The Battle of Bassignana 27th September 1745.

 This article is my personal interpretation of this battle. Any mistakes are my own.

By the early part of 1745 the war in Italy had not been going well for either the Spanish or French Monarchies. These countries were allies along with familial ties, however each had differing war aims which were hampering operations in the field.

Genoa had become the central headquarters for the “Gallispan Army”, and it was here that a strategy was devised to cut off the Piedmontese from their Austrian Allies. Also, instead of invading the Kingdom from the west ( a move which had already failed once), the attack would start from the south-east. The French General Jean-Baptiste Francois des Marets, Marquis de Maillebois and his Spanish counterpart, Jean Thierry du Mont, Compte de Gages vied for command.

.The French King, Louis 15th yielded to to his Spanish uncle King Philip 5th, giving Gages overall command.

This decision bought a measure of cohesion in military planning with De Gages and Maillebois working as a team. In part they were aided by the movements of the Austrian forces. The Austrian General Schulenburg had moved his forces westward to support the Piedmontese leaving some towns in north central Italy uncovered.

In the early part of 1745, the Franco-Spanish army of 58,000 men started its march north-west toward Piedmontese territory. 8000 men were sent out north and north-east to capture the towns of Parma and Piacenza which capitulated without a fight. These actions also caused the Austrians to move their forces north across the Po to cover Milan and north-east to protect their communications with Austria.

Charles Emmanuel the King of Piedmont became alarmed that the Austrians were moving away from his troops. Even Schulenburg moved his force north, across the Po so that he could move east if required. Despite his pleas to the Austrians to stay, Charles Emmanuel and his Generals realised that they would have face the French and Spanish alone.

The Piedmontese army was a finite force. The King had reached the limits of recruitment and could only rely on the civilian population to support the regulars. Against the French and Spanish, the Piedmontese mustered 30,000 which included battalions of militia. Field entrenchments were relied upon to offset the numerical disparity with the enemy.

The river Tanaro marked the eastern line of the Piedmontese defence. At the northern end where the Tanaro entered the Po, the village of Bassignana was fortified. At the Southern end, Montecastello was also strengthened with defence works. Riverone,at the centre of the Line was a fall back position for troops positioned near the river bank. In the event that these positions were overwhelmed, the  troops were ordered to move west toward either Alessandria or Valenza.

In the days leading up to the battle, Gallispan detachments had been sent across the Tanaro to spy out the land. By persuing them the Piedmontese inadvertently revealed the fords across the river. Plans were now made for the attack, which would be made in  six columns. On the morning of the 27th as the sun rose, trumpets and drums sounded the advance. The Battle for the Kingdom’s survival had begun ————-.

 

THE FRENCH ARMY; 25,500 = 25.5pts x 2 = 51pts.

21,500 Infantry ( inc Generals) = 21.5pts x 2 = 43pts.

4,000 Cavalry = 4pts x 2 = 8 points.

8 Guns each with 50 gunners = 400 = 0.400pts x 2 = 0.800 pts or 1pt r/u.

1 General ( Maillebois )  @ 2points.

1 General Senneterre @ 1 point.

1 General Grammont  @ 1 point.

1 General Montal  @ 1 point.

2 stands of Grenadier Infantry @ 4pts = 8 points.

9 stands of Line Infantry  @ 3pts = 27 points.

1 stand of Light Infantry  @ 2pts.

4 stands of Line Cavalry  @ 2pts = 8 points.

1 stand of Light Artillery  @ 1 point.

THE SPANISH ARMY 24,500 = 24.5pts x 2 = 49 points.

21,000 Infantry ( inc Generals ) = 21pts x 2 = 44 points.

2,000 Cavalry = 2pts x 2 = 4 points.

7 Guns each with 50 gunners = 350 gunners = 0.350pts x 2 = 0.700 or 1 point r/u.

1 General  and C-in-C ( De Gages )  @ 2 points.

1 General ( Aremburu )  @  1 point.

2 stands of Guard Infantry @ 4pts = 8 points.

7 stands of Line Infantry @ 3pts = 21 points.

2 stands of Genoese Line Infantry @ 2pts = 4 points.

2 stands of Modena Line Infantry @ 2pts = 4 points.

2 stands of Light Infantry @ 2pts = 4 points.

2 stands of Line Cavalry @ 2pts = 4 points.

1 stand of Light Artillery @ 1 point.

PIEDMONTESE ARMY; 30,000 = 30 points x 2 = 60 points.

26,000 Infantry ( inc Generals ) = 26pts x 2 = 52 points.

3,000 Cavalry = 3 points x 2 = 6pts.

20 Guns each with 50 gunners = 1,000 gunners = 1pt x 2 = 2points..

1 General ( C-in-C ) Charles Emmanuel @ 3 points.

1 General  ( Castagnole )  @ 1 point.

2 stands of Grenadier Infantry @ 4pts = 8 points.

10 stands of Line Infantry @ 3pts = 30 points.

2 stands of Vaudois Militia Infantry @ 2pts = 4 points.

3 stands of Civilian Infantry  @ 2pts = 6 points..

3 stands of Line Cavalry @ 2pts = 6 points.

2 stands of Light Artillery @ 1pt = 2 points.

THE AUSTRIANS;

I have not attached any numbers to this little group of stands. Schulenburg’s efforts at support were reduced to erratic and ineffective Artillery fire from the north side of  the Po. The few stands just represent a presence. Each stand can fire but cannot move forward.

The Austrians:

General Schulenburg  @ 1pt.

1 stand of Cavalry  @ 2pts.

1 stand of Line Infantry  @ 3pts.

1 stand of Light Artillery  @ 1pt.

PLAYING RULES:

* The Piedmontese retain the Initiative Point for the entire battle. All the troops of both sides were seasoned. However the Piedmontese were fighting for their homeland.

* The Piedmontese win any tied results.

* The Tanaro was waist deep. Stands being moved into the river must halt. Their move can be continued on the next Game-Turn.

* Stands cannot fire while they are within the river.

* The river Po cannot be crossed except by bridge or boat.

* The French and Spanish Army moves first on the first Game-Turn. From Game-Turns 2 to 8 both sides have dice rolled to determine which side moves and fires first.

* The Game will be played for eight Game-Turns. 

VICTORY.

The Piedmontese must stay on the field for eight Game-Turns in order to get a draw.

The French and Spanish win if they drive the Piedmontese from all three villages after eight Game-Turns.

Note: apart from the overall numbers, I don’t know exactly how they were split between France and Spain so it’s a bit of a guesstimation my part.

In regard to the Piedmontese, I set the army at 30,000  with militia making up the total. Four years of fighting, had certainly worn the army down in numbers but not it’s fighting spirit nor it’s loyalty to the Monarch.

The French and Spanish continually suffered from a paucity of artillery, even going so far as to borrow guns from the Vatican!. The Piedmontese only had a small train of rather elderly guns, but the crews were very professional and well trained.

* In one description of the battle the Franco Spanish army is described as being in three groups of two Columns . Whereas a diagram says five. I think Aramburu’s column was large enough to be mistaken for two columns. so I’ve settled for five columns in all.

CREDITS:

The figures are a mix of Miniature Figurines, Peter Pig and Essex. The work parties are Hallmark figures still available from Magister Militum. The stands are of picture-framing cardboard. The round 40mm mdf bases are from Minibits.

All the buildings are scratch built. The defenseworks are a mix of ; Last Man Last Bullet and Fire And Sword. The roads and rivers are made from thin card. The bridges are also scratch built. Some of the hedge sections are from Pendraken Miniatures.

The board is 3 feet ( 90cm ) x 2 feet ( 60cm ).

 JAMES “JIM” MITCHELL.

I could not finish my article without mentioning Jim Mitchell. I never met this gentlemen, however, he ran the Seven Years War Association from America. This was a loose association of members worldwide and I came late to the party.

Jim was an avid and enthusiasic researcher of the 18th Century, particularly of the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War. I was very lucky to gain a fair amount of information by being a member. I have a book, ( Campaigns Of The King) that was translated by Jim from which I gained a lot of knowledge about the above battle.

Sadly, Jim passed away in his 40th year not long after his marriage, a loss not only for his Wife but for the hobby at large. May he Rest In Peace.

Battle of Campo Santo, Modena, North Eastern Italy, February 1743.

 This is my personal interpretation of events,  any inaccuracies are my own.

The information on this battle is a bit sparse, at least in the english language. The events took place during the War of the Austrian Succession. Having previously lost parts of Silesia to the Prussian King, Maria Theresa the Austrian Empress was casting around for redress and Italy caught her attention.

In the Regal "swopmeet" that took place after the Spanish Succession  war, the Spanish gained southern Italy. This area combined with the island of Sicily became known as " The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies". This  Kingdom was ruled by King Carlos the 3rd who happened to be the eldest son of Philip the 5th and Elizabeth Farnese of Spain.

Elizabeth also wanted a Kingdom for her younger son the Infante. The former Farnese territory of Palma and Piacenza were already controlled by Austria. Tuscany looked vulnerable as did parts of  Piedmont, tucked up in the North Western corner of the peninsular. Piedmont was already under pressure from France and in the end cast its lot with the Empress.

Charles Emmanual  of Piedmont was a soldier king much like Frederick of Prussia and a wily politician to boot. The French and Spanish monarchies had family as well as political ties but there was no strategic unity. The French government would not allow passage of the coastal route to Italy by any Spanish army.

Thus it was that the Spanish fleet in avoiding  English warships managed to get an army into Genoa.

The Duke of Modena, Ferdinand the 3rd D,Este also sided with Spain when the Austrians prematurely invaded the Duchy.

By 1743 the war in Italy was bogged down. The Spanish army under De Gages kept trying to cross the Panaro northward into Modena. Traun, the Austrian commander managed to stonewall the Spanish General each time.

Both Generals were under extreme pressure by their respective governments. De Gages had three days in which to achieve a victory or he would be sacked. Traun was under a similar threat.

Eventually De Gages was able to stymy the Austrian/Piedmontese army enough to get across the Panaro, using pontoon bridges close to the village of Campo Santo.

Note;

 I  could not find an exact composition of  the Austrian/Piedmontese army but fared better with the Spanish. There is still an element of guesswork involved.

The Spanish suffered from an almost complete lack of artillery in Italy, with the Austrians only doing slightly better. Remounts for the cavalry were also a problem and it was not unusual for the Spanish to have a regiment with an entire Squadron of  troopers dismounted. 

With desertion and sickness being another major problem, along with the harshness of the terrain, De Gages used a "rule of thumb" that each infantry battalion  held 350 men with 120 troopers in a squadron.

AUSTRO-PIEDMONTESE ARMY;

9,100 infantry = 9.1 x 3 = 27 points.

2,400 cavalry = 2.4 x 3 = 7 points

25 guns + 750 gunners = 0.750 x 3 = 2 points.

1 General [ Traun ] C-in-C  @ 2 points.

1 General [Schulenburg ]   @ 1 point.

4 stands of Grenzer Light Infantry @ 1 point =4 points.

1 stand of Grenadier Line Infantry @ 3 points.

4 stands of Austrian Line Infantry @ 2 points  = 8 points.

1 stand of Austrian Hussar Light cavalry @ 1 point.

2 stands of Cavalry @ 1 point = 2 points.

1 stand of Dragoon Cavalry  @ 1 point.

2 stands of Light Artillery @ 1 point = 2 points.

PIEDMONTESE ARMY;

1 General [ Leutrum ] @ 1 point

1 General [ Aspremont ]  @ 1 point.

2 stands  of Dragoon Cavalry @ 1 point = 2 points.

1 stand of Vaudois Light Infantry Militia @  2 points

1 stand of Grenadier Line Infantry  @ 3 points

2 stands of Line Infantry @ 2 points = 4 points.

--------------------------"-----------------------------

SPANISH-NEAPOLITAN ARMY;

11,550 Infantry = 11.550 pts x 3 = 35 points r/u.

1,440 Cavalry = 1.440 pts x 3 = 4 points r/d.

12 Guns + 360 gunners = 0.360 pts x 3 = 1 point.

1 General [ De Gages ]  C-in-C  @  1 point.

1 General [ De Atrisco ] @ 2 points.

1 General [ Beaufort ] @ 1 point.

1 General [ McDonald ] @ 1  point.

1 stand of Spanish Light Infantry @ 1 point.

2 stands of Walloon Line Infantry  @ 2 points = 4 points.

2 stands of Castile Line Infantry @ 2 points = 4 points.

2 stands of Spanish Guard Infantry @ 3 points = 6 points.

2 stands of Irish Line Infantry @ 2 points = 4 points.

2 stands of Neapolitan Swiss Guard Infantry @ 2 points = 4 points.

2 stands of Genoese Line Infantry @ 2 points = 4 points.

1 stand of Modena Line Infantry @ 2 points.

1 stand of Neapolitan Light Infantry ( the famous Albanians. This was an elite unit. No deserters were allowed within its ranks.) @ 1 point.

3 stands of Spanish Cavalry @ 1 point = 3 points.

1 stand of Neapolitan Cavalry @ 1 point.

1 stand of Neapolitan Light Artillery @ 1 point.

Note. The Spanish regiments on the left were Provinciale troops. Although classed as Militia they were trained as the Line. Both Spain and Naples had single battalions of these troops. I have some stands of figures with  Modena and Genoese flags so these were put into the line as Provinciales!

Historical  Playing notes;

Traun had moved his army sideways  to the North-east to give him a  slight superiority on his left. both sides massed  their  cavalry on the Eastern flank. The cavalry of both sides fought their own private battle.

The Spanish cavalry although smaller in numbers managed to overrun the Austrian cavalry therefore, any die thrown for a Cavalry stand in the Spanish army will have one additional point added.

Cavalry cannot engage in combat with any opposition infantry.

On the western side of the battlefield the Austrian Grenz Light troops never moved from the vineyard they were ensconced in. Apparently the Grenz managed to stop the advance of the Spanish left flank. Therefore, the vineyard counts as a trench, and the light troops are not allowed to move from that position unless forced by a “move-back” result.

The area was covered in irrigation ditches, therefore cavalry can only move three squares instead of four.

Neither the river Panaro  or the Canal can be crossed except at the pontoon bridges. The pond cannot be crossed by any stands. Any stands forced into the rivers will be counted as casualties.

The two Generals were completely opposite in their command style. Gages stayed where he was for the entire battle. Traun was everywhere and he had two horses shot from under him. Therefore De Gages cannot move from his position for the entire battle

The figure representing Traun can be moved anywhere. If Traun becomes a casualty, the figure is moved back two squares and reinstated.

Casualties in this battle were very high for both sides.

● The battle will last for eight Game-Turns.

● The Austrians get the Initiative Point and will move and fire first on the first Game-Turn. Thereafter, both side will dice to see who goes first and has the Initiative Point.

●The winner will be the side losing the least number of stands after 8 Game-Turns.

The figures are a mix of Miniature Figurines, Peter  Pig and Essex Miniatures. The buildings are all scratch-built as are the pontoon bridges.

The trees are from various manufactures. The field bases are from S and A Scenics. The road and river sections are made of thin card.

The square stands are made from picture framing cardboard. The round 40mm mdf bases were purchased from Minibits.

The flags were made from masking tape and hand painted.

Final Word;

The Genoese had  a red vertical cross on their flag which was the origin of the flag of England. Modena had a blue vertical cross. Both were on a white background.

Naples, had a large vertical Maltese style cross with the same symbol repeated in each quarter again on a white background.

Piedmont,s flag was a red circle with a white vertical cross imposed on it. This circle was imposed on a black eagle. This symbol sat on a blue background.