summer brings bitter battles

More marching takes place in June, but the results are not as pacific as those of May.

In the north, Konigsegg settles in to his siege of Goerlitz, using up the supplies at the forward depot in Budin. But Prince Maurice steers a course straight for confrontation, marching his army east. Konigsegg chooses not to evade, so a battle will result outside Goerlitz.

GFM von Schwerin, reunited with Prince Henry, marches south searching for the new army under Daun. They are forced to use up the captured supplies stockpiled in Koeniggraz, as Breslau is too far to draw supply. They arrive in Hlinska dusty and disappointed; the enemy they seek cannot be found.

For FMs von und zu Daun and von Browne have moved west to the relief of the fortress of Tabor. Frederick readies his army for a mighty clash with the Austrian armies in the south.

Meanwhile, as ever, Prince Charles turns his mild visage to the face of war in Europe and raises a single eyebrow. What a lot of noise, his expression seems to say, what a lot of bother!

a short account of the battle at Koniggraz

A full description, along with hand-coloured mezzotints, will be proffered to the public shortly to describe the mighty conflict late occurring in central Bohemia. For the moment, what we can tell our readers is that the Army of the Archduchess Maria Theresa, under GFM Maximillian Ulysses Browne, after maneuvering for several days, was brought to battle by the forces under the Prussian FM Graf von Schwerin. A short but bitter battle ensued, with the Austrians taking heavy losses. After inflicting some heavy blows to the Prussian center (which had been weakened by various delays in the movement of its supporting forces), the remaining Austrian forces retired from the field. Though they had fought gallantly, the Austrian cavalry were totally decimated, while several of their infantry formations were routed. Prussian forces hold Koniggraz and its supply depot, while the Austrians stream backwards (not pursued) to the south.

Two turns were played, giving a total of 6 impulses, after which the Austrian Army left the table in good order, without breaking. No pursuit was possible due to the absence of light or irregular cavalry in the Prussian forces.

Prussian losses (approximate): 2 SPs of cavalry, 7 SPs of infantry. Two infantry brigades destroyed or eliminated through redeployment. Final strengths after Recovery, Cadre Collection, and Convergence were: 22 SPs of cuirassiers, 20 SP of musketeers, 22 SPs of fusiliers, 23 SPs of grenadiers, and two heavy artillery units. No general officers were wounded or killed.

Austrian losses (approximate): 19 SPs of cavalry, 17 SPs of infantry. Three cavalry and two infantry brigades destroyed or eliminated through redeployment. Final strengths after Recovery, Cadre Collection, and Convergence were: 13 SPs of musketeers, 5 SPs of Reich infantry, and two heavy artillery units. No general officers were wounded or killed.

Here is a map after the retirements from battle.

A Full and Proper Relation of the Late Battle at the Town of Pilsen in Bohemia

It was not until late in the day that the forces of the King of Prussia were able to bring to battle the army of the Duke of Arenburg. While Arenberg had sought to find the most advantageous ground he could, the battle took place in a gently sloping valley marked only by the presence of a small (but picturesque) village, in which the duke established his headquarters.

The Austrians held the center of the valley with a force of infantry (4 musketeer and 1 grenadier brigades) commanded by the redoubtable Haddick. On the right flank were two brigades of cuirassiers led by Lutzow and on the left were cuirassiers and dragoons commanded by Berlichtingen. Across the valley, they saw the blue-clad regiments of Prussia: musketeers in the center, artillery to their right and fusiliers and grenadiers to their left. On the far Prussian right wing were several columns of dragoons.

Quickly seizing the initiative, the Duke of Arenberg dispatched his heavy cavalry to fall upon the Prussian foot, who were still advancing in march columns. The white-clad riders burst through one regiment after another, slashing and hacking as the vaunted veterans of Frederick fled in terror. Musketeers, grenadiers, even the Garde Regiment of the King himself were put to ignominious flight.

But Prussian trianing saved the day. Quickly deploying into line, the supporting regiments poured fire into the ranks of the Hapsburg horsemen, who quickly pulled back. On the Austrian left, they did not pull back fast enough, for the Prussian dragoons fell on them, breaking the regiments as they retired from their victory. On the right, the Austrian horse, unchallenged by enemy cavalry, withdrew to the far flank of the advancing Prussian foot, beginning a movement to envelop them.

Then, as the Prussian dragoons followed up their victory by defeating the small force of Austrian dragoons, and as their foot rolled forward, redressing its lines, the Austrian center sprang into action. Perhaps Haddick sought to save his mounted comrades; perhaps he was stung by the glory of their victory and jealously sought his own. In either case, the Duke of Arenberg swore several choice oaths when he saw that his base, the strong, deep center he had planned to hold his position with, had begun rushing forward and was hurrying to attack the foe. The outnumbered Austrians converged on the center of the Prussian line, hoping to take advantage of the confusion their remaining cavalry were causing in the Prussian left.

One Prussian fusilier corps was overthrown, though Prussian grenadiers showed great fortitude in beating of an Austrian cuirassier attack on the rear of one of their lines. Three Austrian infantry formations were shattered as they ran into the buzz-saw of Prussian musketry. Despite heroic charges led by General Haddick himself, only one more Prussian unit was defeated before the Austrian center was rendered neuter by the devastating volleys of Frederick's men. Haller's regiment was slain to a man, and as the Prussian dragoons began encircling the Austrian's left, the grenadiers of von Salm, Neipperg, and Gaisbruck formed square and sold their lives dearly, fighting the foot to their front and the horsemen to their back. Dragged by his aides from the field, the Duke of Arenberg joined Lutzow's cuirassiers as they extricated themselves from the Prussian rear and began finding their way up the road to Beraum in the growing darkness.




The game started on Turn 4 and lasted through Turn 7 (11 pulses altogether), at which point the remaining Austrian units voluntarily left the table, with no pursuit by the Prussians possible due to the late hour. Both armies took break tests after Turn 6, but neither failed. Final strengths after Recovery, Cadre Collection, and Convergence were:

Austria: Arenberg (commander); Haddick, Lutzow, Berlichtingen (subcommanders); Cuirassier1 (7SP), Cuirassier2 (1SP). They lost 1 unit of cuirassiers, 1 unit of dragoons, 4 of musketeers, and 1 of grenadiers.

Prussia: Frederick (commander); Winterfeld, Ziethen, Tielcke, Forcade, Schmettau (subcommanders); Dragoon1 (7SP), Grenadier1 (8SP), Grenadier2 (6SP), Musketeer1 (7SP), Musketeer2 (5SP), Fusilier1 (4SP), Artillery1, Artillery2. They lost 2 units of dragoons (in consolidation--one should have been lost pre-game from attrition), 1 of guard, 1 of grenadiers, 1 of fusiliers, 2 of musketeers (plus one that was eliminated pre-game due to attrition losses).

battle at Pilsen

A full report will follow, but a brief notice here records the defeat of Arenberg by Frederick and the Prussian capture of Pilsen. There was no pursuit, as the lengthening shadows of night prevented it, so the defeat is not "Decisive", but the Austrians were thoroughly mauled, losing most of their infantry. However, severe blows to the Prussian force, especially an early attack by the wings of cuirassiers which routed several brigades of Prussian foot, leave Frederick's army much weaker than it had been.

update on coming battles

Browne attempts to maneuver the Imperial army away as Schwerin leads his Prussians east, but the Generalfeldmarschal is unable to get away in time. That battle will take place starting in the Early Morning of an Overcast day (that game starts on Turn 1 and its Basic Length is 6 turns).

Arenberg spends his maneuvering time finding just the right time and place. He does not attempt to evade, but his battle (also taking place in Overcast weather) does not start until Afternoon (presumably he burned up Frederick's time with feints and advance guard work). That game will also be Basic Length 6, but it starts on Turn 4.

Erratum

I realised today that I neglected to take into account the possibility that the Austrian armies contacted by the Prussian advance might evade.

While the reasons they might not do so are obvious (in the case of Arenberg's army at Pilsen in particular) and the chances of success not great (in both cases, the Prussian forces are led by Great commanders, while Browne is Good and Arenberg only Average), it is still quite possible

So I'm checking with the Hofkriegsrat and will update here once a "yea" or "nay" has been obtained.

After the preliminaries, down to the bloody work of battle!

The armies of Austria and Prussia spent April like fencers maneuvering to find an advantage. Now, like a latterday Jarnac or Chevalier de St Georges, the Prussians strike, burying the tip of their rapier in the living body of their foe.

First, Frederick's inexorable march through the Erzgebirge brings his army (minus a few more stragglers) to the gates of Pilsen. There, by the banks of the Moldau, they meet the army of the Duke of Arenberg. A mighty battle will doubtless determine the fate of western Bohemia.

In the east of the province, the wily Koenigsegg circles around the Prussian armies to the west, marching through Niemes to Gabel. But while a force under Prinz Heinrich remains in Münchengrätz, a large force marched east through Gitschina and met the Imperial army of Browne near Koeniggraz. Here also a bloody affair will doubtless claim the lives of many brave soldiers.

Meanwhile, Prinz Karl in Prague and Prinz Moritz and his Prussians in Karbitz hold their ground, waiting and watching each other warily. As the sounds of battle begin to rage in the east and west of them, the soldiers of the two central armies sharpen their swords, polish their muskets, groom their steeds, and wait for orders to move towards action and glory.