Italian theatre of war
Open Battle scenario
French vs Austrians 43% - 54%
This time the opposing armies were forced to meet on a dreadful terrain that presented a large and dense wood on the French right, which extended its ramifications up to the center, where the terrain gently rose giving the French a dominant position. On the left, instead, a narrow valley ran between two high hills covered with bush, beyond which a little undulating plain allowed some maneuvering.
The French Commander dispatched all his light infantry and dragoons in the woods, followed by some musketeer and cavalry units to catch in the flank an eventual enemy assault directed to the center.
The forest was quickly seized but when the light infantry and cavalry emerged from the trees, they couldn’t take control of the wing being met by a strong resistance from the Austrians that only after a ferocious fight gave a little way to the French.
This action, however, let the musketeers in the woods free to concentrate on the oncoming Austrian assault that was developing in the center which was repulsed due to superior numbers and the initial cover of the woods that sheltered some French units, helping to preserve their integrity in the firefight.
Surprisingly, on the other hand, much worse behaved the units left to guard the entrance of the valley where a lot of Guard, Grenadier and Irish Brigade units were literally wiped out by the enemy despite their vaunted reputation.
So, the day was finally decided on the extreme left of the battlefield, where the French heavy cavalry smashed into the ranks of the Austrian carabiniers putting them in full flight and gaining the little momentum that decided a close encounter which could have well been ended in a draw.
After the battle the French army was so exhausted that no attempt was made to chase the enemy, led by their valiant commander in an ordered retreat.
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