9:00 AM turn sees the Prussian cavalry, that was not exhausted, launch a counter attack against the Austrian cavalry in front of Sullowitz. This attack was extremely successful causing all Austrian cavalry to fall back disordered. The fleeing cavalry had to pass through the Austrian reserve infantry, which was deploying behind them after marching over the bridge. Three Austrian regiments became disordered in the panic. The Austrian cavalry division reached its exhaustion level. The Austrian right hand division, that of Hadick in the OB, also received a hit sending it over its divisional exhaustion limit. To make matters worse the Prussian units on the far-left flank had made their way off of the Lobosch Hill and cut the road at Welhotta. Things were looking slightly grim for the Austrians.
9:30 AM turn the Austrian high command is bumping into each other in stunned disbelief. They begin to send Croat units north along the road through Lobositz to support the north flank. There is only one grenadier regiment available to accompany them. The Austrian guns continue to fire and inflict another hit on the Prussian units descending from the Lobosch Hill. This hit causes this Prussian division to reach its exhaustion level. This circumstance was brought on mainly from the two Austrian artillery batteries that had been exchanging fire with the Prussians for three turns
10:00 AM turn sees the center and right wing Prussian infantry close to contact with the Austrian battle line. This action takes place in a north-south line running from just north of Lobositz to just a few inches south of it.
The Prussians are in fact, smelling blood and are looking to make the big kill on us. I suspect that they will. Much to my surprise the Austrian line holds, and in general most of the Prussian units are falling back disordered. This is a reversal on a very large scale for the Prussians. The left flank Prussians cannot move into contact but move to a flanking position on the Austrian artillery batteries and open up with musket fire. The guns hold but are weakened. One bad omen for the Austrians takes place when one Austrian line unit, which routed due to fire, passes through a Croat unit to its rear causing it to rout. These circumstances were caused because at some point the Austrian Reserve formation reached its exhaustion level. This makes all remaining units in the command become disordered. This Croat unit in turn crossed the path of a following Croat unit which also routed. The slow but steady stream of fugitives begins its flight east following the course of the Elbe River. The consequence of having Croats as your reserve units is beginning to tell. The Prussian cavalry is sorting itself out on the Prussian right flank preparing for another all out attack, or counterattack depending on circumstance.
10:30 AM turn the Austrians send a few more Croat battalions north, which deploy with the grenadier unit. This looks to be too little too late. The Austrian infantry which were south of the Morellen Bach have been slowly making their way across the single bridge. The lead units have been disordered by the cavalry action and deployment room is cramped. They are finding it tough going to bring their numbers to bear.
11:00 AM turn sees the Prussian cavalry commander smiling. He was not attacked. The Austrians will not be so lucky. With another toss of his clay pipe he assails the disorganized Austrians. This action once again takes place just to the west of Sullowitz. In this fight we see cavalry contact infantry in the front. These battles are close run things but all go in favor of the Prussian cavalry because the Austrian infantry was disorganized and was not stationary to defend themselves.
These two penalties swing the fight in favor of the Prussians. Several units are eliminated with several others falling back routed. The routed troops have no choice but to pass through friendly troops who in turn blow their morale rolls causing a general panic. All of the infantry sucked into this disaster belonged to the Austrian left wing infantry, which had been patiently crossing the bridge. This was the last cohesive Austrian reserve force. Most of the Austrian cavalry also flees in panic with the exception of a single strength point Horse Grenadier unit which defeated a very weakened Prussian cuirassier brigade. On the Austrian right flank things went from bad to worse. The Austrian guns were eliminated, the two grenadier units were hit by fire, and another group of Croats were routed joining the stream of fugitives heading east.
11:30 AM turn the Austrians perform some half-hearted attempts at reorganization. The temptation to fire on the Prussians is tempered by the fact that they can return fire. Sometimes the risk is worse than standing and doing nothing. The line in front of Lobositz is thin and there is nothing to be done about it.
More Lobositz using Volley & Bayonet
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© Copyright 1999 by James J. Mitchell
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