A little known battle, it is one of the battles the Swedes inscribed on their post war monument to the Thirty Years War. Considered to be one of the great triumphs of Swedish arms, although The Hessians and German allies was two thirds of the army.Victory insured the line of communications to the main armies fighting in Silesia to the east and South of the Main in the west. Tactically important, because the famed Swedish brigade was probably used for the last time on this field. Because of this firm base, against the remains of Pappenheims cohorts, Berhard could capture Regensberg and Wallensteins treachery against Thurn at Steinau ODO was without strategic significance.

Dodo Kniphausen commanded the Swedes. Dodo was a sucessful entrepenure, able to raise good troops and make money, but in battle was less competant and the battlefield command was in the hands of George of Luneberg. William of Hesse was leading his Army and was a reliable offficer. Dodo was probably not with the main Armies partly because he had made a name for himself sucessfully defending towns against superior enemy filed forces both in Northern Germany and Poland. Possibly he also was not selected for higher command because he was bigoted against Scots.

Merode commanded with Gronsfeld the Imperial forces in Westphalia. The old stomping grounds of the late Pappenheim, most of the men were old followers of him. Merode's mission was to harrass the enemy and cut off the Swedes from the Baltic, if possible. Merode, who is one of the men that the word Maurader is attributed to his name, had accomplished the harrassment mission and was retiring to safety when forced to fight. However, the odds looked good for an Imperial victory what proved to be a hard fought action.

TERRAIN

Weser river is crossible only at the bridge. The woods are heavy and only passible to musketeers and dragoons. The town can hold 500 men. (12 figures). Must dice d6 to leave once entered. A 33% chance of routing if asked to advance and a 50% chance of routing if in melee

OB IMPERIALISTS HESSICHE OLDENDORF

NBR TYPE/Name MORALE RATIO

DRAGOONS

8 Bonninghausen Veteran
8 Sparr Regular

ARQUEBUSIERS

8 Westphalia Militia
8 Jung Collorado Regular
8 St. Martin Militia
8 Gronsfeld Veteran

CUIRASSIER

8 Hasenberg Militia
8 Boninghausen Regular
8 Wesphalia Militia
8 Merode Veteran
8 Gonzaga Veteran
8 Aldobrandini Regular
8 Bredow Militia

FOOT

36 P.Mansfield Regular 12p & 18 m
36 J. Aldringen Veteran 12p & 18m
36 Merode Veteran 12p & 18m
36 Mantuffel Militia 12p & 18m
36 Rittberg Ost Freisland Militia 12p & 18m
36 Westphalia Militia 12p & 18m
36 S. Alber(Werner Tilly) Elite 12p & 18m

1 Heavy gun and 2 light guns
Generals Merode and Gronsfeld
Breakpoint= 8

OB PROTESTANTS HESSE OLDENDORF

NBR TYPE/Name MORALE RATIO Nationality

DRAGOONS
8 Kaggens Veteran Sweden
8 St. Anders Regular German/Sweden
8 Jaegers Veteran Rifles? Hesse Cassel

CUIRASSIER

8 Uslar Regular Hesse Cassel
8 Williams' Veteran Hesse Cassel
8 Kniphausen Veteran German/Sweden
8 Mitschfall Militia German/Sweden
8 George of BL Veteran Brunswick/Luneberg
8 Ernest King Regular Brunswick/Luneberg

MEDIUM CAVALRY

8 Mercer Milita Hesse Cassel
8 Seekirch Militia Hesse Cassel
8 Eric Anderson Veteran Sweden
8 Yssler Militia Brunswick/Luneberg

FOOT

60 Swedish Brigade Veteran 24p & 24m +12cs German/Swedish Kniphausen & Mitschfall
60 Brunswick Brigade Miltia/ 24p & 24m+12cs Brunswick Luneberg Yssler & George Regular (Hanover)

36 Geyso Militia 12P & 18m Hesse Cassel
36 Thilo Uslar Regular 12p & 18 m Hesse Cassel
24 'Green ' Veteran 12m & 12p Hesse Cassel
1 Swedish Medium gun and 2 light guns.

Breakpoint = 9
Generals, Kniphausen, George, and William

Notes: Grimmelhausen might have served in St. Anders ' Regiment and Ernest King is the old Scot himself. At least at this battle he did not get a chance to 'hang back'.