The Battle of Prestento/Perrini - Italy 1809

Strategic Background

Having successfully forced a passage across the Edro Archduke John's Austrians are typically ponderous in pursuit. The French Old Guard & the fresh troops of Dupont's brigade cover the remaining shattered brigades over the last bridge held by the French as dusk turns to night. With the Austrians content to occupy the field, bury dead & tend to wounded Eugene's French escape. The following day allowed both sides to regroup, bring up replacements for casualties & call in outlying reinforcements stationed near the theatre of operations.

Approaching Perrini from the south.

Not to be deterred by this "minor set back" on the Edro Eugene's French seek out another rout to outfox the dull Austrian high command. The two armies circle each other on the plains & foot hills, each gaining a temporary advantage before losing it again. Napoleon writes to Eugene almost daily with sage advice. Archduke John doesn't benefit from such a tutor & is left to his own devices aside from the political machinations emanating from Vienna!

The road to Prestento. 

Eventually however Archduke John manages to insert much of his army in the path of Eugene's latest advance. He blocks the French maneuvers along two roads traversing a broad fertile valley with gently rolling hills, scattered woods, farms & orchards. Both generals sense they can achieve a decisive victory here & call in their outlying forces to maybe out flank the other. The two roads are straddled by two small villages, Prestento & Perrini respectively. History would lend their names to the ensuing battle.

The picturesque roadside chapel of St Francis of Assis.

So, we have a battle with a narrative & a geography. Both sides will be reinforced making this a bigger battle than the Edro engagement. Chris & Tony pointed out that I had yet to take on an independent command so a quick dice roll determined that I would command the French as Eugene in the coming battle. To be honest, despite my initial nervousness, I relish this opportunity.
There will be more toys & more space to play with. Being solely responsible for a whole army is somewhat daunting but also an immensely enjoyable, if challenging, experience - I can't blame anyone else this time. This will be personally taxing & probably stressful too - all the hallmarks of a memorable wargame.

Arch Duke John's milkshakes leave the foothills of the Edro region & march into a gentler geography!   

Hungarians from Arch Duke John's army trudge through yet another nameless village.
The game will be fought in 10mm before you get your hopes up too much for a 28mm bash! 

The battlefield tour

The table is set & armies deployed. Here's a whirlwind tour. My cunning plan & army structure will form a separate post.

French deployment

Most of the table with most formations deployed. Tony surveys his Austrian warhost.

The French right wing. These are new toys, our Polish Division, two small infantry brigades, a cavalry brigade made up of two regiments of Polish lancers. The formation has an attached divisional Polish foot battery.
Their's is a tough job; fend off fairly substantial enemy attacks & swing around the hill to support the frontal attack on Prestento.       

Prestento is the prize for this French brigade, their foot battery is up on the hillside.
Behind the infantry in reserve is a brigade of Cuirassiers with attached horse battery, hopefully the threat of these will keep the enemy honest?   

Here is the mighty French centre.
The Old Guard foot stand behind another infantry brigade about to march off to attack, guns up front.
The hill is flanked by two brigades of Guard cavalry & the Guard artillery can be seen squeezed in there too.  

Moving left... top right is Prestento. On the right is the central French position with the Guard etc.
In the foreground we can see another Cuirassier brigade supporting the first of two infantry brigades setting off to assault & capture Perrini. 

There's Perrini - just up the road! To the left of the road is the second of two French infantry brigades tasked its capture. The batteries for both are deployed forward to bombard any Austrians who stray to close. 

My left is held by the Wurtemberg brigade & another new formation of toys, a brigade of Dragoons, 3x32 plus horse battery.
My extreme left is where the Austrian flank marchers are expected to arrive, not sure exactly where or when though...  

Austrian deployment

Tony took on the mantle of Arch Duke John as Chris was away for some reason which eludes me right now. Their objectives were the two villages of Prestento & Perrini and of course the destruction of the French field army - bah!

Here is how the Austrians deployed from their right flank to left opposite my French. 

Here we see Baron Homburg's light cavalry brigade supporting an infantry brigade to their left.  

Here we see them again, these are pretty much opposite my dragoons. 

The Austrian centre is a tough nut - well deployed and in depth. Here see a powerful infantry brigade ready to move up behind the Advance Guard who we allowed to deploy ahead of the main lines. The Austrian Advance Guard is a small division comprising a brigade of  jaegers & Grenzers plus a cavalry brigade comprising two regiments of Hussars & one of Cuirassiers.   

Also trailing the Advance Guard is yet another powerful infantry brigade next to the woods and the walled farm complex.
Next along are two brigades of Cuirassiers in reserve sitting pretty much dead centre.   

Yet another infantry brigade with the army artillery reserve behind it and two brigades of Grenadiers near the village on the back line. Curiously there are no infantry ready to pounce on Prestento...

The same view as above but from a different angle, looking north west.
Perrini is in the distance.

This took me by surprise!
We deployed alternate brigades deciding to dispense with maps. These two brigades of light cavalry are ordered to encircle Prestento cutting it off from the French & Polish forces opposite. The presence of such large amounts of cavalry subsequently rushed forward very aggressively was to have quite severe consequences for both sides early on. The lead cavalry brigade is strong, 2 x 32 Uhlans & 1 x 32 Hussars. Chevau Legere offer rear support.

The Austrian left is held by yet another powerful infantry brigade.
To the left their flank is wide open. Scout warn that French light cavalry will arrive but they're not sure when or where. 

A note on deployment... 

The table is about 18 x 6 feet. The deployment zones are both slightly off centre so each side initially overlaps the other on one flank. Both flanks are deep and fairly open to allow on table maneuver.

Light cavalry, skirmishers, Austrian Advance Guard & artillery may deploy up to 24 inches on. Brigades in the line of battle are deployed up to 12 inches on. "On table" reserves must touch the back board edge. Each side could mount a flank march to arrive from turn 2, (pre-recorded) and arriving 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 feet along the flank depending on the turn of arrival eg turn 5 five feet across. Flankers were limited in that heavy cavalry or army reserves couldn't flank march. Either side could have trailing forces, once again with a turn & point of arrival written down beforehand.       

Perrini is abandoned and the streets quiet. French batteries prepare to deny it to the Austrians.  

Prestento surrounded by fields, the crops gathered and whisked away before armies trample them to mulch!   

So, I have a strong army and a great plan - I am feeling confident. What could possibly go wrong...

Tony and I played turns 1 & 2 having deployed. Chris joined us from turn 3. The next post will begin to record the battle as it unfolds.

I hope gives you a taster of what is to come? As usual feel free to comment or post questions & of course "follow" if you haven't already.

Best wishes,

Jeremy