The Battle of Raszyn - 19 April 1809

A 25mm Napoleonic wargame fought on Saturday, August 25, 2007

 

Part of Austria's plans to challenge France included an offensive against the Grand Duchy of Warsaw to knock Napoleon's Polish allies out of the war. On this day of battle, Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Karl d'Este with 30,000 troops met Prince Joseph Poniatowski's 14,000 men near Warsaw, at the town of Raszyn.

The battlefield was dominated by the swampy waters of the flooded Utrara stream in front of Raszyn. This natural obstacle could only be slowly crossed where it could be forded at all!

We played with 25mm miniatures using the Age of Eagles ruleset. The Gourmet Wargaming Club (GWC) has a blast with this scenario. Truly an "anus-clenching adventure."

 

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The Battlefield, as seen from the Polish side of the Utrara stream. The town of Raszyn sits across a causeway, in the center left of this photo.

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The Polish right flank is held securly in a village across the stream.

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The Polish advance guard included light cavarly units that were to brazenly demonstrate in front of the mud, causing delays in Austrian deployment.

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The town of Raszyn itself. A small unpassable pond (lower right) protects one flank.

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Austrian troops arrive from the center.

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The Austrian right flank advances through a forest to meet the enemy cavalry screen.

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Another view of Raszyn, right, with the flooded swampy ground along the stream. The manor house, bottom left, provides a hidden spot for Polish cavalry.

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Polish lancers advance just to the left of Raszyn.

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The Polish left flank is very weak, with a single infantry brigade supported by an artillery battery.

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The first clashes involved light cavalry; the result is inconclusive, but the Poles fall back.

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The Austrian center is menaced by a small but brash band of Polish horse. The infantry must form square to counter the advantage of the cavalry.

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Cavalry clashes in the center force the Poles back to the river.

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An important charge: Austrian infantry manage to form square in the nick of time, sending enemy cavalry reeling. The security of the Austrian center hung in the balance for just a moment.

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Cavalry skirmishes on the Austrian right entertain the troops who enter the battlefield along the road. The Austrian deployment is barely slowed here.

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Remnants of the Polish horse warily eye the infantry square and the enemy cavalry come to meet them.

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A bird's-eye-view of the Austrian advance in the center.

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More and more Polish guns are shifted to cover Raszyn. Cavalry, at top, begin to slog through the swollen Utrara.

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Polish cavalry on the Austrian right are noticeably diminshed in number. They can't prevent the advance of Austrian infantry and artillery to the stream, but the enemy are still wary.

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The referee and a couple of Austrians. The mustache on the former makes me think he might just be in league with the latter.

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The glorious commander (foreground) of the Polish force contemplates his defensive plans while the Austrian CinC snoozes.

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The Polish left flank is starting to come under pressure.

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Immense brigades of Austrians march to the right flank, protected by a screen of cavalry.

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The agile Polish cavalry in the center charges the Austrian right, smashes an enemy cavalry brigade, and captures an artillery battery.

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You can't see the mud, but this cavalry unit has just crossed the stream to threaten the Austrian center.

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An overview of the battle, showing a preponderance of Austrian forces on their right flank. This was soon to change...

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Polish forces shift to reinforce the left flank in response to the massing of Austrians, opposite.

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A vicious fight on the Austrian left sees the flank guard unit falling back to the protection of the woods. The Polish cavalry at left were blasted by artillery from the flank.

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The end of a plucky group of Poles: the cavalry in the center of this mass are annihiliated by Austrian might.

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Austrian horse on the far right prepare to cross the swollen stream, under cover of artillery.

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A graphic view from the Polish defenses on their left. The Austrians wisely did not try to press across the bridge.

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After being pounded some more, remnants of two Polish cavalry brigades dodge away from enemy infantry and artillery.

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Suddenly the Austrians begin to redeploy their troops from the right to the center. Their brave cavalry take a pounding, but successfully screen the lateral movement of a couple of brigades.

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Now the Austrians arriving in the center have come into their own. This mass is heading straight for the bridge in front of Raszyn.

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An impressive display of Austrian might in the center.

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Ye Gods! This is why we fight: delicious, plummy spoils of war. Reminds us that the "G" in GWC stands for Gourmet.

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The almost forgotten Polish left flank becomes a quiet backwater.

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Polish gunners fire into the mass of enemy slogging through the mud.

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The schwerpunkt will be the center, at Raszyn.

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Another smaller group of Austrian infantry cross the Utrara on the Austrian left.

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A bird's-eye-view of the action between the bridge and the causeway in front of Raszyn.

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The Polish left is threatened, but the Poles have more to worry about in the center.

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Crash! Charging Austrians hit the Polish defenders waiting with ready muskets on high ground.

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One embattled brigade of Poles holds the right flank against two enemy brigades.

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More Polish allies and artillery move up to counter the attack on the right.

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Meanwhile, behind the Austrian lines, tired Polish cavalry swans about with little effect.

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Austrian artillery is able to race across the Utrara at the now unguarded bridge on the Polish right.

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The intrepid Austrian commander watches his handywork as the last light fades from the day.

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A Polish counter-attack with fresh infantry and artillery causes a ripple of concern in the Austrian ranks.

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The battle ends at nightfall with a Polish defensive edge in front of Raszyn. The Poles have slowed the Austrians for a day at least.