"The Battle of Sacile" - 16 April 1809

With the opening of hostilities, Archduke John's army of Italy advanced west on the scattered forces of Eugene. Neglecting Napoleon's instructions to form a defensive position behind the Adige, Eugene ordered a concentration of his divisions at Sacile, on the Livenza, hoping to throw back the Austrians without resigning north-eastern Italy to them without a fight. The evening of the 15th saw Frimont capturing Eugene's garrisons in Fontana-Fredda and then both armies settled in to prepare for the morning's contest..

MAP: The Battlefield of Sacile

MAP NOTES:

1: All buildings have a "+1" combat modifier.

2: The Livenza river can only be crossed at the bridges of Sacile and Brugnera. All other waterways are treated as rough.

3: French on-table forces are setup first, followed by the Allies. 

SACILE ORDERS OF BATTLE:

(3) ARMY OF ITALY (F) Eugene 10"G(10)+1 [10M]

 

(2) RIGHT WING (RW) Serras 5"G(5)+0. Serras is a positional wing commander with the ability to command First Division and the Italian Division.

 

 

(1) FIRST DIVISION (1): Garreau 3"A(4)+0 [F2]

 

 

1B/1: 24 FrLN [12D] 2B/1: 24 FrLN [12D] LC/1: 16 ItLC [8D] 1:Fr12#

 

 

(1) SECOND DIVISION (2): Broussier 3"G(6)+1 [F1]

 

 

1B/2: 24 FrLN [12D] 2B/2: 24 FrLN [12D] 2: Fr6#

 

 

(1) THIRD DIVISION (3): Grenier 3"A(6)+0 [F2]

 

 

1B/3: 16 FrLN [8D] 2B/3: 16 FrLN [8D] 3: Fr6#

 

 

(1) FIFTH DIVISION (5): Barbou 4"G(7)+1 [F2]

 

 

1B/5: 16 FrLN [8D] 2B/5: 24 FrLN [12D] 3B/5: 20 FrLN [10D] 5: Fr12#

 

 

(1) FIRST ITALIAN DIVISION (1I): Severoli [F2] 3"G(4)+1

 

 

1B/1I: 16 ItLN [8D] 2B/1I: 16 ItLN [8D] 3B/1I: 20 ItLT [10D] 1I: It4# 1I: It4#

 

 

(1) LIGHT CAVALRY DIVISION (LC): Sahuc 4"G(6)+1 [F1]

 

 

1B/LC: 12 FrLC [6D] LC: Fr8#

 

(3) AUSTRIAN FORCES (A): Archduke John 8"G(10)+0 [11M]

 

 

(1) ADVANCE GUARD (AG): Frimont 3"G(8)+0 [F2]

 

 

1B/AG: 24 AsGRZ [14D] 2B/AG: 12 AsLC [6D] 3B/AG: 16 AsLC [8D] AG: As6#

 

 

(1) VIII CORPS (VIII): Guilay A. 3" A(5)+0 [F2]

 

 

1B/VIII: 28 AsLN [14D] 2B/VIII: 24 AsLN [12D] 3B/VIII: 28 AsLN [14D] VIII: As6# VIII: As12#

 

 

(1) VIII CORPS CAV (LC/VIII): Splenyi 3" P(6)+0 [F1]

 

 

LC/VIII: 12 AsLC [6D]

 

(2) IX CORPS (IX): Guilay I. 8"G(6)+1 [F5]

 

 

(1) FIRST BRIGADE (1/IX): Keinmeyer 4"A(6)+0

 

 

1B/1/IX: 24 AsLN [12D] 2B/1/IX: 28 AsLN [14D] 3B/1/IX: 24 AsLN [12D] 4B/1/IX: 20 AsLN [10D]

 

 

(1) SECOND BRIGADE (2/IX): Marziani 3"A(5)+0

 

 

1B/2/IX: 24 AsLN [12D] 2B/2/IX: 28 AsLN [14D] 3B/2/IX: 24 AsLN [12D]

 

 

(1) THIRD BRIGADE (3/IX): Kalnassy 3" A(5)+0

 

 

1B/3/IX: 24 AsLN [12D] 2B/3/IX: 28 AsLN [14D] 3/IX: As3# 3/IX: As6#

 

 

(1) CAVALRY BRIGADE (C/IX): Hager 3"G(4)+0

 

 

C/IX: 16 AsLC [8d]

 

CORPS ARTILLERY:

 

IX: As6# IX: As6# IX: As12#

 

SPECIAL RULES FOR SACILE:

  1. Game Length: 0800-1900 (22 turns). The French are the First Side.
  2. Weather: Clear
  3. Options: Neither side has the initiative. Each side gets 4 rerolls.
  4. Bridges: The Livenza bridges are mined and it is the only escape route for French forces. Anytime that a french unit routs within 12" of a bridge, it routs across the bridge and after each unit has crossed the bridge, the french player rolls a die. On a 1-3 the bridge is blown and is no longer useable.
  5. VICTORY CONDITIONS: Each of the buildings of Fontana-Fredda are worth 25 VPs. Ranxan and Talponedo are worth 25 each. Sacile, Porcia, and Brugnera are each worth 50 VPs. Fontana-Fredda, Porcia, and Talponedo all start in Austrian control. Sacile, Brugnera, and Ranxan begin the game in French control.
  6. HISTORICAL SACILE: Eugene commenced to launch a textbook oblique attack against the Austrian left. Struggling through the tough terrain, Serras' troops were heavily engaged as far as Porcia while Eugene's center pushed against Frimont at Fontana-Fredda. The villages were hotly contested all through the morning as Eugene committed more and more troops into the push. Seeing the weak French left, John launched his IX corps in an assault against Vigonovo and threatened to cut the French off from Sacile. Eugene had no reserves left to commit to his left and so had no choice but to order a retreat westward across two bridges. French losses were 3,000 killed, 3,500 captured and 15 guns taken. The Austrian casualties were estimated at 4,000. For the first time since 1800, an Austrian army had defeated the French in the field.