This week we had a very enjoyable game, my good friends Arturo, Diego, Leonardo, Riccardo and I. We played a bathtubbed version of this iconic Seven Years War battle, a fighting retreat which the Old Frederick had to manage to save his host from a concentric Austrian attack.
A detailed report follows as comments in the photos, just to say that under the excellent “Honours of War” rules, the Austrian behaved as Austrians and still the Prussians struggled to save 50% of their army. I hope I may safely say that we all enjoyed the game a lot.
I just realised I need more Prussian Hussars than the single Regiment I have…
The battle begins with Retzow’s Prussian brigade rushing from the north side of the battlefield, after having fought a winning but short battle against the austrians at Weissenberg.The fieldworks at Kotitz are assaulted, with the Austrian infantry coming out of the fog at musket range. Loudon’s flanking march is in time, his Croats leading the column just west of Hochkirk.Ziethen’s cavalry turns about to face Loudon. They cannot move because Frederick did not send any orders during the night. He was expecting the Austrians would leave the battlefield and retire.The grenadiers in the fieldworks just outside Hochkirk are attacked from all sides. Also the filed gun battery is captured and starts to be manned by the Austrians.The rest of the Brigade stationed in Hochkirk retires facing the enemy.Standing on the left you may see Filed Marshal Daun/Diego, then General Loudon/Riccardo, then General Ziethen/Leo, then General Buccow/Arenberg/Arturo.The Prussian are moving all brigades to face the Austrian flank movement.A portrait of the battle just before a big clash which allowed the Prussian to stand firm against the more numerous enemy. Losses are very heavy on the two sides.General Daun column marches forward against the Prussian. Hochkirch is on their left.Grenadiers, after having lead the successful attack on the fieldworks, are leading the final advance.The Prussians manage to hold the attack, but the army is very compressed. One huge help which will allow about half of the army to slip away is coming from General O-Donnel, which stood still for seven hours without attacking and closing the trap.
Arenberg and Bullow will also be mostly on the defensive. At the end of the day Bullow will find a path to cross the stream and menace the road where the Prussian will retire, while Arenberg will make a desperate attack at the village of Kotitz. Unfortunately the village had been prepared with a glacis during the previous day and the attack failed with heavy losses on the Austrian side.
We did not play the very last one-two moves, but we all agreed that Frederick would escape the trap with probably less than 50% of his army. Both sides had very high losses during the fights North of Hochkirk and around Kotitz.
A really attractive and inspiring game. Love the Old School basing style!