Seven Years War, Die Kriegskunst, 28mm

When we don’t want to do a particularly big game, and prefer someone else to do the thinking for us, we often resort to a Charles S. Grant scenario. In this case, we culled one from Scenarios for All Ages (1996), a little book he co-authored with Stuart Asquith. It was loosely based on the Battle of the Boyne (1690), only scaled down to manageable proportions. In our fight, Dougie Trail’s Prussians were Red Force (the Jacobites in 1690), while my Russians were Team Blue,  standing in for the Williamites. We set the game amid the Russian campaign of 1760 in Silesia, and the drive on Berlin. In this game, the Russians are attempting to cross the river Bober near Sagan. On the map, the main Prussian force was deployed on a hill at “D”, while a flank guard stood at “R”. The Russian main force faced off the Prussians at “M”, while a flanking column started the game heading towards the bridge, at “F”. Well, the flanking force made good progress, but soon faced a bottleneck. The Prussian flank guard had deployed in a very “gamey” box, between a marsh and the impossible high ground off the edge of the table. In order to engage them, the poor Russian cavalry would have to charge into this trap, while Prussian artillery fired canister at them as they advanced. I often lack subtlety as a cavalry commander, so I simply deployed my two cavalry units for a charge – the Tobolski Dragoons first, followed by the Novotroitski Cuirassiers. I wheeled slightly to the left when I advanced, so neither Prussian Hussar unit could catch me in the flank. I can do “gamey” too! Then came the melee. Miraculously enough, both the Prussian Blue and Red Hussars were pushed back, giving the Russians a breathing space. When the battle resumed the Russians cuirassiers had joined the fight, and the Prussian horse was driven from the table, or into the river. Leaving the infantry following on behind to deal with the infantry remnants of the Prussian flanking force, the Russian horse then reformed, ready to charge the main enemy line.By that time the main Russian force had advanced off their hill, across the river, and on towards the Prussian line. Casualties were very heavy – my Russian grenadiers were shredded (50% casualties) – but at least the force made it across, and into the fray. However, it was obvious that without help, the Russians would be repulsed – the Prussian line remained unbroken, and their musketeers were pouring a withering fire into the Russian ranks. Fortunately for me, that was the moment when the Prussian flanking force collapsed. With a horde of Russian cavalry about to appear on their left flank, the main Prussian force had little option but to concede the field, and to pull back.The game was a nicely balanced one, even though Dougie complained that the Russian cavalry was heavy or medium, while his were light. Well, if you want to use your pretty hussars, then that’s the price you pay… In the real Boyne battle, the flanking force was halted, while the main attacking force managed to fight its way over the river and on to victory. This time it was the main force who became stalled, and the flankers who won the day. Thanks again, Charles, for a nicely balanced scenario, and one which was perfectly suited to a gentle evening’s gaming, and to our Seven Years War armies and rules.

Tags: Die Kriegskunst