Saturday, 3 January we fought the battle that links to my last years scenario of Schweinsberg. It is settled on the French 1760 summer invasion of Lower Hesse. For the historical background story, please see: http://crogges7ywarmies.blogspot.de/search/label/My%20SYW%20Battles
It is essentially the same. But this time, it was the French army that was to attack prince Ferdinand's Allied Army in its positions around Neustadt/Hesse.
The two army's orders of battle remained unaltered, just the selected battlefield area changed as a result of the French master plan to attack the Allies left wing, seize the walled town of Neustadt and cut the Allies communications to Kassel.
Once more the orbats of the two forces. All my newly painted units have now been included, such as the Saxons, the Welch Fuseliers and Hannoverian grenadiers, as well as a number of new French units.
The above sketch illustrate the initial positions as well as the French plan of attack. The army executed a march to the right and was to debouch in front of the Erbprince's position, while the Saxons and the Grenadier Reserve under St. Pern were to turn the Allies left wing. The theatre of this bellicose drama now became the Erbprince's position on the heights of Gleimenheim and the extensive wooded area's to either of his flanks separating the two armies. Really, the hottest of the fighting took place within these woods.
The above image illustrates much of the character of the combats seen here.
I call it the battle in ‘Jager land’ – or ‘Mohawk land’, as French major Mr. le chevalier de R*** choosed to put it. Within the French army, he was known as "L'Américain". Mr. le chevalier took part in the operations of the capture of Fort William-Henry in America and was taken prisoner at the Combat of Quebec in 1759. He returned to Europe on one of the prisoners ships and was freed on parole not to serve against the king of Britain in New England or New France again. May 1760 he arrived at Broglie's headquarters in Frankfurt and applied for a job to serve with My most Christian Majesty's Army in Germany, instead.
Below see a shot of the 1759-1760 French headquarters in Frankfurt.
Its the only recently rebuilt original
Palais Thurn & Taxis near the
Hauptwache (
Place d'Armes in French). Its located only about 200 meters from were I live and this game took place.
Above, we see the French Reserve of the Right Wing under Lusace turning the Allies left wing, well screened by French light troops deployed in the woods in front.
In the foreground you see a number of marvelous painted ‘flat’ metal trees that had been brought along by my gaming opponent M*** that day. Of course, they all had to add to my terrain layout. With other images below they are missing, as I made much of the images only after the game during the next morning with much better light for photographing, but unfortunately, without all those pretty extra trees.
Lusace's corps seen from the Neustadt direction.
The Allied Army's crack troops commanded by the Erbprinz deployed on the heights around Gleimenhain – determined to defend its positions. ‘Achillis’ – the Erbprinz – is seen at the head of his force along with his entourage, which include 2 men of the famous as picturesque Buckebourg Black Carabiniers.
Hannoverian Jagers under Luckner's command securing the right wing of Maxwell's converged English grenadiers.
The Allied army deployed seen from the direction of general Imhoff's Langenstein position. In front we see the English divisions of Granby and Waldgrave delpoyed around Erxdorf.
Closer view on the Allies initial positions centre with general Wangenheim's Hannoverians deployed to the left of the English infanterie.
The initial deployment of the mass of the French army. Only general Guerchy's 4th division along with prince Camille's cavalerie of the left wing was left behind aound Niederklein camp, acting as the army's Arriergarde. General Rooth's 2nd division was tasked to assault the Gleimenheim defile from front and crush the Erbprince's line supported by massed atrillery support as well as flanking attacks by the French grenadiers under Condé and St. Pern.
The French attack in progress. The first casualties became the French roughnecks of de Vair's volontaires, led into the woods by the chevalier l'Americain. They ran straight into the Allies grenadiers. Also Rooth's division was shot to pieces within short with its initial onslaught. Just my newly painted brigade of Dauphin following in second line survived. The fighting for Gleimenheim and the woods to either side now turned into an obstinate and bloody affair.
Wangenheim's Hannoverians deployed in the rear of the Erbprince's force for close support, while Waldgrave's English infanterie gradually extended the line to the Erbprince's right.
Detail of the fighting in the woods between Niederklein and Allendorf.
My newly painted regiment of Dauphin is advancing in support of Condé's grenadiers. It has seen off an attack by Allied grenadiers and now turns the flank of the Hannoverian regiment of vieux Zastrow to pour in its fire. Dauphin performed great this day.
Finally, the Allies were fought down. The remnants withdrew behind a stream running past Neustadt with the French found in close pursuit and now preparing for the final assault on the Neustadt position. This town was a tough nut to crack, as it was found walled and surrounded by a stream. Meanwhile the Allies started to build up an increasingly threatening force on the French left, led by Waldgrave's English infanterie and supported by Imhoff's command as well as Granby's English cavalerie of the right. Granby was once again found at the very rear of the echelon, causing French staff officers to laugh and scoff at Granby being just fine enough a force to guard the army's suttlers and other baggage. Before this battle was over, Granby's cavalry's sabers would give them a lesson to learn.
But before telling the story of Granby's glory, lets turn to the events on the French right. Lusace's Saxons as well as the French cavalry of the right could finally manage to close in on Neustadt.
Above see the crisis of the battle on the French right. The French cavalry engages in a reckless charge to crush general Wutginau's Hessians and Brunswickers defending the stream to the East of Neustadt. The Cuirassiers du Roi actually broke the Brunswick Zastrow regiment thanks to the fire support of the Saxon grenadiers, while in a most gallant action, the Saxon
Kurprinzessin regiment knocked out the Hessian heavy battery of colonel Huth. On the West side of Neustadt, all Allied artillery was either silenced by well aimed French artillery fire, or captured by a brave charge of the Grenadiers Royaux. Now, Neustadt was ready to be captured by the French - but - there weren't any troops left to assault Neustadt. The French army was found completely exhausted with no troops left, that could deliver the final blow.
All the while the action of this day was decided on the other end of the French line. General Imhoff's troops along with Waldgrave's English fought down the French left wing's divisions of Gouchery and prince Camille, and Granby launched the battle decisive blow against the single remaining intact French division of general Rougé. It was totally crushed in a single charge by the English cavalry. Not even Mr. L'Americain could have foreseen such disaster.
Above see the English cavalry with Granby in the rear. In the foreground you see the poor French brigade of Le Roi on blown horses. They could do nothing to avoid French defeat.
Cheering Victoria and a Feu De Joie to the arms of My Royal Britannic Majesty's Army in Germany, that has won the day in a most dramatic game.
Je suis Charlie
