In the1859 campaign the Austrians had initially sort to take advantage of the division of their enemies. They had advanced from their bases in an attempt to crush the Piedmontese forces before their French allies arrived in strength. Unfortunately for the Austrian’s their commander, Field Marshall Gyulai, proved not to be up to the job. So having suffered a number of reverses, and with the French and Piedmontese armies combined, the Austrian’s switched to the defensive and pulled back to positions around Magenta. Meanwhile the allies were eager to take advantage of their position and secure victory as soon as possible. They knew that Austrian reinforcements were on the way to the Italian front. Also the longer the war continued the greater the chance that the Prussian’s, and possibly other German states, would intervene in the conflict by mobilising on the Rhine. The Austrian army was deployed behind the Ticino River and the Naviglio Grande canal. Seeking to avoid a frontal assault the Franco-Piedmontese army attempted to turn the Austrian right flank. They sent MacMahon with a mixed command, including the Piedmontese army, to cross the Ticino and Naviglio Grande further up. He was to attack the flank of the Austrian forces that were hastily moving into place to block these moves. While Napoleon III moved with the bulk of the French forces to pin the Austrians to their positions.

The purpose of this page is to provide scenario details for the Battle of Magenta, 1859. The scenario is for use with the Mit Blut und Eisen rules for the mid Nineteenth century European wars - Mit Blut und Eisen.

Note: The version for the old rules is here - Fire and Furia Francese scenario

Notes

The starts with the Allied 12:00 phase and finishes with the Austrian 20:00 phase, the Allies move first in each turn.

Orders of Battle

The Franco-Piedmontese Army

All infantry have MLR and all artillery stands are RA. Roll a D6 for each unit that does not have a leader. On a roll of 5 or 6 the unit has a leader. Roll again and on a 1-5 it is a +1 leader, on a 6 a +2 leader.

Commander in Chief: Emperor Napoleon III (2) (see Special Rules)

Imperial Guard Corps: St. Jean D'Angely (1): Formation Morale 8- 1 D6

Corps Artillery (part): 2 Foot Batteries.

Grenadier Division: Mellinet (1)

• Zouaves de la Garde/1st Grenadier: 5 / 3 / 2IA

• 2nd/3rd Grenadier Regt: 6 / 4 / 2 IA

• Divisional Artillery: 1 Foot Battery

3rd Corps: Canrobert (2): Formation Morale 6 plus 1 if light unit used - 1 D6

1st Division: Renault (1)

• 8th Chasseurs Btn: 3 / -/ 2 Light or make 1 unit below 7 / 5 / 4 or both 'Heavy' skirmishers.

• 1st Brigade: 6 / 5 / 3A

• 2nd Brigade:: 6 / 5 / 3 A

4th Corps: Niel (3): Formation Morale 7 plus 1 if light unit used - 1 D6

2nd Division: Vinoy (0)

• 6th Chasseurs Btn: 3 / - / 2 Light or make 1 unit below 7 / 5 / 4 or 6 / 5 / 3 or both 'Heavy' skirmishers.

• 1st Brigade: 6 / 5 / 3 A

• 2nd Brigade: 5 / 4 / 3 A

MacMahon’s Command: MacMahon (3): Formation Morale 20.5 plus 1 per extra light unit used - 3D6

2nd Corps Artillery Reserve: 2 Foot Bateries

2nd Corps Cavalry Reserve (4th & 7th Chasseurs a cheval, Alessandria Lt Horse): 4 / 3 / 2 (+1)

9th Bersaglieri Btn: 3 / 2 / - Light

1st Division, 2nd Corps: de la Motterouge (1)

• 1st Brigade (1st Turcos and 45th Line Regt): 6 / 4 / 2 IA

• 2nd Brigade: 6 / 5 / 3 A

• Divisional Artillery: 1 Foot Battery

2nd Division, 2nd Corps: Epinasse (2)

• 11th Chasseurs Btn: 3 / - / 2 Light or make 1 unit below 7 / 5 / 4 or 4 / 3/ 2 or 6 / 4/ 2 or two 'Heavy' skirmishers.

• 1st Brigade: 6 / 5 / 3 A

• 2nd Zouave Regt: 3 / 2 / - IA

• Foreign Legion Brigad: 5 / 3 / 2 IA

• Divisional Artillery: 1 Foot Battery

Voltigeur Division, Imperial Guard: Camou (1)

• Chasseurs de la Garde: 3/ 2 / - Light or make 1 unit below 7 / 5 / 3 or both 'Heavy' skirmishers.

• 1st Voltigeur Brigade: 6 / 4 / 2 IA

• 2nd Voltigeur Brigade: 6 / 4 / 2 IA

• Divisional Artillery: 1 Horse Battery

The Austrian Army

Infantry marked with an * are armed with SM, all others are armed with MLR. All artillery are SA.

Roll a D6 for each unit that does not have a leader. On a roll of 5 or 6 the unit has a leader. Roll again and on a 1-5 it is a +1 leader, on a 6 a +2 leader.

Commander in Chief: Gyulai (0)

Army Reserve Cavalry (1st Ulan Regt): 3 / - / 2 (+1)

1st Corps: Clam-Gallas (1): Formation Morale 7 plus up to 4 depending on how the light infantry are used - 2 D6

1st Division: Montenuovo (1)

• 2nd Jager Btn and 1st Btn, 11th Grenze Regt: Can be fielded as two light units 3 / 2 / - and 3 / - / 2* OR as one light unit and upgrade infantry regiment to 7 / 5 / 4* OR as one line unit 3 / 2 / - OR upgrade infantry regiment to 8 / 6 / 4*

• 60th Infantry Regt: 6 / 5 / 3*

• Divisional Artillery: 1 Foot Battery

2nd Division: Cordon (1)

• 14th Jager Btn and 2nd Btn, 11th Grenze Regt: Can be fielded as two light units 3 / 2 / - and 3 / - / 2* OR as one light unit and upgrade infantry regiment to 8 / 6/ 4* OR upgrade both infantry regiments to 8 / 6 / 4 * OR as one line unit 3 / 2 / - OR upgrade infantry regiment to 9 / 7 / 5*

• 37th Infantry Regt: 7 / 5 / 4 *

• Divisional Artillery: 1 Foot Battery

2nd Corps: Liechtenstein (2) : Formation Morale 12 plus 1 per light infantry unit used - 2 D6

Corps Artillery: 2 Foot Batteries

1st Division: Jellacic (1)

• 7th and 21s Jager Btns : Can be fielded as two light units 3 / 2 / - OR as one light unit and upgrade infantry regiment to 8 / 6/ 4 OR upgrade both infantry regiments to 8 / 6 / 4 OR as one line unit 3 / 2 / - OR upgrade one infantry regiment to 9 / 7 / 5

• 12th Infantry Regt: 7 / 5 / 4

• 46th Infantry Regt: 7 / 5 / 4

• Divisional Artillery: 1 Horse Battery

2nd Division: Herdy (1)

• 10th Jager Btn: Can be fielded as light unit 3 / 2 / - Light OR upgrade one infantry regiment to 7/ 5 / 4

• 9th Infantry Regt: 6 / 5 / 3

• 45th Infantry Regt: 6 / 5 / 3

• Divisional Artillery: 1 Horse Battery

3rd Corps: Schwarzenburg (1): Formation Morale 12 plus plus up to 4 depending on how the light infantry are used - 2 D6

Corps Artillery: 2 Foot Batteries

Corps Cavalry (10th Hussars): 3 / -/ 2 (+1)

1st Division: Schonberger (1)

• 13th and 15th Jager Btn: Can be fielded as two light units 3 / 2 / - OR as one light unit and upgrade infantry regiment to 8 / 6/ 4 OR upgrade both infantry regiments to 8 / 6 / 4 OR as one line unit 3 / 2 / - OR upgrade one infantry regiment to 9 / 7 / 5

• 27th Infantry Regt: 7 / 5 / 4

• 58th Infantry Regt: 7 / 5 / 4

• Divisional Artillery: 1 Foot Battery

2nd Division: Martini (0)

• 23rd Jager Btn and 2nd Btn, 2nd Grenze Regt: Can be fielded as two light units 3 / 2 / - and 3 / - / 2* OR as one light unit and upgrade infantry regiment to 8 / 6/ 4* OR upgrade both infantry regiments to 8 / 6 / 4 * OR as one line unit 3 / 2 / - OR upgrade infantry regiment to 9 / 7 / 5*

• 5th Infantry Regt: 7 / 5 / 4 *

• 14th Infantry Regt: 7 / 5 / 4*

• Divisional Artillery: 1 gun

1st Division, 5th Corps: Paumgarten (2): Formation Morale 4 plus 1 if light unit used - 1 D6

• 4th Kaiser Jager Btn: Can be fielded as light unit 3 / 2 / - Light OR upgrade one infantry regiment to 7/ 5 / 4

• 31st Infantry Regt: 6 / 5 / 3

1st Division, 7th Corps: Reisach (1): Formation Morale 6 plus 1 if light unit used - 1 D6

• 3rd Kaiser Jager Btn: Can be fielded as light unit 3 / 2 / - Light OR upgrade one infantry regiment to 7/ 5 / 4 or 7 / 5 / 3

• 1st Infantry Regt: 6 / 4 / 2

• 54th Infantry Regt: 6 / 5 / 3

• Divisional Artillery: 1 Foot Battery

Railway Line (Brown line from F1 to F6): This feature has an embankment along most of its length but is a cutting in the central sectors (the part from G3 to F4). The embankment parts block line of sight, count as a 1BW wide linear obstacle and counts as light cover if a unit is lining it. The cutting part has very steep sides, so cavalry and artillery may not enter it from the sides, infantry count it as a 2BW wide linear obstacle. Any units may enter or exit it from the northern and southern entrances. While inside the cutting units can neither see or be seen, except by units that are touching the cutting.

Bridges: There are 5 bridges marked on the map, in squares C5, E4, F3, G3 (Railway bridge) and at Ponte Vecchio. The bridge at C5 (Bernale) has been destroyed and no one can cross there. The bridge at E4 (Buffalora) is partially destroyed and takes a full turn to cross. All others may be crossed as usual.

Special Rules

Emperor Napoleon III: The Emperor Napoleon may give a unit the benefit of an attached leader. He has no command range and must be attached to a unit to have any effect. If an attached leader is killed when the Emperor is attached he is killed, roll for it if there are more than one attached leaders. If he is Killed the Austrian’s receive a large victory point bonus, detailed below.

Victory Points

The following scenario specific victory conditions also apply.

Either Side:

5 v.p’s for control of each of the 4 blocks of Magenta at the end of the game.

+10 v.p’s for control of 3 blocks of Magenta at the end of the game.

+20 v.p’s for control of all 4 blocks of Magenta at the end of the game.

Austrians:

20 v.p’s if no unspent infantry units from the allied forces that enter from F6 are across the Naviglio Grande Canal at the end of the game

50 v.p's for killing the Emperor, Napoleon III while attached to a unit

The Historical Battle:

There is a good account of The Battle at http://www.provincia.milano.it/magenta/BattIngl/Battmenu.htm , please consult that.