This
is a report of our latest wargames action in Swindon at Del's place. We used Volley and Bayonet rules.
Messieurs
Pomeroy and Pomeroy known at Court as "les Freres Hereuses"
had conspired to put together a Seven Years War scenario based on the
battle of Freiberg in eastern Saxony. They were using the orders of
battle of the French and Allied armies at Minden.
To
that end we relocated Freiberg into Freiburg, on the German border in
the County of Breisgau.
The
dastardly French were commanded by the handsome and
dashing Charles-Eugène-Gabriel, Maréchal de Castries (Andy),
favourite of the Queen herself ;-)
and had succeeded his rival the
starchy and vengeful Louis Georges Érasme de Contades (Dave),
after the latter's lamentable performance at the Battle of Minden.
the
left flank was commanded by the venerable if cautious Herzog von
Broglie (Al)
myself in Command of the Army of Observation in the guise
of Charles William Ferdinand of Brunswick, with two assistant
generals in the shape of (the arrogant know-it-all and toady to the
King) August Friedrich von Spörcken (Kev) and (the
irascible but loyal) General von Wangenheim (Del)
Finding
the French full of smug self satisfaction after their earlier
(admittedly minor) victories, Brunswick resolved to bring them to book before
the year's end to further the Alliance's cause and make the french
think twice about their much vaunted plan to invade Germany the
following year.
The
French were on their way to the well stocked and
fortified town of Freiburg to set up winter quarters, when news
reached them of the rapid advance of the Allies to their rear!
Promptly de Castries deployed the army into battle formation,
this was too good to be true, the Hanoverians had overreached
themselves this time. The old warhorse Broglie would command the left
flank with a large corps of French and Swiss. The disgraced de
Contades would deploy to the right and guard the road to Freiburg,
whilst de Castries himself would command the defended hills and the
Guard cavalry which should sweep away the attackers....
Brunswick's plan was simple, the bulk of the Army would be lead by Wangenheim ordered to press ahead along the Klein Waltersdorf road
sweeping away the enemy right flank and press on to threaten their
right and rear (Freiburg) Meanwhile von Spörcken was
to invest the orchards of Spittalwald astride the main Freiburg
turnpike pinning the enemy centre and refuse the right flank to v.
Broglie, who was known to be cautious in his manouvering.....
The
battle started well enough with Wangenheim speeding up the road,
unfortunately he recieved a severe check from the defenders at Klein Waltersdorf, and before they were removed many grenadiers lay dead in
the outskirts of the town. Luckily he responded to my urging and
pressed ahead, heedless of losses and pushed Contades back on
Lossnitz.
Meanwhile
the cream of the infantry, our plucky Hanoverians under von Spörcken
strayed too far to the right of the turnpike and disturbed old
Broglie into action..
Much to the Allies's chagrin the french and swiss
guards came on apace and looked like rolling up our entire force!
Thank God for the discipline of our redcoats. Time and again they
poured withering fire into the huge French command of Horse and Foot,
ably supported by the attached artillery that did great execution
among them.
Just
when we thought that they had saved the day the cocksure Castries
unleashed the finest cavalry in europe upon our centre, falling upon
the foot and guns, just in time Brunswick ordered forward the British cavalry
reserve under Sackville and Granby....
It
was touch and go, but suddenly the French Household lost their nerve
and were driven back with great loss. Sackville's cavalry (true to
form) pursuing them hotly, right up onto the heights commanding
Freiburg, only to be repulsed by the shocked french infantry who just
about held onto their composure.
Then
the plan came to fruition as the weary troops
under Wangenheim set about storming the flank of the hill and,
surprise of surprises unleashed the entire Hannoverian cavalry corps
on the wavering french lines who had so recently repulsed the
British horse.
It
was the last straw as brigade after brigade of exhausted french were
driven back pell mell, abandoning their entrenchments running for the
safety of the City. At that moment de Castries rode up to rally the
retreating infantry and led them in a vain counterattack, alas the
Glorious Hero fell under the hooves of the charging cavalry and the
Battle was lost to the French.
They all fled away back into their
mother country.
As I
write this missive to Yr Royal Highness, I commend the actions of my
Generals and can safely invest the City of Freiburg for my Winter
Quarters, as it will serve well for a base of operations in the
Spring.
BRUNSWICK
captaingeneral of his royal highness's Army of observation 1762
This battle is dedicated to Del's faithful old dog and steady companion SamBones who sadly passed just recently.
The dastardly French were commanded by the handsome and dashing Charles-Eugène-Gabriel, Maréchal de Castries (Andy), favourite of the Queen herself ;-)
