16 July 1761/2011 Battle Of Waldeck

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Date: 16 July 1761/2011
Situation: Britannia vs Gallia
Location: Waldeck, Westphalia
Rules: BAR Batailles de l'Ancien Régime 1740-1763
Double click images to see a lot more, if you please.
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Eight companionable pards from MN, IL and WI gathered for BAR Game #60. We commenced at 10:30am concluding at 4:30pm with a decisive result.

The scenario was played lengthwise on the Main and two Side tables. The French were deployed in screened columns of march heading eastward on each table. After viewing the French columns, the British positioned themselves father to the eastward crossing the T of the French. An unknown brigade of French horse deployed afterwards.

THE MAIN TABLE

A few turns into play, four squadrons of Gallian/French Royal des Carabiniers await orders to deploy. They will eventually pass to the right of the Gardes Fraincaise in the center of the photo. Far in the distance de Saxe Lanciers and Saxon Leibkürassiers are deploying to slow the foe. The latter are off the top of the photograph.

Soon the British marched up a rise appearing in ribbons of colour. One troop of de Saxe Lanciers engaged enemy cavalry to slow them down. Eventually the second troop and the Leibkürassiers would be drawn in too in an entertaining see-saw battle lasting several turns. These cavalry forces exhausted themselves and were unable to take further action in the battle.

The Britannian 60th Foot advances resolutely toward the forming Gallian battle line.

2/Grenadiers de France await the approach of the foe and the outcome of the cavalry battle. The grenadiers are Front Rank Miniatures from the UK.

Two thirds of the way into the battle, the Britannians successfully forced back all Gallian forces on The Main Table. Almost all of the artillery of both sides was lost here.

Not pictured: Three 12 Pounders (large blue guns) were taken out by a squadron of Royal des Carabiniers who sneaked into position for a successful charge behind a French battalion. Another squadron took the 60th Foot in the flank routing it. A third squadron was severely mauled by musket fire. The fourth was unengaged.

The Gardes Francaise remained atop a ridge acting as a last reserve or rallying point in the rear.

Gallian forces retreat to the Gardes to form a second battle line.

A new battle line is stabilized awaiting the arrival of the foe. Looks strong but....

Observing the victorious Britannian battle line advance at game end seated from left to right: Brent, Jim/Der Alte Fritz and Jon. Standing left to right: Bill (yours truly), Curt, Derrick, Andrew and Todd.

We sensed the Britannians had the upper hand. Add the fact that Gallians had lost a lot of combatants. The Britannians had lost their heavy battery needed to assault the ridge line, but had really only lost one battalion; the 60th.

I have little idea of the condition of forces friendly or foe on the Side Tables other than to say the Gallian North Table would probably succumb whilst the South Table was in good shape. The latter would provide the proverbial cavalry force to cover our withdrawal.

We had a lot of fun, laughs, good chow/snacks and a scenario said to have been very different and entertaining. Thanks a million to our companionable pards. Without you, this game experience would have been vastly different. You made it a terrific game and people experience.

Der Alte Fritz hopes to post his photos here: http://altefritz.blogspot.com/ 

Your comments are welcome below.
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Two Battles For Colburg

Date: 7 May 1761/2011
Location: Port of Colburg, East Prussia
Situation: Port Under Attack - Relief Force Coming
Rules: Batailles de l'Ancien Régime 1740-1763 {BAR}
For best vicarious viewing, double click photos, if you please.
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For the past few years I've hosted a "Belated Birthday Game Day" with a minimum of two games for a larger than usual cast of friends. On this occasion the table had two sections separated by a wooded ridge transition zone. Though the ridge was only about 12" wide, it separated the two sections by a half day's march. This is a convenient model railroad technique to change scenes even though visually adjacent. So when you view the two scenes, imagineer they are actually faaaaar apart.

Seated left to right: George R., Morgan E., Randy F. and Brent O. Standing left to right: Bill P., Jim H., Jim P. Der Alte Fritz, Todd P., Keith L. and Dan E.

Hours previous to this we uncorked a bottle of wine toasting ourselves as "We happy few." We are blessed to have such a companionable gamer's group. Thank you Gentlemen for being part of my belated birthday! Let's gather again in 2012.

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AT THE EAST PRUSSIAN PORT OF COLBURG

Prussians defend works on a Back Table. Off screen to the left is the Baltic Sea. To the right is more of Colburg and....

Two artistic bread ovens from the collection of Randy F. made by Ed Phillips.

Colburg was protected by fieldworks. The port is off screen upper right. The Baltic Sea is off screen at the top. A hint of the transition zone mentioned previously appears at the bottom.

Viewed from the opposite direction.... "The Russians are coming. The Russians are coming. Everybody to get from street." Anyone remember these movie lines?

Drums beating.  Flags flying.  Steady.  Resolute.  Ever forward.

Get off the beaches quickly and --- CHARGE!

Russian forces advance toward Prussian and British defenders elsewhere.

Rightmost Russians formed a column of attack. This was the preferred means to assault works in the 18th Century. This battalion on loan from John B. was my personal command today. Sometimes it worked....

Like this!  Brave Russians.

And like -- THIS!   You believe me don't you?

Routed! Well. It will make a great painting in St. Petersburg - in a basement. "But Czar Peter my battalion preoccupied many enemy units and....

More Russian success breaching the field works would also eventually fail.

While near the beach, Russians there were also repulsed. Fate.

A well-deserved victory went to the Prussians with their British allies defending Colburg field works. Congratulations to George, Keith and Dan who were very gentlemanly to the defeated Todd, Morgan and yours truly, Bill. We had a great time!

Prodigious thank yous to Michael M. who regrettably could not attend the game and allowed his Russian Army to participate in his stead.

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A HALF DAY'S MARCH AWAY

A Prussian force enters a defile blocked by French allies of the Russians besieging Colburg. More of the transition zone appears at the photo bottom.

Viewed from the opposite direction, more Prussians enter the defile.

Viewing from the transition zone again, the Prussians flood the defile.

 Der Alte Fritz (left) leans over the table.

Opposite him Randy (center) and Brent (right) respectively take care of French military activities.

 The Prussian extreme right flank.

Right center of the Prussian Army.

 Left center of the Prussian Army.

Left flank of the Prussian Army.

The Prussian mission to shove the French off The Main Table onto The Back Table with sufficient blue coats gaining The Back Table did not occur. During the last turn the massive Prussian cavalry attack in the center was repulsed, routed, and cut down by pursuing French horse.

Jim P. and Jim H. professionally commanded the Prussians whilst Randy and Brent capably officered the victorious French.

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CLOSING REMARKS

1. Buildings by Miniature Building Authority.

2. Field words by JR Miniatures. 15mm by the way.

3. Terrain Guy in Texas made the table covering in a custom length for us.

4. BAR rules available from oldregimerules.com

5. Remarks welcome below by anyone - especially - by our participants.

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Saxon Leibkürassiers Reformed 1761/2011

Readers may think I have always had French SYW forces. Almost true. My first units were Saxons. In the past few years I've been in a slow rebuilding program perhaps distantly similar to the actual rebuilding of the army after it capitulated to Frederick in 1756 at Pirna. You've seen the Rutowski Chevauleger and von Brühl Dragoon Regiments appear in the past three years here. May I now introduce you to the reformed Leib Squadron of the Leibküassiers? Double click images please.

Eureka's new 28mm Saxon kürassiers wearing straw waistcoats (jackets) rather than the larger white outer coat. (German spelling of kürassiers - please - bitte!)

Otto Max Grosse's 1907 inaugural dissertation entitled, Prinz Xaver von Sachsen und das sächsische Korps bei der französischen Armee 1758-1763 has been in my library since 1968ish. An amazing ninety-one page publication which ought to be translated and made available for our hobby use.

After Pirna, Prinz Karl, von Brühl's and Prinz Albrecht plus three regiments (pulks) of Polish lancers were all that remained of the Saxon Cavalry Corps. Grosse tells us on pages 46-48 that a kürassier regiment of four squadrons was reformed in 1761. 

David Morfitt in the UK generously assisted me about the mysteries and enigmatic prose of the Pengel and Hurt pamphlets to unravel a standard for my Leibkürassiers. All errors above are mine - not Davids. Saxon experts will perhaps observe the above Leibkürassier standard is from umm - the Napoleonic Wars. Ach du lieber! I surrendered to convenience and impatience only today. The square border was not there in 1755. Thank you David!

The officers are taking a keen interest in you staring at their squadron. Have a care! 

Back to Grosse. A kürassier regiment of four squadrons was available in May 1761. It consisted of two companies of Garde du Korps and two companies of unnamed kürassiers. Were the former never captured at Pirna? Grosse says on p. 13 that the Garde du Korps was present in 1758.Were the latter other escapees or what? What else made up the regiment?

The new regiment had four squadrons each of two Kompagnien. Each company was supposed to have 80 men including officers. That's 640 cavalrymen without the regimental staff of fourteen more men. It was raised from the Kreisen of Saxony, Bavaria and Salzburg.

Things may get serious in a moment.

My reformed regiment will have one squadron of Leibkürassiers above, another squadron of Garde du Korps and I don't know what else. I have enough Eurekas to almost have four squadrons of twelve miniatures each. 

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CLOSING REMARKS

1. Having a regiment of varied uniforms  is appealing. I have no idea if this was the case, but if I was a Garde du Korps reiter, I think I would like to retain my status and original uniform. Creative thinking (guessing at its best).

2. As for the Leibkürassiers, well, I just like the uniform. I previously thought the new regiment was the Leibkürassiers. I guess not. So much for a memory going back over four decades!

3. What will the other two squadrons be? I don't know.

4. Does anyone know the 1761 name of the regiment? My poor translation of page 48 suggests the regiment was named after Prinz Xaver but I am not confident of this.

5. According to the English translation of Richard Knötel's Uniforms of the World, "During the imprisonment of the Saxon Army inthe Seven Years' War, after its surrender at Pirna in 1756, the cuirassiers formed themselves into grenadier companies, in French pay." Did they return to the cavalry in 1761? That's what I always thought.

6. In Christopher Duffy's, Instrument of War, the following Saxon cavalry regiments maintained by Austria were named, Prinz Albert (Albrecht), Bielack, Brühl, Hertzog Carl (Karl), Garde Carabiniers and Schiebel. There is a Knötel uniform plate showing the only squadron of the Saxon von Schill Hussars too.

7. Your remarks are welcome as always below at the word comments.

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Fun At Seven Years' War Assn. Weekend

28th Annual SYWA Weekend
Date: March 25-26, 2011
Location: South Bend, Indiana USA
News: My Three Fun Games and Professor Duffy
Double Clicking Images Super-sizes Them
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GAME #1  THE YEAR 1757: BUNGERPORE, INDIA

Judge Jürgen Olk officiated Ken Bunger's Tricorne III Rules adding many fun event cards; storms, dust, bad weapons, good news, bad news, wranglings and more.

Judge Jürgen Olk on the right.

Forces of His Britannic Majesty supported by units of the East India Company and Indian allies fought....

Forces of His Most Christian Majesty Louis XV at Bungerpore, India. In the foreground a native host was affected by a fun game event card. Its reluctant leader was suddenly assassinated and replaced by a fire-eating Prince who....

Unhesitatingly launched the entire host toward the British right flank to collapse the foe. Onward they rushed at a magnificent speed! Musketry erupted and....

Sitting within his howdah, the Prince was mortified to see the entire host beaten and thrown into confusion flying....

To the rear and off the table. The French extreme left flank had evaporated in moments.

Meanwhile, the French grand battery supported an attack on the right flank by....

A brigade of four battalions and a squadron of cavalry. The leading infantry units advanced with levelled bayonets, got in close and were routed. Only the cavalry succeeded in throwing back a body of seamen firing at them.

The thoughts of the French commander (me) were akin to something like ignominious and utter defeat. Both flanks lost. Sensing their moment had come for a coup de grace....

Two British battalions from their right flank enlivened by their easy defeat of the native host advanced with colours flying and drums beating straight at the French. The French battery shifted its fire into them. On they came. The leading French battalions opened at medium range doing terrible execution. Unflinching on they came with shouldered muskets. The French hurriedly reloaded finishing as the foe halted at point blank range. They delivered a withering blow to the French as the French simultaneously replied with less effect.

Casualties are doubled for first fire. The French lost theirs at medium range. The British held theirs till arriving at point blank range; 1". The level of casualties forced morale checks on all battalions and....

The British broke -- streaming back into their Sepoy allied units. Judge Jürgen raised my utter defeat to a draw. Whew!

The next day Jürgen set up The Battle of Bungerpore again using survivors from the earlier battle described above. It is part of an on-going SYW campaign waged across the map. I believe they have reached the year 1757. Ken Bunger is shown at left whilst Professor Christopher Duffy looks on.

Jürgen's event cards were drawn each turn. They provided unpredictable, clever, amusing and logical changes in the life of the game. The uncertainty, colorful units and different types of combatants makes this a very interesting game experience. We certainly have British and French units for our Campaigns in Germania and North America in our WI, IL, IN and MN gamer's group. These could be sent to India. Some of the native forces from The Campaigns of General Pettygree might find service south of the NW Frontier too. Perhaps not much extra would be needed to fill the menu.
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GAME #2 THE YEAR 1758: SANDERSHAUSEN, HESSE-KASSEL

Judge Dean West presides over his 15mm Battle of Sandershausen. We used Dean's The Final Argument of Kings rules. I enjoyed myself again. French forces on the right are attacking Hessian forces on the left.

My command consisted of the two battalions on the extreme right flank of the Hessian battle line plus jager and grenadiers in the woods; left center foreground. We were outnumbered. A small contribution might be made if I could dislodge the French in the woods and afterwards turn my grenadiers and jagers ninety degrees left to fire from the edge of the woods at the French marching by. They might turn a battalion or two to face me.

Good luck for my Hessians in the woods. The French were forced backwards.

 Over several turns. Four to five as I recall.

I was too late. The French bypassed me and began to assault the hill in the upper left.
 

French forces marched up the hill at my Hessians and off-screen to the left winning the day.

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GAME #3 THE YEAR 1760: KORBACH, HESSE-KASSEL
Solely from my perspective as the commander of the French cavalry.

Tricorne author, Ken Bunger, marched his Allied Army onto the field of Korbach to oppose a French Army commanded by yours truly. My command was all cavalry; my Royals and Gendarmes. Rules = Tricorne III.

My Royals in blue charged straight at the Allied Army. Behind the Prussian cavalry facing mine, as yet unseen Allied infantry were marching onto the battlefield. Some hoped to turn to their right (your left) onto hills off screen to the left. Some did.

The cavalry units used by me are from my Batailles de l'Ancien Régime collection of BAR units. They play Tricorne and BAR easily.

Three lines of my Gendarmes waited in column of squadrons/regiments awaiting developments. The Royals would be defeated, routed and pursued deep into French territory to the right. However, they did not fare well there and were driven off by Jürgen Olks French and one of my Gendarme units.

The leading Gendarmes Anglais assisted on the left side of the Royals and beat the Prussians there. Note Prussian blue-coated dragoons in the rear of the Prussian force.

Those same Prussian dragoons later fled to the rear and swirled around Prussian infantry who could not fire at pursuing French red coats. The above Prussian infantry were defeated and routed after the French crashed into them. Meanwhile, the

Queens Gendarmes dispatched the Prussian hussars in this photo. These fled across the Prussian battle line stopping the advance of their infantry.

Keep going mes amis! More French pursuits into Prussian infantry. These Prussians had incredible bad luck with morale throws and routed.

More pursuits and discombobulation. The enemy advance onto the field was disrupted.

We turn around to see the previous photograph from the Prussian baseline; the last act before the game was called. Two Gendarme units will receive Battle Honours on their standards reading Korbach March 26 1760/2011. A lucky game for me.

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PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER DUFFY

SYWA #28 Director Randy introduces the celebrated Professor Christopher Duffy, author of numerous military history titles, many related to the SYW.

The members and guests clap in anticipation and sincere appreciation as he steps forward.

Professor Duffy spoke for nearly an hour about The Jacobite Rebellion. Topics with numerous illustrative stories and insight: Bonnie Prince Charlie, The Duke of Cumberland, other personalities, troop qualities, plan of campaign, the "rubbish" of the Cumberland bayonet drill (not used), arms, tactics, maps, garments, politics, public opinion in England when it was all over and very much more.

Professor Christopher Duffy
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