The Battle of Mautern
By Carlos Lourenco

Note: This battle was fought on January 16, 1998 using the excellent From Valmy to Waterloo Napoleonic miniatures rules. The game occurred at the Connecticut Gamers Club annual con, Crusades '98. William Keyser, who wrote From Valmy to Waterloo, was the gamesmaster. He does a great job of keeping the players in the dark as to enemy dispositions, objectives and forces. He also keeps you in the dark as to what he has in mind and throws in plenty of monkey wrenches and confusion. IMO this leads to a very realistic wargame. William made the terrain. He also painted all the figures, which are 5mm Heroics and Ros.  Photos, maps and stories by Carlos Lourenco

Herr Prince,

I write in order to describe to you the battle which our forces have just engaged the French. I am dictating this letter while laying in the Care of our doctor, Herr Kemp. I was incapacitates by a ball in the arm which broke my forearm, however I am told that it is expected I will recover fully. This does not however, allay the great pain I feel.

On Saturday morning we were ordered to move into the town of Mautern to secure if from use by the enemy. General Sovork's advance guard had arrived on the heights directly east of the town to report that a large French force was moving rapidly to secure this same town. He estimated its size at a division. We were told by Korps that we could expect reinforcements coming from the East, from across the River Mosarini.

The terrain for our advance did not favor our forces. An unfordable river sat on our right flank. To the left flank, where my brigade would be advancing, lay woods, stone walls, muddy fields, and Mautern. The French initially deployed a brigade along a stonewall in the valley facing us. A large hill pointed directly to this position like a dagger. General Brady moved his brigade and the divisional artillery to this position at once. Our Dragoons secured our right flank and anchored the line against the river.

The initial plan was to move up to the "tit" on the hill and, using an artillery base of fire from there, assault the enemy line. Though we were tasked to secure the town we felt this would be best accomplished by clearing the road to the east and taking the bridge, where our reinforcements were coming from. We would then isolate the town, compelling the French to withdraw or face an assault without hope of support. Having experienced city fighting in Haslach-Jungingen in 1805, I was well aware of the French talent in their strongpoint defensive methods. This seemed the least costly way. To support this, my brigade was to feint toward the town thus committing the French brigade to deploy into the town. This would fix them in place, then I could swing my brigade to support Brady’s attack against the French Center.

The plan initially went well, our Jaegers cleared the woods to our front. Bundy moved his force in attack position and thus began a rather sharp artillery duel in the center. It was clear right away that the constrictive terrain proved even worse than we had imagine, causing great difficulties in deploying the battalions, all in the face of a galling French Artillery fire. My brigade quickly moved through the woods and took up an attack position to support Brady. One battalion feinted toward Mautern, and this sucked in the entire French right-flank brigade nicely. They even attempted to come out the other end to flank us, but I had stationed an artillery battery and some Hussars there, which forced them back into the town.

With dispositions thus achieved, we set about preparing for our attack. It was at this time that General Keyser rode up to me personally on the field and ordered a direct frontal Assault on Mautern! I implored the General that this was madness, yet he would hear nothing. Even the attachment of General Schnorr’s excellent brigade, did nothing to soothe my highly agitated state. However I am a loyal Austrian officer from the esteemed house of Lorenko and know my duty. At the last minute I adjusted our axis of attack and began a two pronged assault against Mautern. On the right I first led off with two battalions of I.R. 35 across the muddy turnip field to attack the eastern most point of the town. This first push was repulsed by the French, and we reeled back two hundred meters to the far end of the field. I personally rallied the troops and led the second assault, this time with my third battalion striking directly from the East. This proved too much for the French and they were evicted from their positions. Thus we gained a foothold in the town.

Schnorr’s brigade struck as a single mighty wave against the southeastern most part of Mautern and pushed back a French force holding there. Once consolidated he committed his third battalion with support from inside the town and began pushing west through the town to clear the entire eastern half. Our troops were now firmly ensconced within Mautern.

I wish I could report similar progress along the center, but General Brady's command suffered grievous losses in their approach to the French line. Heavy mud sucked the boots of many a soldier, causing much difficulty in deploying into line. Heavy French 12-pounder fire broke a whole battalion and sent the reeling to the rear. However, General Brady rallied the rest of the force and in they went. Our artillery and musketry took a heavy toll of the French. The Jaegers did a good job harassing and diverting French artillery fire from our main troops but they paid dearly suffering 70% casualties. Eventually Brady went in with the bayonet, and the French were compelled to withdraw to a second line they formed on the crest of the hill. We were left in possession of the road, but at what cost! Brady's battalions were in a terrible state, left exposed in the valley with a terrible line of French artillery on the crest pouring a hail of shot and shell down upon them. The brigade of General Gost, coming up on Brady's right was delayed and took too much time to come to Brady's support. By then the French had brought up their dreaded 57th Ligne to blunt this thrust.

Fighting now was general along the entire front. We waited in vein for the flanking reinforcements that had been promised and our hopes for a movement sur les derriere's proved impossible. As for me I was now embroiled in a protracted City fight without the strength or support necessary. However, my troops fought bravely and bled the French well in this battle of attrition. The French committed yet more troops to the defense of the town. If only we had those reinforcement to flank from the East! Alas, our troops grew fatigued in the heavy fighting. It was necessary for me to direct the assault on each house personally.

It was at this time, while attempting to clear the granary in town, that I received my grievous injury. It was only though the grace of the God that I am able to write to you today. I later learned that the French continued a grievous artillery barrage against Brady's line, and were able to follow-up with a successful counter assault. This left my brigade dangerously exposed in Mautern. Our tired and brave soldiers were compelled to withdraw in order to preserve the force for a future counterstroke.

After being carried from the field, the French launched a counter-thrust against our weakened center. The battalions here could not stand in the face of fresh troops and withering artillery. General Brady was compelled to withdraw under the cover of our cavalry, artillery, and his remaining intact battalion.

In Mautern, attrition, fatigue and disorganization began to tell on both sides. We could have remained in the town, but for half the brigade routing from the French counter-thrust in the center. This caused a general panic. We were eventually forced to withdraw from the town. However, this was completed in good order under the cover of General Schnorr's brigade.

Our casualties were heavy, overall my brigade suffered 500 casualties killed and wounded. General Brady's brigade suffered almost 900 casualties plus the destruction and loss of 5 guns. General Schnorr's brigade suffered 350 casualties. French casualties are unknown, but I would estimate them at 1000-1200 with 2 guns lost.

It is still my belief that with a separate force attach the French position from the East, securing that bridge, we can make a second successful attempt at securing the town

General Karl von Lorenko

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