The Battle of Schweinsberg*** - a ‘near’ historical scenario - or the true story as to where his lordship Granby really lost his wig

March 29, 2014, 3:54 pm

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With all my many new French regiments painted and the entire Allied Army's guns remastered during the last three months, the time now has come, to see My Seven Years' War French Army giving battle to My Britannic Majesty's Army in Germany.

Untitled painting by Richard Knötel. Collection of the Rastatt Army Museum WGM, Germany.
A very biased English sides take on the state of affairs, really. The below will reveal the ‘true’ story.

I put up a ‘near historical’ battle based on the rather authentic strategic situation at the beginning of Broglie's invasion of Lower Hesse June 1760. Our group usually plays refights of historical battles. This time we fought a battle that was short of having really taken place. The 1760 campaign in Western Germany is my absolute favorite. Unfortunately, the belligerent forces did not fight a major battle with this campaign – just minor Affaires, as the French used to put it. I will have to interfere here and breech a path for some more epic stuff. It doesn't take much to arrive here. Just minor twists to the one or other regulating screw, and this campaign will furnish about half a dozen major battles that were dead close of really having been fought.

Historical Background

To start with, above sketch shows the historical situation at nighttime 24 June (see the orbats below). The French stole the Allies a march or two, crossed the Ohm river June 24, and set up camp around Niederklein. Ferdinand really wanted to set up his defense of Lower Hesse by taking advantage of the strong Ohm position between Schweinsberg and Homberg, but entirely screwed it. Despite the warnings of his forward elements placed along the Ohm, he was unwilling to advance from his camp near Fritzlar. He did so only at 01.30h June 24. Too late, as during the afternoon that day, the French pushed back all Allied advance troops and crossed the river. Only now Ferdinand realized matters became serious - Broglie was about to spoil his entire campaign planing. He now ordered the army to continue marching all the way to Neustadt, where it arrived at midnight all exhausted, having covered a distance traced out for two marches of 5.5 German miles in 24 hours (approx. 41 km). Also the Erbprince's force had spent most of the two last days force marching to join general Imhoff's pressed force at Amöneburg. Broglie was found with most of his force already across the river, and had all approaches well guarded by his forward light troops, while most of Ferdinand's troops were seen exhausted spitting along the roadsides between Neustadt and Erxdoff.
Now, at this point I decided to alter the historic situation. I assume Ferdinand had stepped off his Camp of Fritzlar 1 or 2 days earlier and was found in Neustadt well rested and prepared to give battle June 25 or 26. Lusace's reserve of the right was still found encamped between Haarhausen and Homberg on the left bank of the Ohm - historically, he formed up on the right of Broglie near Kirtorf (Kirchdorff with above map) June 25.
Historically, Ferdinand gave up his idea to attack, but withdrew to a position behind the Schwalm river June 26. In fear of being attacked by the French in his Neustadt position June 26, he formed up his army which had to spend the night under arms in the open. Oddly enough, also Broglie feared to be attacked and ordered his entire army to form up in line of battle on the morning 26 June. Also Ferdinand would have been more determined then he really was. That's all it takes to arrive at the desired epic battle.

My Volley & Bayonet Scenario
As a result of limited table size, I doubled distances and round about halved the original Army's troop strength. The French had amassed about a 100.000 men opposing about 55.000 Allies. They would all fit onto my table, but I thought it would have become too crowded allowing for but little maneuvering. Now, a regiment would represent a brigade and the battlefield measured a more spacey 18.000 by 11.400 Yards. The forces engaged can be seen on my two below orbat sheets. They are the breakdown of the historic orders of battle for this day. I have of course inserted my units here. To my delight, a many are really authentic. Most obvious, it is the historic Saxons with Lusace's corps that are missing. They will yet have to be painted. For the time being, they had been substituted by my more then worthy Bavarians - tested comrades-in-arms of the French, anyway.

My French Army miniatures formed up as per above ordre de bataille.

Here is my Allied Army.

Anyone familiar with the rules will notice my French army is rated a somewhat better fighting force than in the usual orbats for the SYW French. Also the Allies have been given a good number of morale 6 units combined with a rather high division exhaustion.

With our game the attacking Allies were free to choose the battlefield area according to their plan of attack. All woods were rather open and passable for all arms. The numerous runs found here had no marshy banks except for the run around Blasdorff bridge on the French left. The Ohm river was passable only at the bridges. One at Amöneburg, another one at Homberg, plus the three pontoon bridges the French jetted across the Ohm the other day.

The Allies decided to attack the French left, and the battlefield was set up accordingly. Ferdinand decided that Imhoff and the Erbprinz were to fall upon the French left, while Ferdinand's main force was to attack frontally right through the woods separating both armies between Allendorf and Niederklein to exert as much pressure as possible. His cavalry wings of Granby and Oheimb were combined on the left, where the terrain was found more open. Accordingly, as part of the pre-battle off table movement, the Erbprinz deployed behind Imhoff. The latter was to seize and secure the passages around Blasdorff bridge at daybreak prior to the arrival of the Erbprinz, who was to execute the principal attack turning the French left wing and dislodge the French from the heights of Niederklein.

To the first alarm, the French formed up in order of battle with Lusace still on the far bank of the Ohm. It would take him some time to arrive on the scene. The army was determined to defend its position and beat off the Allied attack. Condé's avantgardes were spread across the front. Blaisel's volontaires de Clermont had occupied Kirchdorff. His converged elites of the infantry were initially encamped ahead of the first line around the small village of Lehrbach behind a run with the same name.

The Battle

View across the front of the deployed French army. Foreground shows the cavalry of the right and the 1st Infanterie division under d'Havré deployed to the right of the village of Dannenrod. Next to the castle of Schweinsberg (centre left) you see the Carabiniers and the heavy artillerie park awaiting orders as to where they should reinforce the French position.

View of the French left deployed between Niederklein and the Allies held crossing of the Netzebach at Blasdorff Bridge were you see Imhoff's Light's already in position. Imhoff screens the approaching column of the crack division under command of the Erbprinz. You can also see Ferdinand's main force advancing trough the open woods separating both armies in their front. Note the body of horse seen at the upper left edge of the table. That is Granby's Cavalerie of the Right. It seems none of Ferdinand's aide-de-camps had issued any orders to him. While the rest of the army is found in full motion, the poor man is halting and waiting for someone to tell him what to do. Oddly enough, Ferdinand opted for the French left to be turned, the single area where the heights of Niederklein were most difficult to access. In the event, the area around Blasdorff became the scene of the hottest fighting. ‘Blasdorff Bridge’ – a location reminding me of Young & Lawford's scenario of ‘Blasthof Bridge’ in their classic 1967 published Charge! Or how to play Wargames. I wonder if there was an intended connection? Really, much of the northern section of the battlefield was the scene of the popular action of Emsdorf, fought 15 July 1760. With my old map, all those ‘…dorff’ places are found in the old German reading with double ‘f’. Nowadays, its just one. Historically, it was general Glaubitz force which finally surrendered around Niederklein. It would have been the regiment/brigade of Anhalt, part of Lusace's Corps with my above orbat – but ‘nay’ – not today!

The French decided for a forward defense and denied the Allies the crossing for a considerable time.
The regiment of Auvergne defended the crossing with utmost bravery, anticipating its historical brave fight at Klosterkamp. More decisive, I was told from English prisoner officers, it was Guerchy's battery that spit terror and carnage among the attacking Allies.

Hardly one of its devastating canister brooms missed its target. It was too much for the Erbprinz.
In the centre around Niederklein, general Rooth's division descended from their hill and engaged the division of Wangenheim.

To my Irish brigade as well as to my recently painted Aquitaine, this was to be their first test of battle.
The regiments fought well. The Irish had the misfortune to have colonel Huth's Hessian heavy 12-pounders right to their front. It killed them rather soon. Aquitaine performed marvelously. Sustaining a heavy fire, it refused to give way, though, the division was soon found exhausted.

Here have a view of the Hessian 12-pdr. Scratch built around last Christmas, with dimensions based on original source. A Prussian Brummer-class heavy battery piece. Only when Wutginau's Hessian division started to outflank Aquitaine and Condé – all that remained from Rooth's division – it withdrew back to the highgrounds along with Condé, but not before they succeeded in knocking out the Hannoverian regiment of Hardenberg. Can't believe the two really exchanged fire, as I longed for at the bottom of my previous article "My Way to paint 30 mm ‘Flat’ Miniatures – Might serve as a Tutorial". I swear to Mars, this isn't scripted reality here. They really opposed another – and Aquitaine won. Hah! What a fine regiment it is.
Now back to the events. This fight delayed the centre of the Allies to cross the Klein run for a while. Further to the French right, Blaisel's Lights and the Cavalerie of the Right, denied the Allies any significant progress with a number of smart moves.

View of the situation on the French right. 1) is Blaisel's avantgarde at Krichdorff, 2) is Condé's Grenadiers & Chasseurs of the Army, 3) is Lusace's Corps at Homberg. With Granby's cavalerie delayed arrival, Oheimb's cavalerie of the Left tried to open a path for the Allies on the French right on their own, but were repulsed by the joint counterattack of Lusace's arriving escadrons as well as the Carabiniers. The latter had concealed themselves on the high ground behind the infanterie around Niederklein, by taking advantage of my flats rather slim sillhouette. My Opponent failed to identify them as cavalry and in the event, his horse was caught in flank by the Carabiniers smart timed counterattack. That day, the regiment anticipated what is known as ‘hull down’ position in modern armoured warfare. Make it the French invention ‘horse down’ position for cavalry in the SYW. Worked out charmingly.

It gained the French right wing all the time needed for Lusace to pass the Ohm at Homberg and march his force straight in the direction of Kirchdorff into an outflanking position. Only after Lusace had deployed along the Lehrbach, Granby's cavalry finally appeared on the scene. But by this time, Oheimb's cavalry was already found defeated and Wutginau's division was the sole intact body of troops around. Too few to deal with the entire French right wing plus Lusace's Corps.

Above image shows the final stage on the French right. Granby's horse is denied to turn the French flank, and Lusaces grenadiers actually dare to close in and pur in their fire. Wutginau's attack on d'Haré's division was repulsed and its remains were now shattered by the French right wing cavalry.
Returning to the more intense fighting around Blasdorff Bridge now. With considerable loss, the Allies finally managed to crush the French defenders, that had to be relieved by St. Perns Grenadiers. This Corps d'élite didn't perform all that well. By some sort of misunderstanding it was found deployed with exposed flanks. The Erbprinz saw his chance, attacked with all what was left and routed the entire division in a single onslaught. Now the Allied army was found completely worn down, while the crisis on the French left could be recovered by the arrival of Condé's grenadiers, as well as with the now engaging French cavalerie of the Left. It was too much for the Allies. The battle was lost. Granby's cavalry was found the single body, that had not been committed. An aide-de-camp of Lusace could clearly see Granby throwing his wig into the Lehrbach in a blaze of anger.
He could do no more then cover the retreat of Ferdinand's utterly defeated army.

Appendix

Below I've added the historic battle orders, for anyone interested to prepare this scenario based on his own employed scales and ruleset.
The Allies – Its an Original. Source is the Paris Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre at Château Vincenne. Apparently, it was captured – from Granby's staff ?… . First sheet has the Main Army, the second the detached and advance troops and their locations June 25.

Copyright restricted image – It is published here for purely academic use without any commercial intention.

http://www.digam.net/?dok=5197

Above see an incomplete sketch of the French Camp of Schweinsberg. The woods are way too extended. That's because this terrain was held by the Allies then, and as a result, could not be reconnoitred. This type of plans was standard staff work at that time and would have been done with each camp. The colouring was done later, of course. Also the Klein run to the north of the camp is missing. Only the left half of the army is illustrated. The entire right is missing ?!?.

The French Army's order of Battle June 1760.
St. Germain's army of the Lower Rhine has to be ignored here.
This order of battle makes a dead on match with all the records. The troops not present at Schweinsberg June 25/26 were the Gendarmerie, that was still approaching, the cavalry brigade of Orléans, which was located at Limburg June 23 and joined only after June 27. Also Chabot's Avantgarde including some line troops he had under his command I have not accounted for. They should have been found located at Amöneburg and some other locations between Amöneburg and Marburg monitoring the left flank of Broglie's army.

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My SYW Workbench – Hannoverians & Saxons

June 1, 2014, 11:37 am

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This years paintwork is becoming rather productive. After having done the French Aquitaine infantry, I did a composite battalion of Hannoverian Grenadiers. They are a set of really great looking figures. The miniatures are by Friedrich Schirmer, I believe, and nowadays available at Zinnfiguren aus Königswusterhausen foundry – link: www.zinnfiguren-kw.de

The units I've chosen to represent this composite battalion are the grenadiers from the regiments of Spörcken (2-A) and jeunne Zastrow (9-B).

A Hannoverian Grenadier battalion was made up of average 7 or 8 regimental grenadier corps all through 1761, but limiting it to two different painted uniform at my units strength of 16 figures has proven to be just fine, to my taste. Did that with Prussian and Austrian units before.
Along with them, I also did 3 command figures. His Royal Highness – or in French abbreviations: S.A.R. monseigneur le comte de Lusace et son entourage. I entitle him Prince Xavier or simply Lusace. All 3 miniatures are from Kieler Zinnfiguren – link: www.kieler-zinnfiguren.de

Voilà. Lusace (centre) is seen dressed as a French lieutenant-général, as per his French generals patent dating to 12 August 1758. The uniform is based on a pastels portrait by the French court painter Quentin de-la-Tour which should be dated at around 1758.

Lusace is seen with the badge and blue cordon of the Polish order of the White Eagle. His entourage are a staff officer of the Leibgrenadiergarde and a hussar officer of Lusace's raised Hussar Corps that seems to have served for staff duty's, only, rather then having been a regular combat force. Lusace was the vanguard of my first Saxon infantry units that were to follow.

Its the Saxon regiments Kurprinzessin– or French: Princesse Electeur Royale, as I chosed to lable all my units in French – and the regiment Frédéric-Auguste.

Princesse Electeur Royale I have done in their 1756 uniform when it was a grenadier battalion. My figures are seen with their distinctive grenadier mitres, which they didn't have when serving with the French from 1758 on. The heck. This way they look so much better. Also mitres with white metal instead of my yellow are documented. My yellow is based on a contemporary manuscript that is now part of the Berlin Deutsches Historisches Museum Collection – The former Zeughaus / Arsenal.

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My SYW French Gun Models

July 27, 2014, 12:38 pm

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Earlier this year, I received a a load of most pretty French gun models from Fife and Drum Miniatures. Here is a first image while busy painting and assembling the guns.

Interspersed, you see two Hannoverian guns (red) and a Buckebourg (black) piece. All skratch-build. The marvelous French F&D models should have long be completed, but honestly, my serious ‘cannon fever’ virus has given way to a much more serious 'football fever’. I can't work anymore. 7:1 ! It nearly killed me last night.

Voilà. My earlier entirely remastered Allied Army's artillery is seen performing a Feu de Joie to cheer the arrival of the French heavy artillery in My French Armies camp. A tribute to an ancient custom among the French Gens de Guerre. The Allied Army's guns are lined up strictly according to the Ordre de Bataille found on the day of Minden. We see capt. Macbean's English medium 12-pdrs of the right wing commencing with the first discharge of joy. My receiving of these fine French gun models deserve no less then utmost Pomp and Circumstance. No less will do justice to this truly extraordinary event.

Now, with many being assembled and painted, I must say they are among the most pretty models I have ever seen. Even better, they are authentic looking. After wargaming with French 7YW armies for about 30 years now, it was high time. My old funny painted and funny scaled models seen in the upper left now having been removed from the field inventory. The credit goes to Jim Purky, who took the effort and risks to release an entire range with Fife & Drum Miniatures. Mr. le Maréchal de Broglie has only recently awarded him the royal privilege promoting him Chief Prime Contractor of Les Armées du Roi en Allemagne. Mr. le Maréchal can't await to receive more even heavier guns. Now, lets have a closer look at the material received.

Above see the long 4-pounder field gun. The track width of the original model is rather generous. For the AWI period it may be just fine, but I reduced it somewhat, in order to make it a better match with all my existing gun models. I also took the effort of adding a pair of hooks at the front face of the carriage. I've done this with all of my scratch build models, so that wasn't much of an effort. In the background you see the Austrian 6-pdr field gun with its barrel so much shorter then that of the Vallière long 4-pdr. It really was a much bigger gun despite having a smaller calibre. The dimensions are perfect. Next comes the French short 4-pdr à la Suédoise, the French battalion gun seen in the foreground.

It looks wonderful and has just the right authentic dimensions. The ammunition box of the French battalion gun is really the Gribeauval M1765 version. Again fine for the AWI, but should be also just fine for the 7YW period. I placed the gun next to a scratch built Hannoverian principal 3-pdr model (red) and the French long 4-pounder. These three models alone should have accounted for about 60% or upwards of all cannons fielded with the campaigns of the French vs Allied Armies of the 7YW.

Next comes the Vallière M1732 12-pounder model.

Again a most authentic looking piece. It is especially nice to see my suggestion of the extra rococo-style iron fittings being accounted for.

Unfortunately, this 12-pounder as well as the 8-pounder Vallière cannon models were done to a smaller scale then the two 4-pdr models.

Something went wrong here, but that isn't of no big issue. Effectively, the F&D 12-pdr model arrives at the dimensions of the 8-pdr, while the latter model is effectively another 4-pounder.

See the French piece arrayed between a Hesse-Cassel battery gun 12-pdr (front) and a Hannoverian 6-pdr heavy field gun (back).

The French 12-pdr should really be a tad longer then the Hessian piece. Both were of similar dimensions. It matches so much better with its equivalent Hannoverian 6-pdr, a heavy field gun not to be confused with the British or Prussian light 6-pdr battalion guns. It had a barrel length of approx 246 cm, while the French 8-pdr arrived at 264 cm, both excluding the cast on cascabel and button at the rear of the barrel. As a result, I added this F&D Miniatures 12-pdr as an 8-pdr into my park of French artillery – and awaiting heavier pieces yet to arrive in the camp of the French Army in Germany.

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My SYW Personality Commanding Generals

November 23, 2014, 8:58 am

≫ Next: The Battle of Neustadt-in-Hesse*** 26 June 1760 – once more a ‘near’ historical scenario – or the true story of his lordship Granby's Day of Glory.

≪ Previous: My SYW French Gun Models

My latest paint job is 2 command stands that are once more going to represent historical generals and their escort. It is my latest work-in-progress. You'll have a first look at them while I'm busy doing the shading business of the horses. I'm getting quite excited about my new personality generals command stands, and that is the reason why I'll post images before they are all done. Will do that, of course, once the paint job is completed.
One will be John Manners, the marquis of Granby. Well, guess who it is.

He is seen in company of colonel Richard Peirson of the 1st Foot Guards and lieutenant-general Granby's personal orderly.

I took the above oil painting as my template for general Granby. What a giant horse he is mounting. My figure is really a Prussian staff-officer, but he will be just fine. He is posing in such a great "com'on up Guards and at 'em" gesture.

Mr. Peirson will be dressed in the officers dress of the 1st Foot Guards. In May 1760, the man assumed the unloved post as general commissioner of the army. He was responsible to release the funds for "His Royal Britannic Majesty's Army in Germany" from the British Treasure. He did dis job quite well, is seems. Never before Ferdinand‘s war chest had been filled better. Unfortunately, with the arrival of his own battalion during August this year, Peirson found so much more pleasure spending most of the day at the head of his lads exercising all sorts of martial arts that he now couldn‘t find enough time anymore to deal with those wretched Warrants. Again now, Ferdinand‘s finances sank into disorder.
Being effectively the paymaster of it all, I think this man to be a highly important individual worth being represented with this command stand. I wonder who‘s loss Fredinand would regret more – Granby or Mr. Peirson? Well, for the moment all is fine. The first shot directed at Granby‘s command post missed the both but instead hit Granby‘s poor orderly. From my German uniform source Friedrich Schirmer, I learned the man was a Hessian and dressed in hussar style. Schirmer gives some essentials regarding his dress: blue pelisse (missing here with his ‘summers dress’), white dolman (seen), blue breeches, red Hungarian boots, and a fur hat. That‘s all. The remaining details I had to make up myself by employing naked guesswork.
The other will be the French general of cavalry Mr. le duc de Fitz-James.

He will be in company of a trooper of his own regiment (Fitz-James Cavalerie) representing his garde d'honneur, and a trumpeter. To my personal taste, I came to believe trumpets always look smart in company of cavalry generals. This one of the Bercheny hussars will join another cavalry general to replace a trumpeter of the heavy cavalry in royal livery (see below image). The letter will then be commandeered to the staff of Fitz-James. Fitz-James will wear a blackened cuirasse ontop his blue generals coat. That's why I fetched the two men of the Gendarmerie as template for this paint job.

These I have done many years ago, but they remain my single best painted suits of armour. I hope to get at least close to this again. I should note, neither figure comes with engraved or sculptured armour. I simply painted it over their dress. You can do that with flats pretty well.
Finally– 6 weeks later! – they are all done now. I suffered from a serious restraint of touching my brushes.
Here they are now: That's mylord Granby and staff.

And here we have Mr. le duc de Fitz-James & staff.

His suit of armour looks nice. I'm very pleased with the result. The morale of my French cavalerie will be at its best, now that it is commanded by such a smart looking general. I can hear the the troopers cheering and singing:
lalala...
"Buvons un coup, buvons en deux
"A la santé des amoureux
"A la santé du Roi de France,
"Et merde pour le Roi d'Angleterre,
"Qui nous a déclaré la guerre.

lalala...

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The Battle of Neustadt-in-Hesse*** 26 June 1760 – once more a ‘near’ historical scenario – or the true story of his lordship Granby's Day of Glory.

January 11, 2015, 3:38 pm

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Saturday, 3 January we fought the battle that links to my last years scenario of Schweinsberg. It is settled on the French 1760 summer invasion of Lower Hesse. For the historical background story, please see: http://crogges7ywarmies.blogspot.de/search/label/My%20SYW%20Battles

It is essentially the same. But this time, it was the French army that was to attack prince Ferdinand's Allied Army in its positions around Neustadt/Hesse.

The two army's orders of battle remained unaltered, just the selected battlefield area changed as a result of the French master plan to attack the Allies left wing, seize the walled town of Neustadt and cut the Allies communications to Kassel.

Once more the orbats of the two forces. All my newly painted units have now been included, such as the Saxons, the Welch Fuseliers and Hannoverian grenadiers, as well as a number of new French units.

The above sketch illustrate the initial positions as well as the French plan of attack. The army executed a march to the right and was to debouch in front of the Erbprince's position, while the Saxons and the Grenadier Reserve under St. Pern were to turn the Allies left wing. The theatre of this bellicose drama now became the Erbprince's position on the heights of Gleimenheim and the extensive wooded area's to either of his flanks separating the two armies. Really, the hottest of the fighting took place within these woods.

The above image illustrates much of the character of the combats seen here.

I call it the battle in ‘Jager land’ – or ‘Mohawk land’, as French major Mr. le chevalier de R*** choosed to put it. Within the French army, he was known as "L'Américain". Mr. le chevalier took part in the operations of the capture of Fort William-Henry in America and was taken prisoner at the Combat of Quebec in 1759. He returned to Europe on one of the prisoners ships and was freed on parole not to serve against the king of Britain in New England or New France again. May 1760 he arrived at Broglie's headquarters in Frankfurt and applied for a job to serve with My most Christian Majesty's Army in Germany, instead.
Below see a shot of the 1759-1760 French headquarters in Frankfurt.

Its the only recently rebuilt original Palais Thurn & Taxis near the Hauptwache (Place d'Armes in French). Its located only about 200 meters from were I live and this game took place.

Above, we see the French Reserve of the Right Wing under Lusace turning the Allies left wing, well screened by French light troops deployed in the woods in front.

In the foreground you see a number of marvelous painted ‘flat’ metal trees that had been brought along by my gaming opponent M*** that day. Of course, they all had to add to my terrain layout. With other images below they are missing, as I made much of the images only after the game during the next morning with much better light for photographing, but unfortunately, without all those pretty extra trees.

Lusace's corps seen from the Neustadt direction.

The Allied Army's crack troops commanded by the Erbprinz deployed on the heights around Gleimenhain – determined to defend its positions. ‘Achillis’ – the Erbprinz– is seen at the head of his force along with his entourage, which include 2 men of the famous as picturesque Buckebourg Black Carabiniers.

Hannoverian Jagers under Luckner's command securing the right wing of Maxwell's converged English grenadiers.

The Allied army deployed seen from the direction of general Imhoff's Langenstein position. In front we see the English divisions of Granby and Waldgrave delpoyed around Erxdorf.

Closer view on the Allies initial positions centre with general Wangenheim's Hannoverians deployed to the left of the English infanterie.

The initial deployment of the mass of the French army. Only general Guerchy's 4th division along with prince Camille's cavalerie of the left wing was left behind aound Niederklein camp, acting as the army's Arriergarde. General Rooth's 2nd division was tasked to assault the Gleimenheim defile from front and crush the Erbprince's line supported by massed atrillery support as well as flanking attacks by the French grenadiers under Condé and St. Pern.

The French attack in progress. The first casualties became the French roughnecks of de Vair's volontaires, led into the woods by the chevalier l'Americain. They ran straight into the Allies grenadiers. Also Rooth's division was shot to pieces within short with its initial onslaught. Just my newly painted brigade of Dauphin following in second line survived. The fighting for Gleimenheim and the woods to either side now turned into an obstinate and bloody affair.

Wangenheim's Hannoverians deployed in the rear of the Erbprince's force for close support, while Waldgrave's English infanterie gradually extended the line to the Erbprince's right.

Detail of the fighting in the woods between Niederklein and Allendorf.
My newly painted regiment of Dauphin is advancing in support of Condé's grenadiers. It has seen off an attack by Allied grenadiers and now turns the flank of the Hannoverian regiment of vieux Zastrow to pour in its fire. Dauphin performed great this day.

Finally, the Allies were fought down. The remnants withdrew behind a stream running past Neustadt with the French found in close pursuit and now preparing for the final assault on the Neustadt position. This town was a tough nut to crack, as it was found walled and surrounded by a stream. Meanwhile the Allies started to build up an increasingly threatening force on the French left, led by Waldgrave's English infanterie and supported by Imhoff's command as well as Granby's English cavalerie of the right. Granby was once again found at the very rear of the echelon, causing French staff officers to laugh and scoff at Granby being just fine enough a force to guard the army's suttlers and other baggage. Before this battle was over, Granby's cavalry's sabers would give them a lesson to learn.
But before telling the story of Granby's glory, lets turn to the events on the French right. Lusace's Saxons as well as the French cavalry of the right could finally manage to close in on Neustadt.

Above see the crisis of the battle on the French right. The French cavalry engages in a reckless charge to crush general Wutginau's Hessians and Brunswickers defending the stream to the East of Neustadt. The Cuirassiers du Roi actually broke the Brunswick Zastrow regiment thanks to the fire support of the Saxon grenadiers, while in a most gallant action, the Saxon Kurprinzessin regiment knocked out the Hessian heavy battery of colonel Huth. On the West side of Neustadt, all Allied artillery was either silenced by well aimed French artillery fire, or captured by a brave charge of the Grenadiers Royaux. Now, Neustadt was ready to be captured by the French - but - there weren't any troops left to assault Neustadt. The French army was found completely exhausted with no troops left, that could deliver the final blow.
All the while the action of this day was decided on the other end of the French line. General Imhoff's troops along with Waldgrave's English fought down the French left wing's divisions of Gouchery and prince Camille, and Granby launched the battle decisive blow against the single remaining intact French division of general Rougé. It was totally crushed in a single charge by the English cavalry. Not even Mr. L'Americain could have foreseen such disaster.

Above see the English cavalry with Granby in the rear. In the foreground you see the poor French brigade of Le Roi on blown horses. They could do nothing to avoid French defeat.
Cheering Victoria and a Feu De Joie to the arms of My Royal Britannic Majesty's Army in Germany, that has won the day in a most dramatic game.

Je suis Charlie

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My SYW Personality Commanding Generals part II

January 18, 2015, 3:50 am

≫ Next: My SYW Personality Commanding Generals No III

≪ Previous: The Battle of Neustadt-in-Hesse*** 26 June 1760 – once more a ‘near’ historical scenario – or the true story of his lordship Granby's Day of Glory.

I have completed three more French general-staff figures. The centre figure will be my new Mr. le comte de Guerchy. He was also colonel of the regiment Du Roi (IR12). Therefore I thought of having a staff-officer of this regiment at his side. The right figure is another French lieutenant-général.

As you can see, the full cuirasse has become the new fashion among the French. I love their looks. I should have done that with earlier paint jobs.
While painting, I detected a minor flaw. Note the centre Guerchy comes with a different coloured shabraque. The front face one is blue, while it is red on the reverse side :-))). The heck. With my flats you can only see one side at a time, anyway.

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My SYW Personality Commanding Generals No III

March 7, 2015, 11:48 pm

≫ Next: An Easter Friday's Refight of the Battle of Minden, 1 August 1759

≪ Previous: My SYW Personality Commanding Generals part II

My current paint-job is yet another French general command stand. I noticed that I am missing a real "maréchal de France" as commander-in-chief. Some years ago, I purchased some very pretty flats from the French foundry Segom (see: www.figurines-soldats.com ).

My choice for my "maréchal de Broglie" will be Segom's figure of Louis XV which they did after the famous painting by Horace Vernet "The Triumph of Fontenoy" (1745) I believe it is titled, and on display at Versailles.

I'm sure the dusty remains in Mr. le duc de Broglie's tomb will vitalise for a second or two in a most wonderous way if his spirit in the hall of Valhalla will ever receive notice of this gracious reverence of mine. The Segom Fontenoy Louis XV figure just makes the best chef-of-it-all for my French army. I'm not aware sa majesté ever took the effort traveling all the way to Germany and visit his fine Army of the Main river or the Weser. So, I have no need for the king himself to command my French troops.

Above see a portrait of Mr. le Duc de Broglie in the dress of a French Maréchal. Not sure if it is 7YW period. I doubt it. It is more likely post 7YW. But it shouldn't be so off the earlier dress. It will serve as my guide for the lacing. My maréchal's entourage will be a stylish Hussar officer from the Legion Royale with exotic pelisse and shabraque – it will be of leopard or jaguar fur – and an officer of the Gendarmes de la Reine (red dress). All are by Segom. The fourth officer on the beige coloured horse is by Kieler Zinnfiguren. I haven't decided yet what rank he will be. Possibly a maréchal-de-camp. Behind these four command figures, you see a set of figures that will become the foot elements of the Volontaires de Clermont. All are still WIP. I will post more images once they are all done.

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An Easter Friday's Refight of the Battle of Minden, 1 August 1759

April 19, 2015, 12:31 pm

≫ Next: Refight of 1741 battle of Mollwitz

≪ Previous: My SYW Personality Commanding Generals No III

This past Easter Friday 4 April, our group had a most hard fought refight of one of my most favorite SYW scenarios. The day of gaming Minden was scheduled in our calendar as "Le Super Grand Easter Bunny Massacre". In the event, this game turned out to be precisely that. Instead of the historic 4 to 8 thousand casualties, ours would have been closer to 15 thousand and upwards for each side. A SYW Western Theatre's Zorndorf, so to say.
Well, there isn't so much to say about this rather well known battle. See below sketch of our gaming table - dimension wise speaking.

My scenario was laid out rather closely to the historical situation at around daybreak with the French found in columns at their designated points of deployment and the somewhat delayed Allies found approaching their designated area of deployment. Thereafter, all of the four of us gamers were free to decide what to do next. The above sketch, arranged by the gentlemen of the German Großer Generalstab Department of Military History during the early 20-hundreds is just "their" suggestion to illustrate their narrative of events. Really, the French army at no time was ever found delployed the way it is seen here. The fight was over before all could enqueue into their designated positions. Also the Allies forces deployment makes only a rather loose fit. Fine enough for me to set up the initial starting positions for all.
I played on the French side, of course, given my last years rather epic painting efforts to turn My French Army into about as most authentic as possible.

Above see the French columns in their initial positions closely based on Maréchal Contade's notorious dispositions. They weren't all that bad, really.
Admitted, Jomini's critics are just. He proposed the French army's deployment could have been much faciliated if he had done it the simple way so much preferred by Old Fritz – i.e stepping off camp in order of line by the right, rather than in the custom multiple columns found when marching by wings. But Ferdinand was no better, marching his army onto the plain of Minden exactly the same way.

A closer view on the French centre near the hamlets of Neuland and Finster Reie – in contemporary French accounts usually referred to as les maisons rouges (the red houses).

A closer view of the French far right with Broglie's corps deploying along the banks of the Weser river. It was my command this day, along with Contade's Grand Army's divisions of Nicolay and St. Germain.

The approach of Ferdinand's Allied Army through the cluttered terrain separating their camp from the plain of Minden.
The 2nd column of the right made of the heavy British/Hannoverian artilley under major Haase & capt. Macbean seen in the foreground. Again, no sight of general Sackville's British/Hannoverian cavalry of the right, being the first column. Apparently delayed, as ever – just to hold on to this running gag of mine.

The Allies deployment in progress. Now, we can also see Sackville's English etc. horse catching up in the foreground. Today, certainly so much more determined then in real history. We also see general Schele's Hannoverian infantry division deploying to the right of the English division. Oh boy, now Schele will have to compensate Waldgrave's English infantry for stealing their designated right wing position with the regular order of battle. My responsible opponent V*** playing on the Allied right wing fought his first SYW battle this day, I should note (He plays Revolution and Napoleonic in real life otherwise). He took great pains to get his troops aligned most neatly in line of battle, just as if being at the royal musters in Hyde Park. It was his understanding of a real orderly battle - so much different from all the decline and ugly libertinage found in the ensuing napoleonic period with moving troops on a battlefield.

Here see everyone is waiting for general Imhoff's left wing infantry and the cavalry of this Prussian booze head Holstein filing into the battle array. All this took a while and gave the French the singular opportunity to carry out their plan of attack.
This plan of ours was a courageous and violent thrust into the the Allied Army's "predetermined breaking point" - i.e. the gap seperating Ferdinand's main army with the eastward deployed corps of Wangenheim and Bevern at the Weser. Now, this plan worked out quite charmingly and made this Minden refight a victory of the French arms in the event.

Broglie's corps seen attacking Wangenheim's advancing force. The main French thrust was delivered to the left of the smallish wood forming the right of Contade's main force and the left of Broglie's Reserve Corps. The fighting here was so intense, that I didn't find the time to do any photos.
My opponent L*** wanted this wood just as much as I wanted it. In the end, my elite French Grenadiers prevailed but were found exhausted and of little use with the upcoming events.
I'm afraid, the hottest of this day's fight on the French right wing isn't documented. I was too busy playing, I guess.

Just this small bit after the French had cleared the terrain to their front. Holstein's cavalry now gave way and moved off into the direction of Wangenheim's left wing troops. Nearly at the same time, Broglie's corps was entirely smashed as a result of a foolish flaw of mine. Never attack artillery with poor quality troops I learned – but ignored that day. No problem. The main area of the fight now shifted towards the French left anyways.

After V*** had finally completed his most elaborate deployment process, he gave orders to have nearly the entire force of Ferdinand attack the French left resulting in the single most massive clash I can remember in my wargamer's life. I love the above image with all these densely packed miniatures of mine. About an hour later, hardly anyone was left. The bulk became casualties. The end result can be seen with below image that shows the final stage of the battle. Holstein's cavalry along with Bevern's, so far not committed, reserve of Grenadiers managed to turn the French right and attacked the French in the rear. No problem again. We still had plenty of troops left to deal with this rather minor issue.

Victoria to the arms of his most Christian Majesties Army in Germany.

This game was fought using Volley&Bayonet rules. My scenario orbat sheets for the two opposing armies are added below. To my delight, the bulk of the troops are really authentic. With the Allied orbat, I have accounted for the grand guards of Ferdinand's army, that had been under the command of the prince of Anhalt that day. He was the "general of the day" and was ordered to recapture the village of Hahlen. His force was really the combined piquets of the line, while they are represented as Jagers and Hussars with my orbat.

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Refight of 1741 battle of Mollwitz

April 11, 2010, 1:14 pm

≫ Next: My SYW Brunswick & Hesse-Cassel Infantry

≪ Previous: An Easter Friday's Refight of the Battle of Minden, 1 August 1759

For once, I took the opportunity and made a number of nice photos of last Saturday's battle of Mollwitz. A good part of My-Seven-Years-War Austrians & Prussians were gathered for an scenario, designed to introduce my 12 year old nephew to the realm of wargaming. The game was played with Volley & Bayonet rules. The scenario loosely followed the 1741 Mollwitz situation. About 600 of my miniatures took part. An infantry regimental base has an average 16 figures, the cavalry brigade stand 10 to 12, and a battery consists of 5 to 8 gunners plus the piece.

The Prussians under young Frederic and Feld-Maréchal Schwerin were played by myself while the Austrians were played by nephew Karl. Initially it was to be under the command of count Königsegg, but Karl wanted to command en chef himself. Only minutes before commencement of the battle a courrier from Vienna arrived ordering supreme command to be transferred to "Prinz Karl"– alias duc Charles de Lorraine. To keep it short: I suffered a decisive defeat. Karl, only playing for the second time beat the old maestro. My brave Prussian infantry melted away under a series of most murderous salvoes on the side of the Austrian infantry. That day, my dice were no match to Karl's.

Above picture shows the Austrian line of battle, formed to either side of the little village of Mollwitz. The right wing cavalry (not on the photo) consisted of 3 brigades: C4 Stampach cuirassiers, de Ville's elite brigade of converged Grenadiers à cheval, and the Saxon prince Charles chevauxlegers. Infantry 1st line from right to left: Prinz Karl's own IR3 duc Charles de Lorraine, Netherlandish IR30 Saxe-Gotha and IR9 Los Rios, IR22 Sprecher, Kurmainz imperial auxilliaries, IR59 Leopold Daun, and IR1 l'Empereur romain. The second line: IR27 Baden-Durlach, IR14 Rhingrave de Salm, IR32 Forgatch and IR31 Haller Hungarians, and finally IR4 Teutschmeister closing on the left. The Austrian left wing cavalry consisted of 4 brigades: C1 Archi duc Leopold cuirassiers, C9 Saxe-Teschen cuirassiers, C6 Odonell cuirassiers, and D4 Savoyen dragons. Total was 7 brigades of cavalry, 12 regiments of infantry and 2 batteries including 1 being heavy. (N.B.: all regimental numbers according to the system used at Kronoskaf – see http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw ) The Prussian army was of near same size or a total of 6 cavalry brigades, 13 infantry regiments, including 2 of Grenadiers, and 2 field batteries.

Close view of the Prussian infantry centre. The regiments IR22 prince Maurice, IR13 Itzenplitz – the crack "Thunder and Blitz", IR7 vieux Bevern, and IR19 marcgrave Charles. Maréchal Schwerin at the head of his army – at this time still very much alive – gives orders to advance. The battle started with a Prussian advance. Meanwhile, Frederic, the king, preferred to remain behind Itzenplitz. His suite consists of 2 Leib-Hussars H2 in winter dress, and an aide-de-camp.

Now it was Karl to decide how to react to what seemed to be an all out frontal attack. Without hesitation, he gave orders to have his infantry boldly advance to meet the Prussians. Stampach's cuirassiers charged the grenadiers on the Prussian left wing forcing them back in disorder. A good start for the Empress-Queens troops. Next followed an exchange of long range fire from the infantry's bataillon guns, which did little damage to either side.

Now Prussians tried to decide the issue with the bayonet and closed in on the Austrian infantry. My cavalry was deliberately kept at a distance to the Austrian, for all of my horse were rated with rather poor morale that day. I had put my faith into the superior morale Prussian infantry. Above scene shows a detail of the infantry clash. Lower left shows Prussian Möllendorff grenadiers (converged IR 9/10) engaging l'Empereur. To their left, a battery of light 12 pounders (Dieskau M1754). Modell is by Diez foundry, Austria. Behind you see marcgrave Charles. It engages Kurmainz. Shortly after, Schwerin, my Prussian army commander, realy did get killed during fire combat.
– to be continued –

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My SYW Brunswick & Hesse-Cassel Infantry

September 13, 2015, 9:28 am

≫ Next: 7YW Artillery – Saxe-Poland – Annex

≪ Previous: Refight of 1741 battle of Mollwitz

After a long pause from March to July, I finally started to add a few more units to My SYW Allied Army. The Brunswick infantry is the first to recive attention. My former units all had wrong flag designs and my old regiment Imhoff I had in doublle strength. Below see my latest paint job: the Brunswick Leib-Regiment.

I prefer my custom old French entitlement Bronsvic Régt. Du Corps. As can be seen, I opted for the old flag design documentsd to around 1754. I like it so much more then the "prussianized" design introduced after 1754 (see kronoskaf). However, the oldest illustration of the new design seems to date no earlier then post SYW, I believe. The smoking gun proving the new design was around by the SYW is missing, really. It is just speculation based on the reorganization from 1 battalion to Prussian style 2 battalion footing, which also demanded for new sets of flags. It is generally believed that also the new flags were introduced at the same time. A very just assumption, but I so much prefer this rather classic "Protestant German" flag design. It matches so well with that of the Hessians, as well of my last year's raised Saxons in 7YW French service.

Detail of the centre command post section of a poster sized
original Rangier-Rolle [Engl: Size-Roll ?]
headlined: Rangier-Rolle von des Hochfürstlichen Leib-Regiments
ersten Bataillon, im Monat May 1752 [sic.]
The blue regimental flag also bears duke Charles I. lat. devise:
Nunquam Retrorsum in Roman Capitals, which I ignored with my painted flags.

Earlier, I did the regiment von Behr (red flag), and I gave one stand of my old regiment von Imhoff a new flag (green) and black gaitors.

The unit seen in the upper left background is my second stand of Imhoff that I will convert to regiment von Zastrow with yellow facings and a yellow flag.
And while I was engaged converting some Brunswickers, I also took the effort to repaint 2 of my Hesse-Cassel infantry flags.

Its the regiments Prinz Wilhelm, later Erbprinz, IR12 (light blue flag) and the Grenadier Regiment later Zweite Garde, (yellow flag).
More new painted as well as remastered Hessians are to follow within soon.

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7YW Artillery – Saxe-Poland – Annex

September 24, 2015, 1:03 pm

≫ Next: My SYW Brunswick & Hesse-Cassel Infantry part II

≪ Previous: My SYW Brunswick & Hesse-Cassel Infantry

I thought it worthwile sharing below rare image. The original painting I first saw with my visit of the Dresden museum in October 2013. I have never seen it printed in any publication before.

Scene of the battle of Hohenfriedberg 4 June 1745. Painting by Carl Röchling, now Collection of the German Army or Bundeswehr Museum of Military History, Dresden – The former Saxon Army Museum.

We see the Saxon Gardes engaged in – I may say: a ‘smart retreat’ – just to avoid using the rather disgraceful term ‘rout’ and behind Prussian grenadiers in close pursuit, on the point of crushing them. All my fingers crossed the Saxons will make good their escape – and save this cannon from being captured. This cannon illustrated in the centre is really quite interesting. Most obviously, it is Röchling's interpretation of the Saxon Geschwind-Stück entitled bataillon gun that I have presented with my previous article below at
armies.blogspot.de/search/label/Saxon SYW Artillery
This one here should be the earlier 3-pounder. I have done the larger standard 6-pounder for the 1756 army. Röchling's take is somewhat sketchy, for he should have had the 1766 model as single visual reference instead of the earlier design that I present. But it is clearly showing the odd square backpart of the barrel or machine-case (?) so distinctive for the looks of this piece when seen from a distance.

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My SYW Brunswick & Hesse-Cassel Infantry part II

November 20, 2015, 1:28 pm

≫ Next: My SYW Personality Commanding Generals No IV

≪ Previous: 7YW Artillery – Saxe-Poland – Annex

Below find a few images of my latest paint-jobs.
I have somewhat remastered the Hesse-Cassel Malsburg, IR 10 (left), and the Brunswick regt. Zastrow, by giving them new flags and a new issue of black gaiters. The Hessian Malsburg men are seen with their white linen summer dress breeches, instead of the regular yellow dye wool breeches. Ever since I saw that Hessian Garde officer illustrated in John Mollow / Malcom McGregor Uniforms of the Seven Years' War way back in the 1970's, I was hookedto this yellow vests and white breeches idea being distinctive Hessian, learning only much later that white breeches for summer dress were rather universal, really.

Next comes my newly painted Hesse-Cassel regt Wutginau (IR 5), in 1759 "Leib-Regiment", but changed its name when Frédéric II became the new Landgrave in 1760. He now promoted his own Erbprinz regiment (IR 7) to the new "Leib-Regiment", which I have also added as a new unit to my SYW Allied Army.

Malsburg as well as Wutginau both have the old flags of the period of William VIII (1751-1760). This design was carried all through the 7YW, despite the devolution of the crown in 1760. But there have been exceptions, it is believed. An alternative newly introduced flag design can be seen with my latest paint-job, the 1760 new Leib-Regiment (IR 7) below.

I have decided to paint this unit in the dress, that is believed to have been introduced only at around May-June 1761. Rather late during the war. Before the facing colours were light yellow instead of rosé. I just love this rosé facing colour, and at the risk of entering the realm of imaginary nations here, I just wanted to have those lads look just this way. I love 'em. The flag design is similar as that of Frédéric's 1760 newly raised "Leib-Garde"(IR 14).

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My SYW Personality Commanding Generals No IV

November 21, 2015, 11:17 am

≫ Next: Prussian SYW Artillery Scale Drawings – part 4 – A Spectacular New Source

≪ Previous: My SYW Brunswick & Hesse-Cassel Infantry part II

Below see some images of a newly remastered SYW command stand of mine. Its the Erbprinz, awestruck nicknamed "Achilles" by his French opponets. I have redone the laces of his coat making a better match to the Brunswick Leib-Regiment officers dress. The Kassel Museums Collection has a portrait of him dated 1763 where he looks just this way including the popular black hunting dress breeches. The saddlecloth is my own guess work. The portrait shows him along with his family “dismounted” missing the horse.

His entourage is made up or a newly painted officer of the Hannoverian Jägers (green dress). He may be Winzigerode or captain Friedrichs, adding the so much needed intelligence to his staff. He certainly does have the bigger spy-glass.

The two black uniformed blokes are his personal Garde d'Honneur. Its a troop of the Buckebourg Black Carabiniers. I painted them many years ago. Make no mistake – if you should ever make it to the gates of Walhalla, those very two gentlemen will receive you, for they'll be the Gate Guards. No doubt. You better know the Parole or watchword. If you miss it, you will not pass. They'll show you the short-cut way straight to hell, instead.

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Prussian SYW Artillery Scale Drawings – part 4 – A Spectacular New Source

January 4, 2016, 12:41 pm

≫ Next: My SYW Saxon 6-pounder Quick Firer battalion gun

≪ Previous: My SYW Personality Commanding Generals No IV

A truly spectacular new source filled with 18th century military material has been digitalized and made available online. It is the extensive encyclopedic collection of the former Wuerttemberg general Ferdinand Friedrich von Nicolai (*1730 +1814). It belongs to the archive of the Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Stuttgart– or the ‘Wuerttemberg State Library’ in English. It includes several folders on artillery with about the biggest collection of scale drawings I have ever seen. Simply overwheling it all is. The bulk of the material should originate from the hands of the Zeugmeister or ‘Masters of Ordnance’ of the once so famous Nuermberg Arsenal, but it is also including many drafts illustrating other European Armies guns and other material. Most is of the period around 1700 – and somewhat earlier – to around 1750 or 1760. It does include awsome and most bizzare constructions, such as the one below: