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Seeing that their rear-guard force was vastly outnumbered, the Austrians chose a withdrawal stance, thus limiting their losses, however resulting in a complete rout of their forces.

June 21-23

Napoleon advances his HQ to Brunn, where he expects to find Lannes, Messana, and Davout's corps, arrayed across the river from the Austrian army. Unfortunately, the Austrians steal a march on the French Marshallate, and advance to Brunn in a hasty attack stance.

The Emperor orders a withdrawal stance, and the battle ends with relatively little casualties on both sides.

It was a mistake to risk a battle without Bessieres cavalry, which is still resting.

June 24 rain

Second day of battle at Brunn, again inconclusive as Napoleon's forces are still not arriving at the battle site in a timely fashion. A withdrawal stance is chosen, against the tentative probe stance of the Austrians.

Why the French corps are laggard in getting into position is unsettling.

June 25

With the failure of his forces to march to the sound of the guns and join with the forces at Brunn, Napoleon ordered a general withdrawal towards Nikolsburg.

Losses have not been heavy in two days of battle at Brunn, but disorganization is not conducive to improving things.

The Austrians were having none of it, however, and forced a major battle just a few miles south of the previous battlefield.

Coalition Plan Mods 1st(0) 2nd(10) 3rd(5) 4th(0)
French Plan Mods 1st(-5) 2nd(0) 3rd(10) 4th(15)
Lannes, excellent execution (+16%)
*** ROUND 1
French Intensity 1
Coalition Intensity 1
Tharreau Str:5 Ftg:4 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Claparede Str:8 Ftg:0 Mod:56 % Hits:2
Friant Str:11 Ftg:0 Mod:53 % Hits:1
Gudin Str:10 Ftg:0 Mod:56 % Hits:1
Demont Str:6 Ftg:0 Mod:53 % Hits:0
Montbrun Str:5 Ftg:2 Mod:41 % Hits:0
III (A) Str:6 Ftg:0 Mod:65 % Hits:1
Legrand Str:5 Ftg:4 Mod:33 % Hits:0
IV (A) Str:5 Ftg:0 Mod:65 % Hits:3
Curial Str:14 Ftg:0 Mod:62 % Hits:3
Dorsenne Str:6 Ftg:0 Mod:70 % Hits:0
Arrighi Str:4 Ftg:0 Mod:70 % Hits:1
Klenau Str:4 Ftg:1 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Bartenstein Str:15 Ftg:2 Mod:35 % Hits:0
Rohan Str:18 Ftg:2 Mod:35 % Hits:0
Rohan Str:3 Ftg:1 Mod:33 % Hits:0
IV A Str:3 Ftg:2 Mod:44 % Hits:1
Prochaszka Str:1 Ftg:2 Mod:35 % Hits:0
IR A Str:4 Ftg:2 Mod:44 % Hits:1
Kienmayer Str:15 Ftg:1 Mod:33 % Hits:3
Schustekh Str:9 Ftg:2 Mod:35 % Hits:1
Saint Julian Str:6 Ftg:2 Mod:35 % Hits:0
Vukassovich Str:7 Ftg:2 Mod:35 % Hits:0
III A Str:4 Ftg:2 Mod:44 % Hits:1
Tharreau has been routed off the field
Montbrun has been routed off the field
Klenau has been routed off the field
Bartenstein has been routed off the field
IV A has been routed off the field
Prochaszka has been routed off the field
Saint-Cyr has arrived
Molitor has arrived
Aspre has arrived
Hessen-Hom. has arrived
*** ROUND 2
French Intensity 2
Coalition Intensity 3
Claparede Str:7 Ftg:1 Mod:91 % Hits:1
Friant Str:9 Ftg:1 Mod:78 % Hits:2
Gudin Str:10 Ftg:1 Mod:91 % Hits:2
Demont Str:6 Ftg:1 Mod:78 % Hits:1
III (A) Str:6 Ftg:1 Mod:96 % Hits:1
Legrand Str:5 Ftg:5 Mod:53 % Hits:0
Saint-Cyr Str:14 Ftg:5 Mod:53 % Hits:2
Molitor Str:7 Ftg:5 Mod:53 % Hits:0
IV (A) Str:5 Ftg:1 Mod:96 % Hits:1
Curial Str:14 Ftg:1 Mod:91 % Hits:2
Dorsenne Str:6 Ftg:1 Mod:103 % Hits:1
Arrighi Str:3 Ftg:2 Mod:97 % Hits:0
Rohan Str:15 Ftg:3 Mod:99 % Hits:0
Rohan Str:3 Ftg:3 Mod:78 % Hits:0
Aspre Str:3 Ftg:2 Mod:99 % Hits:1
IR A Str:4 Ftg:3 Mod:100 % Hits:2
Hessen-Hom. Str:8 Ftg:5 Mod:66 % Hits:2
Kienmayer Str:15 Ftg:3 Mod:63 % Hits:4
Schustekh Str:8 Ftg:3 Mod:81 % Hits:3
Saint Julian Str:5 Ftg:3 Mod:81 % Hits:1
Vukassovich Str:7 Ftg:3 Mod:81 % Hits:1
III A Str:4 Ftg:3 Mod:100 % Hits:1
Claparede has been routed off the field
Gudin has been routed off the field
Arrighi has been routed off the field
Rohan has been routed off the field
Rohan has been routed off the field
Schustekh has been routed off the field
Saint Julian has been routed off the field
*** ROUND 3
French Intensity 3
Coalition Intensity 4
Friant Str:6 Ftg:3 Mod:97 % Hits:0
Demont Str:5 Ftg:3 Mod:97 % Hits:2
III (A) Str:6 Ftg:3 Mod:121 % Hits:1
Legrand Str:4 Ftg:7 Mod:72 % Hits:0
Saint-Cyr Str:13 Ftg:7 Mod:72 % Hits:1
Molitor Str:7 Ftg:7 Mod:72 % Hits:0
IV (A) Str:5 Ftg:3 Mod:121 % Hits:2
Curial Str:14 Ftg:3 Mod:115 % Hits:3
Dorsenne Str:6 Ftg:3 Mod:132 % Hits:0
Aspre Str:1 Ftg:5 Mod:123 % Hits:0
IR A Str:4 Ftg:7 Mod:122 % Hits:2
Hessen-Hom. Str:8 Ftg:9 Mod:79 % Hits:2
Kienmayer Str:15 Ftg:8 Mod:68 % Hits:0
Vukassovich Str:5 Ftg:7 Mod:97 % Hits:0
III A Str:4 Ftg:7 Mod:122 % Hits:0
Friant has been routed off the field
Demont has been routed off the field
Aspre has been routed off the field
IR A has been routed off the field
Vukassovich has been routed off the field
*** ROUND 4
French Intensity 4
Coalition Intensity 2
III (A) Str:6 Ftg:6 Mod:150 % Hits:6
Legrand Str:4 Ftg:10 Mod:93 % Hits:1
Saint-Cyr Str:13 Ftg:10 Mod:93 % Hits:1
Molitor Str:7 Ftg:10 Mod:93 % Hits:1
IV (A) Str:5 Ftg:6 Mod:150 % Hits:1
Curial Str:14 Ftg:7 Mod:135 % Hits:3
Dorsenne Str:6 Ftg:6 Mod:165 % Hits:0
Hessen-Hom. Str:7 Ftg:12 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Kienmayer Str:15 Ftg:12 Mod:33 % Hits:2
III A Str:4 Ftg:12 Mod:34 % Hits:1
III (A) has been routed off the field
Hessen-Hom. has been routed off the field
Kienmayer has been routed off the field
III A has been routed off the field

...

June 25-29

The Grande Army reorganized at Nikolsburg, and on the 28th was ordered reestablish a base at Brunn.

Bessiere's Reserve Cavalry Corps and Bernadotte's infantry corps are now east of Brunn, advancing as the Austrian army has withdrawn towards Possnitz. A series of minor skirmishes have taken place as French cavalry harrassed the enemy rearguard.

On the 29th, nearing Possnitz a more serious stand was taken by the Austrians, resulting in a pitched battle with little loss on either side. Bessiere's cavalry made a feint attack and withdrew.

...

situation north of the Danube

~45,000 reinforcing troops in three corps under Marmont, Macdonald, and Grenier have entered the theater near Vienna and will primarily take up a defensive position against Archduke John's force.

and in the area of Vienna

The current status:

A French victory is inevitable now, but the Archduke Charles' Army is still in being and Napoleon has not yet achieved any decisive victory.

June 30-July 5

Archduke John marched his force north to Possnitz unopposed, which was a complete failure on the part of French recon.

Reports are that with the Austrian army united, they are ready to give battle in or near Possnitz. The Grande Army is approaching, unfortunately without MacDonald's and Marmont's Corps, which are still guarding Vienna.

Screen Shot #30 - Was LANNES on 'engage', or 'defend', when given the objective of NIKOLSBURG ?

From the battle options at NIKOLSBURG, looks like he is on 'engage', which I guess is why his units pursued the Austrians beyond NIKOLSBURG.

'Engage' ensures more aggressive battle options, but risks units getting too far ahead chasing the enemy, whilst 'defend' keeps corps units on the objective, but restricts battle options to more defensive strategies. Fiendish !

Looks like you captured a big depot at NICKOLSBURG.

June 25th battle near BRUNN looks a brutal affair, whilst the probing in the previous clashes was inconclusive. All looks realistic as a spectator, how does it look from the keyboard end ?

Yes, Lannes was on 'engage.' This last push forward I have been more careful to only use engage and move to the sound of the guns once I have the corps generally where intended.

feels quite 'realistic' to me, notwithstanding my mistakes. Performing one of Napoleon's sweep to the rear certainly seems feasible but difficult to coordinate, as it should be.

At this point there is only a week left in the campaign and I am positioning for a massive battle, but that will require the cooperation of Charles AND my own marshalls.

July 7

Major battle just west of Possnitz, with a decisive victory for the French. This was the action that Napoleon wanted.

It remains to be seen whether Charles has had enough, or will hold his ground.

French Plan Mods 1st(10) 2nd(10) 3rd(10) 4th(10)
Coalition Plan Mods 1st(10) 2nd(10) 3rd(10) 4th(10)
Lannes, excellent execution (+16%)
Bessieres, outstanding execution (+24%)
Rosenberg total command breakdown (-30%)
Bellegarde communication problems (-6%)
Liechtenstein total command breakdown (-30%)
*** ROUND 1
French Intensity 1
Coalition Intensity 1
Tharreau Str:4 Ftg:2 Mod:62 % Hits:0
Claparede Str:6 Ftg:2 Mod:62 % Hits:0
II (A) Str:4 Ftg:2 Mod:68 % Hits:1
Gudin Str:7 Ftg:4 Mod:50 % Hits:1
Demont Str:4 Ftg:4 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Montbrun Str:3 Ftg:3 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Legrand Str:5 Ftg:4 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Ludwig Str:11 Ftg:2 Mod:41 % Hits:1
Nansouty Str:5 Ftg:4 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Sulpice Str:4 Ftg:4 Mod:33 % Hits:0
It.Gd Str:10 Ftg:4 Mod:37 % Hits:1
Durette Str:8 Ftg:4 Mod:45 % Hits:1
Gre. A. Str:2 Ftg:4 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Sahuc Str:6 Ftg:2 Mod:37 % Hits:1
Bartenstein Str:16 Ftg:3 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Rohan Str:18 Ftg:2 Mod:33 % Hits:1
Rohan Str:3 Ftg:1 Mod:33 % Hits:0
IV A Str:3 Ftg:3 Mod:33 % Hits:1
Prochaszka Str:1 Ftg:4 Mod:33 % Hits:0
IR A Str:3 Ftg:4 Mod:33 % Hits:1
Lindenau Str:7 Ftg:6 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Reuss-Plauen Str:10 Ftg:3 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Schustekh Str:8 Ftg:2 Mod:33 % Hits:0
V A Str:4 Ftg:2 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Dedovich has been routed off the field
Rohan has been routed off the field
Morand has arrived
III (A) has arrived
Molitor has arrived
IV (A) has arrived
Klenau has arrived
Kienmayer has arrived
*** ROUND 2
French Intensity 3
Coalition Intensity 4
Tharreau Str:3 Ftg:3 Mod:143 % Hits:0
Claparede Str:5 Ftg:3 Mod:143 % Hits:1
II (A) Str:4 Ftg:3 Mod:158 % Hits:2
Morand Str:15 Ftg:3 Mod:97 % Hits:2
Gudin Str:6 Ftg:5 Mod:131 % Hits:0
Demont Str:4 Ftg:5 Mod:85 % Hits:0
Montbrun Str:3 Ftg:5 Mod:62 % Hits:0
III (A) Str:4 Ftg:4 Mod:102 % Hits:1
Legrand Str:5 Ftg:5 Mod:85 % Hits:0
Molitor Str:8 Ftg:4 Mod:91 % Hits:0
IV (A) Str:5 Ftg:4 Mod:102 % Hits:2
Ludwig Str:11 Ftg:3 Mod:97 % Hits:5
Nansouty Str:5 Ftg:6 Mod:83 % Hits:3
Sulpice Str:4 Ftg:6 Mod:70 % Hits:1
It.Gd Str:10 Ftg:5 Mod:102 % Hits:3
Durette Str:8 Ftg:5 Mod:120 % Hits:2
Gre. A. Str:2 Ftg:5 Mod:96 % Hits:1
Sahuc Str:6 Ftg:4 Mod:82 % Hits:2
Klenau Str:2 Ftg:2 Mod:59 % Hits:1
Bartenstein Str:15 Ftg:4 Mod:68 % Hits:1
Rohan Str:17 Ftg:3 Mod:72 % Hits:3
IV A Str:3 Ftg:4 Mod:76 % Hits:1
Prochaszka Str:1 Ftg:5 Mod:80 % Hits:0
IR A Str:3 Ftg:5 Mod:90 % Hits:0
Kienmayer Str:15 Ftg:2 Mod:72 % Hits:2
Lindenau Str:6 Ftg:7 Mod:72 % Hits:1
Reuss-Plauen Str:10 Ftg:4 Mod:84 % Hits:2
Schustekh Str:8 Ftg:3 Mod:88 % Hits:1
V A Str:4 Ftg:3 Mod:98 % Hits:0
Tharreau has been routed off the field
Klenau has been routed off the field
Bartenstein has been routed off the field
Rohan has been routed off the field
IV A has been routed off the field
Prochaszka has been routed off the field
IR A has been routed off the field
Kienmayer has been routed off the field
Lindenau has been routed off the field
Schustekh has been routed off the field
*** ROUND 3
French Intensity 4
Coalition Intensity 4
Claparede Str:4 Ftg:7 Mod:172 % Hits:2
II (A) Str:4 Ftg:7 Mod:193 % Hits:3
Morand Str:14 Ftg:6 Mod:118 % Hits:0
Gudin Str:5 Ftg:8 Mod:166 % Hits:1
Demont Str:3 Ftg:8 Mod:106 % Hits:1
Montbrun Str:2 Ftg:10 Mod:62 % Hits:1
III (A) Str:4 Ftg:7 Mod:127 % Hits:1
Legrand Str:4 Ftg:9 Mod:100 % Hits:0
Molitor Str:7 Ftg:7 Mod:112 % Hits:1
IV (A) Str:5 Ftg:8 Mod:121 % Hits:2
Ludwig Str:10 Ftg:6 Mod:118 % Hits:0
Nansouty Str:4 Ftg:11 Mod:93 % Hits:0
Sulpice Str:3 Ftg:11 Mod:75 % Hits:1
It.Gd Str:10 Ftg:8 Mod:128 % Hits:1
Durette Str:8 Ftg:9 Mod:146 % Hits:1
Gre. A. Str:2 Ftg:9 Mod:115 % Hits:1
Sahuc Str:6 Ftg:9 Mod:87 % Hits:1
Reuss-Plauen Str:8 Ftg:8 Mod:68 % Hits:1
V A Str:4 Ftg:8 Mod:78 % Hits:0
Reuss-Plauen has been routed off the field
V A has been routed off the field

July 8

Charles begins to move back from Possnitz.

Meanwhile Grouchy's Cavalry saw some action to the north of Wagram. So it appears that not all of Archduke John's force joined Charles main army.

to July 14

The Battle of Possnitz was the deciding event of the campaign. Archduke Charles sued for an armistice and negotiations for peace.

A very satisfying game, certainly the best Napoleonic campaign game I've played. AGEOD's Wars of Napoleon would be massively great also, but it's ... massive, and has a very weak AI.

Campaigns on the Danube on the other hand has a passable to good AI. maybe even better than that, judging from this one scenario, where the Austrian AI kept it's army in being until the very end, when there was a final major battle.

I may try full FOW next time.I can only imagine that it would require having a notebook at hand.