110. Marengo: Napoleon's Counterattack - WDS Campaign Marengo

14 June 1800 - Historical - Intended to be played Head to Head - The first portion of the Battle of Marengo saw Napoleon's forces driven back from the Fontenone position back to San Giuliano. The men of Victor and Lannes Corps were down to perhaps a third of their original number due to wounded and stragglers. Just when the battle looked lost General Desaix arrived on the field with GD Boudet's division. The Austrian commander Melas, having seen the French in a general retreat handed over the execution of the followup to FML Kaim. Melas had had enough of generalling for one day, issued orders to advance no further than San Guiliano and retired to Alessandria to rest. Meanwhile, FML Kaim went about trying to reform the Hapsburg soldiers. Many of them had broken ranks to take trophies. Zach could have offered his services but instead took command of an Advance Guard unit and headed for the front. O'Reilly and Frimont watched the right while Ott initially watched the left and then began advancing on Ghilina. The grenadiers and Kaim's men advanced down the main road towards San Guiliano. Various units of cavalry headed towards the French right flank. The grenadiers clashed with the Frenchmen of Boudet and Gardanne and a timely volley by the 9th Légère and a charge by Kellerman soon drove them towards the rear. From then on the Austrians would be driven back by a resurgent French army. Monnier's division, having retired to the northeast after their earlier attack now advanced on Castel Ceriolo. Lannes advanced with his men and linked up with them pressing the Austrians towards the east. Finally the Austrians had had enough and retired to Alessandria. Melas awoke from his nap to find his army in complete retreat. His plan had failed miserably. Napoleon never forgot the service that General Desaix rendered. Sadly the battle would claim this promising general's life. PLAYER NOTE: Both sides have fixed units. For the French these are formations that were rendered hors de combat by the earlier fighting. For the Austrians they are formations that were detached to protect the flank or were also hors de combat for the battle. O'Reilly's division will eventually release at 7pm. The other Austrian and French units (exception - 1st Division Desaix) will not.