By mid August the Austrians finishing their depot outside Koniggratz but having no success in making a breach. The same was true of the Russians at Konigsberg--their depot finished but no breach. The French were busy putting their fortresses in order while Contades restored morale to what was left of the main army. While this was going on the Allied armies were marching fast to make the most of their victory. Frederick moved East to Frankfurt and by pressing his troops hard was in NW Bohemia by the end of August. Cumberland, joined by the Prussian Keith, moved to Kleves and put garrisons into Cologne and Dusseldorf. He then passed on to the Western Empire, garrisoned Venlo and called up supplies to besiege Roermund. In the North Brunswick moved to Kustrin to watch the Russians and be closer to the Austrians. The middle of August also saw a prisoner exchange between France and Hanover. (5SP each) French prisoners arrived in Strasbourg, for Contades command, while the Hanoverians went to Cologne to join Cumberland.
As the Austrians and Russians continued their sieges, Contades left Strasbourg with reinforcements for Coblenz and Mainz, (2SP each) with Chevert leaving for Strasbourg as soon as Contacles reached Mainz. The end of August brought good news to the Austrians and Russians as each successfully concluded their sieges. The Austrians granted the Honors of War to the garrison which retired to Prague. The garrison in Konigsberg was denied the Honors of War and after refusing to surrender, Konigsberg was stormed. Hall of its garrison were casualties, (1 SP) the other halt being captured. (1 SP) The Russians suffered losses equal to the garrison strength. (2SP) They then left a garrison (1SP) and Apraxin force marched his army into W Prussia.
In early September Frederick moved into NE Bohemia intending to retake Koniggratz and if need be face Browne in the field again. Browne was of the same mind and wanted a battle. He knew from his spies that Brunswick was watching the Russian and wouldn't be joining Frederick. This would allow the Austrians to slightly outnumber the Prussians. Browne also knew that his Empress Maria Theresa was barely holding back the courts peace faction. Capturing Koniggratz had purchased some maneuvering room at court but it it was not soon followed up by a victorious battle the Empress would be forced to sue for peace. Browne issued his orders and marched his army towards the Prussians.
Battle of Koniggratz
The battlefield at Koniggratz was mostly flat with one major hill that the Austrian center was formed on. A little to the right of the hill was a large wood that extended all the way over to the Prussians. From between the hill and the woods a small stream meandered that went off towards the Prussian right.
Browne (32SP) deployed his army with the infantry in two lines one on the hill the other just in front. They were formed into two commands with Nadasy on the right and Piccolomini on the left. Lascy commanded all of the Austrian cavalry which was positioned to the left of their infantry. Browne's plan was to swing from left to right and push the Prussians against the woods to destroy them in detail.
Frederick (30SP) deployed two thirds of his troops facing the Austrian left. His front line was infantry supported by a second line of cavalry. Schwerin commanded the left half and Wedel the right. Fredericks surprise for the battle was in sending Ferdinand with one third of the army on a flank march. Hopefully they would arrive about an hour after the battle had started. Fredericks plan was to swing from right to left with Schwerin and Wedel pinning the Austrians while Ferdinand arrived either on their flank or possibly their rear.
As Browne saw the Prussian deployment, he knew something was up. There just didn't seem to be enough Prussians. "Maybe my reports were wrong" he thought to himself. He ordered forward Lascy but also Nadasy on the right to try a double envelopment. Nadasy moved as ordered but Lascy attempted to swing around the Prussian right so as not to run straight into their infantry.
Lascy positioned himself well but it was for Ferdinand's benefit as he charged his cavalry straight into Lascys rear, pinning them against Wedels infantry, and quickly destroying the cavalry wing. Lascy while leading a charge was himself killed. Ferdinand's infantry was soon pushing into the flank of Piccolornini's paralyzed infantry as Browne issued frantic orders to fall back and regroup. As these orders went out, Schwerin supporting cavalry passed to their left and were soon threatening Naiades right flank when they ran over the Grenz battalions that were his flank guard.
In a short four hours Browne had lost a little over halt of his strength. Facing the obvious he signaled a retreat. Browne seethed with anger and yelled at his aides de camp "Yet another loss. What will I tell the Empress? Well this will certainly mean peace. But with peace will come time for reform and to rebuild strength and renewed strength can mean revenge."
As Frederick watched the Austrians retire he too knew that this would be the last major battle. It was time for a new type of war at the peace table. (AUS-14SP cas and 3SP cap vs Pr -3SP)
After the mid September Battle of Koniggratz a general truce was declared. The troops ending positions were:
- Anglo-Allied: Cumberland (15SP) besieging RoerMund. Garrisons in Stade, Hanover,
Minden, Munster, Venlo, Cologne, Dusseldorf, and Frankfurt.
France: Garrisons in Mainz with Contades, Coblenz with Broglie, Strasbourg with Chevert, Metz, Wesel, and Roermund.
The Empire: Garrison in Nuremburg.
Austria: Browne (16SP) in Koniggratz. Garrisons in Vienna, Brunn, and Olmutz.
Russia: Apraxin (25SP) in West Prussia. Garrison in Konigsberg.
Prussia: Frederick (27SP) in NE Bohemia. Brunswick (10SP) in Glogau. Keith (5SP) besieging Roermund. Garrisons in Stralsund, Stettin, Colberg, Berlin, Magdeburg, Kustrin, Dresden, Torgau, Glogau, Breslau, Brieg, Glatz, Schweidnitz, Neisse, arid Prague.
In early October the peace talks began in earnest. Frederick's representatives made their position clear from the start. Concede to our terms or prepare to continue the war. Swedish Pommerania. and Saxony were to become Prussian, Silesia was to be confirmed as Prussian, and Russia would return Konigberg. In exchange Bohemia would be given back to Austria and no war reparations would be made. Faced with little choice Austria was the first to agree, followed by Russia. Sweden complained but was impotent. Saxony also complained but the Elector was bought off by being made the hereditary King of Poland, supported by Austrian arid Russian guarantees.
In the West, France had put up a bolder front than Austria had in the East. But it too eventually gave in to Ferdinand's demands. France removed their troops from Germany and the Anglo-Allied army retired to Hanover. There would be peace in Europe but overseas in the colonies their quasi-war would continue. The continental war had ended too soon for Britain to pick up all of the colonies it desired.
So ended the war thought by some to be the Third Silesian War but known to history as the Great Saxon War.
More Great Saxon War 1756
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© Copyright 2000 Hal Thinglum
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