CAMPAIGN UPDATE
Early February, 1800
First contact has been made in Italy. Following on the fall of Milan and Genoa, Bonaparte and Massena appear to be on the march eastwards. Archduke Charles appears to have his hands full and is not getting much support from Louis or John. The siege of Venice is also severely compromising Charles' options.
Following on the Battle of Schongau, Massena continued to drive on Innsbruck, fighting every step of the way. General Hardegg fought a heroic delaying action, managing to check the French at Garmisch on one occasion but he was eventually unable to prevent the French from occupying Innsbruck. Massena though did not arrive with his army at the Tyrolian capital. Instead, the French General and his baggage train escaped past the pursuing columns of Louis and was last seen moving toward Kempt. Perhaps he will make for refuge in Bavaria now that they have been brought into the war.
Lannes in Innsbruck though is now entirely surrounded, cut off from communications, with four Austrian columns moving against him in a classic Weyrothian pincer.
In other news, the glorious Ott Hussars division was finally reduced below effectiveness and disbanded.
The overall situation is heating up but there is an imbalance. For the advantages that the French enjoy against Charles, they are abandoning the Rhine to the Austrians. Maybe I need another French player.
Everything changes if Lannes wins a decisive victory against the Austrians at Innsbruck.
