The Battle of Neerwinden 1793: Charles' blooding with commentary below

French press the Austrian advanced guard.

Charging the guns.

Combined arms assault going in.

En event, hit their flank! The French flee.

Who is next?



That didn't work out as planned.  The lonely Austrian Cheaval-leger sees off the French dragoons.

Not this time.

The Austrian light troops continue to hold up the French center left advance, helped by the terrible terrain.

Mark's turning movement meets resistance.

Opening moves.



Steve and Mark square off on the flank

After a furious cavalry battle the French attempt to turn the Austrian front line.

The French masses attempt to turn the Austrian left.

Austrian defense in depth

French regulars (the whites) clash with Austrians.

The Austrian Grenzers withdraw , as do the French Hussars.

Action in the swamp land off the road where Austrian grenzer and jager engage les Blues.

Initial dispositions prior to the cavalry clash.

Les Blues push back the open order Austrians into the swamp.

Austrian dragoons on the losing end of a clash with hussars.



Cavalry against infantry.  

Toward battle's end the French are at the top right of the map unable to break the Austrians in between the stream and the town.

I focus on the Austrian right flank of this battle, where the young Charles, using a group of light troops and grenadiers, defended the Austrian lines of communication and dealt the French left wing commander, Miranda a stinging setback.  Putting the action into context, this was after the French victory at Jemmapes and the follow-on invasion of Holland by Dumouriez.  The Austrians under Coburg forced the French to battle at Neerwinden.  The main road connecting to the Austrian line of supply and communication is an old Roman road slicing through several small villages with swampy terrain to the north and a river with the French to the west.  Charles had 11 battalions and 11 squadrons broken up into several commands.  Miranda had a greater number of troops of lesser quality and training.   In our game the French pinned the Austrian front and sent a large number of their troops on an end run to cut the lines of communication.  The Austrian's thwarted the action by diverting their reserves to hold towns blocking the advance and using the terrain to buy them time.  Miranda left France after the battle and returned to South America where he lead an abortive coup against Spain and started the young Bolivar on his career.

The French deploy on the left and bring their troops forward to pin the Austrians while they maneuver at the top of the photo to turn the Austrian line moving through swampy territory.