VAE VICTUS BOARD GAME # 32: Wattignies 1793

1-914032G

At the end of summer 1793, the French thwarted the English Army's attempted siege of Dunkerque by their victory at Hondschoote on their Hanoverian allies. This setback did not disrupt the plans of Austria's Prince of Coburg. With the Austrian Army, he lay siege to Maubeuge, one of the last citadels protecting the border from northern France. It could not hold out long.

Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, the new commander of the Army of the North, spurred on by Lazare Carnot, prominent war minister for the Committee of Public Safety, quickly assembled 45,000 troops to clear the area. On October 15, 1793, the French launched disjointed attacks and were unsuccessful.

The next day, the French concentrated their attack on their right wing, toward the village of Wattignies, whose seizure would force the Austrians to retreat. Fog concealed their initial efforts and Carnot took the village. The Prince of Coburg feared for the survival of his army and prudently ordered their retreat as the French commanders had expected. The siege of Maubeuge was lifted and the Coalition was once again defeated by the troops of the young French Republic.

Scale:
Units: Brigades, regiments or battalions
1 strength point equals 500-1000 infantry, or 300-600 cavalry
Map : 600 meters per hex
Turn : 90 minutes
Complexity : 6/9

Game Components:
One 59 x 41 cm map
216 die-cut counters and markers
One booklet of rules
Two player aid cards