For the scenario of this year’s battle reenacment for the 219th anniversary of the Battle of the Three Emperors, in which approximately 1,000 participants with 60 horses and 15 cannons will present themselves to you on Saturday, November 30th from 2 p.m. on the battlefield area between the Rohlenka service station and the village of Tvarožná (Bosenitz), we chose as inspiration one of the initial phases of the historical battle, namely the advance of the Allied columns from the Pratzen Hill to the area between the villages of Telnice (Telnitz) and Sokolnice (Sokolnitz). At that time, on December 2nd, 1805, the 1st and 2nd Allied columns, consisting of Russian units, headed to the mentioned sector of the battlefield, under the command of the Russian infantry general Friedrich von Büxhowden, to whom the Austrian vanguard was also subordinate, which had already been fighting with the French units of the 3rd Division of Marshal Soult’s IV Corps in Telnitz in the early hours of the morning. These units were commanded by Division General Legrand.
Our scenario loosely approximates the above-mentioned maneuvers and combat actions. The Allies launch an aggressive attack against the French position, heavily supported by artillery and cavalry on their right flank. However, the weaker French formation manages to stop their onslaught and hold their own positions until reinforcements arrive. The decisive moment of the staged encounter will be the defeat of the Russian battalion on the left flank of the Allied line, the rest of which will be forced to retreat by the concentrated pressure of the French infantry and cavalry. The battle demonstration will end with a hasty but organized retreat of the Allied columns from the battlefield, the area of which will be taken over by the victorious French units, who will give up further pursuit of the enemy.
Phase 1 – The Allied army is lined up on the road from Bosenitz, led by the Jaegers, followed by the regular infantry, grenadiers and the column is closed by the Russian infantry. The French infantry is lined up in columns beyond the battlefield border and hidden from most spectators’ view behind the horizon, two battalions soon move to their starting positions at the eastern edge of the battlefield. Allied and French artillery are already standing on the battlefield formed into batteries. At the southern edge of the battlefield, Allied and French cavalry face each other.
Phase 2 – The battle begins with the an artillery duel and with the sound of the cannons, the cavalry starts to charge against each other. The Allied light infantry enters the battlefield, develops into a chain and moves intensively forward against the French light infantry. The Allied infantry form up in columns, aligning their fronts and ready to advance. The cavalry continues to clash along the southern edge of the battlefield, the artillery continues to fire. One French battalion remains hidden behind the northern horizon.
Phase 3 – Austrian battalions set out parallel to the southern edge, faced by one of the French battalions supported by artillery. The Russian battalion moves diagonally to the longitudinal axis of the battlefield into the area opposite the second of the French battalions currently present on the battlefield and attacks it. Austrian battalions, having approached the enemy, open fire, which the French return. The cavalry regroups in opposite corners at the southern edge of the battlefield area.
Phase 4 – At the eastern edge of the battlefield, the third French battalion enters the fenced area. The Russian battalion engages its French counterpart which is attacked by the Allied cavalry and forced to retreat rapidly towards its artillery. Its position in the French formation is taken by a newly arrived battalion of the Imperial Guard. At the same time, the French cavalry attacks the center of the Allied formation and slows its advance.
Phase 5 – The situation on the battlefield turns, French battalions take the initiative. The right-wing battalion of the Guard, together with the French cavalry, repel the Russian infantry and force it to quickly retreat towards the northwestern corner of the battlefield and outside its borders. The two French battalions on the left flank counterattack and the Austrian infantry starts to retreat before them. The Allied cavalry moves to the rear to secure the retreat route.
Phase 6 – The French left wing forces force the Allied right wing to bend their formation, the Austrian grenadiers retreat, only the Austrian fusiliers, covered by cavalry on the right, are able to withstand the French onslaught. The French artillery moves closer to the concentration of units in this area and restarts the cannonade. The Imperial Guard battalion launches a decisive attack against the Allied battery, capturing and occupying its position. Eventually, all Allied units retreat, gradually disappearing from the battlefield, and the victorious French units remain in their positions, no longer pursuing the enemy. The battle reenactment is over.
