Pyrrhic Victory

Napoleon in Italy Campaign

Battle # 4

Background

After the capture of Field Marshal Wurmser, the Austrian army is in disarray. Now led by General Alvincy, the Austrians retreat eastward toward the little town of Spumoni. There, they hope to link up with reinforcements.

Napoleon, however, refuses to let the Austrians off easy. He vigorously pursues.

Napoleon is nearly stymied by the dark beast of chaos, who decides to invade the battlefield. But the dark beast gets tired and goes off to sleep.

Set Up

With Spumoni in sight to the east (top), Alvincy leads his army consisting of 3 infantry divisions, a division of Grenzers, a division of cavalry, and a grand battery of artillery.

Napoleon pursues with 2 infantry divisions and an artillery grand battery. In addition, he sends 2 divisions of cavalry (left) and a grand battery on a flanking march.

Alvincy's objective is to reach and hold Spumoni. Failure will be a victory for Napoleon.

The Battle

Alvincy races toward Spumoni while his cavalry holds off the French (left). Meanwhile, Napoleon's forces rout the Grenzers and damage the Austrian artillery (bottom)

Napoleons presses the Austrians, but the Austrians rout a French cavalry division.

Napoleon's left overruns the Austrian infantry. Alvincy makes it to Spumoni.

Disaster for the Austrians! They lose their cavalry and an infantry division.

Followed by their artillery.

Napoleon expects Alvincy to surrender after this debacle. But the Austrian general refuses. Napoleon launches an assault on Spumoni.

The assault fails and the sun goes down. Napoleon settles down to besiege Spumoni.

Aftermath

Alvincy lost nearly his entire army but he manages to hold Spumoni. Tactically a disaster, it is still a strategic victory for the Austrians, albeit a Pyrrhic one.

While Napoleon lays siege to Spumoni, a relief force led by Archduke Charles marches west.

In game terms, this counts as an Austrian victory. The campaign is tied 2-2 and we go to the final battle to determine the victor!

Game Notes

This was an unexpected ending. After losing the 3rd unit (50% casualties), the Austrians needed a roll of 4 or more to keep fighting. They just managed with a 4. After losing the 4th unit, they needed a 5 or better. I rolled a 6. Then, after losing their 5th unit, they needed a 6. I rolled a 6. What the Austrians lacked in tactical skill they made up with dogged determination.