Bridge on the Bellona

It begins : 'Uhlans - Charge!'

As we left things last time, a  Prussian raiding force had advanced  down from the hills of Peco (thanks, MS Foy!)  and sent its von Kleist Uhlans dashing across the bridge over the River Bellona, in a bid to secure a bridgehead.  General Dachs' Austrians were scrambling to concentrate and repel the invader; this is becoming an unfortunate habit.

Von Jemanden's Prussians began with the Uhlans facing two  Austrian units ( 1st Battalion Botta regiment, plus their Rifles ) :  thereafter a new Prussian unit would arrive along the road each turn until Turn 6. Meanwhile the Austrians would be reinforced by two units on each of turns 3 and 5, each group arriving at randomly-selected entry points. Tricky for both sides - the Prussians would be outnumbered on turns 1,  3 and 5, while the Austrians would not know where their next reinforcement would be arriving from. Fifteen turns available - victory to the side able to prevent any enemy unit standing within 3 hexes of the bridge on the North bank. 

Turn 1, and the brave Uhlans knew what to do - charge!  Straight into to the Botta regiment. But even for Uhlans, charging frontally on formed line infantry is risky, and they lost 1 Strength Point in the resulting melee - first blood to the Austrians.   Next turn, the Uhlans backed off, but lurked threatheningly on the Austrian right  flank, which perhaps they should have done in the first place. Meanwhile the Prussian commander arrived, leading his  1st battalion 44th Fusiliers across the bridge. 

Turn 3 saw the second group of Austrians arrive - 2nd battalion Botta regiment,  and 2nd battalion Jagers, accompanied by General Dachs  - the dice deciding that they would enter on the road from the North, just as the first wave had done. The Austrians felt  a little more secure, but had to turn both battalions of Botta to face those lurking Uhlans. Meanwhile Prussian Fusiliers advanced, joined by their Rifles unit - all three units over the river. 

Turn 4,  Uhlans flank charge on Botta: dangerous!

 

Next turn, von Jemanden won the intiative die roll and moved first - and the Uhlans struck again, managing to maneuvre for a flank charge on 1st Botta, and taking 1 SP from them, too. In my modified version of the 'Portable Napoleonic Wargame'  rules, this would result in a 'break in' to the infantry formation, giving a big advantage in any further round of melee. But the Austrian battalions worked together as a regiment should -  on their turn the 2nd battalion's musketry forced the Uhlans to retreat, while the first battalion was able to withdraw in good order.  Austrian position stabilised, but a nasty scare, and  the Prussians were well forward, with their 2nd Fusilier battalion already crossing the bridge in support. Losses only 1 SP apiece after four turns.

Austrians fully deployed, but Prussian have the bridgehead

 

Turn 5 brought the last Austrian troops into the field - their gun, and 1st Jager battalion, arriving on the Eastern edge, at the foot of the hill. Thus they made a coherent force, but rather far back from the river - just where the Prussians wanted them?  The Uhlans continued to threaten on the flank, and more Prussian cavalry arrived - Von Kleist Horse Grenadiers.   With no cavalry to counter them, things could get tricky for General  Dachs. Prussian 1st Fusiliers now opened fire, and took 1 SP from 2nd Jaeger. 

Turn 6 was a high point for von Jemanden's Prussians, their two cavalry units advancing to threaten the open Austrian right, and their musketry and rifle fire taking 1 SP from  2nd Botta and 1 SP from the Austrian gunners.  Dachs'  return fire was less effective, 1st Jaeger taking 1 SP from the Prussian Riflemen.    That made it 4-2 to the Prussians, with the Austrians a long way  from the bridge and threatened by massed cavalry on their flank. To prevent the Prussians winning, the Austrians needed to fight their way forward - a difficult proposition. 

 

Austrians on the back foot, cavalry to their flank: how to advance?

Could Dachs' infantry mount an effective assault from this unpromising position, while fending off those nasty-looking cavalry?  

Find out next time folks, in another exciting instalment..

Keep well, everyone.