Hohenlinden

This was a battle of two halves; the Austrian Left and Centre had to flog through large forests of fir trees and attempt to push the French away from the various choke points so they could move on towards the town of Hohenlinden. Whereas the Austrian Right had a much more open area dotted with villages and the occasional wood.

The Battle on the Right

This was the largest of the Austrian Columns commanded by Keinmayer 18,000 strong including 8 regiments of Heavy Cavalry (and he was to receive 3 more transferred from the centre). Keinmayer came on in three groups - the first was a large body of 5,500 infantry that slowly emerged from the wood on the far right. Some 30minutes later the first 4 Regiments of cavalry arrived at point 2 (see map) and an hour later 4 more at point 3. Trailing each of these cavalry Bdes was a Brigade of infantry. The French having a pretty good idea where the Austrian would be coming from had deployed forward in a line between the two villages (Buch and Tading) with all their cavalry on their left wing. This latter was embasrrasing for the Austrian infantry emerging from the wood as they had to form squares almost immediately and took some heavy punishment from artillery. This could not be countered immediately because all the Austrian cavalry was on the Keinmeyer's Left. Things went much better for Austrians Cavalry which penetrated the French line next to the village of Buch and the two Grenz Bns that accompanied the cavalry stormed and took the village, forcing the French to start withdrawing. This freed up two cuirassier regiments and two horse batteries who went to the aid of the embattled Austrian Infantry debouching from the wood after some sharp cavalry melees and the French cavalry were forced to retire whilst taking some casualties from the horse batteries. This finally allowed the Austrian infantry to deploy out of the wood (but now short of two battalions that had been routed!). Then started the relentless Austrian Advance with the less numerous French retreating as best they could - The French left which was supported by cavalry fell back in reasonable order but their other flank never recovered from the loss of Buch and retreated in some disorder not helped by Austrian Cavalry reinforcements from the centre that broke through in their rear. The French were eventually driven back to the table edge with no fight left in them and the game was called by the umpires as Keinmayer was putting together his plan for the atttack on Hohinlinden.

The Batttle in the Centre

The Bravarians of Zweibrucken’s Division arrived at Mittach with orders to relieve Baillet’s Division and then to push on to Hohenlinden. Baillet was not to be found, having been delayed and so Zweibrucken took the track to Hohenlinden where his lead battalion and cavalry regiment found Bastoul’s infantry and cavalry, supported by Grouchy’s cavalry waiting for them. As he marked along the track, Ney’s division appeared on his flank in the lighter woods around Mittach and reaped havoc on the Bavarians.. Wrede occupied and held Mittach whilst Zweibrucken rallied his division. Ney pursued vigorously and met Baillet’s Division which came to the aid of Zweibrucken. The battle in the wood ebbed and flowed whilst the lead battalion units on Zwiebrucken’s Division faced the forces around Hohenlinden. These were unable to commit to the assault as Moreau lacked information on the whereabouts of the other Austrian forces.
Grouchy recalled his cavalry as Austrians of FML Kollowrat’s column appeared on the tracks in front of his infantry anchored on the dense woods NE of Birkach and SW of Krieth with the villages defended by brigades. A stalemate developed here as Grouchy await either the assault of the Austrians or arrival of Richepanse and Decaen whilst Kollowrat-Krakowsky awaited the arrival of his second column and support from FML Reisch. Eventually the column and support arrived the Austrians advanced on Grouchy, sending their cavalry through the dense woods to try and outflank Grouchy’s position.
With unerring accuracy, the Austrian cavalry exited the woods behind Grouchy’s infantry, only to find Bastoul’s and Grouchy’s cavalry ready to pounce on them. This caused the first units to emerge to be put to flight, but the second line began to overpower the weakened French regiments, but were still faced by a second fresh line. Grouchy’s infantry inflicted casualties on the advancing Austrians and held firm in the hope of relief by Decaen.

The Battle on the Left

Richepanse’s French Division arrived first at Sankt Christoph and Schutzer and occuplied the villages. Whilst awaiting the arrival of Decaen. they were attacked by the Austrian columns of FML Reisch whose units appreared out of the dense woods and along the tracks. These Austrians were uncanny in their ability to move through woods which had a 66% probability of getting lost! The Austrians launched the infantry against the village of Schultzer only to be repulsed twice, before they were able to bring forward batteries to bombard the village and drived the defenders out.
By now Decaen had arrived in the SW corner at the same time as the second column of Reisch’s arrived in the SE corner. The battle in this corner ebbed and flowed with fierce fighting in the dense woods, but Reisch was able to dispatch some cavalry to aid Kollowrat whilst the remainder of his force held Richepanse and delayed Decaen who was trying to find a way north to Honhenlinden. Unable to move along the track, Decaen moved through the woods but could not arrive before the battle ended.