After the French setback at Caldiero, and news that Vaubois was struggling against Davidovich’s advance, many generals would have given up the siege of Mantua. The 27-year old Napoleon, however, decided to rapidly redeploy his limited forces, calling up whatever small units he could find to launch a sudden assault from a completely new direction.
Overnight, Napoleon moved most of his troops to Ronco, leaving enough men to hold Verona for the time being. From Ronco, he planned a fast strike up the west bank of the Alpone, across the bridge at Arcola, to launch an attack on Alvinczy’s line of communications around Villanova. The aim was to force Alvinczy to pull back from Verona, and hopefully cause sufficient losses to make him abandon his plans of uniting with Davidovich.
The French faced enormous risks, and the advance on Arcola was along an exposed causeway, little more than the width of the road. Although this was considered essential, a covering force would have to advance to Porcile to cover the western flank of the main thrust along an equally exposed route. On 15 November, troops under Augereau’s command marched along the narrow causeway through the marshes toward Arcola, while Massena was tasked with covering the west flank of the army around Porcile.
These scenarios are designed for a 1:20 ratio of figures to actual men, with ‘stands’ of six infantry, four cavalry, and one model gun (representing two actual guns). Approximate historic strengths involved in each engagement have also been shown to enable you to adapt to your own rues or scales.
The famous attempts by the French to seize the bridge at Arcola involved only a few battalions at most. The action is focused on an area roughly 1km by 1km covering the western half of Arcola village, the famous bridge, and the approach roads.
Terrain
The landscape around Arcola is flat, except for raised causeways on either side of the Alpone River. Most wargamers’ battalions are based in company widths. That will be the maximum allowed for movement along the causeways. Any troops moving along the hidden bank alongside the marsh will be unformed and move at ¼ speed. Troops on the causeways will be exposed to the enemy. There is an area of safe ground, where the French can reorganise their troops (where two battalions, Napoleon, Augereau, and Lannes are initially deployed).
The sturdy Arcola Bridge had light timber balustrading and units can be company width when attempting to cross. The Austrian end of the bridge is covered by rudimentary earthworks. Behind these are two 3pdr guns. Four further battalion guns can be deployed beyond the culvert or on the edge of Arcola. Three Grenzer battalions will line the reverse bank of the causeway on the Austrian side of the river. A squadron of uhlans are deployed within the village. Arcola is a stone-built village. The Alpone can only be crossed at the bridge, although the culvert to its east should be regarded as a stream. Light woodlands are dispersed around the village.
Troops involved
Austrian Forces: All veterans.
CinC General Brigido. Three Grenzer Battalions, each around 1,000 strong, supported by six 3pdr battalion guns; one squadron of Uhlans 100 strong.
French Forces: All veteran.
CinC Napoleon; Divisional General Augereau; Brigade General Lannes. Three Battalions of the 4th Demi-Brigade (2,000 men); three Battalions of the 51st Demi-Brigade: (2,000 men), one off map that can move up when room allows.
Special rules
Although Grenzer battalions were considered light troops, and could fight as irregulars in a broken landscape, for this scenario only one company in each battalion can disperse in cover. The battalions should otherwise act as regular Austrian troops (fighting in line and manoeuvring in column of march).Prior to an assault on the bridge, French units must first form up on the exposed ground to its immediate west. Any attempto rush from cover will mean they attack unformed. Each battalion within the Demi-Brigade included an ‘elite’ company of grenadiers. These can be grouped to either head a column assaulting the bridge or be formed up as an independent unit for an assault (one company per battalion).
If the French manage to engage the enemy in melee on the bridge, the first three companies of a column count as engaged: the defender only includes companies in base-to-base contact (including to each flank if applicable). A column approaching the bridge, or engaging in melee, will be regarded as supported by companies to their rear, even from companies within its own battalion.
Additional zeal can be added to attacks by involving Augereau, Napoleon, and/or Lannes. However, they are wounded on a separate roll of ‘6’ on a D6 if fired on in the open or engaged in melee, and removed from the game. If Napoleon is removed the game ends. If Augereau or Lannes, all French units within 15cm take an immediate morale test. They should, however, have the potential to give a significant boost to morale and melee factors when directly involved, in accordance with your own rule systems (e.g. +2 for Napoleon, +1 for Lannes or Augereau).If a French unit of battalion size manages to cross the bridge, all Austrian units take an immediate morale test. This may happen on more than one occasion.
Victory conditions
The French can launch as many assaults as they wish until they suffer losses of 33% of their forces. They win as soon as they are able to move two battalions into Arcola, both over half strength, and with the bridge under their control. All other results are an Austrian victory. No timescale is placed on this scenario.
Historical note
The image of Napoleon holding a flag on the bridge at Arcola is a myth. Both he and Augereau carried flags, but neither got near the bridge, and Napoleon was rescued from the nearby marshes by his troops. The French forces withdrew to Ronco that night.
This game is best played as a Brigade level game using rules such as General de Brigade. The subtlety of company and battalion level manoeuvres may be key to victory. The game length will be 16 turns. Provera was initially deployed further east but had fallen back to Porcile as Massena pushed forward. He deploys his forces within the area indicated. In Turn One, the French player is the first to move, at which point Massena moves his six battalions along the causeways from the eastern map edge.
Terrain
No units can move in the marshland. Rough terrain and woodland unforms troops and causes them to move at half speed (artillery prohibited). The settlement is stone built.
Troops involved
Unless otherwise noted, all generals and troops are veteran.
Austrian Forces: General Provera: Three Line Battalions each 1,200 strong (One is conscript, the others 2nd class line); 2 squadrons of dragoons and 1 squadron of uhlans (300 men). Foot Artillery: 6 medium guns.
Reinforcements: Arrive turn 6 at north-western corner of map. Brigade General and three Line Battalions (3,000 men). One battalion is conscript, the others are 2nd class line.
French Forces: Divisional General Massena: Brigade General Rampon: 3 Battalions (2,000 men); Brigade General Gardanne: 3 Battalions (2,000 men).
Special rules
Massena was an exceptional commander. This should mean orders to all battalions are deemed to be immediate for game purposes without the need for die rolls, and the French should have a +2 for initiative rolls. Austrian troops will be restricted to column of march or line and have no skirmishers. A company from each French battalion can skirmish. The French player can optionally form an elite battalion of grenadier companies (600 strong), by removing these troops from the remaining units. French units in square can move at ¼ speed.
Victory conditions
Massena is required to seize and hold Porcile and be in control of the settlement at nightfall. He must also avoid the loss of over 33% of his forces.
Historical note
Massena pushed Provera out of Porcile and held the settlement. He pulled back to Ronco overnight when ordered to do so.
On the 16th, Augereau and Massena largely repeated their actions of the previous day. New Austrian troops had reinforced Arcola, under Mittrowski, and Provera was now acting as the army’s rearguard as Austrians towards Verona began pulling back on Villanova.
Napoleon threw a temporary bridge over the river (south of the map). French reinforcements pushed their strength up to around 20,000, most placed under Augereau’s command. Napoleon planned to use at least half of these to cross over at the new bridge and assault Arcola from the south, while Massena sent troops up the west bank to attack Arcola and a Demi-Brigade to hold Provera off towards Porcile.
Terrain
Most of the terrain is as already described. Light woods in this scenario only reduce movement by 50%, dense woods additionally unform troops and are prohibited to cavalry and artillery.
Troops involved
As with all the scenarios, the order of battle has been simplified for playability, and only units known to have been involved have been included. As Austrian morale was at a low ebb, this is reflected in the lower quality of many of the troops. Five Austrian battalions should be rated conscript, three second-class line, and the rest of the army veteran. All of the French army is veteran. Each French Demi-Brigade is of three battalions and is commanded by a General.
Austrian Forces: Austrian 1st Line: Brigade General with two Grenzer battalions (1,200), two regular battalions (2,000), eight 3pdr battalion guns. Austrian 2nd Line: CinC and Brigade General with five Grenzer battalions (4,000); two squadrons of uhlans (200); ten 3pdr guns. Troops west of the River Alpone: Brigade General with two Grenzer battalions (2,000).
French Forces: CinC Napoleon. Place anywhere at French player’s choice.
General of Division Augereau with 4th Demi-Brigade (2,000); 5th Light Demi-Brigade (2,000); foot artillery, six medium guns. These troops enter at Points A and B on Turn 1. General Massena with 75th Demi-Brigade (2,000) and concealed 32nd Demi-Brigade (2,000).
Reinforcements: Turn 3: Guyeux with 12th Demi-Brigade (2,000) and one battery of six medium guns: point A or B on map. Turn 6: General Vial and one battalion (800): Point C on map. Turn 8: 51st Demi-Brigade (2,000) and one battery of six medium guns: Point A or B on map.
Note: the 40th Demi-Brigade (2,000 men), in Massena’s command, could be moved across the new bridge to support Augereau if the French are still not beyond St Gregario and can appear on Turn 10 at point A. The French kept their cavalry in reserve and uninvolved as the terrain was not especially suitable for their use.
Special rules
The game will last 20 turns unless victory is achieved earlier. The French player will move first in turn one and subsequently have a +2 to their initiative die roll each turn. Austrian infantry can only fight in line and move in column of march, with the exception that one company from each Grenzer battalion can be deployed in cover to act as dispersed irregular infantry, but not in front of their battalions as conventional skirmishers.
Ambush: West of the Alpone, Massena had instructed the 75th Demi-Brigade to make a feint on the Arcola bridge and then retreat along the causeway. The aim was to draw the Grenzer battalions into a prepared ambush further south where the 32nd Demi-Brigade was concealed in scrub alongside the causeway. Only 1 of Massena's battalions is visible west of the Alpone, the rest are marked off map by the French player no further north than the visible battalion. The two Grenzer battalions are ordered to head south along the causeway, chasing the 75th Demi-Brigade at least at half speed. Each turn they roll 1 x D6: on a roll of ‘6’ they spot the ambush and can act as they wish. If they fail to spot the ambush, they are subjected to point blank fire from the flank as and when the French player chooses.
Flank Alarm: Napoleon used his escort of guides, with four buglers, for a planned ruse. They were sent over the new bridge, around the eastern flank of the enemy’s 1st Line. They were ordered to make as much noise as possible to make the enemy believe a large-scale assault was imminent. To simulate this, from Turn 6 the French player (or umpire) announces that a charge is imminent from the east of the 1st Line and all Austrians in this brigade must take an immediate morale test. This only happens once, and only if the 1st Line is still south of St Gregario.
Victory conditions
The French win if any of the following occur. All other results are an Austrian victory:
Both Massena’s ambush and the ruse by Napoleon’s guides worked. By nightfall, Arcola was in French hands, Austrian morale was broken, and Napoleon had achieved his objective of forcing Alvinczy’s withdrawal. WS&S
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