Portable Aspern-Essling, 21 May, 1809

The battlefield: Aspern on the left, and Essling in the distance
The infantry of Massena's IV Corps about to occupy the villages

This is my 'Portable' rendition of the Battle of Aspern-Essling, 21-22 May 1809, possibly one of the most interesting of all the Napoleonic battles. For one thing, it was the first real check in the field Napoleon had received - the product, it would appear, of trying to bounce the Austrian army out of the line of the Danube by a single crossing of a river in spate. In two days' of fighting, Napoleon failed to achieve a sustainable lodging on the north side of the river, withdrew into the Lobau Island, whereat he undertook a more thorough preparation for the battle that was to be named for the village of Wagram six weeks or so later.

Suddenly, the rising ground to the north is covered by the 
masses of the Austrian Army

In April, the Austrian Emperor Francis, seeking to advantage himself from Napoleon's (mis)adventures in Spain, declared war on France, and had his most able commander, Archduke Charles, invade France's ally, Bavaria. Left in charge of the Army in the region, Marshal Berthier made rather a hash of the opening campaign moves that left Davout's III Corps isolated and exposed. The Austrians failing to make the most of their opportunities, and Napoleon's timely arrival in the theatre wrought order out of chaos. In a few days the Austrian army was split into two, and the whole retreated to Vienna, where they recombined on the north bank of the Danube, not far east of Vienna itself.

The race for Essling. The 

In 1805, by a reprehensible subterfuge - pretending an armistice - the French had contrived a crossing of the Danube without a fight. This time the Austrians were not to be so beguiled. Napoleon would have to fight his way across.

This item has been sitting in draft since the end of March. High time I posted something about it. A pictorial narrative of 22 May 1809 will follow...

This brief narrative is just by way of setting the scene for the pictures of the action. 

The Austrian Army, poised like an avalanche 
about to do what an avalanche does.

Attacks around Essling

French cavalry counter-attacks

Fighting around Aspern

French still holding on in Essling...

My sole unit of Hinchliffe cuirassiers engage 
a regiment of Minifigs Austrian dragoons...

... scatter them to the winds, and charge on against a powerful 
(Minifigs) division of foot

French cavalry attacks peter out...

... as Austrian infantry advance into the plain.

The sole bridge of boats is wrecked!

Austrians break into the middle of Essling village!

Nobody will be crossing the Danube for quite a while!

The battle in the centre rages as the Austrians try to
break through to the river...

Austrian attacks upon Aspern have been thoroughly
repulsed.

Boudet's Division still hanging by their teeth 
in parts of Essling, whilst a Division of French horse smashes 
through the Austrian line. 

Situation at day's end, the French still clinging to 
their bridgehead.

To be continued: Aspern-Essling, the Second Day