The Battle of Corbach, 10th July 1760 (The Refight)

A few weeks ago, our old mate and W.A.S.P. club-deserter Jase Evans was over from New Zealand for a couple of weeks, so of course we had to put on a game.  He’s a huge fan of 18th Century French history, so a Seven Years War game was the natural choice and I decided to do a test-run of my recently-published Corbach scenario.  Jase took the role of French commander and was joined by Andy James and Kirk French, who recognised a winning position when they saw one…  That left me with the unenviable task of commanding the Allies and I was ably assisted by Dave Llewellyn, who wasn’t quick enough off the draw when picking sides!

After considering the options, I decided that the ‘full fat’ version of the scenario would require far too much dull advancing to contact, so decided to get straight into the action with the shorter version, as per the map below.  This requires the scenario-clock to be ‘fast-forwarded’ to start the game on Turn 8.  I also decided to include Bischhausen’s cavalry division as ‘optional reinforcements’ to even the odds for the Allies (arriving no earlier than Turn 15).  I also added a small patch of woodland to the Allied left flank that I’d completely forgotten to include in the map.

Please note however, that this game report contains scenario-spoilers, so if you’re planning to play it, I recommend NOT reading this report until after you’ve played it! 🙂

Above:  The opening situation as seen from behind Allied lines.  General von Luckner’s mixed corps of Hanoverian and Brunswicker light troops, grenadiers and cavalry is deployed on the left flank.

Above:  To Luckner’s right, General Griffin’s small corps of Hessian and Hanoverian infantry is deployed along the crest of a ridge and forms the left wing of the Erbprinz’s main line, supported by a light position battery of Hanoverian 6pdrs.  General von Oheimb’s small reinforcing corps of Brunswick and Hanoverian infantry has just arrived on the battlefield and forms a second line behind Griffin’s infantry.

Above:  General von Grothaus’ British, Hanoverian and Hessian cavalry regiments have formed a widely-spaced line well to the rear of the main position.  On Grothaus’ left, General Webb’s small column of British and Hanoverian infantry is just marching on to the field. 

Above:  General von Kielmansegg’s large corps of Hanoverian and British infantry is deployed further along the right, along the edge of woodland.  Several British and Hanoverian 6pdr position batteries are deployed on a knoll in front of the right flank, guarded by Geyso’s Hanoverian grenadier battalion.

Above:  With worrying reports of French infantry moving through the densely-wooded hills on the right flank, Kielmansegg has positioned a flank-guard, consisting of two British regiments, the 50th and 51st, along a steeply-banked road and just reinforced it with a further Hanoverian regiment.

Above:  Forward of Kielmansegg’s flank-guard, a detachment of picquets guards the bank of a small stream.

Above:  The whole battlefield, as viewed from the south, with the Allies on the right and the French on the left.

Above:  The Duc de Broglie has just arrived on the field and takes position on the highest point, alongside the Comte de Guerchy’s freshly-arrived position batteries.

[One of the three batteries actually consists of light artillery, but I’d run out of light guns and had to use heavies for all the French position batteries (the labels say what they actually are).]

Above:  On the extreme French right flank, the Marquis de Poyanne’s corps of Carabiniers forms up on high ground, well out of Allied artillery range, to threaten the Allied left flank from a distance. 

[The observant will have noticed that these troops are in fact the red-coated Gendarmerie de France and not the blue-coated Carabiniers!  I hope to have the Carabiniers painted in time for our Christmas game, but for this game I had to use the Gendarmes as rather splendid-looking proxies.  Like the Gendarmerie de France, the Carabiniers were a truly colossal regiment and in game terms are represented by two large units.]

Above:  Keeping the Allies’ attention fixed in the centre is Baron de Clausen’s corps.  Like Luckner’s corps opposite them, this is a mixed advanced guard, consisting of two regiments of Liégeois infantry (the Horion and Vierzet Regiments), the Turpin Hussars, Beauffremont Dragoons, the light infantry of the Volontaires du Dauphiné and the massed Grenadier and Chasseur companies from Rooth’s corps. 

[Unfortunately, I had to cobble this corps together from whatever was left in the box!]

Above:  Advancing against the Allied left wing is the Comte de Guerchy’s massive corps, consisting of seventeen infantry battalions.  However, they have had a hard march to the battlefield and are arriving piecemeal.  Guerchy watches from the heights as the Navarre Brigade (4 battalions of the Navarre Regiment and one from the La Marche-Prince Regiment) advances directly toward the Allied battery and Kielmansegg’s infantry.

Above:  Some distance to the rear, the Du Roi Regiment arrives, followed by the Orléans, Dufort and Auvergne Regiments.  Visible on the left are the massed dragoon squadrons of the Volontaires du Dauphiné and Volontaires de Flandre.

[N.B.  The Du Roi, Royal-Deux-Ponts, Castellas and Diesbach Regiments, as well as the light infantry of the Volontaires de Flandre are the only infantry regiments in my collection that actually match the order of battle.]

Above:  On Guerchy’s left, the eight battalions of the Marquis d’Amenzaga’s corps (four battalions of the La Tour-du-Pin Regiment and two each from the d’Aumont and La Couronne Regiments) have already pushed into the wooded hills and valleys to outflank the Allied line.  

Above: The light infantry of the Volontaires de Flandre push forward through the woods, ahead of d’Amenzaga’s battalions.

Above:  To d’Amenzaga’s rear is the right wing of the Irish Jacobite Comte de Rooth’s corps.  The Royal-Suédois Regiment (here represented by three battalions of blue-coated Germans) form Rooth’s right wing.

Above:  In the centre of Rooth’s corps are the grey-coated German Royal-Deux-Ponts Regiment and the red-coated Swiss Castellas Regiment.

Above:  The left flank of Rooth’s corps and indeed, the entire French army, is formed by two more Swiss regiments; Eptingen and Diesbach.  The dense woodland on the hills has prevented most of the French infantry from deploying their battalion guns, but the Swiss have managed to deploy some of theirs in the open ground of the left flank.

Above:  As the massed position batteries open fire on Kielmansegg’s infantry, the Navarre Brigade advance into the teeth of a storm of shot from the massed British and Hanoverian guns.

Above:  The Du Roi and Orléans Brigades deploy into a deep battle formation and follow the Navarre Brigade into the maelstrom (possibly breaking the all-time record for the number of bounce-throughs from a single shot).  On the hilltop to their left is another battery of light position guns; this one belonging to Rooth’s corps.

Above:  Guerchy’s attack signals a phased advance all along the French line, as Clausen’s corps now also begins to advance.

Above:  In a short time, Poyanne’s Corps of Carabiniers has also joined the general advance.

Above:  The Duc de Broglie watches with satisfaction as his artillery pummels the Allied lines without mercy and the juggernaut of Guerchy’s infantry prepares to smash into the enemy line.  However, is that a new enemy column in the distance…?

Above:  At the head of Guerchy’s column, the Navarre Regiment is taking a hard pounding, but no battalions have yet broken in the face of the Allied firepower.  On the Allied side, Kielmansegg has drawn his left wing in to form a second line.

Above:  D’Amenzaga’s infantry advance through the wood and look set to crush the Allied right flank.  The Volontaires de Flandre make very short work of the tiny detachment of Hanoverian picquets.

Above:  Ignoring the withering hail of canister fire from the British and Hanoverian batteries (who to be fair, would struggle to hit a regiment of elephants parading in close order…), the Navarre Regiment closes with the British-Hanoverian gun-line, forcing most of the gunners to run to the protection of Geyso’s grenadiers.

Above:  [SCENARIO SPOILERS!]  With the Allied right flank about to be overwhelmed by French infantry, fickle fate plays a hand!  The Duc de Broglie, having spotted an Allied column approaching in the distance, misjudges the size of the column and, fearing that he is about to be attacked by the entire Allied army, sends out a flurry of confused orders, halting the attack!  Rooth’s Swiss-German corps on the left flank reacts by immediately turning about and retreating back to their starting positions!

Above:  D’Amenzaga’s corps, deep in the woods, mills about in confusion and adopts a defensive posture.

Above:  However, d’Amenzaga’s light troops, the Volontaires de Flandre, have already reached the road and now lay down a persistent harassing fire on the two British battalions and their supporting battalion gunners.  [For once, Andy’s dice-rolling doesn’t fail him and the Volontaires keep rolling consistent sixes!]

Above:  Unfortunately for the Allies, the only French formation to continue with the attack is also the most powerful formation on the field!  Guerchy’s corps alone has as many infantry battalions as the entire Allied force.  Interestingly, Guerchy decides not to immediately launch a charge with his leading battalions, opting instead to engage in a brutal exchange of musketry and canister.

Above:  With Kielmansegg having shortened his line in order to create a second support line, Guerchy takes advantage of the situation by extending his own line, pushing the Du Roi Regiment out on the right. 

Above:  In the meantime, the British gunners make short work of the French battalion guns to their immediate front, though are soon forced to join their comrades in seeking shelter among their supporting infantry lines.

Above:  At last, an ADC arrives from army headquarters to get d’Amenzaga’s corps moving again!

[Historically, the only corps to continue its attack was Rooth’s, while most of d’Amenzaga and Guerchy’s corps made a temporary retreat.  At that point, the Allies accepted the loss of their guns and made good their retreat.  However, we decided that would be rather dull as a wargame, so we fight on…] 

Above:  Prince Camille of Lorraine’s cavalry corps arrives and immediately moves to attack!

Above:  Clausen’s corps and Poyanne’s Carabiniers however, are still milling about in a state of confusion, waiting for fresh orders.

Above:  The pause in the French attack has provided the Allies with vital time to reinforce the right flank with Oheimb’s and Webb’s corps.

Above:  Grothaus’ Allied cavalry corps (4 squadrons of Hessian dragoons, 2 of British dragoons, 3 of British dragoon guards and 6 of Hanoverian horse) has been dispatched to the right flank, in an effort to prevent Rooth’s Swiss-German corps from crossing the open ground and enveloping the flank of the Allied infantry.

Above:  However, by the time they reach the stream, all they can see are Swiss-German backs disappearing back into the trees!

Above:  Despite the breathing-space given by the stuttering French attack, it’s all going horribly wrong at ‘Kielmansegg’s Korner’!  The first French charge was halted by fire, but attritional losses suffered by the Allied battalions at that point are rapidly becoming unsustainable.  With the threat on the right flank diminished, Kielmansegg swings his two right-flank battalions out to face the main attack and drive back the deeply-irritating Volontaires de Flandre…

Above:  However, a second charge by the Navarre Brigade destroys Kielmansegg’s first line, sweeping away Geyso’s Hanoverian grenadier battalion, the Hanoverian Laffert Regiment, the British 51st Foot (Brudenell’s) and two of the three position batteries!  The deeply-irritating Volontaires de Flandre meanwhile, seem immune to Allied fire as they pick off the last of the British battalion-gunners.

Above:  Their wheel to the left proved fortuitous, as the 50th Foot (Carr’s) and the Plessen Regiment suddenly find themselves in the front line!

Above:  On the left of Kielmansegg’s line, the Hanoverian Bock Regiment suddenly find themselves being the last remnant of the first line, facing the entire Du Roi Regiment alone.

Above:  To the right of the Bock Regiment, the Wangenheim Regiment forms up on the left of the British 50th Foot, supported by the Reden Regiment.  However, the morale of Kielmansegg’s corps is starting to waver…

[i.e. after losing one-third of the corps, they’d become Demoralised in game terms]

Above:  At long last, d’Amenzaga finally gets his corps into action as the La Tour-du-Pin Regiment smashes into the Hanoverian Plessen Regiment on the extreme right flank of the Allied line.

Above:  As d’Amenzaga’s battalions frontally assault the red-coated line, the Deeply Irritating Volontaires de Flandre move to the flank.

Above:  Having already suffered heavy losses, the 50th Foot can take no more and break, leaving a yawning gap in the centre of what remains of Kielmansegg’s line!

Above:  Similarly, on Kielmansegg’s left, the Bock Regiment finally collapses in the face of the Du Roi Regiment.

Above:  D’Amenzaga’s assault destroys the gallant Plessen Regiment, though now faces new enemies in form of Webb’s small British-Hanoverian corps.

Above:  To Webb’s left, Oheimb’s small Brunswick-Hanoverian corps, led by the Hanoverian Dreves Regiment, advances in a desperate attempt to hold the wood.  In front of them, Kielmansegg’s last two units, the Hanoverian Wangenheim and Reden Regiments, finally break and run!

Above:  Guerchy watches with grim satisfaction as his leading regiments finally steamroller into the wood.

Above:  As the La Tour-du-Pin Regiment of d’Amenzaga’s corps forms up on Guerchy’s left, the d’Aumont and La Couronne Regiments are squeezed out and have to form a third and fourth line.  What a bore it must be to have so many battalions…  And as of yet not having even lost ONE of them!  Not that I’m bitter…

Above:  As the fugitives from Kielmansegg’s corps stream past them, Webb’s three battalions; the Hanoverian Jung-Zastrow and British 5th (Hodgson’s) and 24th (Cornwallis’) Regiments of Foot, form a hasty line across the road.  Webb is heard to utter an expletive, “Bugger me, that’s a lot of Frenchmen!”  Nevertheless, Webb’s first act is to finally annihilate the Deeply Irritating Volontaires de Flandre (pleasure before business in this instance).

Above:  At the bottom of the picture, the two battalions of the Brunswick Zastrow Regiment (not to be confused with their Hanoverian neighbours, the Jung-Zastrow Regiment) form up on the left of the Hanoverian Dreves Regiment.  However, this has left a rather large, battalion-sized gap between Oheimb’s and Webb’s corps.

Above:  The Thin Red Line…  Probably about to become a pink smear…

Above:  Things might be going horribly wrong on the right flank, but at least the left flank is secure… Oh, hang on…

Above:  As Prince Camille’s cavalry shake out into battle-formation, they are joined at last by Poyanne’s Carabiniers and Clausen’s corps, who have finally received orders to renew the attack.  In particular, the Turpin Hussars and Beaufremont Dragoons from Clausen’s corps form up on Camille’s left flank and join the charge.

Above:  Waiting on the ridge for the French cavalry are Griffin’s Hessian and Hanoverian infantry, alongside Luckner’s Hanoverian cavalry.  Three of Prince Camille’s brigades lead the charge, supported by the fourth brigade and the Carabiniers.  The Turpin Hussars also get a rush of blood to the sabre and launch a rather unwise charge on the Hessian Gilsa Regiment.

Above:  The view from the French side.  The Carabiniers are subjected to sniping from the Brunswick Jäger in the copse to their flank, but this has little effect (unlike the French light infantry, who seem to have telescopic sights and guided munitions…)

Above:  The frontal assault on Griffin’s Hessian infantry proves to be a disaster for the French cavalry!  The Turpin Hussars and one of Prince Camille’s brigades are utterly smashed against the blue-coated wall and flee the field!

Above:  The Cavalry battle on the flank however, does result in some limited success for the French horse, as the Hanoverian Walthausen and Heise Regiments of Horse are thrown back.  The Luckner Hussars however, have better luck and repulse their attackers.  However, the defeated French horse manage to rally behind Poyanne’s Carabiniers.

Above:  Having defeated the Hanoverian horse, the Royal-Cravate Cavalry Brigade decides to press its advantage and wheels to charge the Hessian Malsburg Regiment, on Griffin’s left flank.  However, the Hessian infantry, having already destroyed one French cavalry brigade, successfully beat them off.

Above:  Having defeated one French cavalry brigade, the Luckner Hussars decide not to press their luck and instead retire to rally out of range of French retaliation.  As for the Hanoverian Horse…

“Roll anything except a 6 to rally!”

“Ha!  That won’t be a problem, as we haven’t rolled a 6 yet in this entire g… Bugger…”

Above:  Although most of the French cavalry were defeated, there is now a huge gap in the Allied line between Griffin’s Hessian infantry along the ridge and Luckner’s Hanoverian grenadier battalions on the hill.  The French also still have a large body of cavalry in reserve, with which to exploit the gap.  

Above:  Guerchy’s infantry, having rolled over Kielmansegg while barely breaking step, suddenly find their seemingly unstoppable advance halted by Oheimb and Webb.  French infantry casualties rapidly mount and at last, French battalions begin to break.

Above:  Over on the far flank, Rooth has turned his corps back toward the battle, but faced by a mass of Allied cavalry, he decides to play it safe by contracting his line and deploying in greater depth.  The German brigade therefore forms column [as indicated by the arrow markers] and marches across the front of the Swiss brigade to form two lines.

Above:  D’Amenzaga’s eight battalions are now fully formed up on Guerchy’s left, but are making absolutely no headway against Webb’s British battalions.

Above:  On Guerchy’s right, a single detachment of Brunswicker battalion guns has caused a remarkable amount of damage to the Du Roi and Orléans Regiments (the only bright spot in a generally dismal display by the Allied artillery).  This detachment of guns is the only unit guarding a huge, yawning gap between Oheimb’s and Griffin’s corps.  Guerchy orders the Orléans, Dufort and Auvergne Regiments (eight battalions) to silence that battery and drive through the gap.

[NB  I’d run out of French battalions to represent the Auvergne Regiment (in the foreground) and to my annoyance, no broken battalions were forthcoming, so I was forced to deploy the Chasseurs de Fischer and some spare grenadiers to represent that regiment.  As the game went on, I replaced them with grey-coated infantry battalions from the dead pile.]

Above:  Pride comes before a fall… The Orléans Regiment’s charge is shredded by effective canister fire from the heroic Brunswick gunners and to everyone’s astonishment, the infantry break and run!

Above:  Although the Brunswick Artillery Corps has managed to hold its ground, the Hanoverian Schulenburg Regiment on Griffin’s right flank has been broken by the combined effects of long-range French heavy artillery and Clausen’s light infantry.  The gap between the Allied infantry formations has now widened to an unsustainable degree and a couple of battalion gun detachments are simply not going to stop the French infantry, no matter how lucky they get!

Above:  With all their available targets now destroyed, masked by friendly troops/terrain or withdrawn out of range, the deadly French position guns finally fall silent.

Above:  The Duc de Broglie watches with satisfaction as the battle continues to go well.  The Volunteer Dragoons meanwhile, with nothing better to do on the left flank, decide to parade for the headquarters staff…  “Mon Dieu!  Is it Christmas already, Colonel…?”

Above:  The grinding battle of attrition continues in the wood, but at last the Allies are starting to do real damage to Guerchy’s infantry, as a battalion of the Navarre Regiment and two battalions of the Du Roi Regiment are broken!  However, that really is only a pinprick in the side of the French juggernaut.

Above:  Rooth’s corps continues its re-deployment as a desultory duel breaks out between opposing detachments of battalion guns.

Above:  Grothaus’ Allied cavalry have been waiting patiently for Rooth’s infantry to come back out into the open ground.  However, an ADC arrives from Prince Ferdinand, ordering Grothaus to march at once for the left flank and counter the potential French breakthroughs in that sector.  

Above:  Webb’s infantry fight on under the assumption that the cavalry are protecting their open right flank…

Above:  Over on the opposite flank, it’s the Carabiniers’ turn to charge.  However, Wersabé’s Hanoverian grenadiers are made of sterner stuff and send them packing!

Above:  As the rest of the French cavalry pour over the ridge and through the gap, rescue for the Hessians arrives in the nick of time, in the form of Bischhausen’s cavalry (consisting of 4 squadrons of Hessian horse, 4 squadrons of British dragoons and 5 large squadrons of Prussian hussars)!  The Hessians charge the French horse head-on, supported by the British and Prussians. 

However, the French have the high ground and supported by the Carabiniers, manage to hold off the Hessian horse.  Feeling confident, the French horse charge on into the British dragoons, but the vengeful dragoons manage to turn the tables and throw the French horse back over the ridge!

Above:  With the cavalry distracted, Clausen’s infantry press home their assault on Griffin’s Hessians.  The two Liégeois regiments (the Horion Regiment in the fore, with the Vierzet Regiment in support) charge the Hessian Prinz Carl Regiment, but are halted by a withering volley.  The massed French grenadiers meanwhile have more luck, throwing the Hessian Gilsa Regiment back off the ridge. 

Above:  On the opposite flank, the greatest military mistake since Olaf The Hairy bought 10,000 battle-helmets with the horns on the inside is taking place…

Above:  As he sees the Allied cavalry turning and marching away, Rooth can’t believe his luck! 

Above:  And nor can Webb… His lads have been solidly holding off the French infantry, but with French battalions marching past his left flank and now the massive formation approaching his right flank, the only option is to retreat.

Above:  As Grothaus ‘advances in a retrograde direction’, he is rather surprised to see a couple of French battalions emerge from the ‘friendly-held’ woods!

Above:  Unlike the Hanoverian horse, the Hessian horse manages to rally following its drubbing at the hands of the French horse.  The British dragoons rally alongside them, following their counter-drubbing.

Above:  The above-mentioned defeat of the French horse by the British dragoons has resulted in the first major tactical reverse for the French!  The French brigade failed to rally following its defeat and fled to the rear, closely followed by the remainder of Prince Camille’s corps!  That now leaves only Poyanne’s corps of Carabiniers and these are soon set upon by the Hanoverian and Prussian hussars!

Above:  However, the Carabiniers still have plenty of fight left in them and the hussars are swept aside.  The Hanoverian Luckner Hussars are completely broken in this action.  The veteran Prussian Ruesch Hussars however, suffer heavy losses but manage to rally.  The Carabiniers play it safe and fall back to rally behind their support squadrons.

[NB I don’t have any of these hussar units in my collection, so used the Prussian Kleist Frei-Husaren to represent the Luckner Hussars.  The Ruesch Hussars are the famous ‘Black’ Hussars (HR 5) and I really should have painted them by now!  The other regiment should be the Malachowski Hussars (HR 7) in their rather natty yellow and blue uniform.  I really will have to paint these Prussian regiments for the western theatre, complete with the captured French standards they were authorised by to carry.]

Above:  Griffin’s corps is now in deep trouble.  The Hanoverian Schulenberg Regiment was broken some time ago and the Hessian Gilsa Regiment has been thrown back, leaving only two isolated Hessian regiments (Malsburg on the left and Prinz Carl on the right) still fighting on the ridge.  However, this is now reduced to one regiment, as the Prinz Carl Regiment is finally overwhelmed by Clausen’s infantry.  “Thank you Major von Bülow, I agree that now might be a good moment to move the army headquarters…”

Above:  In the woods, Oheimb’s corps has fought bravely, but is slowly being ground down as Guerchy brings his full strength to face them.  The Navarre, Du Roi and Orléans Regiments have all suffered heavy losses, but Oheimb has lost the Hanoverian Dreves Regiment and the brave Brunswick artillery detachment.  Only the two battalions of the Brunswick Zastrow Regiment remain in action and they now grudgingly give ground, in an effort to prevent them from being turned on both flanks.

Above:  The view from behind Guerchy’s corps as they attack Oheimb’s Brunswickers.  The Auvergne Regiment is out of shot to the right, marching to attack Oheimb from the flank.  At the far edge of the wood, the survivors of the Navarre Regiment, together with the single-battalion La Marche-Prince Regiment have broken through and seem to be marching on to Hanover!

Above:  On Webb’s right flank, his battalion guns have just switched to canister against Rooth’s rapidly-approaching phalanx of Swiss and Germans, but they just keep coming!

Above:  FINALLY, Rooth orders his men to charge!

Above:  “Don’t worry lads, the cavalry will cover our flank!  They’re just over th…  Hang on, where in the name of Madame Pompadour’s Purple Posing Pouch are our bloody cavalry?!”

Above:  It was at this point that the Allies, our personal morale broken, conceded defeat.  Rooth therefore never got to actually launch his charge.  Rooth made a note in his diary… “Cac a dhéanamh!”

Above:  Over on the left flank, Griffin’s two remaining Hessian battalions have somehow managed to maintain their discipline, but look set to be swept away by Clausen’s corps.  However, the still-intact cavalry corps of Bischhausen and Grothaus should be able to mount an effective rearguard now that Prince Camille’s French cavalry have been driven off.

Above:  Poyanne’s Carabiniers are still in the fight, though one of the two wings has taken very heavy casualties.

Above:  Luckner’s Brunswick Jäger-Corps and Hanoverian grenadier battalions continue to sit on their hill-top, no doubt wondering what all that noise is…

So a well-deserved, if slightly inevitable victory for the French, but still a very enjoyable game for both sides.  I still can’t quite get over how bad the dice-rolling was for Kielmansegg’s Allied infantry or how good it was for the French light infantry, who only missed one shot in the entire game!  I also can’t quite believe how stupid my decision was to bring Grothaus’ cavalry over from the right wing…

Anyway, my thanks to Jase, Kirk, David, Andy and all at W.A.S.P. for a great game!