The Battle of Ceva 17 April 1796
The battle opened at first light with Massena's division mounting an assault on Ceva in text book style. Dommartin's legere brigade skirmished ahead of Joubert's six ligne battalions, all deployed in attack columns.
I had to use Austrian figures to proxy for Piedmontese as I have none of the latter. In these times we must improvise.
The attack was concentrated against the north east of the Piedmontese position. Brigadier Vitale had deployed the bulk of his infantry in earthworks outside the town, with his two grenadier battalions in reserve. A battalion of light infantry was charged with harrassing any approaching enemy.
The French steadily advanced thanks to their high staff ratings (both Joubert and Dommartin are rated at 8, and Massena is a 9). The skirmish cloud served its function of protecting the attack columns from the worst of Piedmontese musketry as well as harassing the defenders. The Piedmontese light infantry proved a nuisance on the French left flank, but nothing more than that.
Joubert's brigade lost no time in closing with the entrenched defenders and pushing them back, although at some cost. Murderous fire form the Piedmontese Grenadiers, who had loopholed the buildings on the outskirts of Ceva, caused casualties as well and Joubert was forced to rally more than one of his battalions that showed signs of wavering under fire.
By midday the attack was losing momentum. The first line of defence had been breached but there was little sign that the Piedmontese reserve could be ejected from its position. Dommartin's chasseurs had suffered heavy losses moreover, and withdrew towards the French start line.
Relief was at hand for the French, as Serieur's division had spent the morning marching to the sound of the guns, and arrived not a moment too soon to attack the south-east of the Piedmontese position. The attack was conducted with haste, and no skirmishers were deployed as both Fiorella and Guieu' s brigades were committed off the march. Pausing only to form attack columns they pressed home their assault with great elan, paying a heavy price in the process. The decisive blow had been struck however. Vitali could not rally his men, in fact he seemed at a loss in the face of the ferocity of the French attack. Half his command was out of action by mid afternoon, and only the professionalism of his battalion commanders enabled the Grenadiers and three units of infantry to retire in good order.
Ceva had fallen. The French infantry promptly indulged in an orgy of looting.
I had to use Austrian figures to proxy for Piedmontese as I have none of the latter. In these times we must improvise.
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| Textbook attack by Massena's division |
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| a defending battalion breaks - the pink die is the number of hits sustained in the combat; the smoke marker indicates disorder; a 5 on the red dice for the break test -1 for the disorder...broken! |
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| Another Piedmontese battalion breaks |
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| Turn 14: the French are taking casualties - one of their battalions throws 2 on a break test! |
The attack was concentrated against the north east of the Piedmontese position. Brigadier Vitale had deployed the bulk of his infantry in earthworks outside the town, with his two grenadier battalions in reserve. A battalion of light infantry was charged with harrassing any approaching enemy.
The French steadily advanced thanks to their high staff ratings (both Joubert and Dommartin are rated at 8, and Massena is a 9). The skirmish cloud served its function of protecting the attack columns from the worst of Piedmontese musketry as well as harassing the defenders. The Piedmontese light infantry proved a nuisance on the French left flank, but nothing more than that.
Joubert's brigade lost no time in closing with the entrenched defenders and pushing them back, although at some cost. Murderous fire form the Piedmontese Grenadiers, who had loopholed the buildings on the outskirts of Ceva, caused casualties as well and Joubert was forced to rally more than one of his battalions that showed signs of wavering under fire.
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| Another French battalion breaks with another 2 rolled on a break test... |
By midday the attack was losing momentum. The first line of defence had been breached but there was little sign that the Piedmontese reserve could be ejected from its position. Dommartin's chasseurs had suffered heavy losses moreover, and withdrew towards the French start line.
Relief was at hand for the French, as Serieur's division had spent the morning marching to the sound of the guns, and arrived not a moment too soon to attack the south-east of the Piedmontese position. The attack was conducted with haste, and no skirmishers were deployed as both Fiorella and Guieu' s brigades were committed off the march. Pausing only to form attack columns they pressed home their assault with great elan, paying a heavy price in the process. The decisive blow had been struck however. Vitali could not rally his men, in fact he seemed at a loss in the face of the ferocity of the French attack. Half his command was out of action by mid afternoon, and only the professionalism of his battalion commanders enabled the Grenadiers and three units of infantry to retire in good order.
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| Mid-afternoon, the Piedmontese position looks increasingly hopeless as Serieur's division presses its attack in the top of the picture; Joubert can be seen rallying his men in the foreground. |
Ceva had fallen. The French infantry promptly indulged in an orgy of looting.
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