Following our resurrection of my old Battle of Raab scenario, the lads were keen to do some more Napoleon’s Battles games, so last week I dug out my old Battle of Neumarkt scenario. I’d played this with the Carmarthen Old Guard in 2019 and said at the time that it would be a great one to replay, so a revisit to the battle was long overdue.
When we refought Raab for the second time, I did a fair amount of re-writing of the scenario, as I’d collected a lot more information about the battle since first writing it. However, my Neumarkt scenario was written after I’d acquired John H Gill’s superb trilogy 1809: Thunder on the Danube (an absolute must-have in any Napoleonic book collection), so didn’t require any amendment or tinkering.
This game was fought at the Wargames Association of Pembrokeshire (WASP). Andy James took the Austrians, Dave Llewellyn took the Franco-Bavarians and I avoided an inevitable defeat by umpiring.
As usual, the troops are 15mm models from my own collection, which is almost entirely made up of AB Figures models. However, most of the Bavarian infantry and artillery here are Battle Honours figures (the 13th Regiment with pink facings is possibly the oldest unit in my collection, dating back to around 1988). They were mostly painted by me, though Gareth Beamish painted most of the Bavarian infantry, the Bavarian cavalry, the Austrian infantry in charging poses and a few of the French units.
Above: “A photo of the initial deployment would be a good idea…” Yes indeed, but only if orientated with the map, you idiot…
Above: Marshal Bessières reviews the Bavarian 6th & 7th Regiments outside the east gate of Neumarkt.
Above: Another view of the Bavarian 6th & 7th Regiments. Gareth Beamish painted these for me some 30 years ago, though I still remember the pain of painting those bloody flags… Thank god for laser-printers…
Above: The Bavarian 13th Regiment deploys near Oberscherm, supported by Dobl’s 12pdr position battery.
Above: The Bavarian 3rd Regiment deploys on the ridge to the west of the Leonberg. As this unit represents a combined unit, incorporating the 3rd Light Battalion, I’ve represented it using Bavarian light infantry. General Wrede, the senior Bavarian commander, can be seen in the background.
Above: Caspers’ mounted light battery is deployed in a somewhat isolated position atop the Leonberg. He does however, have a commanding view of the surrounding countryside from this position.
Above: Preysing’s Bavarian cavalry brigade is resting on the west bank of the Rott, having been heavily engaged in reconnaissance duties. Detached from Wrede’s division, they now come under the command of the French General Marulaz, whose cavalry are just arriving on the Landshut road.
Above: General Molitor’s French infantry division, consisting of the 2nd, 16th, 37th and 67th Regiments, is bivouacked outside Neumarkt. Here we see the 37th & 67th Regiments and an attached battery of horse artillery. Marulaz’s cavalry are just out of shot to the right.
Above: Molitor’s 2nd & 16th Regiments are bivouacked on the other side of the stream, to the north of the town.
Above: Jacquinot’s cavalry are deployed to guard the high ground on the right flank, near the hamlet of Strass.
Above: FML Hiller’s Austrian forces begin to arrive; here the Hungarian 60th Regiment (belonging to Reuss-Plauen’s 1st Column) emerges from the woods, between Freiling and Hundham (NB there are two hamlets called Hundham on the map – one on the River Rott to the south of Neumarkt and another in the eastern corner of the map).
Above: FML Vincent’s Avantgarde, consisting of the 6th Chevauxlegers, appears on a high hilltop to the east of the Leonberg.
Above: Reuss-Plauen arrives at Hundham, at the head of his 1st Column, with Bianchi’s brigade (consisting of the 29th & 39th Regiments) following close behind. However, with the 60th Regiment having wandered off into the woods, Reuss-Plauen’s first task will be to try to bring his division back under effective control.
Above: In the centre, Kottulinsky’s 2nd Column arrive on the ‘ridgeway’ near Freiling. The 8th Hussars are in the lead, followed by the 7th Grenze and a 6pdr cavalry battery.
Above: Following closely behind is Hohenfeld’s infantry brigade (consisting of the 14th & 59th Regiments) and the two corps reserve 12pdr position batteries.
Above: As the Austrian columns push forward, they are surprised to encounter absolutely no resistance! To their complete shock, Bessières has opted to withdraw Wrede’s outposts to the far more defensible line of the River Rott!
[In game terms, Bessières had the option to redeploy Wrede’s forward infantry and artillery units up to 12 inches from their initial starting positions. He opted to move them straight backwards and deploy them in column of march, facing the rear!]
Above: However, this isn’t a full retreat. The Bavarian 7th Regiment takes up position in the eastern half of Neumarkt, while the reinforced 3rd Regiment is ordered to defend the thick walls of the St Veit Monastery.
Above: The Bavarian 6th and 13th Regiments however, along with the two Bavarian batteries, march back over Neumarkt Bridge, with new orders to take control of the riverbank north of the town.
Above: Wrede finds a new vocation, directing the traffic on Neumarkt’s central roundabout…
Above: Thanks to Wrede’s traffic-directing skills, the Bavarians are somehow able to avoid causing a snarl-up with Molitor’s French infantry, who are also passing through the town, intending to deploy to the south.
Above: Molitor’s leading regiments exit the town and head for the southern bridges at Wolfsberg and (the other) Hundham.
Above: Marulaz’s cavalry meanwhile, get stuck in the traffic-jam at Neumarkt.
Above: Jacquinot’s cavalry are also heading for the west bank of the Rott and pass over the bridge at Wolfsberg.
Above: An hour or so later, Molitor’s 67th Regiment have occupied Wolfsberg and prepare it for defence. The 2nd Regiment do likewise at Hundham, while the 16th and 37th Regiments deploy in support on the west bank.
Above: Jacquinot’s cavalry, having successfully passed over the Rott without incident, reform on the high ground to the west of Wolfsberg,
Above: The French horse artillery also deploys on the western heights and covers the approach to Hundham.
Above: Wrede and Marulaz have at last cleared the defile at Neumarkt and deploy north of the town.
Above: Hiller and Reuss-Plauen meanwhile, have finally reached the crest of the vacated ridge and wonder when they are going to contact the enemy!
Above: Kottulinsky’s 2nd Column passes Oberscherm and probes toward Neumarkt.
Above: The 8th ‘Kienmayer’ Hussars report back to Kottulinsky that the enemy have all either withdrawn over the Rott, or have occupied the built-up areas guarding the bridges. There is no work for cavalry here! The Hussars, knowing that they are recently-painted and as-yet unblooded in a battle, breathe a sight of relief…
Above: Weissenwolff’s brigade meanwhile, has somehow become separated from Kottulisnky’s 2nd Column during the night-march and arrives on a different road. Nevertheless, they press on toward Sass and should soon rendezvous with Kottulinsky at Oberscherm.
Above: Marulaz deploys his cavalry on the high ground north of Neumarkt, thus discouraging Vincent’s cavalry from attempting to establish a bridgehead over the Rott at Kinming.
Above: At the southern end of the battlefield meanwhile, Hoffmeister’s 3rd Column has arrived, led by the 7th ‘Liechtenstein’ Hussars. Hoffmeister follows close behind with the 6th Grenze and a cavalry battery, while Hoffeneck’s infantry brigade (the Hungarian 51st & 61st Regiments) bring up the rear. Hoffmeister is affectionately known as ‘The Bear’ to his men, who shout “Follow The Bear!”
Above: Hoffmeister’s leading hussars reach Sass at the same time as Weissenwolff’s infantry brigade.
Above: Kottulinsky finally deploys his cavalry battery to engage the Bavarian 7th Regiment at Neumarkt. The 7th Grenze push forward and deploy into skirmish-order in front of the town. The first shot of what was meant to be a dawn attack is fired at around mid-day!
Above: With the bridge at Kinming already dominated by and about to be secured the Bavarians, Hiller redirects Reuss-Plauen’s infantry toward Neumarkt and the monastery of St Veit.
Above: The Bavarian 6th Regiment advances to seize the hamlet of Kinming, thus securing the fourth and final bridge over the Rott.
Above: The Bavarian gunners open fire on Vincent’s Austrian cavalry.
Above: Vincent’s men soon suffer the first losses of the day, as accurate Bavarian artillery fire bounces through their ranks. With Bavarian infantry about to seize the bridge and hamlet of Kinming, Vincent orders his cavalry to withdraw to the Leonberg.
Above: The reinforced Bavarian 3rd Regiment watch nervously from the monastery as a great mass of whitecoats emerges from the wooded hills.
Above: Kottulinsky meanwhile, has fully deployed his 2nd Column for battle. The cavalry battery and the 7th Grenze have already engaged, but now the two 12pdr position batteries add their fire and the effect is immediate! Houses and defenders alike are smashed by the fresh barrage and the shocked Bavarians struggle to maintain their positions in the face of such an onslaught!
Above: Kottulinsky wastes absolutely no time in taking advantage of the situation and drawing his sword, rides over to Weissenwolff’s freshly-arrived brigade and leads them into the town!
Above: The Bavarians may have been disordered by the Austrian barrage, but they fight to the last and the combat in the town is grim, with little quarter offered or taken. Molitor, observing that the Austrians are largely ignoring the southern crossings for the time-being, has presciently redeployed his 16th and 37th Regiments to support the Bavarians at Neumarkt.
Above: For a moment, it appears as if the Austrians may be thrown back from the town, but Kottulinsky rallies them and leads his men all the way to the river. The Bavarian 6th Regiment is utterly broken and the survivors flee in panic over the bridge!
[In game terms, the Austrians threw quite a few of their precious stash of re-roll markers into the fight.]
Above: Although they have destroyed the Bavarian 7th Regiment, the Austrians are disordered as they occupy their new possession and the time is ripe for a counter-attack! The Bavarian 13th Regiment holds the west bank of the Rott, but has also been disordered by the fleeing remnants of the 7th Regiment, so is in no position to counter-attack. However, Molitor has anticipated this moment and drawing his sword, leads the French 16th Regiment forward through the town…
Above: The French 16th Regiment, with Molitor at its head, charges heroically across the bridge! Once again, the fighting is incredibly bitter, with both sides taking heavy losses. However, Weissenwolff’s Austrians, including the famed 4th ‘Hoch und Deutschmeister’ Regiment, eventually manage to throw the Frenchmen back in considerable disorder. Molitor himself suffers a serious facial wound, though his soldiers manage to escort him safely to the rear.
[In game terms, the Austrians had successfully deployed another stack of re-roll markers!]
Above: To the south meanwhile, Hoffmeister’s 3rd Column deploys in front of Hundham. Kienmayer’s II Reserve Korps has also now arrived at Oberscherm.
Above: Kienmayer’s orders are to support Hoffmeister in capturing the bridges at Hundham and Wolfsberg, though with Kottulinsky busy leading the battle in the town, his reserve brigades are now causing traffic-jams!
Above: Although Weissenwolff’s infantry have captured the eastern suburb of Neumarkt, they are now subjected to fire from Bavarian and French infantry and artillery and soon start to suffer a constant trickle of attritional losses. Kottulinksy moves one of his cavalry batteries forward in an attempt to even the odds.
Above: The bulk of Kottulinsky’s artillery however, is now otherwise engaged in reducing the monastery’s defences.
Above: With the eastern suburb of Neumarkt captured surprisingly quickly, Reuss-Plauen turns his attention back to the monastery and the river-crossing at Linsing.
Above: However, the artillery this time is failing to make much of an impact on those thick mediaeval walls and an imatient Reuss-Plauen starts to consider overwhelming the Bavarians through sheer weight of numbers… “We can take ’em… Can’t we…?”
Above: At the southern end of the battlefield, Kienmayer pushes his newly-arrived reserve batteries (another 6pdr cavalry battery and two more 12pdr position batteries) forward to bombard Hundham and Wolfsberg.
Above: The line of the River Rott is a very tough nut to crack, though the Austrians do have a massive artillery superiority over the Franco-Bavarian army.
Above: As the reserve batteries move into position, a single 6pdr cavalry half-battery opens fire and is already inflicting losses on the French 2nd Regiment defending hundham.
Above: The Austrian cavalry can do little except wait in reserve for the artillery to open a gap and for the infantry to establish a bridgehead. However, it’s already 3pm and the day is starting to slip away… As will the enemy if the Austrians don’t breach the river-line soon!
Above: With the artillery failing to do much damage to the Bavarian 3rd Regiment, Reuss-Plauen decides that he can wait no longer and leads his men forward against the monastery!
Above: With Vincent’s Austrian cavalry having withdrawn and with the Bavarian 6th Regiment having secured Linsing, Marulaz considers making a sortie with one of his brigades to support the beleaguered Bavarians at the monastery.
Above: However, Marulaz needn’t have worried, as the Bavarians successfully beat off Reuss-Plauen’s assault without assistance!
Above: While Reuss-Plauen reconsiders his plans, the Austrian artillery resumes its bombardment of the monastery.
Above: At Neumarkt meanwhile, the attritional losses being suffered my Weissenwolff’s brigade are starting to become a worry. Kottulinsky therefore orders Hohenfeld’s brigade and the supporting cavalry battery forward to engage the French 37th Regiment more closely across the Rott.
Above: As expected, the Austrians soon gain the upper hand in the firefight, forcing the 37th to withdraw from the riverbank. However, some good news is that General Molitor has returned from the surgeon and while his facial injury means that he has great difficulty in issuing orders, his blood-streaked visage is an inspiration to all!
Above: Hoffmeister’s 3rd Column and Kienmayer’s II Reserve Korps (actually just a large division) are now ready to assault Hundham.
Above: Kienmayer and Hoffmeister stand on the heights and watch as the final reserve battery deploys and opens fire. Hofeneck’s infantry brigade, d’Aspré’s grenadier brigade and the two Grenze regiments wait for the order to advance.
Above: On the northern flank, Generalmajor Preysing receives a dispatch from one of his patrols and sends it immediately to Marulaz; “Sir, I have the honour to report that a large column of Austrians is approaching from the north, on this side of the Rott! They will be here within the hour!”
From the other side of the Rott, a cheer can be heard from the Austrians… “Radetzky is coming!”
That sadly, was where we had to leave our game. Bessières’ precipitous withdrawal, while a sound tactical move, did mean that the game took a long time to really get going (though thank the Emperor for Napoleon’s Battles‘ generous march-rates…). However, the final situation (see below) left us wanting more, so we’re going to re-convene this battle in a couple of weeks. The Austrians finally seem to be in a position to force a crossing and the arrival of Radetzky’s column on the flank makes it even more interesting, but the time is already 1500hrs, which gives the Austrians nine turns in which to achieve their victory conditions before the arbitrary end of the scenario.
To be continued…
Above: The opening deployment as it appeared on our table.
Above: Another view of the opening deployment, aligned with the scenario map above. I would be commanding the forces of Freedom, Monarchy and Stability on this occasion, with Kirk French and Anthony Oakley taking the Damned Rebels.
Above: My first problem was that Cornwallis (i.e. me…) has decided on this occasion to re-live his glory days as a brigadier instead of actually commanding the army and entrusting brigades to subordinates.
Above: The Rebel right wing. Woodford’s Brigade forms the first line; the 7th Virginia are nearest the camera, then a battery of 6-pounders and the 11th Virginia, with the 3rd Virginia skirmishing forward of the line, along with Spencer’s Regiment from Alexander’s Brigade.
Above: Opposite them is the British left wing, consisting of Cornwallis’ Advance Guard Brigade; the 16th Light Dragoons, the 1st & 2nd Light Infantry Battalions, the Hesse-Kassel Jäger-Korps and the detached Light Company of the 42nd Royal Highlanders (Black Watch).
Above: Forming the second line of the Rebel right wing is Scott’s Brigade; the 4th Virginia are on the right flank, then a reserve battery of 6-pounders and a combined unit formed from Grayson’s and Patton’s Regiment. The combined 8th/12th Virginia form a third line.
Above: The centre of the Rebel line is formed by De Borre’s Brigade; the first line of which is formed by the brown-coated 2nd Canadian Regiment, the blue-coated German Regiment and yet another battery of 6-pounders, while the 6th Maryland are deployed forward in skirmish order and the 2nd/4th Maryland form a second line.
Above: On the Rebel left flank is Stone’s Brigade, consisting of the 1st/3rd Maryland, a battery of 3-pounders and the 5th/7th Maryland deployed as skirmishers.
Above: On the British right flank is Meadow’s Brigade of Grenadiers, consisting of the 1st and 2nd Grenadier Battalions.
Above: Surely nothing can withstand this glorious line of furry hats (and furry rucksacks)?!
Above: To complement the furry-hats, here come the Hessian pointy-hats!
Above: General von Donop leads his three grenadier battalions forward, along with a supporting battery of 4-pounders. The battalions are each named for their Commanding Officer; from right to left, these are Lengerke, Minnigerode and Linsing.
Above: In the centre of the British line, adding Tone to what would otherwise be merely a vulgar brawl, is Matthew’s Brigade of Guards, consisting of the 1st & 2nd Battalions of Foot Guards (these are actually composite units formed from detachments taken from the three Regiments of Foot Guards) and a very small Flank Battalion, which is deployed forward as skirmishers.
Above: Well that escalated quickly! The great concentration of Rebel artillery tears great lumps out of the approaching battalions of Redcoats, which slows the British advance quite considerably as they attempt to re-order their lines. However, units are able to advance where the artillery fire is lesser.
Above: Harassed by the Hessian Jägerkorps, the 7th Virginia, on the right flank of the Rebel line move forward to engage the enemy more closely. The 2nd Light Infantry are having none of it and charge the impudent Virginians!
Above: The 1st Light Battalion meanwhile, are taking a pasting from the Rebel artillery.
Above: Similarly, the Light Company of the 42nd Highlanders are losing badly to the skirmishing 3rd Virginia and Spencer’s Regiment.
Above: The Guards Flank Battalion meanwhile, seems to be dishing it out pretty well to Spencer’s Regiment.
Above: However, while the Guards skirmishers are shielding the 2nd Guards from enemy skirmisher fire, the 1st Guards are being hammered by the enemy artillery, who seem incapable of missing!
Above: On the British right flank, the 1st Grenadiers have had a difficult approach march, being disordered by a tributary of the Brandywine Creek and then being further discomfited by a battery of Rebel 3-pounders and the skirmishers of the 5th/7th Maryland.
Above: Back on the opposite flank, the 7th Virginia don’t fancy their chances in a bayonet-fight and instead break and run. The 16th Light Dragoons show remarkable restraint as they canter forward, opting not to charge the fleeing Virginians, but rather to keep them running.
Above: As the 16th Light Dragoons take over the pursuit, the 2nd Light Infantry wheel right to engage the main Rebel line. The Jägerkorps follow up, hoping to extend the flank.
Above: Ignoring events on their threatened flank, Woodford’s 6-pounders keep hammering away at the 1st Light Infantry.
Above: With casualties rapidly mounting, the 1st Light Infantry open their files in an effort to reduce the effect of enemy fire. At some considerable risk to himself, General Cornwallis is in the thick of it, taking personal control of the situation… But while Cornwallis relives his glory days as a Lieutenant Colonel, who is commanding the army?!
Above: Meadows’ battery of Royal Artillery 6-pounders bangs away ineffectually… The Hessian 4-pounder battery meanwhile moves to the flank, hoping to provide some badly-needed close artillery support to the two Grenadier brigades. “Why can’t the cheapskate schweinhund buy us some verdammt limber team models?!”
Above: On the far British right flank, the 1st Grenadiers also deploy into open order, to reduce the effects of enemy fire. However, this will reduce the battalion’s impact when/if it finally charges the enemy line.
Above: Stone’s Brigade makes every round count as the Grenadiers close the range!
Above: A cheer ripples across the Rebel lines as General Washington arrives to take personal command of his most-threatened sector.
Above: Alexander’s Brigade has now fully deployed in the Rebel centre, which from the British point of view, looks unassailable.
Above: Washington reviews Alexander’s deployment.
Above: With Alexander filling in the centre of the line, Scott is able to redeploy his brigade further out, to secure the right flank.
Above: To further stabilise the right flank, Washington orders Weedon’s newly-arrived brigade (2nd/6th Virginia and 10th/14th Virginia) to deploy to that sector.
Above: Reinforcements have also arrived on the British side of the battlefield; Agnew’s Brigade consists of the 33rd, 37th, 46th & 64th Regiments of Foot.
Above: Agnew’s Brigade also includes a badly-needed battery of 6-pounders.
Above: Conrwallis orders Agnew to march to the left flank, as that is currently where the only success is occurring.
Above: Cornwallis meanwhile, personally pushes the 2nd Light Infantry up the slope and their charge succeeds in driving back the 4th Virginia! However, the remaining Rebels manage to hold their ground and the 2nd Light Infantry are now subjected to murderous 6-pounder canister fire from Scott’s battery and a single section of guns from Woodford’s battery. The Hessian Jägerkorps meanwhile, sprint out to extend the flank and engage the gunners with rifle-fire.
Above: The 16th Light Dragoons meanwhile, complete their task in keeping the 7th Virginia running, but now come under accurate flanking fire from the newly-arrived 10th/14th Virginia of Weedon’s Brigade and are forced to withdraw out of range.
Above: In the meantime, things are heating up on the opposite flank! A fierce firefight has developed between the 2nd Grenadiers and the Rebel German Battalion, with losses being suffered on both sides. De Borre rides up to steady his Germans, but a fiercely-accurate volley from the Grenadiers sees him fall wounded from his horse!
Above: On the right flank, the 1st Grenadiers charge the 1st/3rd Maryland and throw them back!
Above: Brigadier Stone is carried away by the retreat, but quickly manages to rally the Marylanders.
Above: The 2nd Grenadiers meanwhile, are wavering and are refusing all of Meadows’ encouragements to charge the German Battalion! De Borre meanwhile, binds his wounds, remounts his horse and continues the job of destroying the British Grenadiers.
Above: The Royal Regiment of Artillery is truly living up to its motto today. ‘Ubique’; which of course means ‘All Over The Place’… Their counter-battery fire is consistently having no effect, as now Linsing’s Hessian Grenadiers can attest, having now become the latest victim of Woodford’s Rebel 6-pounders. General Donop rides over to urge Linsing to get his battalion moving.
Above: Agnew’s Brigade continues its deployment to the left flank.
Above: The 2nd Light Infantry, their ranks shredded by canister fire but encouraged by the personal example of General Cornwallis, somehow manage to fire a disciplined, devastating volley into their tormentors.
Above: Dozens of Rebel gunners are cut down around their pieces! Brigadier Scott himself falls dead, but the surviving gunners heroically stick to their guns! “Hurrah! Onward, my boys!” Cornwallis urges the 2nd Light Infantry on up the slope…
Above: At last, Linsing’s column of Hessian Grenadiers arrive in the thick of the action, only to get a double-six of canister in the face… The battalion is immediately broken and the Hessian grenadiers flee.
Above: Minnigerode’s Hessian Grenadiers meanwhile, have been stalled by De Borre’s 3-pounder battery and Donop rides over to steady them. Lengerke’s Grenadier Battalion continue marching forward in the wake of the British 1st Grenadiers.
Above: However, things are slowly beginning to fall apart for the British… The officers of the 2nd Grenadiers finally manage to urge their men forward with the bayonet, but the fire from the German and 2nd Canadian Battalions rises to fresh intensity and the Grenadiers are first halted, then routed!
Above: The 1st Grenadiers are also coming under pressure, as Stone rallies his Marylanders and throws them back into the fight. In the meantime, Muhlenberg’s Brigade (1st/5th Virginia, 9th Virginia, 13th Virginia and yet another battery of 6-pounders) has just arrived and is immediately ordered to support Stone on the left flank. De Borre has also shifted his reserve battalion, the 2nd/4th Maryland over to the left, to cover his flank should Stone collapse.
Above: Speaking of collapse… Cornwallis’ Advance Guard Brigade suffers a disaster, as first the Hessian Jägerkorps are routed by the combined efforts of the 3rd Virginia and 2nd/4th Virginia and then the 2nd Light Infantry are broken by a final whiff of grapeshot from Woodford’s flanking gun! The 16th Light Dragoons meanwhile, find their voluntary withdrawal suddenly turning into a rather more involuntary one… Cornwallis somehow survives the mayhem and rides back to the decidedly-shaky 1st Light Infantry.
Above: The 2nd Grenadier Battalion’s casualties are colossal and the battalion quickly loses all cohesion and flees the field!
Above: Disaster follows disaster as the 1st Guards, having finally managed to push forward while Woodford’s guns found other targets, suddenly become the target once again! Again suffering heavy losses, the 1st Guards can take no more and shamefully flee the field! The skirmishers of the Guards Flank Battalion have also been destroyed.
Above: With the departure of the 2nd Grenadiers, the Hessian Lengerke Grenadiers now find themselves in a bitter, all-German firefight with the German Battalion and the Hessians seem to be getting the worst of it. However, Stone’s 3-pounder battery is also suffering losses from musketry. In the meantime, the Hessian 4-pounder battery have managed to find a model limber (of sorts). Wunderbar!
Above: Stone’s charge against the 1st Grenadiers fails and Stone’s entire brigade breaks and runs, disordering Muhlenberg’s freshly-arrived brigade in the process. The deeply-irritating 3-pounder battery is also now forced to pull back from the line, disordering the 2nd/4th Maryland as they do so.
Above: George Washington rides over to steady the late Brigadier Scott’s Brigade, but actually finds the situation on the right wing much improved, with most of the British units on that flank broken or retreating. Only the 2nd Guards are still engaged in a musketry firefight on this wing. More British units are approaching, but Washington is confident that the right wing will hold.
Above: The 16th Light Dragoons steady themselves following their precipitous withdrawal and the rout of the Jägerkorps and 2nd Light Infantry. Agnew’s leading battalions begin to deploy nearby as Agnew’s artillery finally opens up on the Rebel lines.
Above: Cornwallis prepares to repeat the same mistakes with the 1st Light Infantry…
Above: Brigadier Matthew, with the 2nd Guards, has been locked in an unequal firefight with the 11th Virginia and 3rd New Jersey Regiments. With the departure of the 1st Guards, the skirmishers of Spencer’s Regiment also now flank the Guards…
Above: This is the last straw for the Brigade of Guards, which now completely breaks and runs!
Above: On the British left flank, Agnew continues his deployment, but Cornwallis is already writing his letter of resignation…
Above: Weedon, on the far right flank of the army, warily watches the distant Redcoats, wondering what’s going to happen next.
Above: Cornnwallis collects hastily-written letters home from the officers of the 1st Light Infantry before ordering them forward in the same old way…
Above: Grey’s Brigade (the 15th, 17th, 44th & 55th Regiments of Foot) have now arrived, but it’s all very much too little, too late.
Above: By some miracle, Linsing’s Grenadiers have managed to rally. Yay.
Above: As Muhlenberg’s Brigade firmly slams the door shut on the 1st Grenadiers’ breakthrough and with the Hessians making no progress while rapidly losing a battle of attrition with their fellow Germans, Generals Meadows and Von Donop send urgent messages to Cornwallis, begging his permission to withdraw…
Above: As the shattered remnants of Cornwallis’ ‘Elite Corps’ disengages, covered by the two fresh brigades, Washington watches with grim satisfaction at this fine victory and calls upon the commander of the artillery to award him a field promotion to Major General…
Following on from my 
Andy James took the role of Archduke John, commanding the Army of Inner Austria, while I took the role of Archduke-Palatine Joseph, primarily taking responsibility for the coming cavalry battle on the Austrian left flank.
Above: The overall view of the game, roughly aligned with the map above.
Above: The French right wing, with Grouchy’s cavalry corps (Montbrun’s and Guérin’s Divisions) in the foreground and Grenier’s VI Corps (Durrutte’s & Seras’ Divisions) on their left, with Lecchi’s Italian Royal Guard in reserve. Montbrun is understrength and is still waiting for Colbert’s Brigade to arrive.
Above: The French left wing, with Sahuc’s Light Cavalry Division in the lead, followed by Pully’s Dragoons.
Above: On the right of Sahuc’s light cavalry are Lauriston’s Baden Contingent and then Baraguéy d’Hillier’s XII Corps (Severoli’s and Pacthod’s Divisions).
Above: A closeup of XII Corps in the French centre; Severoli’s white-coated Italian regiments are in the foreground with Pacthod’s Frenchmen bringing up the rear. The Italian Royal Guard and Prince Eugène himself can be glimpsed beyond the village of Csanak. On the left of the picture is Durutte’s Division of Grenier’s VI Corps.
Above: So to the Austrian side. On the Austrian left, Mecséry’s massive Left Wing Corps of regular and Insurrection hussars forms up along the Pandsza stream.
Above: Another view of Mecséry’s magnificent mass of hussars. They look pretty, but can they fight…? Even by Austrian standards, Mecséry does have a massive problem in terms of command & control with so many sub-units to command.
Above: Yet another view of Mecséry’s hussars. You perhaps won’t be surprised to learn that I don’t have all that many Hungarian Insurrection regiments in my collection! I only have two such hussar regiments, as they come in handy for the two such regiments that turned up at Aspern-Essling and Wagram (the ‘Primatial’ and ‘Neutra’ Regiments). One of them is pictured in the foreground here and 
Above: The Austrian centre. Colloredo’s Centre Corps is deployed around the Kis-Megyer Farm, while Jellacíc’s Right Wing Corps is deployed around the straggling Szabadhegy village in the foreground. Frimont’s Reserve Corps is formed up to the rear on Szabadhegy Hill, though Frimont himself has absented himself.
Above: A close-up of the Kis-Megyer Farm. Ungerhofer’s Landwehr Brigade is holding the farm itself, while Lutz’s regular infantry brigade (IRs 61 & 62) deploys with a 3pdr cavalry battery to guard the bridge. Beyond the farm are IR 27 ‘Strassoldo’ and Ghilyani’s Brigade of Hungarian Insurrection infantry.
Above: Jellacíc’s Right Wing Corps takes up position around Szabadhegy village; Sebottendorff’s Brigade of regular infantry (IRs 32 & 45) takes up position in front of the village, with Markus’ Insurrection Infantry Brigade filling the gap between the village and Kis-Megyer Farm, while Legisfeld’s Landwehr Brigade takes up position in reserve to the rear of the village and their cavalry battery covers the bridge. Grenze Infantry Regiment (GIR) 10 (1st Banal) is pushed further out on the right flank and deploys in skirmish order, screening the front of Frimont’s cavalry.
Above: FML Frimont is the commander of the Army Reserve, but on this occasion has been ordered to take command of Jellacíc’s cavalry, as well as the cavalry of the Reserve, and deploy on the right flank. Besan’s Brigade consists of a number massed regular dragoon, chevauxleger and hussar squadrons (they were mostly dragoons, so I’ve used a regiment of dragoons to represent the brigade), while Paszthory’s and Siegenfeld’s Brigades consist of yet more Hungarian Insurrection regiments (I used an actual Insurrection Hussar regiment for Siegenfeld’s Brigade, but I must confess that Paszthory’s Brigade is represented by the British 15th Hussars, as I’d run out of Austrians and their white-laced blue dolmans and red shakos look vaguely similar if you squint…).
Above: The rest of Frimont’s Reserve Corps is left to its own devices on Szabadhegy Hill. GM Gajoli commands the First Line, consisting of the regular Hungarian IR 19 ‘Alvinczy’ and his own brigade of light infantry (mostly Grenzer, but also including some Jäger and Freikorps detachments), plus a 12pdr position battery. GM Kleinmayrn commands the Second Line, which consists of IR 16 ‘Lusignan’, Kleinmayrn’s own grenadier brigade and another 12pdr position battery.
Above: Prince Eugène seems to have adopted the same plan I used in our first refight, which it has to be said, is the obvious one; push hard with Grouchy’s cavalry and Grenier’s corps on the right, force the commitment of the Austrian reserves to that sector and then strike on the opposite flank with Baraguèy’s corps, the Badeners and the Italian Guard.
Above: Guérin brings the 1st Dragoon Division up, aligning with Montbrun’s right flank. Grouchy meanwhile, has gone back to bring up Colbert’s brigade from Nagy-Barathy.
Above: As the French right wing advances on the Pandzsa river, Mecséry orders the three units on his right to cross over the Viczay stream to extend the corps out to the left. However, he has already made a fatal error in failing to defend the highly-defensible riverbank!
Above: Having discussed the need to maintain a strong reserve in the centre and not to move it until ABSOLUTELY necessary, Archduke Joseph gallops off to help Mescéry on the left flank, confident that his brother John will make the right decision as commander-in-chief…
Above: “OK lads, my brother’s gone now… The Reserve Corps will wheel to the left! Quiiiiiick MARCH!”
Above: Concerned by the great mass of French infantry about to overwhelm IR 27 ‘Strassoldo’ on the riverbank, Archduke John moves the reserve 12pdrs to the Chapel Knoll, from where they can dominate the likely crossing-points. The reserve infantry meanwhile, descend from the hill and march through the vineyard to plug the gap between Kis-Megyer and Mescéry’s cavalry.
Above: Archduke John rides over to the other side of the hill, to assess the situation on the right…
Above: … Where absolutely nothing is happening. Frimont moves his cavalry battery forward to engage Sahuc’s cavalry at long range, but the French horsemen merely withdraw out of range.
Above: However, it’s all now kicking off on the left flank!
Above: Montbrun, leading Jacquinot’s light cavalry brigade across the Pandzsa, is immediately set upon by Gosztony’s brigade of Insurrection Hussars and the regular 2nd ‘Archduke Joseph’ Hussars.
Above: The Hungarian charge ends disastrously for Gosztony’s Insurrectio, who are routed by Montbrun’s experienced troopers. However, the French cavalry are matched by the regular Archduke Joseph Hussars and both sides fall back to lick their wounds. Archduke Joseph himself meanwhile, attempts to rally Gosztony’s hussars.
Above: As Montbrun and Jacquinot fall back to reorganise, Guérin crosses over with his dragoons and south of the river, Grouchy deploys Colbert’s newly-arrived light cavalry brigade.
Above: As Archduke Joseph (out of the picture) attempts to rally Gosztony’s Insurrection Hussars, his own regiment of regular hussars fall back to their lines.
Above: As Kleinmayrn’s grenadiers advance to the Pandsza and start to become embroiled in a firefight with Valentin’s 23rd Légère, Gajoli’s light infantry deploy to the Viczay stream, in preparation for when the donkey-wallopers inevitably lose to the French horse.
Above: Archduke John has returned to the Szabadhegy Hill and watches with satisfaction as his 12-pounders begin to tear holes in the French infantry.
Above: And not a moment too soon, as IR 27 ‘Strassoldo’ is starting to come under extreme pressure on the riverbank.
Above: Ungerhofer’s Landwehr, defending the walls of the Kis-Megyer, watch the approaching Frenchmen with increasing nervousness…
Above: Back at Csanak, Lecchi and his Italian Royal Guards (some of whom are proxied by the French Empress’ Dragoons) wait patiently for orders.
Above: Things are heating up on the riverbank, with Valentin’s 23rd Légère and IR 27 ‘Strassoldo’ taking particularly heavy casualties.
Above: Colloredo, not confident that Ungerhofer’s Landwehr will be able to hold the Kis-Megyer, orders Ghilyani’s Insurrection Brigade to relieve them and assume responsibility for the defence of the farm complex.
Above: Meanwhile on the Austrian left, Mecséry is coming under ever-increasing pressure. Supported by the effective fire of a battery of 8-pounders, Seras’ French infantry division is able to mount a successful assault across the Pandzsa, with Roussel’s 106th Regiment successfully capturing Mecséry’s defending cavalry battery. Hadik’s Insurrection Hussar Brigade and the regular 5th ‘Ott’ Hussars attempt to intervene, but Moreau’s 53rd Regiment manage to form square and so to everyone’s surprise, did the raw youngsters of the Provisional Légère Regiment! The hussars are beaten off and fall back over the Viczay to lick their wounds.
Above: On the left flank, there is another fairly indecisive cavalry clash, as Mesko’s Insurrection Hussar detachment and the 2nd ‘Archduke Joseph’ Hussars have a go at Guérin’s Dragoon Brigade. Although casualties are only light, the Austrian hussars are forced to fall back some distance, to avoid retribution from the fresh Italian dragoons and Colbert’s light cavalry. However, the good news is that Archduke Joseph has managed to rally Gosztony’s previously-routed hussars.
Above: As Guérin’s French dragoon brigade redresses its ranks, his Italian dragoon brigade (on the right flank) prepares to charge. Grouchy meanwhile, personally brings Colbert’s Brigade forward to join the action.
Above: Prince Eugène takes a close personal interest as Seras’ squares secure the north end of the bridge.
Above: As the Austrian Reserve Corps secures the line of the Viczay, a new crisis emerges behind them! IR 27 ‘Strassoldo’ has broken in the face of very heavy fire from Durutte’s Division and has fled to the vineyard! Taking advantage of this new gap in the Austrian lines, Dessaix has pushed the 62nd Regiment across to secure a bridgehead right in front of Kis-Megyer!
Above: Concerned for the security of the 12-pounders now that the Reserve Corps have buggered off, Colloredo pulls Lutz’s Brigade of regulars back from the river, with the intention of securing the guns. Markus’ Insurrection Brigade (of Jellacíc’s Right Wing Corps) now assumes responsibility for this section of the riverbank (not that anything is happening here).
Above: Wasting no time and disregarding the storm of shot coming from the Austrian 12-pounders, Durutte orders Dessaix to assault the farm!
Above: Astonishingly, the Austrian gunners panic, aim too high and completely fail to destroy the impetuous French infantry! Ghilyani’s Insurrectio also seem to have been supplied with damp cartridges as they also fail to stop the charge against their walls!
Above: Fate is certainly smiling on the French, as at this moment, the supporting French 8pdr battery manages to smash a breach in the walls of Kis-Megyer, demoralising the Insurrectio just as the French 62nd Regiment storms the walls! The French seem to have the luck of the devil, as Kis-Megyer falls at the first assault. Ungerhofer’s Landwehr jeer in derision as the Hungarians flee up the slope.
Above: With casualties passing through 25%, Kleinmayrn pulls his grenadiers back from the riverbank and prepares to mount a counter-attack to recapture Kis-Megyer. Gajoli pushes the fresh Hungarian IR 19 ‘Alvinczy’ forward to continue the firefight with Valentin’s remarkably persistent 23rd Légère. However, Gajoli’s light infantry are getting the worst of their firefight with Seras’ Division.
Above: Archduke Joseph, on the far left flank, takes personal command of two of Mecséry’s rallied units; Gosztony’s Insurrection Hussar Brigade and his own 2nd Hussar Regiment.
Above: Having taken personal command of Gosztony’s Brigade, Archduke Joseph is immediately set upon by a marauding bunch of Italian ruffians! However, while they might be just a bunch of Insurrection Hussars, at least they’re not Italian… The Italians soon scurry back to their French mates… OK, it wasn’t exactly a crushing victory, but it was our first success of the day, so you’ll forgive us for gloating!
Above: With Kis-Megyer having unexpectedly fallen, Colloredo halts the march of Lutz’s Brigade and leads them personally in a charge to recapture the farm complex while the French are disordered in the aftermath of their victory. They are joined in the assault by Ungerhofer’s Landwehr. However, General Grenier, commander of the VI Corps has just arrived and thanks to his personal encouragement, the 62nd Regiment successfully defend the walls after a tough struggle. Both Austrian brigades fall back to reconsider their options.
Above: Having crossed the Pandzsa while the Austrian gunners were busy with other targets and buoyed up by the success at Kis-Megyer, Pacthod gets a rough of blood to the sabre and leads the 52nd Regiment up the slope in a frontal charge on the guns! Durutte follows on in support with Dessaix’s 102nd Regiment.
Above: The 52nd suffer appalling losses, but heroically charge on through the storm of canister to take the guns! Any gunners foolish enough to hang around are cut down without mercy by the vengeful bluecoats.
Above: Appalled by this turn of events, Kleinmayrn is swift to exact vengeance and launches his depleted grenadier brigade over the knoll, into the flank of the jubilant, yet disordered 52nd. In order to prevent any supporting fire from Dessaix’s Brigade, Kleinmayrn also launches the fresh IR 16 ‘Lusignan’ into the 102nd Regiment.
Above: Kleinmayrn’s counter-attack is completely successful; IR 16 ‘Lusignan’ routs the 102nd Regiment and after a surprisingly difficult struggle, the Austrian grenadiers force the 52nd back over the Pandsza, with Pacthod only escaping by the skin of his teeth!
Above: However, the French have completed their mission and have successfully removed one of the most powerful Austrian assets, the 12-pounder artillery reserve.
Above: On the banks of the Viczay meanwhile, things are coming apart for Gajoli’s Brigade, as both the light infantry and IR 19 ‘Alvinczy’ suffer the worst of their firefights.
Above: Bloodied and bruised, but not yet broken, the great mass of Austrian hussars awaits the next onslaught.
Above: Happy to oblige, Grouchy orders his cavalry forward once again.
Above: Over on the opposite flank meanwhile, the French horse are nowhere near as keen to get stuck in…
Above: Frimont’s men meanwhile, sit around and wonder what all the noise is…
Above: The Guard wonder if the Viceroy has forgotten about them…
Above: To be fair, the Viceroy has been busy personally directing the battle on the eastern flank and thus far, hasn’t put a foot wrong.
Above: The French cavalry come on in the same old way… On the flank, Guérin’s brigade of Italian dragoons has another crack at Gosztony’s Insurrection Hussars, while alongside them, Montbrun once again leads Jacquinot’s Brigade against the 2nd ‘Archduke Joseph’ Hussars.
Above: The result is a disaster for the Austrians! This time the Italians rout Gosztony, sending his hussars fleeing from the field. Archduke Joseph, caught up in the melee, falls wounded but is rescued by his aides from the unfolding disaster. His own hussar regiment meanwhile, is completely destroyed as they heroically cover their Inhaber‘s escape.
Above: Skilfully maintaining control of their men, Montbrun and Jacquinot wheel the brigade to hit Mesko’s Insurrection Hussar detachment in the flank!
Above: Mesko’s hussars are completely destroyed! However, the French cavalrymen now have a blood-lust and Montbrun and Jacquinot fail to maintain control! The brigade raggedly charges on into Andrassy’s Insurrection Hussars, but the stalwart, busby-wearing proxy hussars from the SYW manage to break Jacquinot and send his horsemen packing! Montbrun narrowly manages to avoid death [through gratuitous deployment of the last re-roll markers!]. However, Guérin’s Italian dragoons also don’t seem to have much self-control, as having routed Gosztony’s Insurrection Hussars off the table, they immediately follow them in a chaotic pursuit and remove themselves from the battle.
Above: Having halted Montbrun’s rampage, Andrassy manages to control his men’s temper and maintains their position in reserve of what’s left of Mescéry’s corps. However, things seem to be rapidly falling apart in front of them as Gajoli’s entire reserve formation (Gajoli’s light infantry brigade and IR 19 ‘Alvinczy’) is broken by the fire of the French VI Corps.
Above: At Kis-Megyer, Colloredo leads Lutz’s infantry brigade in a second heroic charge against the walls, but this valiant effort is comprehensively smashed, with Colloredo himself numbered among the fallen! Colloredo’s Centre Corps has now been almost completely destroyed; only Ungerhofer’s Landwehr and the divisional cavalry battery remain.
Above: Jellacíc’s move has not gone unnoticed on the other side of the field, however. Lauriston’s uncommitted Baden Contingent is soon on the move, aiming to establish new bridgehead west of Kis-Megyer…
Above: Severoli’s Franco-Italian Division is also on the move, with the same objective.
Above: Even the Italian Guard are now on the move!
Above: Sahuc’s and Pully’s cavalry, not so much…
Above: The earlier assault by Pacthod’s and Durutte’s Divisions across the Pandsza may have been defeated by Kleinmayrn, but all French regiments have been rallied, are still present in considerable strength and sill represent a considerable threat to Archduke John’s rapidly-dwindling left wing.
Above: With no hope of recapturing Kis-Megyer and with the position rapidly collapsing, Archduke John orders the fresh formations (Jellacíc, Frimont, & Davidovich) and what is left of Mecséry’s cavalry (which to be fair, has only been lightly engaged, as the French are not willing to attack across the Viczay) to cover the army’s retreat as he concedes the field to the French!
Above: “So how do you think the battle’s going…?”
I won’t repeat the historical background again here, as it’s all in 
French Objective
Game Length and Sequence
Deployment
French Order of Battle
Austrian Order of Battle
Unit Labels
The build-up of forces continues to gather pace in western Germany and here’s the latest draft of reinforcements for the army of Hesse-Cassel. This latest draft actually completes the entire Hesse-Cassel cavalry arm of four regiments of Horse (two squadrons apiece) and two regiments of Dragoons (four squadrons apiece).
Above: The 
Above: The ‘Prinz Ysenburg’ Infantry Regiment. I covered the organisational changes of Hessian infantry regiments through the Seven Years War in 
Above: The ‘Prinz Ysenburg’ Infantry Regiment. Officers wore the same uniform colourings, though with gold lace buttonholes and hat-lace, a gold gorget and a silver sash shot through with red flecks. NCOs wore gold lace edging to lapels and cuffs. Hessian infantry drummers wore reversed colours until the early 1750s, but thereafter wore the same uniform as the rest of the regiment with the addition of red & white drummers’ lace decoration to the coat.
Above: The 
Above: The Leibregiment zu Pferde initially wore a white coat with ‘red’ (probably more crimson) lapels, cuffs, collar, shoulder-strap, aiguillette and tail-turnbacks and brass buttons. This was worn over a white waistcoat with red/crimson lace edging and straw breeches. Belts were white. Necks-stocks were black. Hats were edged with yellow lace and had a black cockade, often decorated with a sprig of foliage. Horse-furniture was red/crimson, edged in yellow lace and decorated with golden Hessian lions. Cuirasses were declared obsolete before the start of the War of Austrian Succession. There is some difference of opinion as to whether trumpeters wore reversed colours of just had the same uniform with musician’s lace; I’ve gone with reversed colours.
Above: The 
Above: The Cavalry Regiment ‘Prinz Wilhelm’ wore exactly the same style of uniform as the Leib Regiment above, though with blue facings and yellow ‘metal’. When it was re-designated as a cuirassier regiment in 1760, the regiment again followed the same scheme as the Leib Regiment described above, except that all regimental distinctive colourings were blue, including the waistcoat. Lace was blue/white striped. The trumpeters are known to have worn reversed colours.
Above: The 
Above: The Leibdragoner-Regiment was one of two dragoon regiments in Hessian service, the other being the ‘Prinz Friedrich’ Regiment. As with Hanoverian and French dragoon regiments, the Hessian dragoon regiments were roughly double the strength of their heavy horse counterparts, having four squadrons apiece, each of two companies, for a total of 662 men (increasing to 702 men in 1760). Each Hessian dragoon regiment is therefore represented in 
Above: The Leibdragoner-Regiment wore a Prussian-style sky-blue uniform, with lapels, collar, cuffs, shoulder-strap, tail-turnbacks, halt-pulls and horse-furniture coloured red. Buttons were brass and the aiguillette, hat-lace and double-lace edging to the horse-furniture was coloured yellow to match the button colour. The horse-furniture was also decorated with a wreathed and crowned ‘W’ cypher’ for William VIII. Neck-stocks and hat-cockades were black. Waistcoats were sky-blue and breeches were pale straw. Belts were white. Officers had gold lace buttonholes.
Above: The Leibdragoner-Regiment dressed its drummers in reversed colours, decorated with red & white ‘national’ lace. Drum-borders were striped diagonally red & white.
Above: It’s quite a complicated map, with lots of undulations in the terrain, woods and back-roads, but we did the best we could with what we had available. The table here is oriented at 90 degrees when compared to the map, so the top (north edge) of the map is at the right of this photo and we’re facing west. In particular, it was quite difficult to precisely define the edges of woods and course of roads and rivers, so there was a fair bit of referencing the map during the game, just to check that the tree-lines were in the right place.
Above: On the eastern edge of the table, a detachment from Cocke’s Confederate Brigade (of Beauregard’s Army of the Potomac) is dug in, defending Lewis’ Ford on the Bull Run River. Behind them, Hampton’s tiny infantry brigade (also from Beauregard’s army) splashes through the ford of the Hokum Branch and marches toward the Henry House Hill.
Above: At the Henry House, an artillery battery from Johnston’s Army of the Shenandoah supports the forward Confederate positions.
Above: Forward of the Stone House, the Confederate line is formed (from left to right) by Evans’ (including the famous Louisiana ‘Tiger Zouaves’), Bee’s and Bartow’s Brigades. Bee and Bartow belong to Johnston’s Army of the Shenandoah, while Evans belongs to Beauregard’s Army of the Potomac.
Above: In front of the Confederate line, Hunter’s Division of McDowell’s Union Army of North-East Virginia crests the ridge at the Matthews House. The Bluebellies have brought a battery with them, which immediately takes Evans’ Brigade under effective fire.
Above: Burnside’s Brigade forms up on the right of Hunter’s Division, with Sykes’ small brigade of regulars on the left. To their rear, Hunter has arrived at the head of Porter’s Brigade (represented here by the 14th Brooklyn in their spectacular ‘Chasseur’ uniforms, which would earn them the nickname ‘Red-Legged Devils’), another artillery battery and Palmer’s tiny cavalry brigade.
Above: Casualties quickly start to pile up in Evans’ Brigade, as the Union gunners find the range. They won’t be able to stand much more of this! The supporting Confederate battery on the Henry House Hill is simply too far away to provide any effective support.
Above: Back at the Lewis House, Jackson’s Brigade of Johnston’s Army of the Shenandoah marches on to the field.
Above: Evans’ Brigade has suffered very heavy casualties to the crushing Union artillery fire and finally breaks!
Above: Concerned by the possibility of Union units attacking via the Stone Bridge and/or Farm Ford, Jackson leads his brigade to take up position on the right flank, to defend against any Union move in that sector. Johnston and Beauregard have also now arrived and ride to the sound of the guns.
Above: Trundling along in the generals’ wake are two more Confederate batteries.
Above: As the second Union battery takes post on the ridge, General Hunter orders Porter’s Brigade to form line on the reverse slope. Palmer’s cavalry form up on their left. Up on the ridge, the army commander, General McDowell rides forward to assess the situation for himself.
Above: With two batteries now deployed, the Union artillery starts to make life miserable for Bee’s Brigade.
Above: Bee’s Brigade doesn’t stand under fire for anywhere near as long as Evans’ men and soon breaks and runs for the hills!
Above: General Beauregard arrives at the edge of the tree-line on the Henry House Hill, just in time to witness the spectacle of Evans’ and Bee’s men fleeing for their lives! Undeterred, Hampton orders his tiny brigade to deploy at the edge of the woods, along with the first of the newly-arrived batteries.
Above: With Evans and Bee gone and with a massive Union force building up in front of him, Bartow reads his tea-leaves and orders his brigade to withdraw to the relative safety of the Henry House Hill. Protected from Union artillery fire by woodland and a crest-line, Bartow quickly forms his brigade into column and passes over the Youngs Branch river.
Above: The leading elements of Heintzelman’s Union Division, in the form of Franklin’s Brigade and another artillery battery, now arrive at the Matthews House Ridge.
Above: At the Stone Bridge meanwhile, General Johnston personally supervises the deployment of Jackson’s Brigade and a supporting battery along the stone wall adjacent to the Robinson House.
Above: Bee’s Brigade meanwhile, doesn’t seem to want to stop skedaddling and keeps running, all the way down the Sudley Springs Road and off the table.
Above: With their immediate front clear of Rebels, Hunter’s Division advances to the Stone House, accompanied by General McDowell himself. Franklin’s Brigade and Palmer’s Cavalry Brigade advance in support.
Above: The Confederate battery at the Henry House manages to withdraw to the relative safety of the tree-line, alongside Hampton’s Brigade, but not before the long-range Union rifled artillery find the range! J.E.B. Stuart’s tiny cavalry brigade has also now arrived.
Above: General Beauregard meanwhile, has ridden back to fetch the detachment of Cocke’s Brigade from it’s redundant position at the Lewis Ford. He directs this detachment to take up position on Hampton’s right at the Henry House.
Above: Jackson’s Brigade completes its deployment just as a column of Union troops appears from the direction of the Farm Ford. As the column passes the Van Pelt House, Jackson’s supporting battery fires a ranging-shot, but does no damage.
Above: The newly-arrived column is Sherman’s Brigade of Tyler’s Division.
Above: Hunter’s Division is deployed on a very wide frontage as it advances across the valley of the Youngs Branch, though General McDowell rides forward to take personal control of Hunter’s left flank.
Above: Back at the Matthews House, three batteries continue to fire in support of the advance, though the Confederates are now deployed at extreme range and the Union artillery fire is finally having little effect. It’s time for the guns to move forward, to better support the advance.
Above: Bartow’s Confederate brigade is making slow progress in crossing the Youngs Branch and for a time looks to be in danger of being caught by the advancing Union infantry!
Above: However, the personal intervention of General Johnston ensures that Bartow makes it to the safety of the army’s new position along the tree-line on the Henry House Hill. The detachment of Cocke’s Brigade has also now thickened the line and at long last, it’s starting to look like a tough nut for the Union Army to crack.
Above: Additional forces are also now starting to appear on the Confederate left flank. Kershaw’s Brigade from Beauregard’s Army of the Potomac advances along the Sudley Springs Road toward the Henry House. This brigade is ideally placed to outflank any Union attack past the Henry House.
Above: McDowell rides forward to lead Burnside’s Brigade, with Franklin’s Brigade in support, up the slopes of the Henry House Hill. As soon as they crest the escarpment, the Bluebellies finally get a taste of their own medicine as the Rebel guns open up.
Above: On the Union left flank, General Tyler has arrived at the head of Keyes’ Brigade. They prepare to support Sherman’s attack on the stone wall position.
Above: Jackson meanwhile, has shifted his position left along the stone wall to the Robinson House. His supporting battery limbers up to move to the Robinson House, which seems likely to become the epicentre of the battle.
Above: The Union artillery meanwhile, limbers up and moves forward to deploy on the knoll just north of the Stone House, from where it can sweep the Confederate positions behind the Robinson House.
Above: Howard’s Brigade of Heintzelman’s Division has also now arrived and marches past the Matthews House.
Above: General McDowell, ignoring the hail of fire from the Confederate batteries, leads Burnside’s Brigade forward over the crest, onto the plateau of the Henry House Hill.
Above: However, McDowell and Burnside suddenly find themselves advancing alone, as Franklin’s men have had a crisis of confidence and refuse to push forward from the riverbank!
Above: With a single Union brigade advancing in front of them, General Johnston spies a golden opportunity and orders his infantry to fix bayonets…
Above: Over on the Union right flank, General Hunter pushes Porter’s Brigade out as far as the Bald Hill, while Wilcox’s Brigade (including the spectacular 5th New York ‘Fire Zouaves’) and Palmer’s cavalry deploy in support.
Above: Stuart’s Virginian cavalry observe the Union flank and wait for an opportunity to strike.
Above: Suddenly, the ‘Rebel Yell’ is heard for the first time in history, as the Confederates charged out of the tree-line against Burnside’s disordered brigade! Both Confederate army commanders join the charge; Beauregard with the detachment of Cocke’s Brigade in the centre and Johnston with Bartow’s Brigade on the right. Hampton’s Brigade on the left is judged not to need the personal leadership of a senior general!
Above: Union musketry is unsuccessful in stopping the charge, though they do manage to kill Hampton’s horse! The Rebels, having suffered a constant stream of casualties from the powerful Union artillery, are keen for vengeance and get thoroughly stuck in! Burnside’s men are thrown back through Franklin’s Brigade to the river.
Above: General Heintzelman rides over to steady Franklin’s Brigade and quickly rallies them before leading them in a charge up the hill! However, Rebel musketry stops the charge dead in its tracks.
Above: Generals McDowell and Hunter both try to rally Burnside’s Brigade, which has now withdrawn as far as the Stone House.
Above: On Henry House Hill meanwhile, the Rebels charge again! However, this time Cocke’s Brigade decides that it has urgent business that needs attention back at the tree-line, while Hampton (having found a new horse) can’t persuade his tiny brigade (now missing one-third of its strength) to push forward. Consequently, only Bartow’s Brigade charges,
Above: Over on the Confederate left flank, Porter’s Union brigade has pushed down off the Bald Hill to engage Kershaw’s Rebels. However, Kershaw quickly gains the upper hand in the firefight, leaving Porter’s Red-Legs disordered.
Above: The Rebels are quick to take advantage of Porter’s discomfiture, as both Kershaw and Elzey’s newly-arrived brigade charge!
Above: The Rebel charge is completely effective and Porter’s Brigade is thrown back over the Bald Hill!
Above: Wilcox’s freshly-arrived Union Brigade and Palmer’s cavalry are disordered by Porter’s withdrawal, but now have to prepare to receive the Rebel assault.
Above: But further problems have arrived on the Union flank, in the form of Juball Early’s Brigade.
Above: Back at the Stone House, it seems that the combined efforts of Generals McDowell and Hunter have managed to rally Burnside’s shaken men. Howard’s Brigade in the meantime, stands in reserve at the Stone House.
Above: Up at the Robinson House, Bartow’s second charge has not gone well, thanks to the lack of support from the neighbouring brigades and the fact that Sykes’ Union brigade has now moved in to support Franklin. Heavily outnumbered, Bartow is grudgingly forced to give ground. However, fresh Confederate infantry have now arrived at the tree-line, in the form of the main body of Cocke’s Brigade.
Above: Having re-established themselves at the Stone House Knoll, the Union artillery resume their bombardment of the Rebel lines, this time making life miserable for Jackson and his supporting battery.
Above: Despite the battle raging to his left, Jackson remains firmly emplaced behind the stone wall at the Robinson House. Someone on Johnston’s staff exclaims in disgust, “There is General Jackson, hiding behind that stone wall!”
Above: However, Jackson had very good reason to be concerned for this sector of the battlefield. Everyone else seemed to have forgotten about Tyler’s Division (Sherman’s and Keyes’ Brigades), but they were now crossing the Youngs Branch and were within striking-distance of the Robinson House.
Above: Tyler had struggled to get his inexperienced brigades to move forward, so decided to ‘go Napoleonic’ and formed them into field columns. This worked in moving them forward, but would make them juicy targets when they reached the Warrenton Turnpike.
With the 1740s in mind, I’ll then add second battalions to all the single-battalion regiments, as well as six ‘pointy-headed’ grenadier battalions, five cuirassier regiments (plus one base of four figures for the Garde du Corps), four dragoon regiments and a load more artillery, so we can refight the epic Battles of Hohenfriedburg, Soor and especially 
Above: The 
Above: The ‘Fürst Lubomirsky’ Infantry Regiment, following the surrender at Pirna, was dragooned into the Prussian Army as the 
Above: The re-created ‘Fürst Lubomirsky’ Infantry Regiment in 1757 was classed as a ‘New’ Regiment and therefore consisted of a single battalion and a detached grenadier company. However, as discussed in 
Above: The ‘Fürst Lubomirsky’ Infantry Regiment wore a uniform that was basically identical to that of the ‘Prinz Friedrich-August’ Regiment discussed in Part 1; namely a white coat with yellow cuffs, collar and turnbacks, white shoulder-strap and no lapels. The waistcoat was yellow to match the facings, though breeches were white (yellow for officers, which I got wrong!). Neck-stocks were red and hats were decorated with white lace and yellow-over-white pompoms. The only difference was that the regiment had white metal buttons and officers’ hat-lace. Drummers had coats of reversed colours with white lace.
Above: The 
Above: The ‘Prinz Joseph’ Infantry Regiment. When the captured Saxon regiments were conscripted into the Prussian Army, the men of the ‘Königin’ Regiment refused to swear an oath to King Frederick II of Prussia. As a consequence, they weren’t simply re-titled and re-uniformed as a Prussian regiment and instead were split up across various units. Needless to say, many of these men deserted from Prussian service and in 1757 were formed as a new regiment in exile. However, the former regimental inhaber, 
Above: The ‘Prinz Joseph’ Infantry Regiment in 1757 was classed as a ‘New’ Regiment, being therefore organised as a single battalion and detached grenadier company. This seems odd at first glance, as the regiment could trace its lineage back to 1673. However, unlike the three ‘Old’ Regiments, it had not mutinied and marched out of Prussia service as a coherent unit and therefore had to be rebuilt from scratch, and was therefore classed as ‘New’. The detached grenadier company was formed from former members of the 
Above: The ‘Prinz Joseph’ Infantry Regiment wore the standard Saxon white uniform coat, with cuffs, collar, turnbacks and shoulder-strap coloured ‘cochineal’. Cochineal dye can be used to make everything from deep, dark reds, to various shades of crimson and pink and was the dye used to create the crimson facings of Polish units in Napoleon’s army. It’s usually interpreted in this instance as being a deep pinkish crimson shade. Waistcoats were a matching shade of cochineal and breeches were white (cochineal for officers, which I’ve again got wrong). Buttons were brass. Neck-stocks were red and hats were decorated with white lace (gold for officers and NCOs) and cochineal-over-white pompoms. Drummers had coats in reversed colours, with yellow lace.
Above: The 
Above: When transferred to Prussian service, the ‘Prinz Clemens’ Infantry Regiment became the 
Above: The re-created ‘Prinz Clemens’ Infantry Regiment, like the ‘Prinz Joseph’ Regiment above, was classed in 1757 as a ‘New’ Regiment, as it had to be reformed from scratch. It therefore consisted of a single battalion and a detached grenadier company. The detached grenadier company was drawn from dismounted former members of the 
Above: The ‘Prinz Clemens’ Infantry Regiment wore the usual Saxon white coat with ‘French blue’ cuffs, collar and turnbacks and white metal buttons. Waistcoats were French blue and breeches were white (again, the officers had facing-coloured breeches, but I’ve got it wrong!). Neck-stocks were red and hats were decorated with white lace (silver for officers and NCOs) and blue-over-white pompoms. Drummers again had reversed colour coats with white lace.
Above: The 
Above: The ‘Prinz Carl Maximilian’ Infantry Regiment, following its surrender at Pirna, was absorbed into the Prussian Army as 
Above: The ‘Prinz Carl Maximilian’ Infantry Regiment was re-created in 1757 was one of Prince Xaver’s ‘New’ Regiments and therefore consisted of a single battalion and detached grenadier company. The grenadier company was formed from former members of the 
Above: The ‘Prinz Carl Maximilian’ Infantry Regiment wore the usual white Saxon infantry coat, with cuffs, collar and turnbacks in ‘Russian green’, white shoulder-strap and white ‘metal’. Waistcoats were Russian green and breeches were white, though officers wore green breeches (which I’ve again got wrong!). Neck-stocks were red and hats were decorated with white lace (silver for officers and NCOs) and green-over-white pompoms. Drummers wore coats of reversed colours, with white lace.
Above: Saxon Grenadiers. As discussed in 
Above: Saxon Grenadiers. I must confess that when I painted these, I didn’t have a clue about the origins of Prince Xaver’s grenadiers, so just decided to paint two grenadier figures for each regiment I was painting (not including ‘Lubomirsky’, as they were converted back to artillery)! However, it’s entirely possible that the former members of the Leibgrenadiergarde, Garde du Corps and Cuirassiers did in fact wear white, infantry-style uniforms during this period, matching those of their new parent regiments. White uniforms would certainly be a lot easier to source from Austrian stocks.
Above: Saxon Grenadiers. When first formed, the new grenadier companies, instead of their old Prussian-style mitre-caps, wore cocked hats like the rest of the regiment, though these were decorated in ‘scalloped’ or ‘zig-zag’ lace. In 1761 the hats were replaced by bearskins, variously-described as ‘French’ or ‘Austrian’ in style, with a hanging bag that was probably coloured to match the facing colour and tasseled (perhaps also piped) in the button colour. Although my fellas are intended for the earlier part of the war (Lutterberg, Minden, etc), I decided to go with the later bearskins and used Austrian grenadier figures.
Above: Saxon Grenadiers. In 1761 the Saxon grenadiers were increased to twelve companies, organised into three battalions. One battalion was designated as the Leibgrenadiergarde at this time and perhaps adopted the old scarlet uniforms with yellow facings (if they hadn’t already)?
The Saxon Corps was clothed and equipped largely according to the old Saxon dress-regulations and colourings, though the uniforms came from Austrian stocks. Consequently, the Prussian-style mitre caps worn by the old ‘Kurprinzessin’ and ‘Rochow’ Regiments were replaced by cocked hats, while the mitre caps of the grenadier companies were initially replaced by cocked hats with scalloped lace and then from 1761 with Austrian-style bearskin caps. The exact cut and colouring of uniforms probably varied from the Saxon originals, depending on what was available from Austrian contractors. New regimental flags were issued, which conformed to the old ‘fiddly’ Saxon designs, but which were made more cheaply, being painted onto a single layer of silk.
Above: The 
Above: The ‘Prinz Xaver’ Infantry Regiment served in Poland during the War of Polish Succession and was actively engaged in the First and Second Silesian Wars (Saxony was an ally of Prussia during the First Silesian War and an enemy during the Second). However, the regiment went ‘into the bag’ in 1756, when the Army of Saxony surrendered to Prussia at Pirna. The regiment was then dragooned en masse into the Prussian Army, becoming the new 
Above: The ‘Prinz Xaver’ Infantry Regiment, as mentioned above, became one of the three ‘Old’ Regiments of Prince Xaver’s new Saxon Corps. The ‘Old’ Regiments were initially organised with two battalions (reduced to one battalion in 1761) and a detached grenadier company. The regiment’s grenadier company was formed from personnel of the dismounted 
Above: The ‘Prinz Xaver’ Infantry Regiment wore white coats and smallclothes, supplied by the Austrians but apparently conforming to the previous Saxon regulations. This style had buttons spaced 1-2-3-3 down each side of the breast and three buttons arranged vertically at the ‘trailing edge’ of each cuff. The cuffs, turnbacks and collar were coloured a pale shade of blue known as bleu-mourant and buttons were brass. The regiment’s uniform did not have lapels or lace and shoulder-straps were either absent or they were white to match the coat. Neck-stocks were red. Hat lace was white for all regiments, though was gold or silver for officers and NCOs, matching the button colour. Cockades were white and pompoms were white with a central spot matching the facing colour.
Above: The 
Above: The ‘Prinz Friedrich-August’ Infantry Regiment, as one of the three ‘Old’ Regiments, was initially organised as two battalions (reduced to one battalion in 1761), plus a detached grenadier company. In this instance, the grenadier company was actually raised from the regiment’s own personnel.
Above: The ‘Prinz Friedrich-August’ Infantry Regiment‘s uniforms were essentially the same as those of the ‘Prinz Xaver’ Regiment above, except the distinguishing facing colour was yellow. Note that again, I made the mistake of painting the officers’ breeches white; they should be in the facing colour. Note also that Saxon officers wore waist-sashes of mixed silver and red threads and had white neck-stocks.
Above: The ‘Prinz Friedrich-August’ Infantry Regiment. The drummers of all Saxon regiments wore reversed colours, in this case yellow coats with white facings. Smallclothes remained the same as the rank-and-file, so a facing-coloured waistcoat with white breeches. Hats were also the same. The coat was laced in the button-colour with lace buttonholes on the breast (arranged 1-2-3 from top to bottom), swallows’ nests on the shoulders, upward-pointing chevrons and seams on the arms and edging to the cuffs and pockets. In this instance, the lace is yellow on yellow, which is a god-send to those of us who are bone-idle! 🙂
Above: The 
Above: The Saxon Artillery Corps wore a rather attractive uniform consisting of a green coat with brass buttons and red lapels, cuffs, tail-turnbacks, collar and shoulder-strap. Smallclothes were straw. Hats had yellow lace, white cockades and two small white-over-red pompoms in the corners. Belts were white and gaiters were black. I’ve used 
Above: The Saxon Artillery Corps originally painted its gun-carriages black and had ‘yellow metal’ fittings, thus matching the black-and-yellow-striped armorials of Saxony. It’s a matter of some debate as to whether the ‘yellow metal’ was brass or simply iron painted yellow. I’ve gone with yellow paint, as to be honest, brass looks a bit rubbish and from a soldier’s point of view, would have been murder to keep clean and shiny. It’s likely that the ‘Swedish’ 4-pounders supplied to Prince Xaver by the French would have retained their light blue paintwork with black ironwork, though if they were re-painted black, they wouldn’t have replaced the ironwork with brass! That’s my excuse, anyway…
Order of Battle of the Allied Army
Allied Order of Battle Notes
Allied Deployment
Allied Reinforcement Schedule
Briefing for Maréchal de France Louis Georges Érasme, Marquis de Contades
French Order of Battle of the French Army
French Deployment
French Reinforcement Schedule
Terrain Rules
Umpire’s Eyes Only
As can be seen from the map above; when I eventually get around to painting all the troops for Minden, it will be something of a ‘line them up’ slug-fest, as we don’t really have the time or space for a great battle of manoeuvre. However, ‘Wanneminden’ does allow us to play out the advance to contact phase of the battle. I’ll post the full scenario soon, but here’s a map showing the starting-positions. As you can see, there is a far greater amount of space and tactical options for the development of the battle:
Above: The view from behind Wanghenheim’s corps, facing south toward the walls of Wanneminden. If this were the Battle of Minden, the city would actually be just off-table and would be replaced by a line of earthworks and redoubts.
Above: The centre of Wangenheim’s line is formed by four single-battalion Hanoverian infantry regiments (Kielmansegg, Jung-Zastrow, Spörcken and Halberstadt) and a battalion each of British, Hessian and Brunswicker grenadiers. On the right flank is General von Grothaus’ cavalry division, consisting of the Hessian Prinz Friedrich Dragoons and two massed regiments of Hanoverian heavy horse (the Reden and Heise Regiments).
Above: The Duc de Broglie’s corps is deployed into three lines; the first line is formed by the Marquis de Saint-Pern’s Grenadiers de France, supported by a battery each of heavy and light artillery.
Above: Having judged Wangenheim’s position to be something of a tough nut to crack, Broglie pauses while he waits for the Chevalier de Nicolay’s division to move up in support. Nicolay has five battalions from the Picardie and La Marche Regiments, together with a further battery of light artillery.
Above: Some distance behind Nicolay, two more French infantry divisions are moving up in column (as indicated by the MDF arrows), past the hamlet of Finster-Reie. The division of the Duc de Beaupréau, consists of the Touraine and d’Aumont Regiments, each with two battalions, together with a battery each of heavy and light artillery. The blue-coated German division of the Comte de Saint-Germain comprises another four battalions from the Anhalt, Saint-Germain and Bergh Regiments.
Above: The garrison of Wanneminden watches as the battle unfolds. I should add that the fortress and its garrison are purely decorative and will play no part in the battle.
Above: At the southern end of the battlefield, in the village of Hahlen, the French Vastan Regiment (from the Duc de Guerchy’s division) quickly find themselves under extreme pressure from the Prince of Anhalt’s picquets and are forced to fall back.
Above: To the right of the Saxons, the Marquis de Poyanne heads his two elite cavalry regiments (the Gendarmerie de France in red and Royal-Carabiniers in blue) onto the field, while on their right, the Duc de Fitz James leads his four cavalry brigades (Colonel-Général, Mestre de Camp-Général, Du Roi and Bourgogne) northward.
Above: The divisions of Saint-Germain and Beaupréau deploy into a single line between Finster-Reie and Malbergen. Beaupréau’s artillery is soon in action, though quickly starts to suffer casualties from effective Allied counter-battery fire. It soon becomes apparent that the French artillery can’t shoot for toffee
Above: Another view of Saint-German’s and Braupréau’s divisions, with Fitz-James’ cavalry approaching from the south and the walls of Wanneminden behind.
Above: Spörcken’s corps consists of four British regiments; the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers, the 37th Foot (Stewart’s), the 25th Foot (Home’s) and the 51st Foot (Brudenell’s). On their left stands the formidable Hanoverian Fußgarde Regiment. All five regiments are brimming with confidence and don’t seem to be remotely concerned by the considerable force arrayed against them.
Above: At the southern end of the battlefield, Lord Sackville’s corps of British and Hanoverian cavalry has arrived. As he emerges from the woods, Lord Sackville spots the huge phalanx of Frenchmen and orders his cavalry to halt while he seeks clarification of his orders from Prince Ferdinand.
Above: In front of Sackville, Major Foy’s Brigade of British light artillery is making an extreme nuisance of itself, despite being completely isolated and out-gunned!
Above: Back at the northern end of the battle, the Duc de Broglie realises that his artillery is completely inadequate to the task at hand and instead orders the Grenadiers de France to decide the issue at bayonet-point! Prince Camille’s cavalry meanwhile, launch a supporting, if somewhat suicidal, charge on the Hessian and Brunswicker grenadiers.
Above: The brave, if somewhat foolhardy Grenadiers de France are shredded by canister fire from the Hessian and Schaumburg-Lippe batteries and their charge falters at the foot of the redoubt. The Commissaire-Général Cavalry Brigade meanwhile, is utterly destroyed by the Brunswick and Hessian grenadiers. The battle has not started well for the French.
Above: Nevertheless, Broglie has every confidence in Saint-Pern and his Grenadiers de France, so instead of ordering du Muy to support the assault, orders him to wheel left and engage Wangenheim’s infantry in front of Kutenhausen.
Above: To the west of Kutenhausen, Grothaus waits with his cavalry to see what develops. Nicolay’s French infantry don’t seem to be as enthusiastic to get in amongst it and seem content to engage at long range with their guns.
Above: Undeterred by their earlier rebuff, the Grenadiers de France charge again! This time however, the Allied gunners fail to stop the vengeful fur-bonneted grenadiers, who are soon swarming over the parapet! Neither the gunners or the supporting Bückeburg Regiment are able to stop the grenadiers and they are quickly ejected from the redoubt, abandoning the guns to the enemy!
Above: More Allied infantry appear in the centre of the battlefield; General von Wutginau’s blue-coated Hessians (the Leibgarde zu Fuß, Toll and Bischhausen Regiments) form the first line, while General von Scheele’s red-coated Hanoverians (the Stolzenberg, Estorff and Reden Regiments) form the second line and a Schaumburg-Lippe artillery battery deploys in support.
Above: The Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Regiment have managed to rally in the second line of entrenchments. Two battalions of the Grenadiers de France continue the assault, but the stalwart Bückeburgers this time manage to hold their ground.
Above: The 2nd Brigade of the Grenadiers de France rally, having failed in their first attempt to destroy the Bückeburgers.
Above: The rest of the Grenadiers de France wheel left, to join Du Muys’ attack on Wangenheim’s infantry. The Stammer’s Brunswick Grenadier Battalion, on Wangenheim’s left flank, is quickly overwhelmed.
Above: With Wangenheim’s position looking precarious, Fitz James is ordered to lead his cavalry to that sector, to exploit the success and roll up the Allied left flank.
Above: Prince Xaver’s Saxons finally move into their allotted position, in support of Saint-Germain and Beaupréau.
Above: Nicolay’s infantry meanwhile, are happy to stand and watch their artillery achieving the sum-total of ‘Rien’.
Above: Poyanne’s elite cavalry wait in reserve to add some dash and tone to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl.
Above: Guerchy meanwhile, is not content to wait and marches forward, thereby masking his own guns. Guerchy’s aide asks “Are you sure that’s wise, Sir?”
Above: Spörcken can’t believe his luck. As the French artillery fire slackens off, his infantry advance on Guerchy. Behind Spörcken, three batteries of Hanoverian artillery under Colonel von Braun and Major von Haase deploy and take the French artillery to task.
Above: Guerchy’s gunners have finally re-established their guns in front of the infantry line, but Spörcken’s division is now very close!
Above: Poyanne deploys his cavalry reserve into regimental lines and prepares to attack Spörcken.
Above: Another view of the northern end of the battlefield. Prince Xaver’s Saxons are completing their deployment, but are already taking casualties from ‘overs’, thanks to the large number of Allied guns being directed against Saint-Germain and Beaupréau. One of Beaupréau’s batteries has already been knocked out by Allied counter-battery fire
Above: Wutginau’s Hessians and Scheele’s Hanoverians have completed their deployment and prepare to attack Saint-Germain.
Above: Fitz James’ cavalry march past Nicolay’s flank to deploy in front of Kutenhausen.
Above: The Hessian and British grenadiers on Wangenheim’s left flank are under extreme pressure from de Broglie, but are still holding their ground. Most of Wangenheim’s Hanoverian battalions have withdrawn into the limited cover afforded by the village.
Above: At last, Spörcken’s division passes through the storm of canister and launches its charge on Guerchy’s line. However, the 2nd & 3rd Battalions of the Du Roi Regiment hold firm and manage to halt the British 37th and 23rd Regiments through firepower alone.
Above: On Spörcken’s left flank, the Hanoverian Fußgarde manage to weather the storm of musketry and charge home on the 1st Battalion of Du Roi. However, they are counter-charged in turn by the Gendarmerie de France! Nevertheless, the elite guardsmen earn their pay and manage to defeat both enemy units, throwing them back in disorder!
Above: In the centre, Wutginau’s Hessians advance past the hamlet of Malbergen.
Above: In front of them, the French and Saxon infantry are starting to suffer significant casualties from the persistent Allied artillery.
Above: Wangenheim’s left flank meanwhile, continues to hold out. Donop’s heroic Hessian grenadier battalion even manages to defeat a charge by the 3rd Brigade of the Grenadiers de France on its open flank!
Above: Fitz James’ cavalry continue their deployment, but in so doing mask de Broglie’s guns. 
Above: Fitz James was rather hoping that de Broglie would by now, have defeated Wangenheim and cleared away the enemy infantry!
Above: To add to Fitz James’ woes, the previously-identified ‘clear space’ between the villages of Stemmer and Malbergen (which he’d planned to ride through in order to roll up the Allied flank) is now being filled by the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp’s Allied cavalry.
Above: Holstein-Gottorp’s column is led by a brigade of Hessian heavy horse (the Miltitz & Prüschenck Regiments), followed by a brigade of Hanoverian horse (the Leib and Hammerstein Regiments) and Holstein-Gottorp’s own regiment of Prussian dragoons.
Above: In addition, General von Imhoff’s division of Hessian and Brunswick infantry has now arrived (the Hessian Gilsa Regiment and Grenadierregiment and two battalions of the Brunswick Imhoff Regiment).
Above: Spörcken charges again and this time succeeds in throwing back the 2nd & 3rd Battalions of the Du Roi Regiment.
Above: The French might not be able to roll shooting and combat dice for toffee, but they do have a remarkable ability to rally every retreating unit! The Du Roi Regiment and the Gendarmerie de France therefore halt their retreat and face the enemy once again.
Above: At Hahlen, a vicious firefight develops between the Vastan Regiment and their tormentors. The Vastan Regiment have taken heavy losses, but at long last are managing to damage the Allied picquets.
Above: The formed main body of the Allied picquets moves forward to join the firefight, just as the Allied skirmishers, having taken too many losses, decide to flee the field. 
Above: As Allied roundshot continues to bound through the French ranks, Prince Xaver pushes Saxon battalions forward to plug emerging gaps in the first line. Beaupréau’s heavy guns are too busy engaging the approaching Allied infantry to conduct counter-battery fire.
Above: Nevertheless, Beaupréau’s guns have only done marginal damage to the enemy infantry, who now close in for the kill.
Above: Saint-Germain’s Germans and Prince Xaver’s Saxons fail to stop the Hessians through musketry, so the combat is resolved in the old-fashioned way. The Saxon Lubomirsky Regiment somehow manages to destroy the Hessian Bischhausen Regiment, and the Fußgarde Regiment is halted by fire from the Bergh Regiment. However, the Hessian Toll Regiment charges home and simply destroys Saint-Germain’s own regiment.
Above: With the loss of two out of four German battalions, Saint-Germain’s division breaks and runs from the battle! Thankfully, Prince Xaver’s Saxons are in place to plug the gap, but at present are somewhat widely-spread, having been used to plug gaps in the French line. Prince Xaver, Beaupréau and Nicolay frantically order battalions to counter the Allied breakthrough.
Above: At long last, Fitz James’ four cavalry brigades (with Prince Camille’s remaining brigade in support) ride out to meet the Allied horse!
Above: Back on the southern flank, the Royal-Carabiniers have also had a go at the Hanoverian Fußgarde, but have also been beaten off and are now rallying under the walls of Wanneminden. The Fußgarde are very vulnerable on the flank of the line, but they are the best unit in the army, so are just the lads you want holding the flank! The Gendarmerie de France charge again, but now have the additional problem of the British 51st Foot (with the green colour), who have moved from the second line to support the left flank of the Fußgarde. The additional musketry causes heavy losses to the Gendarmerie, who are finally broken when they charge home on the wall of redcoats.
Above: At Hahlen, the Prince of Anhalt’s picquets have suffered very heavy losses, despite their tactical successes. Determined to go down fighting, the Prince leads a desperate charge out of the village with his main body! Astonishingly, this desperate act succeeds in breaking a battalion of the Vastan Regiment, though the picquets can take no more and soon join their comrades in fleeing the field.
Above: The final removal of the threat at Hahlen is of small comfort to Guerchy, as his division is being taken apart by Spörcken’s British battalions! The 4th Battalion of the Du Roi Regiment has broken following a protracted firefight with the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers, while two of Guerchy’s three batteries have been destroyed, while the third battery is forced to pull back.
Above: The Royal-Carabiniers are rallying from their previous exertions, though as fugitives flee past them from the broken Gendarmerie de France, they too break and run to the safety of Wanneminden!
Above: Spörcken’s division charges again! On the extreme flank, the isolated British 37th Regiment is halted by fire from the Vastan and Aquitaine Regiments. However, the Du Roi Regiment is simply destroyed. With the loss of over half of Guerchy’s division, the remaining formed units (the Aquitaine Regiment, one battalion of Vastan, a light artillery battery and the massed Chasseur companies) are suffering a severe crisis of confidence! Spörcken looks around, expecting to see Lord Sackville’s cavalry riding down the remnants of the French infantry, but the British horse are nowhere to be seen…
Above: In the centre, Prince Xaver, Beaupréau and Nicolay desperately attempt to form a new line against the Allied infantry. Beaupréau’s artillery are doing damage to the approaching lines, but it’s simply not enough. The Allied artillery meanwhile, continue to hammer away and succeed in breaking up the two battalions of the Saxon Prince Xaver Regiment, thus weakening the new line.
Above: On the extreme northern flank, the situation remains unchanged as Wangenheim’s grenadiers beat off assault after assault! In the entrenchments, the heroic Bückeburgers continue to hold out against the Grenadiers de France.
Above: As the French cavalry advance, the Penthièvre Brigade on the right flank, suffers casualties from the Hanoverian infantry lurking in the village. Although only light, those casualties will put them at a slight further disadvantage in the mêlée.
Above: The Allied horse charge to meet the French! Although there are no disastrous failures, the French horse are beaten all along the line. The groans of dismay can be heard from Contades’ headquarters…
Above: In the centre, Wutginau’s surviving Hessians charge again, with Scheele’s Hanoverians in close support and Imhoff’s Hessians and Brunswickers in reserve.
Above: The Saxons fail to stop the Hessians through musketry and somewhat inevitably, the Saxon Prinz Josef and Prinz Clemenz Regiments are broken by the Hessian steamroller. With four out of seven battalions now broken, Prince Xaver’s remaining Saxons decide that they’ve had enough and are soon following their comrades in the general direction of ‘Away’.
Above: With the first line of French cavalry in full retreat, the Prussian Holstein-Gottorp Dragoons exploit the situation and charge Prince Camille’s second line. Once again the French horsemen are put to flight. Nevertheless, all five French cavalry brigades rally and prepare to fight again.