Marengo was intended from the outset to be a simple game. Of all the four games in the Napoleon at War series, it probably lent itself more towards the Napoleon at Waterloo/Borodino system than any of the others. It was also a simple, clean situation with a small number of units. A small number of units is good in one way, as it makes for a short, quick game, but it is bad in that it places more emphasis on a few important die rolls. `Luck` is more important in Marengo than in many other games. But the sides are equally balanced, and between equal Players neither has the advantage in this game.
The two Special Rules in Marengo were dictated by the historical circumstances. The Austrians did catch the French napping, and that is why the French movement and attack capacity is reduced on Turn One. Similarly, Bonaparte launched a counterattack near the close of the day, made more effective by the fact that the Austrians were tired and their commanders were confident success had been achieved - General Melas had already retired from the field to write his victory dispatch when the blow fell. All of this has been incorporated into the French counterattack.
The actual battle came as Napoleon Bonaparte pursued the Austrian field army under General Melas to the fortress of Alessandria during the 1800 campaign in Italy. General Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of France and budding dictator, brought his Army of the Reserve to besiege the city and keep Melas moving. At that time, the French moved quicker than the Austrians. Although the Austrians had `invented` light infantry tactics during the Seven Year's War, the French adopted their use on a wide scale. This tactical difference gave the French additional advantages incorporated in the game.
The Austrians, rather than running, made a surprise attack on the morning of June 14. At first, Bonaparte thought it was just a probe, but at 9:30, an hour and a half after the attack opened, the French had been forced back from Pietrabuona to Marengo. By 10:00, the French were holding a line around Marengo as the Austrians tried to attack down the road. The Austrians continued to attack at Marengo while French reinforcements came up. By 1400, they had extended their left flank enough to overstretch the French positions. The fifth Austrian attack on Marengo turned the French out of the town. Bonaparte ordered a retreat to the large hill in the center. Melas, convinced the day was his, retired to write his victory dispatch while his tired troops stumbled forward. By 1700, the Austrians had engaged the French on the top of the large hill. Just as they were beginning to force the French line back, Bonaparte unleashed the cavalry reserve he had formed in a devastating counterattack that changed the outcome of the battle. The Austrians were soon swept back as the French line advanced. By 2200, they had been pushed back to the original bridgehead. The French lost over 6,000 out of 28,500, the Austrians, 9.402 of 33,800. It was `a near run thing` that required all of Bonaparte's skill to recover from the initial blow. We hope to have duplicated this fascinating and versatile situation in the Marengo game.
Copyright © Decision Games