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!

As Spring takes hold, the marching season begins

In Ireland, it is said, the Marching Season takes place in July. In Bohemia, apparently, it is May. Armies, many armies, marching all about.

First, a new face on the scene: a large field army from Austria proper, arriving at Bruenn, moves to Brod and then to Czaslau, making a rendezvous there with Browne, who has brought the remains of his army south from Pardubitz.

Not far away, Frederick has solidified his hold on Pilsen and then marched east to Orlitz and then to establish a siege of the fortress of Tabor.

In central Bohemia, another Austrian fragment, the ruins of Arenberg's army, moves to Prague to rejoin Prince Charles. Just to their north, Kongisegg takes the offensive, striking north through Zitytau to invest the fortress of Goerlitz. (The Austrian depot at Jungbunzlau is expended supplying this march.)

As if endowed with extrasensory perception, Prince Maurice draws back into Saxony, marching as if possessed through Pirna and Dresden, and reaching Bischofswerda with a slightly smaller army than he started with.

Moving at a more sedentary pace, Prince Henry and FM Schwerin rejoin their forces at Gitschina.

Prince Charles, the only general officer not to move this turn, glances slowly around him, blinking once or twice. Surely all this rushing about is proof that the world has gone mad.

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.

April I: maneuvering like two cautious boxers

As the Kolin campaign gets underway, the two opponents are clearly trying to get each other's measure, moving carefully to avoid giving away anything while seeking to gain the best position from which to strike.

On the Prussian side this is manifested by cautious redeployment. The army of Prince Maurice, recently mauled by Austrian irregulars, shifts west to Dresden, a move popular with both rank and file and their officers, who welcome a visit to the cultured and refined capital of Saxony. On the road, they pass blue-coated columns marching the other way, as King Frederick takes his own command westward to take station in Freiberg.

The Austrian army of FML Charles, Duke of Arenberg, satisfied with its spoiling attack on the army of Prince Maurice, marched back from the frontier through Saaz to the depot at Pilsen. The roads over Rip Mountainare still cold and wet with the remains of winter's snows, and the army suffered some straggling as they passed through the inhospitable Elbsandsteingebirge.

All other forces remained in their previous positions. No cities are under siege, and no battles took place, so we move on to April II.