Altdorf, 1809 with Carnage and Glory 2

I recently purchased the excellent scenario book Eagles Over Bavaria 1809 by Michael Hopper and the first battle caught my eye. I've always thought a good wargame would feature the initial Austrian advance over the Isar River into Bavaria. The Bavarians are some of my favorite troops, with their sky-blue uniforms and Germanic helmets.

So I endeavored to put on the fight at Altdorf on April 16th, 1809, which historically was merely a probing skirmish and an artillery duel until the Bavarians fell back to link up with Wrede's infantry division.

So, some us in the Old Dominion Military Society gathered in Newport News, Virginia to fight it out using the Carnage and Glory 2 computer-moderated rules.  The system, as usual, worked flawlessly and generated a spellbinding and interesting wargame.

The Austrian advance onto the Bavarian left flank and center

The Scenario:  The plan for the Austrian invasion of Bavaria in April of 1809 necessitated the crossing of the Isar River at Landshut.  Initially, the Austrian advance-guard attempted to negotiate a peaceful crossing, but the loyal Bavarians would have nothing of it.  So, as the Austrians waited for reinforcements to arrive, the Bavarian commander Deroy learned of a crossing by the Austrians to the Southwest, effectively flanking his current position. 

Immediately, DeRoy's Bavarians conducted a very professional withdrawal and re-deployed in the vicinity of a small village, Altdorf, a few miles to the west of Landshut. Altdorf lies on the edge of a marsh to the east and in a valley, with hilly terrain on each flank. Historically, Radetzky's advanced-guard pursued and probed the Bavarians, but did not commit to a full-scale attack. The skirmish primarily ended up as an artillery duel, with both sides sides losing under 200 casualties each.  The Bavarians continued to withdraw until past the town of Pfettrach and through Wrede's division, stopping at Pfeffenhausen to rest.

Our scenario assumes that the Austrians pushed harder into Altdorf in order to advance as far as possible to split the allied forces. Historically and unbeknownst to Charles at the time, the French and Bavarians were in a high state of confusion, with Marshal Berthier bungling orders and initial deployments. The allied state would be in consternation until Napoleon finally arrived from Paris to take full command. Our scenario assumes that Archduke Charles receives better intel on the allied state than he did in reality.

The battle begins at 4:30 pm and the Bavarians are under orders to hold Altdorf as long as possible. The Austrians, meanwhile, were to attack the Bavarian flanks and ultimately smash through Altdorf as quickly as possible.

The fields east of Altdorf were marshy and unsuitable for artillery movement, so any guns had to move on the north road which traversed through the Bavarian left flank. From Altdorf and to the west, the terrain was made up of fields and the occasional hedgerow. Small wooded areas dotted the position on the Bavarian left.

Due to the marshy ground, Lindenau's infantry brigades left their batteries in Landshut. These brigades would advance toward Altdorf itself and the Bavarian right flank. Radetzky's command would assault the Bavarian left flank.

A helicopter view of the battlefield, with the Bavarians dug in around Altdorf and the Austrians advancing into the marshes from the right side of the table.

The Bavarians dug in on the right of Altdorf

Austrian Uhlans advance as part of Radetzky's advanced guard

The Austrian advance is determined and intimidating

The Wargame: The Austrians marched smartly onto the table, with Radetzky's advanced guard moving towards the heights that made up the Bavarian left flank. Immediately, on turn 1, the Bavarian cavalry commander decided to throw caution to the wind and charged the Austrian Uhlans in the center of the table. Not expecting this sudden charge, the Uhlans were caught at the halt and only weakly managed to get a defensive volley off before the Bavarian Dragoons sent them packing. Continuing their charge, one Dragoon unit crashed into an Austrian infantry battalion and immediately routed them, causing much bloodshed. The other Dragoon unit contacted another Austrian infantry battalion, but one which managed to form battalionmasse. The Dragoons made contact but were smartly repulsed with high casualties. The effect on the entire Austrian center was devastating, bringing the advance to a crawl.

Meanwhile, Radetzky's Grenz troops continued to advance into the wooded area that protected the Bavarian left flank, causing steady casualties on the Bavarian units guarding this area. The horse battery attached to Radezky's command deployed to the left of the wood and began to rake the Bavarians with cannister.

The Austrians under Hesse-Homburg and Mayer continued to advance against the Bavarian right and in front of Altdorf. Stopping to exchange fire with the Bavarians behind a hedgerow, the Austrians charged and strongly forced the Bavarians out of their position. While taking heavy casualties themselves, the Austrians pursued eagerly, effectively collapsing this flank.

The huge Austrian battalions charge the Bavarian right flank

With the right flank collapsed, the Austrians continue to pursue

At this point, even with the brilliant Bavarian Dragoon charge, the game was looking like an Austrian victory.  Then....disaster strikes.  An Austrian charge against a fresh Bavarian infantry battalion deployed next to Altdorf resulted in a bloody repulse, and then a strong countercharge by the Bavarians, routing the Austrians away.  Also, fresh Bavarian cavalry had arrived from the west and deployed through Altdorf to face the fatigued Austrians. The resulting charges were devastating to the Austrians. Two infantry battalions immediately routed, and Austrian Hussars were thrown back  in a valiant attempt to stem the tide. The entire Austrian center was wiped out !

Bavarian cavalry charge the last remaining Austrian horse. The Hussars, after a tough fight, were forced to retire. 

Austrian infantry in front of Altdorf were viciously counterattacked by Bavarian infantry and cavalry

In all, the devastating cavalry attacks caused over 1,300 prisoners to be taken. The young Austrian soldiers were shell-shocked at the turn of events. Although the Bavarian left flank was bending, and the Bavarian right flank was crushed, The Bavarians held onto Altdorf and caused so many casualties on the Austrians, that they couldn't rally. At just a little before 6 pm, the Archduke Louis commanded Lindenau to retreat back to Landshut. Final casualties calculated the next day, including prisoners, saw the Bavarians suffer approximately 500 permanent casualties and the Austrians about 2,000. 

In a hotly-contested game, the Bavarians ended up the winners, but the real winners were all of the gamers who experienced the fluidity and ease of the Carnage and Glory system.  Everyone had a great time, and were sincerely interested in more computer-moderated games.  The day's fight was a major success !