Gudin's Division at Markgrafneusiedl @Wagram, scenario 10 with Soldiers of Napoleon

We come to end of our Wagram games in a finale at Marksgrafneusiedl, where Gudin's division (Davout's Corps) took the village and pressed up the Wagram to its watchtower above (where the Austrians also had a redoubt). They were aided by a brigade of cuirassiers (briefly, before they withdrew to find better ground on the far right). That attack would be our final scenario.

The French were to attack again, and chose to press it hardest on their left, across the Russbach stream (again), whilst it was more of holding action in the village. On the right, after arriving from reserves, the cuirassiers would also attack. The Austrian infantry lined the Wagram in two big brigades, line infantry to the fore, landwehr as the second line if required (then things are probably already lost). They held the redoubt with one battalion and had two on their left, a bit out on their own, to face the cavalry, but forming square should be protection enough.

Initially we traded cannon fire, the Austrians actually scoring some good hits for once, and the French sent out a lot of skirmishers to harass the Wagram from their main attack force, the 21st Ligne’s three battalions. The voltiguers did some damage and would continue to be a thorn in Austrian sides all game. In the village, the French were themselves harassed by Austrian skirmishers, but to little effect, and that stopped when the voltiguers got out into the village too, skirmishing in the village was about it all game, along with some accurate cannon fire from the Wagram that eventually broke one French battalion.

The cuirassiers raced on on the French right, in column of march, thundered through the Russbach and swiftly reformed into columns of attack. Opposite, on the slope, the Austrians formed square, and felt secure. If they did get charged, the cuirassiers might win, but not by much against well-formed infantry in square. That should stalemate his heavy cavalry. It didn’t though. A few intimidates as the big-boots sabre-rattled, and then an artillery bombards saw the squares start to look shaky.

On the other extreme flank, the 21st Line had stalled in the stream, the skirmishers doing the work. One charge that did go in was repulsed back down the slope. Guns pounded away and both sides had to rally. Carried away, I sent one battalion down to counter-attack the disordered French and they got hit by volleys and artillery and broke - oops! Too keen, we’re supposed to be holding our ground here. That they did, but the French firepower was mounting, and the Austrian guns now ran low on ammo… grrr!

By now the French had a slight lead in VPs, but the attack was going nowhere. Time for them to get busy… the French pushed on with the 21st Line, trading musketry and then two charges drove the white-coats off the slope’s crest in disorder. Meanwhile, the first cuirassier unleashed a (required) fierce cavalry charge and pounded into a square, hammering it, but not break it… they then quickly withdrew again as the square rallied and left a lot of men dead around its feet. But it held, just. Both my flanks were looking dodgy and rallying again. The French VP lead grew, the pressure mounted and the Austrians struggled to inflict much damage back. Another line regiment withdrew, just 2 stands left after rallying from French bayonets, and landwehr came forwards to block the gap.

By now, Marshal Davout had arrived on the scene to watch as Gudin’s men took the high ground, and with the extra brigade, the French were playing 2 action cards up. Hard to live with, I’d already used all my command points earlier, so the French pressure could be turned up. On they came, the 21st Line again crashing home with bayonets and sending the Austrians backwards. On the other end of the line, the second cuirassiers had a ‘ride them down’ special event and first used an intimidate order to force my square into disorder, then charged in. The square fell apart in carnage, a bloody massacre as they sabred it into ruin, and took the colours! This was too much for the Austrians, the French had now 26 VPs (Austrian break point was 23), to the Austrians a mere 12 (French break point 27). The Austrians withdrew, the French had crested the Wagram and Archduke Charles, his army's left flank defeated, now had no choice but order the general withdrawal. The day was lost. The Emperor of France had his win (as he did on the day in 1809).

In campaign VPs it ended France 14, Austria 5, so a convincing French win. Results doesn’t matter, we had a blast and i have a new Great Battles campaign for SoN  ready to go when needed, Time to leave Naps aside for a bit and play something else, something with a few tanks…
 

The church burns as the French move through the streets of Markgrafneusiedl.

The French left, ready to march, the 21st Ligne to lead the way.

The Austrian right wait for them, looking down over the Russbach, gun batteries trained.

21st Ligne's battalions reach the stream, a cloud of voltiguer out front.

Whilst a few Austrian skirmishes take potshots outside the village.

The cuirassiers arrive on the French right and plunge through the stream.

Holding the redoubt at the watchtower, it was never attacked. A few potshots at passing cuirassiers is all they added. 

More skirmishers keep the French busy.

The big boots gallop up, then form into attack columns. Sabres outs!

Best view of the village, lone skirmisher in the watchtower... it was small and round, our model was large and square... hey-ho...

The skirmish line is reinforced, but can't do much damage.

Vive L'Empereur, one of the 21st Line's column drives home with the bayonet and sees off the Austrian firing line.

The cuirassiers charge in, do damage, but don't break the square. The second charge would shatter the second square utterly, ending the game.