Back to the game and moving on the Turn 30 (30th April 1809) :
I haven't posted the full write-up for Turns 27, 28 and 29, but this is the story so far.
When the Austrians fell back over the Danube, some units in disorder (LIECHTENSTEIN and KEINMAYER), sighting of most of the French forces was lost. CHARLES was expecting the EMPEROR to follow up and attack the river defence line and LANNES did almost reach CHAM after driving BELLEGADE out of STRAUBING.
Then all fell quite, except for the battle for MUNICH, where HILLER was trying to save himself and avoid being encircled.
As the shattered units recovered a cavalry recon from PASSAU found French units passing from LANDAU and onwards beyond BRAUNAU. CHARLES had started a tentative advance across the Danube towards LANDSHUT, with HOHENZOLLERN covering the flank toward ECKMUHL.
The image above shows the strategic position, which is amplified when searching the stacks. This is the position at the start of Turn 30;
KOLOWRAT's shattered divisions surrender, although the corps counter remains on the map and the info panel shows odd figures.
HILLER has moved back into MUNICH and the French have gone, I have scanned all the hexes around and HILLER corps is alone. Retaking the city has netted more captured supply (271), which is very good as HILLER is cut-off from the LOC (his normal supply is up near LANDSHUT trying to avoid the French advance). HILLER is also probability cut-off from orders by the French movement through BRAUNAU, but he has re-set his own supply depot as MUNICH to use the captured supply, so I have to leave the supply there, even if it means possibly losing what's left, if then HILLER evacuates the city.
How probable is it that HILLER could have stood off two French corps, including the IMPERIAL GUARD, whilst alone and cut-off from orders and supply. Factors to consider :
1. LEBEBVRE previously shattered and fragile. HILLER gained the city first, fighting in the streets of MUNICH neutralised the effects of cavalry and artillery.
2. Overall French army confidence has fallen to the same level (1) as the Austrian confidence level, which may have helped level the battlefield odds.
3. Maybe the AI decided to by-pass HILLER rather than suffer the casualties necessary to defeat him, NAPOLEON needs these units in good shape if there is to be a final climatic battle.
4. If the battles had been fought entirely in open country (clear hexes), I suspect that HILLER's fate would have been the same a KOLOWRAT where he was trapped by 2 French corps.
MASSENA's IV corps has re-appeared on the road between LANDSHUT and BRAUNAU with a stack size of (7), but with only 6 units visible in the stack shuffle. Perhaps it's the commander (not normally visible for enemy units) that makes up the stack number.
VANDAMME's Wurtenburgers are already at BRAUNAU and there may be other French units beyond the town over the River INN. So there is a large French movement Eastwards, with HILLER's operations at MUNICH stopping two other French corps making progress in the same direction.
Did the EMPEROR think that the Austrians were finished and thought that KIENMAYER and LIECHTENSTEIN's shattered retreat through PASSAU signalled a general retreat. Could it be that he is heading for VIENNA, ignorant, or ignoring, CHARLES' regenerating force on his left flank, along the Danube.
CHARLES decision to advance across the great river has placed his forces between BERNADOTTE/LANNES (thought to be near REGENSBERG) and the main French army, whilst also cutting across the EMPEROR's supply lines.
Where will the EMPEROR head now, onwards toward VIENNA via LAMBACH, into the Austrian rear via SCHAERDING, or turn and face the threat to his rear ?
Has this been a ruse to tempt CHARLES away from his river line defence, could he strike back at CHARLES' extended position whilst LEFBBVRE and the IMPERIAL GUARD by-pass HILLER and close in though FREISING and LANDSHUT. HILLER needs to hold MUNICH, but can the message get through and what will be his reaction be to more countermanding orders. Where are BERNADOTTE and LANNES, last seen North of REGENSBERG, their arrival could upset the balance of forces and what happened to the remains of DAVOUT's corps ?
Whilst SCHAERDING and LAMBACH continue to show in red (Austrian control), then LINZ is safe, but if they change to French control (blue), then the EMPEROR will be moving East and the supplies will have to move, or burn, and hope that KIENMAYER recovers quickly enough to move and threaten the advance.
The tributaries of the Danube give the Austrians good cover and defence lines for this movement onto the French supply lines, but PASSAU must be held, or the bridge blown, otherwise all could be lost. The engineers have been waiting eagerly at PASSAU for just such an eventuality.
I have either pulled off a brilliant manoeuvre, or put my head in a vice, only time will tell, but there are now only 10 days of the scenario left.
