The Battle of Caldiero

Yesterday five of the Rejects got together for a game in the shed-o-war. Despite the heat, we managed a seven hour game using Richards own early Napoleonic rules and his miniature collection. The Battle of Caldiero, fought on 12 November 1796, took place during Napoleon's campaign in Northern Italy. Having defeated the Piedmontese and forced the Austrians back, the French Army of Italy had trapped an Austrian force in Mantua and repelled an earlier attempt to relieve the city. By early November, however, Napoleon faced a renewed Austrian offensive as two enemy columns advanced from the north with the intention of joining near Verona before marching on Mantua.

Judging the Austrian force approaching from the east under Alvinczy to be the greater threat, Napoleon ordered Vaubois to delay the northern column while he concentrated his main force around Verona. Alvinczy's advance guard occupied positions between Caldiero and Colognola, with the remainder of the Austrian army some distance behind at Villanuova. Napoleon planned to defeat the isolated advance guard before reinforcements could arrive, using Augereau to pin the enemy at Caldiero while Massena attacked their right flank through Colognola.

In this scenario, the French achieve victory by forcing at least half of the Austrian advance guard to retreat, rout or be destroyed, or by inflicting greater casualties than they suffer. The Austrians must retain control of both Caldiero and Colognola until the end of the battle. Harsh winter weather, including snow, sleet and mud, can severely affect movement, artillery, cavalry charges and musketry, while terrain features such as vineyards, woods and fortified villages further influence the course of the fighting.

The Action

The French apporach the two heavily defended tolwns and the ridge line held by the Austrians

The village of Stra, forward of the main Austrian line, was heavily defended,

Slightly back from Stra was the town of Caldiero. This would be a tougher nut to crack as most of the building here were stone built. 

The ridge between Caldiero and Colognda

Colognda was another town held by the Austrians and was fought over fiercely during the battle

Inspecting the troops. They may look rather ragged, but all of the French regiments were veterans.

Cannon fire marked the begining of the battle

French reinforcements in the form of Dragoons moved around the rear of the army to protect our right flank. 

Outnumbered two to one these Austrians probably don't stand a chance

The French advance begins, and casualties begin to mount immediately.

In the Centre, Stuarts troops advance towards the ridge. Point blank musketry and canister would thin their ranks by the end of the day.

Although the French had half the artillery of the Austrians, their gunnery was better giving them an extra dice every time they fired....pity we couldn't hit the broad side of a barn all day! 

My Dragoons canter round the rear of my infantry, full of confidence. 

The first assult of the day. My Grenadiers attack the village of Stra

Snapshot of the positions early in the fight. Look at all those neat blue lines...it won't stay this way for long!

I take Stra fairly easily, and the Austrians have to pull back their gun to save it from capture. With my left flank secured I can advance past Stra an on to Caldiero. 

My Boys in Stra. The Grenadiers were relentlessly targeted after this and eventually had to fall back and rally. But they never got to see any more action. 

Staurts regiments have pased through the Vinyards and are ready to assult the ridge. With the austrians on favourable ground, and flanked by artillery, any assult will be costly. 

Beyond the village my infantry begin massing for the attack on Caldiero

The Austrian Hussars charge and my heavier Dragoons successfuly counter charge. I have a slight advatage but the result is in the hands of the dice gods... 

...and the dice gods laughed in my face. 

In the distance Stuarts assult on the ridge has begun. My troops are now positioned to assult Caldiero

Stuart launches his assult on Colognda and was repulsed. 

The assult on the ridge was more succesful, but at a great cost. We would later come to regreat getting carried away here. 

Forced out of Stra I was alble to immediately retake it, but again, casulaties are mounting. 

This little village saw a lot of bloodshed.

In the final turn I launch my assult on Caldiero.

I manage to take the town. One objective down, and one more to go. 

Staurt captures Colognda. Thats the second objective taken, but the question remains, have we done enough to win the battle? 

The Outcome

Napoleon's attack achieved only partial success. The French managed to seize Caldiero after heavy fighting, but Masséna's attempt to turn the Austrian right at Colognola failed, denying Napoleon the decisive breakthrough his plan required. With atrocious weather disrupting operations and Austrian reinforcements arriving throughout the day, the French were unable to exploit their initial gains. As the balance of the battle shifted, Napoleon ordered a withdrawal, allowing the Austrians to reoccupy Caldiero while retaining Colognola throughout the action. Although the Austrians won the battle, the victory proved short-lived, as Napoleon regrouped and defeated Alvinczy at Arcole just days later, restoring the French strategic advantage.

In our game Stuart and I managed to equal Napoleons result, capturing Caldiero and Colognola, but just like the Corsican Ogre, at great cost. Meanwhile despite Austrian reinforcements not arriving before the end of the game, they were not far away, so the French could not hope to hold their position. We had taken severe casualties in our centre and like Napoleon would have had to relinquish the field. The game was called as a narrow victory for the Austrians.