Austerlitz Turn 1 [Allies]

0600: FOG visibility 200m (1 hex)

Buxhowden relayed the new orders quickly. The men in his General Staff looked around with a mixture of relief and uncertainty.

With a Czar, a Prince and a Kaiser all trying to be in control it had been a bizarre few days. Recently the French had vacated Pratzen Heights. A sure sign that they were in disarray, if not in effect already beaten. A poorly translated and somewhat garbled commentary from a young aide de camp of Tzar Alexander confirmed the same upon his return from the French HQ.

Napoleon had refused to meet!

The good news was that the complex and frankly stupid plan issued late yesterday had just been rescinded at 0500 hours. New orders had been issued for the Left Wing!

target Left Wing

Keinmeyer for one was relieved but still troubled. He and Doctorov would lead the attack on Telnitz from Aujest Markets., now with the of Field Marshal Prince Liechtensteins Cavalry Brigades added to the force mix.  However as he looked out of the encampment the thick dark fog embodied a foreboding he could not shake. Were the forces allocated to taking Solkonitz and the Pheasant Gardens enough? Langeron was a reliable so too Prsybyczewsky.  Their focus however left the center solely to Field Marshal Count Kollowrath to capture and hold.

As he shared the new plan with his officers, Oberst’s came and went, the Chaplain prayed for victory. The Hauptleute reviewed ammunition distribution and received reports from sub ordinate Unterlieutenants of the fusiliers readiness. All was ready.

Count Kollowrath’s began his march from near Kresnowitz and the camp of the Tsar, Musketeers in the lead, the drum beat barely audible in the muting fog. They were followed by the Generals Rottermund and Jurschek who commanded a mixed force of Battalions from various and sundry Regiments 14 battalions in all, colors hung limply in the heavy air, red epaulettes on green jackets heavy with dew, the officers marching alongside the columns in campaign dress were easily distinguished from the line soldiers in white trousers, they in their grey.

Infantry men and grenadier alike sported various pompon colors all were muted in the dull light. except the III battalion of the 58th Regiment  as theirs were bright yellow surrounded by red. Keinmeyer wished the Russian Guard and all its Artillery had been brought to bear on Pratzen Heights as well.  More guns are always better he thought.

First Moves

Bagration had still not reported in. Yet his Advanced Guard which comprised the entire Right Wing of the attack promised they would arrive no later than 8am, his messengers had assured ever one. They would attack the Stanton Redoubt, as previously agreed and drive the French headlong with 5 Brigades of solid troops.  Who at this point marched wild eyed thru this thick fog which had reduced not only visible range of all parties but muted the sound of the march. Eerie was the word on the fusiliers and grenadiers lips, as battalions not 50m ahead disappeared in swirls of fog. Bagration however thought that surely this would allow for even greater surprise when they fell upon the unsuspecting demoralized French. His officers were not of the same mind.

What are the French thinking? What will they do?

The French Forces:

The French move out also. Their plans relatively unchanged. Seeing the mass of hidden counters the French begin to execute their orders, or so it seems at least!

The French make some rapid movements! are they dummies or Cavalry?

On this edge of the map counters stream towards Bagrations entry point!

……………………………………….!
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