South Pacific Black Powder Battles & Campaigns

French 1.        Massena victorious at Voltri 2.        Augereau victorious at Dego 3.        Serieur at Cairo Montenotte with Bonaparte 4.        Meynier at Pontivrea Allies 1        1. Rukavina has lost Dego & his brigade has been destroyed with the loss of 12 guns      2.        Pittoni & Vukassovich have been repulsed at Voltri with 50% losses      3.        Beaulieu & Lipthay are at Spigno      4.        Nicolleti is at Sasselo      5.        Felici is at Millesimo      6.        Coli is at Ceva

Bonaparte heard the thudding of the guns around midday. He shifted in his saddle and cursed. No point in spurring on his horse, they were going as quickly as they could given the distance they had to cover, but at this rate they wouldn't reach Dego by nightfall. Oh well, Augereau might be a little rough around the edges but the men would fight for him - he knew what made them tick.. Augereau deployed the chasseurs a pied of Beyrand's brigade in front of Victor's battalions who were intially drawn up in march columns. Victor's men were ordered to turn over all their ammunition to the chasseurs and to fix bayonets. There was some mutterings at this which Augereau quelled by pointing out that he had it on good authority that the wine cellars of Dego were full and the women comely and the misbegotten Austrians wouldn't give up either without the arme blanche being used. The skirmish screen moved forward and Victor's men shook out into assault columns. The

Overview of the Austrian position: Four battalions (three of which are small) and three batteries of foot artillery are located in prepared positions at Dego. They are all subject to the wavering special rule and any fire targeted at them is subject to a -2 modifier to hit as they are in hard cover; morale saves receive a +1 modifier (the trenches aren't  that   deep...). The axes of advance available to Massena are also marked. The French have three brigades with which to defeat the Austrians: Two from Augereau's division marching from Loano down the Bormida valley which arrives in the vicinity of Dego around midday and after a short time to attend to the men's need for food and to check equipment deploys to attack. These are Beyrand's, composed of the 4th and 29 Legere DB; and Victor's, composed of the 4th and 18 Ligne DB.  And Beyrand's which is marching from Monte Legino and is composed of 7th Legere DB and 32nd Ligne DB. A closer look at

At first light on 11 April Massena confronted the Austrian forces led by Pittoni and Vukkasovich immediately west of Voltri on the Savona road. Cervoni's brigade has tranferred to Massena's command who positions it on the French right with the light infantry in the vineyards. Dommartin's legere are thrown out in a skirmishing cloud in front of Joubert's brigade who has drawn up his six battalions in attack column. The Austrians, although they are outnumbered are committed to advance. To remain immobile will mean they will suffer from the attention of Massena's sole battery of horse artillery and any retirement could swiftly deteriorate into a rout given the river at their back and proximity of the French. Neither army has any cavalry and the only artillery present is a French horse artillery battery attached to Dommartin's legere brigade. Massena finished his breakfast wine, smacked his lips and ordered the bands to strike up  the pas de charge... F

Cervoni deployed the 22nd Legere up front in skirmish order as the Austrian columns came into view. He kept the 75th Ligne in reserve. The Austrians faced the challenge of crossing a minor river (albeit one that was easily fordable along its length) and negotiating a narrow defile flanked by mountainous terrain and the sea. The Austrians advanced with Vukkasovich's brigade of  three battalions moving through the outskirts of Voltri and Pittoni's brigade moving across the plain and directly towards the French skirmishers. A sharp firefight commenced along the line with one battalion of French legere on their right  retreating down the Savona road and the Austrians forcing the bridge: The musketry intensified and one of the French battalions broke: Cervoni committed the 75th Demi-Brigade but while one Austrian battalion broke and fled the French could not prevent the Austrians consolidating to the west of the river. Dusk fell with the Austrian bri

War Diary Italy 1796 Dego Campaign French Diary Orders issued as of midnight 9 April 1796 Situation: Austrian forces amounting to   divisional strength identified approaching Voltri from the east and north east in two columns: Orders : 1.        Cervoni at first light and with all haste to retreat westwards from Voltri along the coast in the direction of Savona and link up with Massena who bring Dommartin’s and Joubert’s brigades. 2.        Massena to detach Meynier’s brigade which is to march in the direction of Pontivrea at maximum speed. 3.        Massena to march with Joubert and Dommartin’s brigades towards Sevona and link up with Cevoni’s brigade, assume command and defeat any Austrian pursuit. No evidence of any movement by Piedmontese in the central region 1.        Augereau to march at maximum speed down the valley of the Bormida towards Cairo Mottenotte Allied Diary Orders issued as of midnight 9 April 1796 Situation: We are

Links to the the files for this campaign scenario here: The map   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R959G6m8norvjsaQdD6ebKZcGXgTn4ns/view?usp=sharing 2. Background, victory conditions, orders of battle  etc https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s3zJklm8A32JgAUYrnLB1z5XiE6m0tJY/view?usp=sharing 3. Map movement rules https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W9qB1y5RJWKvIuZyPUhxHCgXVFELU-gM/view?usp=sharing Note that I'm playing this solo and making up a fair bit as I go along so don't be surprised if its a bit of a 'free kriegspiel' at times. I'm happy to try and answer any questions people may have though.

This blog has been started in haste during the global COVID 19 crisis. At the time of writing I am beginning my tenth day of self isolation, working from home, and this is an attempt to divert myself and have some fun playing wargames. Colonel Rampon Defending Monte Legino Redoubt To begin with I'll be using a combination of Black Powder rules and scenarios from Bloody Big Battles and Wargame Rabbit  to fight the actions of Bonaparte's legendary 1796 Italian Campaign.