1757 Campaign - the Second Battle of White Mountain - Set-up

I'm using that name to distinguish it from the actual Battle of  Prague in 1757. This one will be fought on the western side of Prague, around the same ridge that the White Mountain (Weißberg or Bela Hora) is on.

Charles, aided by Marshall von Browne (or 'Brovna' in the contemporary German pronunciation), concentrated their force to the west of the city, where Frederick's forces were gathering. The Ridgeline there gave them good views of the plains to the north and west. The city and the River Moldau protected their right flank, and they would also gain some protection by the streams. before and to the left-rear of the position. If the worst came to the worst, the Austrians could fall back into the city.

As things turned out, the combined armies of Frederick and Schwerin, including the previously separate forces under Bevern and Winterfeldt, outnumbered the Austrians. Also, having a superior force of hussars and dragoons, the Prussians were able to scout out the Austrian positions before deciding on their attack plan.

The respective orders of battle included:

Austrians

• Artillery: 3 brigades
• Cuirassiers: 2 brigades
• Dragoons: 2 brigades
• Hussars: 2 brigades
• Grenadiers: 1 brigade
• Musketeers: 13 brigades
• Grenzers: 1 brigade 

Prussians

• Artillery: 3 brigades
• Cuirassiers: 4 brigades
• Dragoons: 3 brigades
• Hussars: 3 brigades
• Garde infantry: 1 brigade
• Grenadiers: 5 brigades
• Musketeers: 9 brigades
• Freikorps: 1 brigade

Things are set for what could be the showdown of the campaign.

The Prussian plan. The Moldau is impassable except at the pontoon bridge and the bridge in the city. Streams are passable, except for the blue blobs (i.e. ponds).

The map is based on an interactive map of the present day Prague area, complete with contours. I had to strip away most of the built up area. I then added in the position of Prague as it was in the 1750s. The city is shown on the table, mostly for show, but also for where the Austrians might retreat to. I've added in the villages' German names based off a map of the Battle of White Mountain, 1620, coupled with a bit of detective/deductive work on the modern Czech names. Much of the ground is fairly flat beyond the positions where I've shown the Austrians, at least in so far as it affects the game, and especially in the open space in the west (where Vaclav Havel Airport is today!).

Here are a few snaps of the field. Including a grid on the uncovered board which helped me position the DVD boxes/hills).

The basic 240x120cm board (8 by 4 ft in old money) with hastily drawn 12 cm grid. Extra table top left for Schwerin's starting position.

Before roads and soldiers added. The trees are just for decoration.

Prague

The large building on the right HAD to be included since it is a model of a building in Prague (bought on a work trip years ago).

Looking from the west. Top left is Schwerin's position. I've not set-up the table to show the Moldau in that corner.

From behind Winterfeld's position

Austrian lines from the west

Austrian lines from the Kleine Seite of Prague.

This is going to be a mammoth game. One of, if not the, biggest I've played, since I did Prague a few years ago. Rules will be Twilight of the Soldier Kings, as ever. The two smaller battles at Königgrätz and Prosek have already been played. No news has reached the combatants west of Prague yet.

1757 Campaign - Turn 3 - Moves

Wow! That was a longer gap between posts than I expected. A variety of 'Real Life' issues and incidents intervened.Nothing really serious, but it all left me feeling listless and demotivated. But I'm back. From outer space. Things began to hot up in the 1757 campaign. Here's a summary of Turn 3. Following this there will be reports on the three battles listed at the bottom.

The Prussians concentrated on Prague. Frederick (Jon), Bevern and Winterfeld (both Dave B) all advanced on the city west of the Moldau, where they came face to face with Charles and his deputy Browne). From the east, Schwerin (Dave C) beetled up the Kaiserstrasse from Königgrätz to the Bohemian capital from the east. At the same time Keith (also Dave B) was ordered from Zittau to Jung-Bunzlau on the road to Prague. Further east Prince Henry's small force, much recovered from his defence at Jaromiersch, was ordered forward once again from Nachod towards Prague via Jaromiersch and Königgrätz.

Serbelloni, at Jaromiersch, decided* to attack Schwerin who he thought was still at Königgrätz. He was too late! The old Prussian Feldmarschal had already quitted the town for the capital. Pausing for breath on the plateau outside Königgrätz, Serbelloni found Henry hot on his tail. Time to teach the King's brother another lesson!

* I diced against a table of options: remain at Jaromiersch, advance towards Silesia via Nachod, attack Schwerin. The dice gods chose the last of the 3.

Meanwhile, Königsegg heeded the call of Prince Charles of Lorraine to come to Prague. He arrived from the north east via Alt-Bunzlau around the same time that Schwerin was approaching Prague from the east.

The situation after the Turn 3 moves, but before any potential battles. Approximate positions of Prussians in blue and Austrians in black. But where is Keith?

The Prussians around Prague had the edge over the Austrians in scouting so were able to establish their overall strength. They knew the main force under Charles was west of the city near the old 1620 battlefield of the White Mountain, and they knew Königsegg was closing on the city from the NE from the Alt-Bunzlau direction.

Schwerin detached Moritz of Anhalt-Dessau with a small force to block Königsegg's road. The Prussians were throwing a pontoon bridge over the Moldau a few miles north of Prague at Selz to link the King's army with Schwerin. This route must also be protected. Schwerin was confident in Moritz and hoped the Young Dessauer would trap Königsegg between himself and Keith*. His main force would remain on the heights east of Prague waiting to spring the trap on Charles' army should the latter seek to escape from the King.

* Keith should be on the same road to Prague somewhere behind Königsegg, but where? I won't be telling until after the battles were played out at the end of the turn.

Whilst this was going on Frederick was preparing his order of battle and plan of assault on Charles' lines on the western heights.

There were thus three battles in the offing:

• Henry v Serbelloni at Königgrätz
• Moritz v Königsegg at Prosek, NE of Prague
• Frederick v Charles at White Mountain, west of Prague

The next posts will outline what transpired at these simultaneous confrontations.