Friday 8 January 2010

1740 - The Battle of Einhaus (3rd Belgravian Wars) ...

further extracts from the History of Wittenberg by Brother James of Alt-Wittendorf ...
The results of the solo game I played during the Xmas hols
[ http://tidders-kingdomofwittenberg.blogspot.com/2009/12/1740-on-march-to-vanderhof-3rd.html ]

---oXo---
The Monvrovians ..
 
General Stricknein looked at his orders which the courier had just delivered from General Zeinite. He was ordered to move north and to join with the army of the Centre, who would be crossing the River Oudear; he doubted the effectiveness of General Zeinite and didn't expect him to get across the river quickly.

After getting reports of the dispositions of the Wittenberg Guard Corps, he decided that it was at least possible to breakout north to Hausdorf up the road thorugh Einhaus; well he thought I can try and if all else fails we can retire back across the river at Vanderhof into Saxe-jarslberg.

General Stricknein, wrote out orders and ordered Von Rappnov to get the army ready. His aim to attack and take Einhaus and move up the road to Hausdorf and then north though the hills to meet with the Army of the centre.

Early the next morning the Monrovian army moved out from Kleinhaus and onto the plain in the direction of Einhaus. The main body of the infantry (6 battalions) would attack with two flank guards, on the left a regiment of dragoons and the jagers - which proceeded to hold a farmstead and nearby wood; on the right the guards, artillery and three regiments of cavalry to counter any potential attack from the Wittenberg foot guards and heavy cavalry brigade
---oXo---
The Wittenbergers ..
Between two areas of dense woodland the road to Hausdorff went through Einhaus. It was here that General Waldebeck stood his troops to early in the morning. The troops available to him were one battalion of militia and two elite battalions - the Gardes Suisses and the Kurprinzessin Grenadiers; plus the guard bombardiers and their heavy mortars. He was concerned that the militia would not stand their ground. If attacked he knew he could hold long enough for the foot guards and guard cavalry to come to his aid.

---oXo---
The Battle ...
 General Waldebeck peered through his telescope and saw the Monrovians spilling out onto the plain in front of Einhaus; his main concern was the large body of infantry moving in his direction.


The Wittenberg militia battalion started to waiver as it saw the Monrovian infantry advance, the Garde Suisses were in position with the Kurprinzessin Grenadiers moving up ...



The Monrovian infantry form up for the attack, presenting a daunting spectacle for the defenders, the militia find their nerve and stand as the Kurprinzessin Grenadiers move into position. The guard bombardiers let loose with the heavy mortars but with little effect.


The Wittenberg troops prepare to give fire ....


On the left the Garde Suisses let loose a ferocious volley which decimated the leading Monrovian battalion who routed. On the right the milita rout after an exchanging of vollies ..



On the left the Garde Suisses move forward and fire on the next Monrovian battalion who disorganised and unnerved by the troops routing through them also rout. On the right the Kurprinzessin Grenadiers and lead Monrovian battalion start a firefight.


On the right the firefight is lost by the Monrovians who rout back through the supporting battalions ..

With half the attacking troops unwilling to advance or routing General Von Rappnov aborts the Monrovian attack and orders a withdrawal back to Kleinhaus....


General Waldebeck held his ground and watched the Monrovians retire, he had successfully beaten off the attack. In the distance to his left he could see troops in action, he hoped the Guard cavalry were giving the Monrovians a taste of cold steel.


----oXo----

To Be Continued ...

6 comments:

Fitz-Badger said...

Great report and pics! One for the Wittenbergers, eh?

Capt Bill said...

Simply the best!

Mad Carew said...

Excellent report.

Bluebear Jeff said...

Splendidly presented (as always) . . . good thing for the Garde Suisses, eh?

I look forward to more.


-- Jeff

tidders2 said...

The Garde Suisses performed well in their first visit to the table - I expect them to be just as good in the future as you would expect from elite troops.

Strangely the Monrovian grenadier battalion routed again, that is the 3rd time they have run after being fired at ! [battle dishonours - Gugenstadt, Erlangen and Einhaus].

-- Allan

Archduke Piccolo said...

Napoleon once remarked that the were no bad troops, just bad colonels. The officer commanding thr Monrovia Grenadier Battalion might have to be replaced...

(I recall a Napoleonic campaign in which the 33rd Foot just seemed to be out of luck. In the subsequent narrative - written by me, though I wasn't commanding the British - it transpired that towards the end of the campaign, Wellington was considering replacing its commander, Lt-Col. Sir Hope Lescays... Of course, I just invented the colonel's name.)
Cheers,
Ion (Archduke Piccolo)