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.