Austrian Briefing- FML von Riesch, 14th October 1805
The campaign is not going well. The commander in chief, Mack, continues to order march followed by counter-march, and when the enemy is found the French army- even their cavalry!- is proving more than a match for the Austrian army. The low point came three days ago at Haslach-Jungingen, where a single French division defeated the main body under Mack’s personal direction. Many of your troops were badly mauled, and are not in the best spirits or condition. Mack has decided to retire into Bohemia, and you have been told that the French have retired to protect their lines of communication. However, from your vantage point in the convent of Elchingen, the number of camp fires to the south indicate that either a large part of the French army is lost, or Mack is mistaken. You well know what the most likely of those alternatives is! This morning you sent Mescery along the river bank to probe eastwards. He has returned with reports of large numbers of enemy patrols ahead. It is clear that the French are looking to cross the Danube, and therefore threaten the entire army. It also looks as if it falls upon you to stop them. Fortunately the position is a good one- the convent is a real strong point, and the French have limited room for manoeuvre across the single bridge. You have instructed the returning Mescery to deploy to the east (point Y on the map), and have deployed 2 battalions of Fusiliers from the Froon IR#54 to stop the French forcing the river crossing. The rest of your force is deployed along the ridgeline as you see fit.

The game begins just after a depressingly familiar result- the French stormed across the bridges and sent the Froon infantry flying in rout. They’ll be of no further use in the battle to come. In addition, the ammunition wagons haven’t appeared. This means that any unit that engages in more that 2 rounds of combat will be penalised! However, you have plenty of troops, more than enough to hold the position for the day. If your troops can show any spirit at all, you know you can hold the ridgeline.

Austrian Order of Battle- Elchingen, 14th October 1805

II Column, Army of Swarbia, FML Count von Riesch (Cautious/Poor)

Division I,  FML Laudon (Cautious/Poor)
“Cavalry” Battery                              6x6lb    C class
Advance Guard Brigade
Erzherzog Ludwig IR#8 Fusiliers        3 btns    D class        SK0
Erzherzog Ludwig IR#8 Grenadiers     1 btn    C class        SK0
Blankenstein Hussars                                  C class        Light Cavalry
Centre Brigade
Karl Reise IR#15 Fusiliers                   4 btns    D class        SK0
Erzherzog Maximilien IR#35 Fusiliers     4 btns    C class        SK0
Cuirassier Regt Hohenzollern                              C class       Heavy Cavalry
Reserve Brigade
Froon IR#54 Fusiliers                          2 btns    D class       SK0
Froon IR#54 Grenadiers                      1 btn    C class       SK0
Josef Colloredo IR#57 Grenadiers        1 btn    C class        SK0

Division II, FML von Hessen-Homburg (Poor)
Centre Brigade
Erzherzog Karl IR#3 Fusiliers           3 btns    C class       SK0
Auersberg IR#24 Fusiliers               4 btns    D class        SK0
Reserve Brigade
(Froon IR#54 Fusiliers                   2 btns    D class       SK0)   Routed
Auersberg IR#24 Grenadiers           1 btn    C class       SK0
Erzherzog Karl IR#3 Grenadiers        1 btn    C class        SK0

Advanced Guard, GM Mescery (Poor)
Erbach IR#42 Fusiliers                   3 btns    C class        SK0
Erbach IR#42 Grenadiers               1 btn    B class        SK0
Cuirassier Regt. Erzherzog Franz               C class       Heavy Cavalry