Minden - setting up

Wargaming returns to the Schloß. But I'm a bit late to the party with this. Minden Day (1 August) was last Friday. I was reminded of it when I noticed a new episode of the podcast Prime & Load dedicated to the battle - a very informative listen it was too. In between chores at the weekend I dug out some maps available on the internet and played around with the orientation until I got the area I wanted scaled to meet a 180 x 100 cm table.

Then I dug out an order of battle based on the one given in Kronoskaf, and tweaked it slightly to suit Twilight of the Sun Kings rules. After work today it didn't take long to set-up the table. I'll probably play the game Tuesday evening.

First stage of the mapping process was to download various historical and modern representations (the Royal Collections, Kronoskaf and Wiki). I limited my area to the area covered by the lines of battle in typical representations so it could fit on the table size above. Then I dipped into an online mapping tool and turned the orientation so I could get the minimal amount of dead space on the table. As a battle, there wasn't anything really in the way of open flanks, with the east bounded by the Weser river, the south by marshes and the rival forces were spread across an imaginary diagonal line between these two barriers. Actually, they were approximately lined up in an L formation, but you get my drift hopefully. On the modern map I measured out an area which scaled down to my table with the ground scale I use for the rules. This was to get the approximate location of the various villages (woods seem to have been removed). This map helped me place the built up areas.

The blue rectangle shows the table area. The map has been turned anticlockwise slightly so the top is NNE

Following this, using the map on Kronoskaf I was able to place the woods which played a part in the manoeuvrings and excuses made by Sackville (the British cavalry commander later court-martialled for his failings on the day).

Finally I was going to use the map below from Wiki to lay-out the troops - the units shown accord with the order of battle on Kronoskaf. At the last minute I thought I might introduce a bit more uncertainty in proceedings and wind the clock back to a bit before the armies reached those positions.

Based on the German General Staff history of the SYW.

Apart from Wangenheim's corps in the north east, I pulled all the columns from both armies back. The idea is to do a bit of dice rolling to determine when the various French columns cross the Bastau (off map to the south). And then dice for when the allies hear that the French have crossed the Bastau. 

First a bit of historical context that will hopefully explain my thinking on the arrival of the columns. Ferdinand of Brunswick's plan was to lure the French into battle by posting Wangenheim off to the north, with a significant gap between him and the main army. Then when the French advanced north from Minden, Ferdinand's columns would sweep down on the French flank. It did not quite work out that way. Firstly, very strong winds muffled the movement of the French on the night of 31st July-1st August. Secondly, the French were not stupid. Whilst Broglie was despatched on the French right to deal with Wangenheim, the bulk of Contades' army was to provide over on his left. Thirdly, not all of Ferdinand's columns got off to a prompt start when given their orders. Sackville in command of the British *and some Hanoverian) cavalry was dilatory.  This sluggish start was later compounded when Sackville failed to take advantage of the French retreat.

View from behind the French. The town of Minden would be off to the bottom left.

Ferdinand's columns, minus Sackville. I will move these back a bit to start.

Sackville way, way back

The view from beyond the Bastau, looking north-ish.