I left the campaign in the aftermath of the (2nd) Battle of Cuneo. The Gallispans had been retreating ahead of the combined Austrian and Piedmontese armies when they were caught a few miles from Cuneo. The Gallispans fought a rearguard action and came off the worse in terms of casualties suffered but held off the enemy long enough for the bulk of their forces, including artillery and transport train, to escape.
The next map turn was the week commencing 10th September 1742. Whilst King Charles Emmanuel's Piedmontese dug in across the Stura opposite Cuneo and the Gallispans did likewise on the ridge by the city, Traun led his Austrians east to Alessandria. They were on their way to relieve the siege of Piacenza by Monetmar (Spanish), Francesco d'Este (Modenese) and King Carlos (Neapolitan).
In the final week of September, as Traun approached Piacenza the three Bourbon leaders held a council of war. What should their outnumbered forces do? D'Este was ready to stand and fight the Austrians, but he was outvoted by Montemar and Carlos. [The dice decided: 3 dice, one for each leader, needing a 5 or 6 for battle]. The Bourbons retreated into Parma, Modena and Guastalla as their best chance of survival. Once the Bourbons had gone, Traun had their siege works outside Piacenza destroyed so if they came back they would have to start all over again.
Meanwhile the Gallispans and Piedmontese eyed each other from their entrenched camps either side of the Stura. The Gallispans outnumbered the Piedmontese but it would have been too risky to attempt a storm of an entrenched camp. After 3 weeks in camp, and exhausted by countermarches and battles, the Piedmontese were prey to disease. They were afflicted by plague which took away 10% of their number. [As October came round it was time to see if an Event occurred and sure enough one did. I rolled against the Event Table and it came up 3. The first time this would mean a Jacobite uprising in Britain. The second time it would be an outbreak of plague in either the Austrians or Piedmontese. Unluckily for the Piedmontese the die picked them].
By and by King Charles Emmanuel realised that he could not remain in his pestilential camp and marched back to Turin and sent a force under Aspremont to guard Ivrea. Working in agreement with the Piedmontese, Traun distributed his force between Milan, Alessandria and Piacenza. Traun already held Cremona so he had a good central blocking position to hold off any advance by whichever Bourbon force ventured forth, and he would be able to concentrate quickly. And the opposing factions stayed in their respective strongholds for the next 3 weeks when the first snows began to fall in the mountains. The campaigning season of 1742 was over.
Late campaign moves and final positions (circled)
It had been an active campaigning season. Four large field actions had taken place (Parma, Piacenza and 2 outside Cuneo) all won by the Austro-Piedmontese. Several sieges had resulted in two cities changing hands: Piacenza from Parma to Austria and Cuneo from Piedmont to Spain/France. A large Bourbon supply train had been ambushed which led to a weakening of the Bourbon forces. The French were plotting with James Stuart (James VIII and III) to return him to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland. Nothing concrete had come of that, but it was a useful lever for the French. And finally, the Piedmontese had been hit by plague.
The rules, such as they are, have developed piecemeal. Occasionally I have fudged or diced my way out of uncertainty. Late on I added siege attrition rules, which stupidly I'd overlooked. And I have factored in a rough and ready 'Capitulation' provision for when a fortress falls. In the first week I assume to be by coup de main when losses on defenders are heavy and I'll dice for whether they go 'in the bag' or march out. In subsequent weeks the defenders (less accrued attrition) march out. Later still the defenders must go back to their 'home country' and can even lose their artillery. I don't make any provision for storms. Everyone is far too rational for that!
I think I will return to the campaign for the 1743 campaigning season. It's been enjoyable, if a bit tricky sometimes with less than tip-top admin. Maybe the next season will see an attack on a prepared position, or an escorted supply train. The latter could be played out with a different troop and ground scale. Lots of hussars swirling around or Piedmontese militia in the mountains. That's all some months off I think as I'd like to get some different toys out next.
No comments:
Post a Comment