Saxony 1745 Campaign - The Battle of Plauen, 13th December

A dramatic battle was played out in the early afternoon and late evening today. Play was interrupted when the Margravina returned from her supervision of the gardens of the Invalidenhaus. Your correspondent, ever the attentive spouse, attended upon his lady until she retired for the night.

So here, with text beneath the pictures, is an account of the battle fought near Dresden.

The view looking north along the Weissritz from Eckersdorf to Plauen (where the channel splits at the top). The Prussians under Leopold von Anhalt-Dessau are advancing from the west. The hills in the middle distance on the right become steeper and inaccessible to cavalry where the snow covered trees are. Grünne's Austrians guard the southern flank on the high ground.

Closer view of the main Prussian lines

The Saxon position in the centre

The Prussian left's view. Plauen in the background.

Looking along the main Saxon lines

Turn 10 (4 turns = 1 hour for campaign purposes, with a maximum of 8 hours). Action is joined in the centre as Prussian cavalry sweep round on the right. Prussian infantry and cavalry crossing the Weissritz is engaged by Saxon chevauxlegers.

Austrian hussars join in the attack on the Prussians crossing the stream.

Turn 13. The action becomes more general along the stream. Losses are beginning to mount on both sides (note the round bases). The Prussians have successfully crossed the stream in the south (at a cost). Firefights along the banks of the stream will go on for most of the battle.

Close up of the centre. The Austrian hussars have been repulsed (right) but are keen to have another go.  A face-to-face fight is going on between the Prussian musketeers and Saxon guard and grenadiers (centre) which the Saxons will win.

Turn 15. Overall, losses have been even, trading brigade for brigade as the trans progress. It is slow going for the Prussian cavalry trying to cross the hills in the south (foreground) but the Saxon position is beginning to look vulnerable on this flank.  In the centre however, the Prussian infantry is on the verge of disappearing. This will present Rutowski with a great opportunity to roll up either flank of the Prussians. However, will he be able to take advantage before the Prussians roll his army up from the south? 

A close up of the hole emerging in the Prussian centre. Each circular base represents a loss. 3 losses and an infantry brigade (2 bases) is removed from play. Incidentally, I had to pad out the Saxon foot with Bavarians (hence the light blue coats). Cavalry is represented by Austrians and Prussian Bosniak Lancers (as Uhlans).  I have enough Saxons for the SYW but I clearly NEED many more for the WAS.

Next turn, that gap in the Prussian line has become more obvious as the forward unit has been chased off.

But over on the right only 1 battered Saxon cavalry unit remains. What is left of Grünne's wing is retreating across the hills. This wing survived a couple of Wing Morale tests before finally crumbling.

Turn 18. Whilst 2 Saxon infantry brigades cross to the Prussian side of the stream to exploit the gap, the guard/grenadier brigade has been attacked in the flank by Prussians and has been routed.

Soon after, the Saxon centre fails a Wing Morale test. Grünne's Austrians are making their way to Dresden, when their morale also fails. They must have been spooked by the collapse of the Saxon centre.

2 wings down out of 3 and the Saxon army must take an Army Morale test. A failure! Here we see just the Prussians remaining.

The Saxon losses. In the box, bottom, are the units removed through cumulative losses/routing. The ones outside the box are those units who routed following failed wing/army morale tests. In campaign terms the majority of the latter are eligible for use again, whilst smaller proportion of the latter will return.

Prussian losses inside the box top. Most of these would be available again in the campaign, but the Prussians would lose a couple more bases for losses still on the board.

So overall a decisive victory for Leopold in 'not quite Kesselsdorf'. Will it be enough to win the campaign. I've assumed many of  the Saxons and Austrians make it in to Dresden. Elsewhere, Charles is 2 marches away with 18,000 Austrians and Saxons, but so is Frederick with another 30,000 Prussians. The Prussians have a clear advantage in numbers now. I'll run through some more campaign moves tomorrow (1 January).

Which just leaves me to wish you all a Happy New Year, and thank you all for following, commenting and supporting during 2025.