French OOB: 42 infantry bns., 21 cavalry regts/ 43 sqds. and 12 12lbers. 2520 infantry figures, 645 cavalry figures and 48 gunners. 3213 figures, 32,130 real men.
Prussians OOB: 8 Infantry regts., 8 Grenadier bns., 3 Kur., regts,2 Dr. regts, 1 Hu. regts, & 12 12lb gun models. Totals =1,680 infantry figures, 660 cavalry figures and 12 12lbers/ artillerymen= 48,
2388 figures, 23,880 real men
This means the French army is almost 25% larger than the Prussian, in infantry, but has fewer cavalry and the same number of heavy guns.
The AAR follows:
Prussian right flank cavalry facing French cavalry and French Grenadiers de France and 4 battalions Grenadiers Royaux.
This is the Prussian right flank infantry and artillery. Keith chose to deploy "all" of his artillery on dominant hill facing the town and French center. It appeared that he wished to break the French line at this point.
View of French line from Prussian center. The French are deployed in great depth, but have only half as many guns to duel with Prussian "Grand Battery".
Prussian left flank: 4 Grenadier bns., 3 Kurassier regts, 1 Dragoon regt....a superior force in cavalry compared to the French on this flank.
A close-up of French left flank: 6 cavalry regts, 4 bns. Grenadier de France, 4 bns. Grenadier Royaux. Impressive, but perhaps misplaced....if you are "anchoring" your line on a town why place troops "outside" of that anchor?
Another view of the French far left flank troops .
French center with the 8 Swiss bns. holding the line. There is also a lone French battery of 12lbs. between the Swiss and the town. Notice the Royal Carabineers ( 5 brigades) and Royal-Roussillon in force behind the Swiss. This deployment may have handicapped their ability to respond quickly to Prussian cavalry on their right and/or left.
French center with the majority of their guns and more Carabineers.
French right flank the majority of their infantry, one third of their cavalry and 1 "misplaced" battery. That fires once and then must retire because of the preponderance of enemy cavalry on their flank.
Another view of far French right flank troops.
View of Prussian left from French far right. That is a "dominant" Prussian cavalry wing!
View from Prussias of French center and their "not so Grand" battery.
French far left begins to advance...but to what purpose? Their cavalry is constricted by terrain and their own infantry! NOW! Would have been a good time to redeploy on the other side of the town. And just leave a small covering force in the town.
Another shot of French center....their artillery is getting pummeled by Prussian artillery!
French "see" the error of their deployment and start moving the battery and cavalry on this flank.
French "new" line on far right flank! It is a good defensive line, but to what purpose in the "greater battle scheme"!
Prussian artillery (howitzer) gets a lucky (1 in 24 chance) shell hit on French limber and it blows up....destroying the entire battery! Sometimes deploying artillery in constricted area is not a good idea!
Another view of Prussian and French centers.
Prussian left starts to advance. French start trying to "sure up" their front.
Prussian cavalry...3,600 begin to form up for charge!
Shot of the Prussian line.
The French line.
Prussian line.
Prussian cavalry are ready for charge!
View of French ... as a target!
Prussian grand battery begin to target Swiss in the center.
Prussians begin to advance on French left.
French right flank are now deployed to counter Prussian cavalry....but have no artillery support.
French center...Swiss are being "murdered" with no chance to reply!
Shot of length of battlefield. THAT is a lot of Prussian heavy cavalry!
French do not have the"numbers" in cavalry to stop Prussians.
View of French cavalry.
Prussians deploy into line in effort to "overlap" French.
French try to extend their line to match Prussians.
Shot from Prussian line. Notice that Prussian artillery will be able to fire at French cavalry attack!
Another shot of Prussians firing at Carabineers as they charge.
Prussian right flank blocks French from supporting their comrades on the other side of the town.
Another shot of both side's deployment around Neuhof.
Grenadiers Royaux have taken heavy causalities as Prussians advance.
Due to heavy causalities Swiss retire from original position. Yellow rubber bands denote retreat and reduced effectiveness for 2 turns.
Another view of left.
French cavalry begin their charge...as does the Prussians.
Another view of charge.
Could French infantry had moved onto Prussian flank?
French cavalry in this area fail to close with Prussians and..."bounce" with heavy losses and considerable disorder. They charged at the "trot" and Prussians charged at the "gallop"!
French Carabineers did close with Prussian Kurassiers and are "locked" in combat!
French nerve "breaks" and Broglie orders the artillery to retire. Their infantry starts to move to cover a "general retreat"
French left flank begins to respond to "events" on the rest of the battlefield!
Swiss attempt to rally and hold the center.
Carabineers continue to struggle with Kurassiers!
Close-up of Carabineer vs. Kurassier fight.
Another view of battle.
Prussian view of "events" on their right.
View from Prussian center.
That is a lot of cavalry "reforming" on the Prussian left.
"Routing French cavalry!
Prussians continue to blast the Swiss.
Close-up of Prussian line.
French Army in retreat. Brave Swiss hold!
French left begins to retire.
Another shot of French retiring.
The length of French line retires.
Close-up of French left in retirement.
1 bns of Grenadiers de France and 1 cavalry regt. hold the line.
Panaorama view of French retreat....in good order!
Swiss are being devastated...but hold!
"Brave Lads"!
"End" of battle shot!
"Butcher Bill":
French Losses: 670 cavalry (67 figures) (if you don't close causalities will be lighter)
3000 infantry (300 figures) most of losses were to the Swiss
.3 gun models (6 guns) and 12 artillerymen
Total 3790 men (379 figures) almost 12%
Prussian Losses: 480 cavalry (48 figures) causalities light, not fired on by artillery!
2100 infantry (210 figures) most of losses French artillery
1 gun models (2 guns) and 4 artillerymen
Total 2620 men (262 figures) about 11%
Strategic Result: French are in full retreat towards Mainz and no longer threaten Magdeburg or Saxony. However there is another French/Reichsarmee gathering for an invasion. We will have to "compute" the Campaign Political Implications of this battle.
Things learned:
1). If you outnumber the enemy in infantry....try to make it an infantry fight!
2). Don't encumber your cavalry by masking them behind 2 lines of infantry!
3). Massed guns can be more effective than spreading them out "equally"
4). If your plan is "only" to counter the enemies' moves you may find yourself
always one "move" behind your enemy and unable to react fast enough!
5) When in doubt attack! Hit 'em hard, hit' em often!
Thanks for a really enjoyable replay and for giving some gaming inspiration.
ReplyDeleteVery entertaining and great pictures!
ReplyDelete