So ended the first large Seven Years War battle fought in the western German theatre. Almost by default, it was a French victory. D'Estrees, who had fought with Marshal Saxe, maneuvered well, as he overran Westphalia and Hesse and breached the line of the Weser. He brought his superior numbers to bear on the field of battle. Based on my limited research base, it would seem that the French brought about 55,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry and dragoons to Hastenbeck. Cumberland had 33,000 to 35,000 infantry and 5000 horse. The French Marshal then conceived a clever plan to maneuver the enemy out of a strong defensive position.

Cumberland's dispositions at Hastenbeck were predicated on the impregnable nature of the Obensburg. The Duke's position was extremely strong as long as the mountain secured the left flank. Once Chevert's flank attack captured the mountain, Hanoverian chances for success faded. As a result, Cumberland disengaged his army early in the day, ilius turning the battle into a rearguard action. This is one reason the casualties- were low- 2,500 French and 1600 Germans.

Another reason is that the troops in both armies were inexperienced, and it showed. Even the veterans involved had not fought in a large battle for at least ten years (Laufeldt, 1747), and many, perhaps the majority, had never been in action before.

The officer corps of both armies were experienced soldiers, but many of the troops, though better trained than say, an American Civil War army of 1861, were just as green. Fire discipline broke down, many units no doubt popping off at ineffective ranges. The troops in both armies occasionally wavered -- the Brunswickers, for instance, during the Erbprinz's counterstroke against battery B. The French generally seemed to lack resolve in desperate situations, though being attacked in rear is never an easy situation to cope with. An anecdote described by F.W. von Archenholz in his History of the Seven Years indicates the histrionics Chevert resorted to in order to fire his troops with enthusiasm:

"For the advantage the French had gained, they were principally indebted to General Chevest(sic), who previous to the commencement of the battle had taken the Marquis Brehault, who commanded under him, by the hand, and with heroic enthusiasm said to him: 'Swear by the honour of a brave man, that you will sooner see every one of your men dead on the field of battle than give way.' Brehault swore, and kept his word."

Brehault commanded the First Regiment of the Line, Picardie, the most elite unit of the French line.

Several days after Hastenbeck, D'Estrees was superceded by the Duc d'Richelieu, a favorite of the Court. Richelieu's star was in the ascendant. He had recently captured Minorca, repulsing a British relief effort under Admiral Byng in the process. As the result of this failure, Byng was executed by British authorities on the deck of his flagship. Le Duc had now wheedled command of the main French army, and he intended to use it to gain more fame and fortune.

Richelieu hounded the Hanoverian army north, flnally pinning it against the North Sea and forcing Cumberland to request an Armistice. Richelieu was in a huffy to neutralize the Hanoverians, thus securing his left flank and rear so he could march his army eastward to besiege Magdeburg, the real seat of Prussian power. Tberefore, he readily agreed to the armistice. Under the liberal terms of the Kloster-Zeven agreement, the Hanoverian army became neutral and collected at the town of Stade, where the government had fled when the city of Hanover was threatened after the Hastenbeck defeat.

The rest of Cumberland's troops meanwhile marched back to their various homelands. The French army occupied the conquered territories.

None of the belligerent governments were pleased with the terms of this armistice. George II promptly and ungraciously repudiated it. He blamed the entire mess on his son Cumberland, who retired from the army, disgraced. Never again would he command troops. Louis XV and his counselors were spitting mad. They felt an opportunity to destroy the Hanoverian army had been let slip by. Remember that for France the Seven Years War was a world war, and the British Empire, ruled by Hanoverian Kings, was the primary enemy. A chance to destroy Britian's continental power had been lost.

The Battle of Hastenbeck July 26, 1757

The Military Situation in Western Germany, 1757
Movements to Battle
Prelude to Battle
Battle of Hastenbeck Begins
Aftermath
Wargaming Hastenbeck