Refighting The Battle Of Hochkirch 14 Oct. 1758

Last weekend we had a rather spectacular game, refighting the battle of Hochkirch, refought with approx 1,200 miniatures. Two players on the Austrian side, including myself, and 1 player for the King of Prussia's heroic ‘Spartans’. The Scenario is provided by Frank Chadwick's Battles of the Seven Years War, vol. I (Austria versus Prussia) for Volley & Bayonet rules.

The famous great field work just south of Hochkirch under assault of Loudon's cavalry.

Closer view of the fieldwork with the village of Hochkirch located just behind it.

With the Hochkirch church bell sounding the 5th hour a mighty thunderstorm cought the sleeping – and almost unsuspecting – Prussians in their Camp. 

Above see a panorama view of the spectacle. The Austrian attack came in pretty much according to the historic dispositions. A massive reenforced left wing of 4 columns directed into the Prussian flank and rear. To represent the Prussians being ‘caught sleeping’, all Prussian units started the game disordered.
Below see my orbat sheets arranged for the two armies with this game. For copyright issues, I did not include the V&B scenario map for Hochkirch. But plenty of maps of the battle should be found in the internet, anyway.

I must say, I never saw a more formidable Austrian army lined up for the attack. I've inserted my units here, off course. A many are historic & also found at their historic position.

The Prussians – so few – but made up entirely of core troops, hence moral 6 for the most and even morale 7 for the Gardes & the Regt. du Corps representing the crack Garde-du-Corps cuirassier brigade. The finest of Prussian troops found here. Up to this day, near all regiments of this army knew of lost battles only from hear-say.

Most determined – but poorly drilled amateur – US sundays militia, led by capt. C. Duffy advancing on Hochkirch from a southern direction. The shot was taken during our visit of the battlefield in Oct 2016. We are watching from the south exit of todays Hochkirch town down the "Kirschenallee" or Engl. ‘Cherry Alley’ (see google maps). My position should be approx. on the left flank of the great fieldwork looking due south into the believed advance path of d'Aysne's column. Capt. Duffy wasn't pleased with the conduct of his command. These amateur class lads just couldn't march in step, hence his somewhat indignant countenance.

With all Prussians being disordered it was too big a temptation to resist for my co-player L***. He commanded on the left and instantly threw in all the horse of Loudon's corps as well as Odonell's cavalry attacking into the Prussian rear. The infantry was outside sriking distance with the start of the first turn. It was Ziethen's right wing cavalry that got hit. Hit really hard! The two cuirassier brigades were routed in a minute. An Austrian cavalry breaktrough in the first turn. Now they continued charging into a regt. of Kanitz's right wing infantry and a battery of artillery – both routed as well. Only the Löwenstein's chevaulegers attacking the fieldwork head on were repulsed. A good try, but possibly too daring. With this hard hitting good start, the real work started for the Austrians. Despite being greatly outnumbered, our opponent M*** was very determined to win this battle with his Prussians, of which a good number of units were his own miniatures. The greater part only recently painted and here seeing their Test-of-Battle.

View of Loudon's & Odonnell's troops attacking from south & west directions.

Daun and his staff in the left foreground. He is with the column of general d'Aysne. On the right the 2 Hungarian Estherhazy brothers regts. On their left the converged grenadiers of MacBrady & Nugent.

MacBrady's grenadiers closing in. The exploding bomb-shells, neatly painted by M*** add to the drama here.

The left column of Sincère's command under general Forgàtch attack the fieldwork from the left side. Here its the grenadiers of Cogniazzo and Fiorenza that try hard to take it.

The fight for the fieldwork became very obstinate. The Prussians refused to leave it to the Austrians bringing in ever more troops for its defence, all the while Ziethen held off Odonell's troops with what was remaining from his division. Ziethen even managed to order one of the Croates battalions to turn about and oppose another battalion of Loudon's Croates.

Friendly Fire in the heat of the Action!

Above see the detail of this rare action right near Ziethen's command stand. My co-player L*** really shot at his own troops by rolling dice (a miss). I have never had this before in all the wargames I played in my life.

The death of Feldt-Maréchal Keith.

Above see a detail of one of those Prussian desparte counter attacks led by Feldt-Maréchal Keith. I think it was the crack Archi Duc Ferdinand IR 2 that got wiped out here. The Austrians were repulsed oncemore, but, Keith was killed on this occasion just as in the real historic battle. I'm serious. As I don't have his character for the time being, it was my Feldt-Maréchal Schwerin command stand, that represented Keith in this game. Aye. May the finest among Frederick's generals rest in piece. 

The monument of James Francis Edward Keith located in Petershead, Scotland, very near his place of birth. Many thanks to the very alive fellow warrior Scotsman Charles C. Grant who forwarded the image to me.

D'Aisne's troops attack on the right of the fieldwork. 

Shortly later, prince Maurice, the soul of the Prussian infantry, was killed in our game as well, just as in the real historic battle. He is seen here along with the regt. Forcarde (IR23) in close combat with that days brilliant performing Esterhazy regiments. I believe the location of Maurice being mortaly wounded was very near the historic location, as far as it can be reconstructed from available historic records.

Loudons fight to crush the Prussian front in the south continues.

For the attacking forces of Her Imp.&Royal Majesty's Army, progress at the southern front of the battle was slow. The fieldwork still being in Prussian hands after several turns, as well as Hochkirch. The situation turned as the attack of the Austrian right wing commanded by general Ahrenberg closed in on the Prussian left wing & Wuerttemberg's Reserve Corps, all found in the northern part of the battlefield area, tasked to secure the Prussian line of communication.

Ahrenberg's troops or the right wing of the Austrian force engage the cavalry of Wuerttemberg & the Division Forcade deployed in and around the villages of Rodewitz & Wawitz.

Buccow's cavalry of the right in concert with infantry from d'Arberg's Division crush Wuerttembers Reserve Corps. It turned the odds in favour of the Austrians in this part of the world.

Now the Austrian right wing closes in on Forcade's crack troops.

The contest for the villages of Rodewitz and Wawitz became a violent and bloody affair. This strike was directed to cut the Prussian line of retreat. Very bad news. The Austrians were determined to finish off with the entire army of this Potsdam Resident Thief Of Silesia. The Prussian grenadiers fought like lions, but, to the disgust of the Prussians, it was also observed that Austrian volley fire was executed most effective and deadly. They weren't all that good with the bayonet that day, I must say. But so much better with ranged fire. The Prussian grenadiers melted away within short. The regiment Gaisruck's orderly volleys were found particular deadly. This regiment killed all that dared to close into firing range. In the event, also Forcade's division was crushed within short.

Elements of Colloredo's Centre Corps seize the defile of Niethen. One of the two Prussian Free-Battalions has just been evicted from the cross point over this otherwise marshy banked stream, impassable for artillery.

Not much happened along the Austrian centre front along the stream. Colloredo deployed his troops here for the greater time of the battle only to threaten the two crossings over the stream at Niethen and Kuppritz, but otherwise secured the communication between the Austrian right and left wing striking forces.

At around noon, the Grand Fielwork was eventually abandoned by the Prussians. Loudon's command stand seen on the right is pleased to see it in Austrian hands now.

The final stage. The Prussian Gardes under attack.

At around noon, the Prussian army was facing total defeat. The crack regt. Garde deployed near Hochkirch now came under attack of the Austrian converged elite squadrons of general Ayasasa under the direct command of maréchal Daun. Massed artillery poured in its fire into the Prussian Gardes flank in support. No chance. The Austrian elite horse was repulsed. Meanwhile, Loudon seized Hochkirch by dislodging the defending Prussian Chasseurs from the village. 

 

A bit out of focus, but it remains the key scene of Prussian total defeat. The Gardes are swept off the field by deadly ‘canister brooms’ delivered at point blank range.

The Gardes now wanted to make good their excape along with the other remnants of Frederick's now shattered Army. No chance. Massed Austrian artillery blocked the Prussian retreat path. Now also the Gardes were knocked out.  After completing the 12.00 hours turn, the battle was over. 

Finale. Daun accepts Frederick's surrender.

On above image you see Maréchal Daun in his moment of maximum triumph. The King of Prussia surrenders and hands Daun his saber. Victoria to the House of Austria. VIVAT MARIA THERESIA.
Summery:
A great game it was. The Austrians really needed every single unit of its army. The Prussians fought like lions. If the Prussians hadn't lost 4 units routed in the first turn, who knows, the outcome may well have been more favorable for the Prussians. Losses on both sides were high. As far as I can recollect the figures from our orbat sheets, Austrian losses were 14,000 men & 20 guns, while the Prussians lost 13,000 men & 75 guns not including prisoners.

The Battle of Hastenbeck, 26 July 1757 – refought

On 2016 Easter Friday, our group played a refight of the battle of Hastenbeck. Originally we were supposed to be 5 players, but two fell sick the days before, so that we were left with only 3 players. Two on the French side, including myself, and one for the Hannoverian Army. I was also not feeling so well and got struck by a flu for the remainder of the Easter Holidays. That's one of the reasons why this AAR is published only now.

I always believed Hastenbeck is anything but a perfect wargame scenario, as a result of the odd terrain and the considerable French superiority in troops and artillery. As said in my previous article below, that's why it took me 12 years from my extensive research done on this battle to making it a game. How mistaken I was! The game played really well with everybody having a great time. As said in my previous article, the game was played with Volley & Bayonet rules and the scenario was based on Frank Chadwick's "Battle's of the Seven Years War", vol. 2: "The Strategic Flanks". A great scenario to play, and likely to supersede Minden as my favorite SYW French vs. Allies battles. I converted his orbats into my preferred visual layout play sheets with inserting my troops and some non-historic generals in order to minimize re-labeling.

The battle evolved somewhat different as the historic one as a result of the Hannoverian Army's somewhat altered deployment.

According to the scenario, the Allies deployed first anywhere behind a line running East-West between the South edge of Hastenbeck village and North edge of Voremberg, which remained unoccupied to the front of their position. As in the historical battle the Hannoverian's placed their batteries in field works to command the bottleneck between Hastenbeck and the wooded Schrecken heights with the Obensberg hilltop, but also deployed troops to the East of the hills. Strangely, also a cavalry division was placed to the South of the Haste Stream between Hastenbeck and the Weser River, which marked the West edge of the table. Not such a good idea, as it turned out. Most of the superior numbered French cavalry of the left wing fell upon them & the Hannoverians were eliminated in the first turn. Below see the end result of this French 1st turn assault. The Hannoverian horse was found eliminated with a single strike, thanks to the French light horse that managed to move into the rear of the enemy, thus, denying them to fall back across the bridge across the marshy banked Haste Stream. A good start for the French. I instantly went off to my fridge to arrange for our Victory Champagne – ice cool – for cheering to this certain French arms day of glory.

The French initial deployment and general plan of attack was otherwise not so different from the historic plan. The terrain simply left us with little alternatives.

The French left wing infantry gets moving forward.

So does the French right under my command. A many photos were done during this game. It took me a while to sort out the best selection for a good narrative. That's another reason for the delay of this AAR.

Meanwhile the Hannoverian Army of Observation was ‘observing’ the French initial moves.

Above see a close-up of Cumberlands Grenadiers under Hardenberg securing the batteries.
The French right wing was reenforced by most of the French cavalry of the right as a result of the entire force of general Oberg to the East of the Schrecken heights. Oberg soon realized that he was opposing far superior numbers of French and withdrew his troops onto the high ground to his rear forming a line along the edge of the woods. Now the battle started in earnest with Cherverts' men executing its flank turning movement. Supported by cavalry he now closed in on Obergs' division that had formed an angle to Cumberland's main position West fo the Schrecken high ground. At the same time Broglie, on the French left, closed in on Hastenbeck supported by the French heavy artillery. 

The French left under Broglie attacking Hastenbeck village

 D'Armentière's Corps of the right closing in on Cumberland's left wing batterie.

Broglie's light troops seize Hastenbeck.

 D'Armentière's guns target Cumberland's batterie.

Chervert's Corps of the far right closes in on Oberg's division.

Close-up of the contest between Chervert's and Oberg's men for the Schrecken high ground securing the flank of Cumberland's position.
Gradually, the French pushed forward taking every Hannoverian strongpoint one by one. First, the Obensberg hilltop was seized by French light troops, next fell Hastenbeck, and the two right hand batteries were captured and its guns silenced.

The brave lads of regiment Piédmont attack the batterie of the centre.

 The guns were silenced…

…and Piédmont seizes the batterie.
The Hannoverians defended every inch of their position like lions, resulting in heavy loss on both sides.

The French cavalerie of the left continued to threaten Cumberland's far right by signalling to pass the stream. General Imhoff's entire division was needed to secure the Haste stream.

 After the batteries had all been taken by the French, they now pushed forward through the defile between Hastenbeck village and the Obensberg hilltop.

The aftermath from the contest for the Schmiedebrink highgroud seen, after the French pressed on forward. A fine example oncemore prooving the old German miniature collectors saying: "Its the dead and dying that'll make your scenery look alive".

In came now Cumberlands revenge. The Hannoverians had been pushed back to their Alamo Position. With their backs to the wall, they were unwilling to accept defeat and decided for one final all-out attack on Contades Corps of the Centre.

My Co-Player V*** failed about every single morale check resulting in a super disaster. Contades Corps was smashed in a single turn, including our so valuabble heavy guns. This accident decided the day, as by that time also Cheverts Corps of the right along with the right wing cavalerie had been fought down into exhaustion. The French started to run out of troops, and it was only two or three turns to go till nightfall.

Above you see about the final stage of the battle. The Hannoverians somehow managed to form a last final line, that the French were unable to crush. The battle was lost to the French as the French cavalerie attack – most desperate – accross the Haste stream was also a total falure. I knew that happening before, but was unable to prevent V*** from doing such a silly thing.

A great game it was, that we will surely play another time sometime in the near future.