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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Roll anything except a 6 to rally!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Above:  FINALLY, Rooth orders his men to charge!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A couple of weeks ago Andy, Kirk and I wandered down to the Haverfordwest Gaming Club’s annual open day.  Last year we put on a small historical SYW refight, the Battle of Clostercamp and this year we decided to do another small SYW action; the Battle of Sanderhausen.  My surviving reader might remember that we played this scenario at W.A.S.P. back in June, resulting in a very narrow victory for the French.  However, Andy and Kirk hadn’t played it and it’s a fun scenario that can easily be played in a short time, so I dug it out again for the open day.

As usual, the game was played using Tricorn, our mid-18th Century variant of Shako Napoleonic rules.  If you want to know the scenario details, follow this link.

Above:  As this was a club open day, I’m not ashamed to admit that I slightly changed the geography in a shameless attempt to show off my new fort.  The city of Cassel has therefore been moved to where the village of Sanderhausen should be (see the vintage map above)!

Above:  The fortress is pure decoration for the purposes of the game, but it does make a rather nice back-drop.

Above:  Two of the three battalions of the German Royal-Deux-Ponts Regiment were left behind to guard the lines of retreat through Sanderhausen and Cassel, so here they are garrisoning the ravelin.

Above:  Nothing beats a good ravelin in the mornin.

Above:  The Duc de Broglie peers at the Hessian positions.  “Good news, Sir!  Our spies report that the Holy Roman Umpire has left Doug’s Purple Dice of Doom at home!”  The Duc nods in satisfaction at this welcome news…

Above:  The French infantry deploys in a single line, with the cavalry forming a widely-spaced second line.  

Above:  I must confess that I forgot to take another photo after giving the Duc (Andy) the option of re-deploying his position batteries; he moved them from the right wing (as shown above) to the left wing, in front of the French battalions.

Above:  Two French regiments (Beauvoisis and Rohan-Montbazon) form the left wing, along with the light infantry of the Chasseurs de Fischer and volunteers from the German Bentheim Regiment.

Above:  The right wing is formed by three German battalions (from the Royal-Deux-Ponts and Royal-Bavière Regiments) and four Swiss battalions (from the Diesbach and Waldner Regiments), with the flank screened by the skirmishing grenadier companies of the Royal-Deux-Ponts Regiment.

Above:  On the heights, Prince Ysenburg (Kirk) affects a deliberate calm and nonchalant air in defiance of the odds arrayed against him as he reads today’s copy of Die Sonne.

Above:  Prince Ysenburg’s Hessian army is massively outnumbered, but occupies a strong position on the heights, with its flanks anchored on woodland and the fortified farm of Ellenbach.

Above:  Unlike the last game when I had to use Hanoverian regiments as proxies, this time I’d painted enough new Hessian infantry regiments to fill the ranks.  The only remaining interlopers are the Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Regiment standing in for the Invalid Battalion and the Prussian ‘Kleist’ Freikorps-Husaren standing in for the Hessian Husaren-Corps.

Above:  The Hessian right flank is anchored on the thickly-wooded bank of the Fulda River and the woods are occupied by the massed grenadiers of the Hessian militia, as well as the Hessian Jäger-Corps and some huntsmen from the militia (yes, I know jäger means ‘hunter’, but these are actual huntsmen, drafted into the militia, not Jäger in the military sense).  

Above:  The main Hessian line in the open ground is formed by two regular infantry regiments (Ysenburg and Canitz) on the flanks, with two militia regiments (Wurmb and Gundlach) in the centre and a weak battalion of ‘Invalids’ (i.e. pensioned-off veterans) in reserve, with a position battery positioned on the left flank.  The massed Hessian cavalry are formed up behind the battery.

Above:  On the extreme Hessian left flank, the Ellenbach Farm is garrisoned by the Freywald Militia Regiment, supported by some more militia huntsmen and an unidentified unit of Hanoverian Jäger.  

At last the French army starts to move.  Broglie has decided to refuse his left, allowing his position guns to soften the Hessian line at long range, while pushing forward aggressively on his right.  As the Swiss push their battalion guns forward, the Hanoverian Jäger manage to drop a few of the gunners, but vengeance is swift as a whiff of grapeshot, thickened by fire from the skirmishing Royal-Deux-Ponts Grenadier companies, sweeps away the militia huntsmen and inflicts heavy damage on the Hanoverian Jäger.  The Hanoverians immediately fall back, deep into the woods, to reconsider their options.

Above:  The French position battery also quickly finds the range and Hessian infantrymen begin to fall to long-range roundshot.

Above:  As French shot bounds through the infantry line, some unfortunate cavalrymen and invalids also fall victim to stray rounds.

Above:  On the bank of the Fulda, the French chasseurs push forward, seeking prey.

Above:  However, the French left wing has not yet been given orders to advance and Colonel Fischer recalls the more impetuous of his men.  For now, the light infantry are limited to taunts and cat-calls through the trees.

Above:  As the French right wing advances into the copse on the spur above Ellenbach, the Hessian artillery begins to claim victims, but their fire doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as effective as the well-handled French guns.

Above:  In a very short time, the Invalids, having suffered a storm of shot actually directed at the first line, decide that they have already done their time in the army and break and run to the rear!  The Hessian horse on the left also continue to suffer a steady trickle of casualties from the ‘overs’.  Casualties in the main infantry line meanwhile, remain remarkably light.

From his position on the heights, Prince Ysenburg observes the seemingly unsupported advance of the French right wing and decides to intervene with his cavalry.  Leaving nothing to chance, Ysenburg sends both of his ADCs over to the left wing, with orders for General Oheimb to attack!

Above:  As the Swiss pass through the copse, the blue-coated Royal-Bavière Regiment remains in the open ground and at last begins to suffer heavy casualties from the Hessian guns.  The German battalion guns find themselves to be no match for the Hessian gunners and are quickly destroyed.  Then, as the Swiss emerge from the copse, they march straight into a hail of canister fire from the Hessian battery, as well as musketry from Ellenbach and rifle-fire from the Hanoverian Jäger!

Then the Hessian cavalry charge…

Above:  On the French right flank, nearest to Ellenbach Farm, the Swiss Waldner Regiment fire a devastating volley into the Hessian Husarencorps, but it’s not quite enough to stop them and the regiment’s 1st Battalion is broken.  The hussars decide not to push their luck in the face of approaching French cavalry and retire to rally back on the heights.  In the centre of the melee, the 1st Battalion of the Swiss Diesbach Regiment manages to beat off the Hessian Prinz Friedrich Dragoons, though their 2nd Battalion, already shredded by canister, is crushed by the Hessian heavy horse!

Above:  Having broken the Swiss battalion, the Hessian horse charge on into the 1st Battalion of the Royal-Bavière Regiment.  However, the Germans are made of sterner stuff and the Hessians are repulsed!  Nevertheless, the heavy losses suffered by the French right wing have gravely sapped the morale of the Swiss and German infantry.

Above:  Bavarian jubilation at having repelled the cavalry is short-lived, as the Hessian infantry have just received orders to mount a limited attack.  In a move surprising everyone, the Hessian line charges down the hill!  The heroic 1st Battalion of the Royal-Bavière Regiment manages to halt the Hessian Canitz Regiment with fire, but the 2nd Battalion is not so lucky and is swept away by the Gundlach Militia.

Above:  The Duc de Broglie suddenly realises that he has another German battalion (1st Royal-Deux-Ponts) hiding among the grey coats of his Frenchmen!  He contemptuously orders these cowards up the hill to join their doomed comrades!  With the Swiss-German assault failing, he also realises that he may have left it to left to commit his left wing!  He sends an ADC over to order the French infantry to attack.

Above:  The sudden slump in morale doesn’t seem to be bothering the Swiss Diesbach Regiment, which charges and destroys half of the Hessian position guns!  At Ellenbach meanwhile, the Swiss battalion guns are making life miserable for the Freywald Militia.

Above:  The Swiss may well have bitten off more than they can chew…

Above:  The French cavalry, their earlier march to the right flank having been halted by Broglie, mass south of the copse.  On the right, the grenadiers of the Royal-Deux-Ponts Regiment are doing remarkably well against the Hanoverian Jäger.

Above:  In Ellenbach, the Freywald Militia have suffered some losses from the Swiss battalion guns, but have inflicted a steady trickle of casualties on the passing Swiss battalions and proven themselves to be a very painful thorn in the side of the French attack.

Above:  The Hessian cavalry have suffered heavy losses, but are now rallied and have Switzers to their front.  General Oheimb orders the charge!

Above:  In the woods near Ellenbach, the Hanoverian Jäger are on the point of breaking in the face of the determined enemy grenadiers!

Above:  The Swiss Diesbach Regiment pushes its luck and charges the next gun-battery!  However, the Hessian heavy horse charge once again, passing through their own gunners to crash into the impertinent Switzers!

Above:  The Swiss Diesbach Regiment is crushed and the Hessian horse, having learned their lesson from last time (and with fresh French cavalry approaching), retire to their own lines to rally.  In the distance, the remnants of the Swiss Waldner Regiment launch a desperate charge on Ellenbach, but are halted by the defenders’ fire.  [NB for some reason we also removed the Hessian battery, but that was a mistake, as they’d been saved by the cavalry!]

Above:  With the loss of the Diesbach Regiment, the French right wing have finally had enough and break and run en masse!  In the woods, the grenadiers of the Royal-Deux-Ponts Regiment are also forced to withdraw (along with the section of battalion guns) and the Hanoverian Jäger breathe a sigh of relief!

Above:  However, the rout of the Swiss-German infantry has now cleared the way for the French cavalry to mount their own attack.

Above:  On the French left, the two remaining infantry regiments begin their advance up the slope and at last the French position battery falls silent, masked by the advancing ranks.  In the woods, Colonel Fischer finally allows his chasseurs to move forward to engage the Jäger.

Above:  The Hessian infantry have suffered some disruption from the incessant French artillery fire, but they calmly wait at the top of the slope for the French to come to them.

Above:  Colonel Oheimb stands with his exhausted cavalry and hopes that they can recover some of their strength before the French horse arrive.

Above:  Sadly for General Oheimb, the French cavalry are not going to allow him that luxury!

Above:  As the French infantry close to musketry range, the French heavy horse charge the Canitz Regiment, on the left flank of the Hessian infantry.  The Canitz Regiment manages to hold off the French horse, but the Hessian infantry have no time to catch breath before a second wave of French horsemen charges!

Above:  In the woods, the skirmish has intensified; the Hessian militia huntsmen have fled the scene, as have the volunteers from the French Bentheim Regiment.  Nevertheless, the Hessian Jäger and the Chasseurs de Fischer continue to slug it out on the bank of the Fulda.

Above:  On the eastern flank, the French Nassau Hussars and the Apchon Dragoons are shot to bits as they attempt to pass by the Hanoverian Jäger and Freywald Militia.  Seeing easy prey, the Hessian Husarencorps and Prinz Friedrich Dragoons charge down the slope.  However, fortune smiles on the French hussars this day, as the Hessian charge turns into a disaster and both Hessian cavalry regiments break and flee the field!  

However, French jubilation is soon silenced with the realisation that the Nassau Hussars are completely spent and must retire from the battle.  The situation deteriorates even further as the Apchon Dragoons, shot to pieces by the garrison of Ellenbach, also quit the field!  By the skin of their teeth, the remaining Hessian and French regiments of horse manage to maintain their composure and remain in the fight.

Above:  Our chronicler sadly missed a part of the action here; the first charge by the French infantry was largely halted by fire, but the 2nd Battalion of the Rohan-Montbazon Regiment managed to charge home and break the Wurmb Militia.  On the flank meanwhile, the second charge by the French horse was decisively halted on the bayonets of the heroic Canitz Regiment.

It’s now Turn 12… In this scenario’s completely arbitrary time-limit, the French need to break the Hessians by the end of the turn in order to avoid a Hessian victory.  Both sides have been weakened, so there’s still everything to play for…

Above:  The French charge again!  This time, despite flanking fire from the Hessian grenadiers in the wood, all four French infantry battalions manage to charge home on the Ysenburg Regiment (with the buff flag) and the Gundlach Militia (with the dark blue flag).

Above:  On the flank, the first brigade of French horse has rallied and now has yet another go at the Canitz Regiment!

Above:  The French infantry charge this time, is a complete success!  The Hessian infantry fail to halt the charge with firepower and despite their strong position on the hill, are unable to withstand the French onslaught.  The earlier loss of the Wurmb Militia, in the very centre of the Hessian line, has crippled Hessian cohesion and the remaining battalions crumble in the face of the solid phalanx of French bayonets!

Above:  To everyone’s surprise, the Ysenburg Regiment, being one of the better regular regiments in the Hessian line as well as being the army commander’s own regiment, fails to rally and keeps running!  The Gundlach Militia however, retain their honour and manage to rally near Prince Ysenburg’s headquarters.  They turn to face the enemy once again.

Above:  On the left of the Hessian line however, the incredible Canitz Regiment stands like a stone wall!  They’ve beaten off an infantry assault and no fewer than three cavalry charges, despite being exposed at the end of the line (thanks in no small part to the exhausted Hessian heavy horse, who provide vital rear support to the Canitz Regiment, but who dare not launch another charge).  This last cavalry charge has ended in disaster for the French horse, who are broken on the wall of bayonets and who are joined in their rout by the rest of the French cavalry division!

Above:  At Ellenbach meanwhile, peace descends upon the battlefield.

Above:  With the Hessians having lost a large chunk of their army, things could now go horribly wrong for Prince Ysenburg.  However, the Prince manages through force of will (and a good die-roll, to be fair) to hold his command together!

The same however, is not true of the Duc De Broglie… With the rest of the army having quit the field, the heroic French infantry division can’t possibly fight on alone and so too, is forced to retreat!  The Duc de Broglie must therefore concede defeat to Prince Ysenburg.

So that’s France: 1, Hesse-Cassel: 1!  We might have to fight Sanderhausen a third time for the decider.

My thanks to Kirk and Andy for making it such a good (if nail-biting) game and thanks to all at Haverfordwest Gaming Club for their usual warm welcome.

So to the next game… As mentioned last time, our old mate Jase is back from New Zealand for a (No Fit) State Visit to Wales, so we’ll be having a game with him at W.A.S.P. on Tuesday.  He’s been itching to play a SYW battle again after all these years, so we’ll be giving the Corbach scenario a test-run.  I’m very much looking forward to it! 🙂

Last time I posted a scenario for the Combat of Sanderhausen, which was fought on 23rd July 1758, between the French corps of the Duc de Broglie and the Hessian corps of Prince Ysenburg.  I covered all the history, orders of battle, etc then, so follow the link if you want a recap of the details.

So with the scenario scribbled on the back of a fag-packet, last Tuesday I headed down to W.A.S.P. in Pembroke Dock to play the game with Mike, who’d never played a SYW game before, let alone Tricorn or Shako.  I gave him the option of which side to play and seeing the larger army, he obviously opted to be French…

Ha!  He had fallen into my trap!  My Hessians had the better troops and as Obi-Wan Kenobi would appreciate, we also had the high ground!  Ahahahahaha!  Ahahahahahahahahahahaha!

What could possibly go wrong…?

Above:  Prince Ysenburg’s Hessian corps (on the left) has deployed on a hill astride their line of retreat to Münden.  The Hessians are outnumbered, but have their flanks secured by thick woods on each flank, as well as the River Fulda in the west and the fortified farm of Ellenbach in the east.

Above:  I must confess that I don’t yet have quite enough Hessians in my collection, so had to use some proxy units.  Two of the Hessian Militia battalions were represented by red-coated Hanoverians, the Invalid Battalion was represented by the Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Regiment, the Hessian Husaren-Corps were represented by the Prussian ‘Kleist’ Frei-Husaren and I used Prussian Jäger figures for the two Jäger-Corps.

Above:  Another view of Prince Ysenburg’s Hessian army.  Prince Ysenburg’s own infantry regiment is nearest the camera and is the most newly-painted unit on the table, having not yet seen action… And we know what that means… 🙁

Above:  The Hessian Jäger-Corps (here represented by Prussian ‘Kleist’ Frei-Jäger) lurks in the woods on the bank of the Fulda.  This elite unit should easily deal with the French light troops…

Above:  The Duc de Broglie’s French army forms up.  Nearest the camera, the Chasseurs de Fischer and volunteers from the ‘Bentheim’ Regiment push into the woods.  I must confess however, that I still haven’t painted the skirmishers for my Chasseurs de Fischer, so we were forced to use some more blue-coated light infantry when they deployed into skirmish order.

Above:  For once, I do actually have a few of the required French regiments in my collection; namely the ‘Royal-Deux-Ponts’ Regiment (the central battalion with the red & purple flag-corners), the ‘Apchon’ Dragoons (in red), the ‘Diesbach’ Swiss and the ‘Royal-Nassau’ Hussars.  As usual, I had to use random French regiments for the rest, though I used red-coated Swiss troops for the remaining Swiss regiment and a blue-coated German regiment for the ‘Royal-Bavière’ Regiment.

Above:  However, all the heavy cavalry regiments should have been wearing blue coats, but I’ve only got one such regiment; the ‘Raugrave’ Cavalry.

Above:  On the French right flank, the massed grenadiers of the ‘Royal-Deux-Ponts’ Regiment skirmish forward, supported by the ‘Royal-Nassau’ Hussars and the massed guns (I’d run out of light guns, so had to substitute a 12pdr for one of them).

As the game starts, the French guns immediately begin to pummel Ellenbach Farm!  This initially causes some discomfiture among the Hessian ‘Freywald’ Militia, though their commander manages to steady them.

Above:  As the French army begins to advance up the hill, Broglie decides to form a small tactical reserve in his centre from the ‘Royal-Deux-Ponts’ and the 2nd Battalion of the ‘Royal-Bavière’.  Somewhat remarkably, the Hessian artillery completely fails to do any damage to the approaching mass of Frenchmen!

Above:  With his artillery completely failing to make any impact, Prince Ysenburg decides to see if his cavalry can do any better and orders them forward against the French right flank, hoping to roll up the French right flank from there, or at least damage the French right wing and cavalry sufficiently that it will no longer be a threat.

Above:  Down on the bank of the Fulda, the ‘elite’ Hessian Jäger-Corps are having their arses handed to them by the French light troops.  It would seem that nobody in the Hessian army knows how to shoot!

Above:  As the French army closes to within range of the battalion guns, some gaps appear in the ranks on both sides, but the Hessian artillery seems to have received its marksmanship training from the same bloke who trained the Jäger! 🙁

Above:  With nobody apart from the French artillery bothering the garrison of the Ellenbach Farm, the Hanoverian Jäger sneak out to occupy the small copse on the spur, from where they start sniping at the French hussars.

Above:  On the French left flank, the Chasseurs de Fischer are very much gaining the upper hand over the Hessian Jäger-Corps, who are falling back on their grenadier supports.

Above:  On the French right flank, the Swiss ‘Waldner’ Regiment has wheeled to the right, forcing the Hessian cavalry to ‘run the gauntlet’ as they charge home.  The Hessian cavalry commander realises too late that he has been invited into a trap, but he has his orders and therefore must order the charge!

Above:  The Hessian ‘Prüschenck’ Horse and Husaren-Corps charge home on the ‘Royal-Nassau’ Hussars, but the French heavy horse counter-charge in support.  To make matters worse, the Swiss infantry and the French battalion guns succeed in emptying several Hessian saddles before they make contact.  The charge goes badly for the Hessians, who are beaten off with significant losses!

Above:  Having beaten off the Hessians, the French heavy horse are blocked by their own infantry, so opt to recall and rally behind friendly lines.  The ‘Royal-Nassau’ Hussars however, have only the ‘Prinz Freidrich’ Dragoons in front of them and the so their Colonel orders his trumpeter to sound the charge!

Above:  As the hussars charge home they suffer some disruption from the Hanoverian Jäger lurking in the copse, but with the Hessian dragoons having already suffered casualties from Swiss fire, they have an even chance of winning the combat.  Nevertheless, the Hessian dragoons manage to salvage some honour from the débâcle and send the hussars packing!

Above:  With more French cavalry massing behind the Swiss infantry, the ‘Prinz Friedrich’ Dragoons decide not to exploit their victory over the hussars and instead fall back to rally behind friendly lines.  All the retreating cavalry units also manage to rally… this time…

Above:  As the French infantry close the range, the Hessian artillery FINALLY manages to do some serious damage to the French infantry!  Then, as the French close to musketry range, one detachment of battalion guns is destroyed on both sides and the remaining gunners withdraw to relative safety behind the lines.

Above:  The opening volley from the Hessian infantry tears wide gaps in the French ranks, yet the French manage to do little damage in return.  The Hessians start to believe that they can actually win this battle!

Above:  The 1st Battalion of the French ‘Rohan-Montbazon’ Regiment has suffered particularly heavy casualties and falls back to rally.

Above:  However, things continue to go badly for the Hessians in the woods!  The Jäger-Corps have now been driven off by the French light troops, who now turn their attention to the Garrison-Grenadier Battalion.  Nevertheless, the grenadiers give as good as they get, inflicting losses on the Chasseurs de Fischer and the ‘Beauvoisis’ Regiment.

Above:  The cavalry of both sides rally as the Swiss reload their muskets and wait for the Hessians to comply with their orders and charge again…

Above:  Sure enough, they don’t have long to wait as the Hessian cavalry try again!  The ‘Prüschenck’ Horse strike at the 1st Battalion of the ‘Diesbach’ Regiment, which stands on the right flank of the French infantry.

Above:  Incredibly, the Swiss infantry this time fail to inflict any damage on the charging horse!  The French cavalry, masked by the infantry, can do little to assist the Swiss, but the ‘Apchon’ Dragoons immediately mount a supporting charge on the Hessian Husaren-Corps.  The honours are even; the ‘Apchon’ Dragoons succeed in sweeping the already-depleted hussars from the field, while the ‘Prüschenck’ Horse utterly destroy the Swiss battalion.  This time there are no bold attempts at exploitation; the cavalry of both sides retire to rally behind their own lines.

Above:  In the centre, the French infantry continue to get the worst of the firefight.  Confident that his line can hold, Ysenburg orders the reserve Invalid Battalion to march to the right flank, to help the Grenadier Battalion, which is being mobbed by light troops (note the arrow, which shows that the Invalids have formed a column to march to the right flank).

Above:  However, Hessian confidence is very short-lived, as the French infantry starts to recover its form!  In particular, the Swiss ‘Waldner’ Regiment is wrapping around the Hessian left flank and is starting to inflict significant casualties on the ‘Canitz’ Regiment.

Above:  There is another temporary pause as the cavalry of both sides take a breather between charges.  Over on the far flank, a pair of Hessian messengers gallop toward Ellenbach Farm, with orders for the ‘Freywald’ Militia to march out and intervene in the copse.

Above:  In a sudden flurry of violence, the Swiss ‘Waldner’ Regiment attempts a two-battalion charge against the ‘Canitz’ Regiment on the left flank of the Hessian infantry!  The 2nd Battalion is halted by fire, though the 1st Battalion successfully charges home, only to then retreat from the combat.  The French infantry has better luck at the opposite end of the line, as the 1st Battalion of the ‘Beauvoisis’ Regiment throws back the ‘Ysenburg’ Regiment, though the Hessians manage to rally.

Above:  The Hessian ‘Prinz Friedrich’ Dragoons meanwhile, charge once again against the Swiss ‘Diesbach’ Regiment, but this time are beaten off.

Above:  The ‘Prinz Friedrich’ Dragoons need less than a 5 to rally…  Sigh… 🙁

Above:  The Swiss meanwhile, need less than a 4 to rally… 🙂

Above:  “Don’t look now Hans, but I think there’s someone behind you…”

Above:  The French infantry are absolutely determined to break the Hessians and to that end, mount a general charge all along the line!  The ‘Gundlach’ Militia (represented by the red-coated Hanoverians) manage to hold off the ‘Royal-Deux-Ponts’ and ‘Royal-Bavière’ Regiments in the centre with musketry, but two French battalions on either flank manage to charge home!

Above:  One the French left, the 2nd Battalion of the ‘Rohan-Montbazon’ Regiment charges home on the ‘Wurmb’ Militia (with the orange flag).  Despite the support of the Invalid Battalion (who have hurriedly turned back into line), the Militia break and flee the field!  However, things again go badly on the French right flank, as the 2nd Battalion of the Swiss ‘Waldner’ Regiment dashes itself to pieces against the solid ‘Canitz’ Regiment.  With losses mounting on both sides, the Hessian infantry, the Hessian cavalry and the French right wing (i.e. the Swiss and German regiments) are now officially Demoralised.

Above:  On the edge of the woods, the Hessian Grenadier Battalion is holding on by its fingernails, but is still inflicting considerable damage on the ‘Beauvoisis’ Regiment.

Above:  The French cavalry meanwhile, have been ordered to halt and are content to watch the remaining Hessian horsemen dash themselves to pieces.  The Grenadiers of the ‘Royal-Deux-Ponts’ Regiment attempt to push into the copse, but suffer heavy losses to the Hanoverian Jäger still lurking there.  Just out of shot, the ‘Freybach’ Militia have received their orders to march out to the rescue of the cavalry, but at that moment catch an accurate barrage from the French artillery, which inflicts a timely delay on their intervention in the battle!

Above:  The Hessian cavalry have suffered heavy losses, but are still managing to stay in the battle and are good for one more charge!  All they need are some fresh orders and to that end, a messenger rides over from Prince Ysenburg…

Above:  Oh, scratch that plan…  A shot from a section of French battalion guns puts an ignominious end to the Hessian horse…

Above:  Having seen off the entire ‘Waldner’ Swiss, the Hessian ‘Canitz’ Regiment is finally defeated by the ‘Royal-Bavière’ Regiment and as they flee, they carry away one of the Hessian position batteries.

Above:  In the woods, the Garrison-Grenadier Battalion continues to hold out against overwhelming odds!

Above:  In the centre, the ‘Ysenburg’ Regiment has re-entered the fight and stands alongside the Invalid Battalion as the French charge yet again!  In front of them, the heroic ‘Gundlach’ Militia continue to stand their ground as much of the rest of the army folds around them.  However, it’s Turn 11 and the Hessians only have to hold out until the end of the next turn!  They can still do this! 🙂

Above:  The ‘Freywald’ Militia finally march out of Ellenbach Farm to save the day!  Hurrah!

Above:  It’s the end of Turn 11 and with one-third of the Hessian army broken, it’s time for another Army Morale test…  All we need is a 3 or more and to hold out for just one more turn…

Bugger…

Once again, I ask the question “Is this REALLY the hobby for me?”

Anyway, that’s it for now.  As mentioned last time, there are a few Burma things brewing, as well as a Normandy scenario, more 18th Century stuff and probably something I haven’t even though of yet.