The following is a dramatized account of a wargame enactment of a SYW battle, put on by Frank Ivan playing the Prussians, Frederick the Great, and the author playing the French Marshall Soubise over the Allied Army of French and Bavarian troops. In use were the author's home rules with leadership factors and the following 15mm figures. Allied Army French 50 Infantry Batt. of 12 men each: 600 Figures Bavarian 12 Infantry Batt. of 12 men each: 144 Figures Swiss 4 Infantry Batt. of 16 men each: 64 Figures Bavarian Cav. 2 Regmts. of 12 men each 24 Figures French, Bav., Swiss guns 105 Figures Total: 1081 Figures (48,800 men) Prussian Army 44 Infantry Battalions of 12 men each 528 Figures 10 Cavalry Regmts. of 16 men each 160 Figures 63 Prussian Guns 63 Figures Total: 751 Figures (34,400 men) A scale of 1 Figure = 50 was used for inf. and cav. 1 Figure = 1 gun was used for artillery The following is from a fictionalized account of Marshal Soubise diary. Memoirs of Officers & Men At War Encamped in the Bavarian town of Hansbruck was the Bavarian Army with several French Brigades, outside to the East of the town and river was a large French Army under the King's Marshal Soubise. The Allies were facing the possibilities of a long war as couriers had just arrived telling of 2 smashing defeats delivered to the Saxon and Austrian Armies on the Lower Saxony Frontier. Marshal Soubise was to act with them as a vice catching the Prussians between them while allowing the Russians to slip through the back door. All had heard rumors that the Prussian Army was near by and that they would be arriving any day now but few would realize how quickly that would be. Map 1 Number One Larger Version of Map (slow: 85K) Jumbo Version of Map (slow: 187K) We had been billeted to the far right of the French Army with our Brigade of horse, also somewhat Southeast of Tulberg village and south of the road. It was approximately 9:00 in the morning if I recall correctly that our trumpets sounded our Regmt. of Dragoons were to saddle up and fall into place somewhat to the South of the main road. I hardly had time to finish some wine and a piece of cheese sitting there in the saddle when to our amazement across the hills from us we could see a Prussian Brigade of heavy cavalry not even deploying from column but coming straight on for our position, behind them came on long dark blue coated lines of Prussian infantry. As they neared, I could make out that it was the Prussian cuirassier Lieb Regmt. and 3rd Dragoons that had the audacity to attack us. Looking to my left I saw a French Brigade of 2 French Dragoon Regmts. lunge forward while a third Regmt. was held in reserve. To our front we saw a panorama of color going over the golden wheatfields of moving colors and sounds. A scant 200 yards to Our front the lead French Dragoon Regmt. was overthrown as the two Prussian Regmts. came crashing into it. The survivors fleeing backwards into the second oncoming French Regmt. threw it into disorder, and as men and horses milled about in confusion trying to deaperately sort themselves out, the Prussian cavalry swept into this mob of men and animals and soon they were in rout. "Shame Frenchmen shame" is all I could remember from a young trooper near us as we all watched in stunned silence. But the Prussian Cavalry were lead by a madman. Nothing would deny them their moment of glory as they came on, overrunning a French battery of 12 field guns, sabering many of the gunners who vainly tried to defend themselves with makeshift items. As the Prussian Cavalry picked its, way through the guns and limber teams I remember it gained, momentum, once again as it rode straight into the 1st Battalion Couronne Regiment which had been caught in flank as they desperately tried to wheel or maneuver into square. Soon it was a tangle of men among the Prussian Cavalry with neither giving way before the other. It seemed to go on for several minutes with the carnage visible even to us. Suddenly, I caught motion out of my left eye as the French Dragoon Regt. kept in reserve was now in motion and they rode straight towards the Prussian Cavalry milling about the infantry. As they crashed into the Prussian lines in a mere matter of moments they were clumps of Prussian Cavalry fleeing backwards away towards the open fields and meadows and threat of French steel. But as for the poor Battalion of La Couronne, it had ceased to exist with most of them ridden over and thrown into confusion and rout that few would be seen for the rest of the day. Map 2 Number 5 Larger Version of Map (slow: 84K) Jumbo Version of Map (slow: 275K) Soon this spectacle of color would be changing, as our own officers called an advance and our Regmt. of Dragoons 'were in a trot towards a lone Prussian battalion which had deployed too closely to our lines. Vainly we saw the Prussian infantry trying to form from column to line to deliver a volley and stop us in our tracks. But, before this could be done, we were among them hacking to our left and right as men on foot vainly tried to ward off our blows. I remember this sense of elation and purpose - a thrill that still chills our bones to this day. Here we were amongst this sea of blue coated humanity which was soon giving way before our mounts and our officers vainly trying to bring back to order this mass of horse and men. To our front were several more Prussian battalions which had managed to deploy into line and now cooly awaited us as their small guns found the battalion gun range. Map 3 Number 8 It was nearing 2:00 in the afternoon and still our Dragoon Regmt. held its place in line as the Prussian gun found a occasional target. When to our right from around the Prussian Brigade came another full Prussian Cavalry Brigade. They deployed smartly and advanced at the trot, soon we were advancing ourselves and came crashing into them in a swirling melee which went on for a good quarter of an hour before my own poor Regmt. gave way. Soon it was every man for himself as the Prussians were relentless in their pursuit. As for other events of the day, I can say no more as our Regmt. soon left the field and it was a good seven kilometers before most of us paused to look behind us and hear the distant cannon fire. The next report is from Colonel Lobau Le' Crux. Map 1 Number 3 The night before a gentle rain had fallen all evening soaking most of the men in the battalion but had not dampened my men's spirits. We all had heard rumors to the effect that the Prussians were closing on our encampments and would probably be here within the next 3 days. Little wonder we were amazed to see dark blue columns the next morning across from us. As the morning broke to sporadic musketry, tired men tried to dry out their fouled muskets. The sun was raising on an Autumn morning of golden wheatfields. Our grey white uniforms blending with the wheat fields in stark contrast to the dark blue Prussian columns across from us. We barely had time for a ration of bread and cheese before our battalion was ordered with the rest of the brigade to a line south of Tulberg village. We had 3 Line and 2 Grenadier battalions in our brigade and were supported to our rear by a Swiss brigade of 4 battalions which was reassuring to my officers and myself. As our 1st battalion of Baden neared the front I heard the men engaged in the usual chatter. As we neared the front we observed other formations in the distance of French and Prussian units engaged in an exchange of musket fire. To the front of our battalion was the Piemont Regmt. and there appeared to be great rifts in their formation as they stood there exchanging volley after volley with a foe we could not see as yet to a haze that started to settle over the field. Soon there were men streaming back from this particular battalion crying out to any of our men who would listen that the battle was lost. I thought about that for a moment and wondered how could a battle be lost if it had only begun and quietly ordered the standard bearer to the rear and dismounted from my horse as I was a bit of a target. As we neared where the Piemont battalion had stood, there appeared a grey line of crumpled figures laying among the golden wheat field, almost forming an outline where the battalion had stood but moments before. Across from us I saw the danger as there before us stood a Prussian Musketeer battalion cooly reloading. Advance Soon I had given the order to advance and the battalion surged forward to the RATTA TAT TAT of the drums keeping cadence. Soon I heard that loud sound of a volley and the buzzing sound much as bees make when angry about our ears and knew it to be mini balls. Soon their line was engulfed in a long line of dense smoke. I passed on the order and soon our men had halted presented arms and fired soon obscuring ourselves and failing to see what damage we had done if any. This whole process continued several times more with men falling almost continually in the ranks. However, just as soon as it had started there was no one falling out of the ranks and our officers gradually got the men to stop firing. Within a few minutes a slight wind managed to clear the smoke away from us and our target. It revealed the Prussians were gone. Soon a loud shout of joy arose in the ranks and the cheers were accented by the brandishing of hats and muskets. However, this cheering came to an abrupt end when we saw another Prussian battalion smartly moving in column opposite us. This battalion wore the tall Grenadier caps and they came on smartly at a quick cadence. We continued to order volley fire, but the Prussian column came on almost till 20 paces from us, gave a loud cheer and they were upon us with their bayonet. My men held for only a minute and then gave way as if it had been ordered. Try as I did with my officers using the flat of their blades, nothing could restrain our men. I was swept away in this mass of humanity and was only able to get my wind near the Swiss brigade. There a kind Swiss officer offered me a horse from one of his aides. But none of my command could be seen now as all had vanished as if by magic. But the enemy Grenadier's who had dispatched us now wheeled to the battalion on our left flank and proceeded to roll up my whole brigade of 5 battalions, catching each in flank in turn. Soon there were hundreds, then thousands of Frenchmen fleeing in all directions. The whole center of the Army had ceased to exist. Soon an aide arrived from HQ to issue the Swiss forward and I was advancing for the second time that day. The Swiss behaved brilliantly standing there cooly delivering volley after volley into the pursuing Prussians. With each battalion forming a chequered board fashion covering its neighbor then falling back through the gap to repay the favor. But soon it was realized that the battle was over and the French formations marched from the field with an occasional shot being fired. MAP 3 #9 and 10 Larger Version of Map (slow: 80K) Jumbo Version of Map (slow: 271K) In the village of Tulberg, Ensign Louis Marimone gives this memory from the Brigueville battalion. MAP 1 Number 2 I remember getting our men in type of order as drums beat a hasty call to arms. Soon we were in line with the other battalions of our brigade, moving in a straight line towards the village of Tulberg. Most if not all of us had missed out on some eggs borrowed from a nearby farm. I can still recall a young recruit putting the eggs behind a rock, either to protect them or hide them, I am not sure. We could only pray that the eggs and us made it through the coming fight. There was a battalion of skirmishers to our front exchanging the sporadic fire and pop of musketry with an occasional artillery shot passing over us. We made for the southern half of the village and soon spread out through severa1 houses and barns by our officers. Perhaps within a half hour there were Prussian Jaegers approaching us from the north of the village, but we had no trouble sending them on their way with no little encouragement from ourselves. Within about an hour they were back with more of their friends and for the rest of the afternoon I remember leaving the village and retaking it at least 4 times. I could remember thinking because of the poor guality of our weapons that hiding behind walls if we did hit anything it was quite accidental and not personal in any manner. Soon we noticed the battalions to the south of the village marching away and we were left there till evening when a Prussian officer under a white parley flag informed us that the French Army had left the field of battle and we were allowed to leave. In the village of Hanabruck, poor Marshal Soubise could be heard muttering under his breath to the Elector of Bavaria "What will I tell the King?" Five Hours The above battle took a little over 5 hours to play and the leader rule played a great effect on the outcome with that and an average dice roll telling how many brigades could be moved for that turn. The Prussian's leader of Frederick (+3) having a distinct advantage over the French Marshall Soubise of 0. This forced the French to always respond to the more extensive and serious threats along the line. This rating of leaders allows Frederick to use his echelon attack and overwhelming a more numerous enemy on one flank, and not allowing a more numerous foe to crush a smaller army as most rules allow. Most of our games have the Allied Army numbering at least 2-1 over the Prussians. Back to MWAN #53 Table of Contents © Copyright 1991 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. 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