured over the railroad bridge, and some more over the road bridge too. The 74th tried to rush the Austrian guns at the foot of the hill but canister drove them back into the village. This sufficed to keep the Austrians from getting an optional reinforcement this turn. The terrible 39th silenced the French artillery with rifle fire.
The 98th Line from the second French brigade tried to get up the road and aid the boys in Montebello, to find their way blocked by the 39th Austrian regiment. The Austrian troops and artillery around Montebello fired a prodigious amount of lead into the village, taking out 2 bases (of 4) from the 74th. One more hit would see the 74th gone. It was getting desperate.
On my left the 93rd Line went into action. By the end of the turn the Austrian infantry would scatter them with heavy rifle fire. The Austrian firing dice were aglow. Their movement dice were typical for Austrians, a lot of halts and pauses.
One Austrian unit charged up the hill and drove the 74th out of Montebello.
The 74th rallied and went right back into the village, chasing the Austrians at bayonet point. The 98th Line charged across the creek and pushed the 39th back. Would they be able to assist the lads in the village? The 91st Line charged an Austrian unit's flank, but something went wrong (lousy French dice, perhaps) and they were driven back.
Every Austrian unit and their uncle within range of Montebello poured lead into the 74th. The plucky French infantry must have been hiding in cellars (Austrian dice: finally a paltry 3 on 2D6). French movement dice had been decent but my firing dice had been dogs most of the game. Something was wrong with our damned ammunition. Then I got a high roll with the 98th and actually scored a hit on the 39th Austrian regiment.
On the 7th turn the 74th faded back to the far edge of the village, hoping to avoid another storm of lead. The 39th came back to block any support for the brave 74th.
After a couple turns of miserable movement dice, two Austrian units charged up the hill. They outnumbered the 74th by at least 4 to 1. The 74th put up a valiant fight, which earned them a tie. This means both sides lose a base and then fight again. But there was no second fight, since infantry or cavalry reduced to a single base flee the field. The 74th was gone, after suffering 75% losses. The Austrians held Montebello and the French victory slipped to a tie. This game took 107 minutes.
French losses were 3,500 to the Austrian 1,500. Losses don't count in this (and most) BBB scenarios, but I should think really heavy losses should. This would turn my tie into a loss. My overall losses were over 40%. Of the 5 French infantry regiments, 3 had called it a day, as had the lone Italian cavalry unit. I had two infantry regiments and a battalion of artillery left on the field.
Grousing aside, it was an exciting game. Now I have to see about getting Rick's dice hand exorcised. We've played Montebello quite a bit lately so perhaps we'll move on to Coulmiers 1870 next time and see if the French Republic can come up a winner.
