Battle of Hesselbach, July 30, 1761/2011

Several Saturdays ago, the Jackson Gamers met for another 28mm Seven Years War battle using Bill Protz's La Bataille de l'Ancien Regime (or BAR) rules.  This report is rather late as Col Campbell as been rather dilatory in editing pictures and writing commentary.

Inspired by the report  of the Battle of Waldeck from Msrs. Protz (Campaigns in Germania blog) and Purky (Der Alte Fritz journal, Waldeck Part 1 and Part 2), this battle was set as a follow-up to the victory by His Britannian Majesty's Army in Germania.

The General Situation for the Electorische Armee Thueringen was:  After the victory at Sägerwerkdorf in late May (see earlier posts on this blog), the Allied forces regrouped and resupplied themselves while consolidating their positions around the Sägerwerktal.  As soon as supplies had been brought up and the rest of the army had closed with the advanced guard, General von Stuppe laid his plans for a resumption of the offensive against the Reichsarmee.  He was originally planning for an advance south into the Franconian plains to threaten the enemy bases in and around Nürnberg.  But then came word of the Gallian offensive against the main Electoral army and the great victory by the Electoral army at Waldeck.  With the Gallians in retreat, Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick has sent word that he desires the main Gallian base at Frankfurt am Main threatened in order to draw Gallian reinforcements away from his front.  General von Stuppe now has modified his plans and his army is marching southwest through the Saale River valley towards Schweinfurt.  He has received word that the Reichsarmee has gotten wind of his movements and is marching rapidly to the west to intercept the Allies before they can reach Schweinfurt.

Photo by John M, the Nomadic Old School Gamer

The battlefield of Hesselbach looking from the northeast down the road towards Hesselbach.  The Electoral forces will enter from the foreground while the Imperials will enter along the left side of the table.

The General Situation for theReichsarmeeabteilung Obere-Sachsen:  After the defeat of the light troops at Sägerwerkdorf back in late May, Feldzeugmeister (FZM) von Alderheim has been reorganizing and regrouping his army in the vicinity of Bamberg, drawing on the great depots at Nürnberg further to the south.  He had received intelligence from spies and deserters that the Allied army is preparing to march south to threaten Nürnberg so he is well positioned to defend against such an advance.  But now he has received word from Lieutenant General Chevert that the main Gallian army was recently defeated by the main Electoral army near Waldeck.  Msr. Chevert is still north of Frankfurt am Main, his main base but feels uneasy about the presence of the Carpanian/Britannian detachment under General von Stuppe located to the north of Bamberg.  Msr. Chevert feels that this force may be used to threaten Frankfurt from the east.  He is requesting that FZM von Alderheim assertain the enemy’s movements and, if necessary, bring his army eastward to cover the approaches into Frankfurt.  FZM von Alderheim’s scouts and spies have now confirmed that the Allied army is marching towords Schweinfurt.  He quickly gets his army on the road to interpose himself between the enemy and Schweinfurt.

Photo by Col Campbell

The battlefield of Hesselbach, looking from the southwest, with Hesslebach in the center.  The road used by the Electoral forces enters from the far side (northeast corner).  [The denkmal (monument) is patterned after those used by Msrs. Protz and Purky.]

Both sides had 9 battalions of infantry, 4 squadrons of cavalry, 4 guns, and light troops.  Let the action begin!

Photo by Col Campbell

 The Electoral army, led by the Carpanian Dragoon Regiment Hapnich, advances down the road towards Hesselbach.  A small Britannian battalion has been marching across the fields and is approaching the Hesselbach stream.  The Electoral light troops are deploying in the right background to guard the flank of the column against any interference by the Reichsarmee forces.

Photo by Col Campbell

As the Carpanian dragoons, followed closely by the Britannian 1^st King’s Dragoon Guards, enter Hesselbach, the Reichsarmee suddenly makes its appearance on the flank.  Four squadrons of Courland and Sachsen-Wachsenstein cavalry on on the Imperial left, four battalions of infantry and several guns make up the center, and the light troops are on the far right flank.

Photo by John M.

 Another view of the massive Imperial center as it crests the hill and sees the Electoral forces strung out on the road.  The red-coated horse on the left are the two Courland dragoon squadrons and the two blue-coated Sachsen-Wachsenstein heavy cavalry squadrons are next to them.  A mixed force of Sachsen-Wachsenstein and Kreis Obere-Sachsen infantry make up the rest of the Imperial center.

Photo by John M.

On the Imperial right flank, the Courland Tamnii Narod Grenzer Battalion and a detachment of Gallian picquets, supported by a battalion gun, face off against the Electoral troops.  But they look like they are still in closed order, maybe because some Britannian light dragoons aren’t too far away.

Photo by Col Campbell

The 1^st Squadron of Carpanian dragoons and the Sachsen-Wachsenstein heavy horse squadron, closely supported by their horse grenadiers, collide at the exit of Hesselbach.

Photo by Col Campbell

Meanwhile, the 3^rd Squadron of Carpanian dragoons are attacked by two squadrons of Courland dragoons and a fierce melee develops.  Carpanian infantry is deploying to the left as the Imperial troops advance in line against them.  In the rear are the Courland grenadiers and musketeers, hastily marching to the west to cut the Electoral forces off from the road to Schweinfurt.

 

 

Photo by Col Campbell

A larger view of the battle.  The Britannian column is trying to march around behind Hesselbach to get to the Schweinfurt road ahead of the Imperials.  The Britannian 1^st King’s Dragoon Guards prepare to move into the melee in support of the Carpanian dragoons.  In the background, more Carpanian infantry hurry forward, led by Campbell’s Highlanders.  The light troops of both sides square off against one another.

 

 

Photo by John M.

 The Britannian column commander, Sean Pitts, watches as his command marches towardsthe Schweinfurt Road (to the picture’s left).  In the foreground, the Imperial infantry maneuver around the cavalry melee between the Courland dragoons (red coats) and the Carpanian dragoons, while the Britannian 1^st King’s Dragoon Guards can be seen riding up to support their Carpanian allies.

 

 

Photo by Col Campbell

 The Imperial flanking column led by Count Alexandrovski and consisting of a Courland grenadier battalion, a Courland musketeer battalion, and a Gallo-Sachsen-Wachsenstein grenadier battalion, plus a couple of battalion guns, march furiously west towards the Schweinfurt road.

Photo by Col Campbell

 Although reinforced by the remnants of the 2^nd Squadron, the 1^st Squadron of Carpanian dragoons couldn’t prevail over the Sachsen-Wachsenstein heavy horse and horse grenadiers.  They flee, pursued closely by the Sachsens.  The Britannian column splits the woods, hoping to encircle and gun down the brazen Sachsen horse.

Photo by Col Campbell

 In the center, the Britannian and Carpanian dragoons have defeated the Courland dragoons, but choose not to pursue into the face of the steady Imperial infantry.  An Imperial battalion has already entered Hesselbach and that will be a severe problem for the Electoral forces.

Photo by John M.

 Another view, from the Imperial side, of the aftermath of the cavalry melee in the center showing the Courland dragoon squadrons (or what is left of them) hastily withdrawing around their supporting infantry.

Photo by John M.

 Evidently the grenzers close order formation was the wrong one to use.  Electoral artillery fire and musket fire from the Regiment Eisenmühlen have sent them reeling, leaving Colonel Laaeshazy, the battalion gun, and the Gallian picquet detachment all alone against the superior Electoral forces.

Photo by Col Campbell

 The head of the Imperial flanking column crosses the Schweinfurt road to the west of Hesselbach, beating the Electoral forces.

Photo by Col Campbell

 While Bland’s Britannian light dragoons clash with a Gallian company of picquets in the background and the Courland grenzer battalion recovers from its previous losses, the Infantry Battalion Eisenmühlen and the Carpanian jagers and Freikorps push forward, eager to take the abandoned Imperial gun.  Colonel Ignace Alleshazy, the Courland light troops commander, sits nonplused on his horse, watching the Electoral advance.

Photo by Col Campbell

 After being flung back once already, the Bland’s light draoons, reinforced by the York light dragoons, clash again with the Gallian picquets.  In the background, the Eisenmühlers, supported by the jagers, have wheeled into line against the resurgent Imperials.

Photo by John M.

 Another view of the fight between the Gallian picquets and the Britannian light dragoon squadrons.  The Courland grenzers stand ready to support their Gallian allies.

Photo by Col Campbell

The center of the Electoral line, with the remnants of a Carpanian musketeer battalion and part of the Carpanian grenadier battalion deployed to support the guns against the advancing Imperials.  In the village, a second Imperial battalion is entering to join the one already there.  Meanwhile Britannian infantry, Campbell’s Highlanders, and the rest of the Carpanian grenadiers deploy to attack the village.

Photo by John M.

 A view from the Imperial side as an additional Imperial battalion enters Hesselbach and the Gallian and Sachsen-Wachsenstein grenadiers occupy the church and churchyard.  The Britannian flanking column can be seen in the background.

Photo by Col Campbell

 As the Sachsen horse withdraws successfully from the Britannian trap, the Courland grenadiers deploy into a battleline while the Courland musketeers march past to their rear, extending the line.  The Sachsen and Gallian grenadiers are occupying the churchyard on the far left of the picture, while the Gallian Regiment Beaujolais closes in support.

Photo by John M.

 Another view from the Imperial side of the churchyard occupation as well as the Courland/Gallian flanking column deploying against the advancing Britannians.  You get a better idea of the disparity of forces on the west side of hesselbach.

Photo by John M.

 Still another view of the western end of the battlefield as the Courland/Gallian column depolyes and the Sachsen-Wachsenstein cavalry withdraw, soon to take up a post of the far left flank of the Imperial army.

Photo by John M.

 In the center Phil, the Carpanian commander, looks rather dismal as his troops slowly wither away from the accurate Imperial artillery and musket fire.  The Electoral cavalry directly in front of him will soon leave the battlefield while his fusilier battalion mills around in confusion near the cavalry. 

So, who won this encounter?  I ruled that the Imperial forces accomplished their mission of stopping the Electoral advance towards Schweinfurt.  In doing so, they helped protect the deep right flank of the Gallians, relieving them of any worry, for the moment, about the security of their base at Frankfurt.  With this repulse, the Electoral forces have withdrawn back into the Sägerwerktal to resupply and refit their forces.