List again!

As it's the season for folk committing to getting things done, I thought I'd dust off the list I prepared back in October and see where I'd got to. After an initial splurge of activity I lost focus for a few weeks. So not only did I get my Resolutions in early, I also dropped them early!

To be fair to myself, I did spend a fair bit of time on getting number 14 done - preparing the New Year campaign. I actually did better than that. I ran the campaign too. I'll give myself a medal.

I started chipping away at getting the French SYW flags done. However, that's been on the back-burner for a few weeks now. And I also made good progress on the 6 and 10mm village people, sheep and pack animals. But they're not complete, so that's 4 tasks in an unfinished state. The Puritan side of my mind is nagging me to get it done. But my cavalier side is looking at more interesting things to do. I would rather play with my toys - I enjoyed doing the big campaign deciding battle The Battle of Plauen

In idle moments today and yesterday I've been pondering another Italian campaign (WPS or WAS era) and getting out the craft knife to carve a black-powder era artillery urban fortification ('Vauban fortress' in plainer English). I actually dug up some maps for the Italian campaign on the Royal Collection Trust last night.

Anyway, here's the updated list. Re-ordered so it doesn't look like I've done things out of the correct order.

Tentative Order	Job
1	Finish river pieces
2	Check stock of magnetic paper and bases
4	Paint houses
3	Order storage boxes
5	Paint walls
6	Paint and base trees
7	Rebase Greeks and Persians
8	Prepare New Year Campaign
9	Flag SYW figures (French priority)
10	Paint villagers (6 and 10mm)
11	Paint sheep
12	Paint pack animals
13	Try Alala!
14	Try Siege Works rules
15	Paint wagons and gun teams
16	Decide what to do with SYW odds and sods
17	Paint petard crews etc
18	Make fortress
19	Ottoman painting guide
20	Order Irregular Ottoman army
21	Paint Ottomans
22	Run ECW siege campaign
23	Make AWI boats
24	Maybe rebase some Romans
25	Build & paint sailing ships

By the way, item 20 is stalled due to them being (temporarily) unavailable on the Irregular website, though I note that the individual components are available.

Saxony 1745 Campaign - Closing moves

I totted up the troops remaining to Leopold and Rutowski after the battle and came up with the following numbers of bases (2 bases making up a brigade):

Rutowski

Cuirassier 4

Dragoon 3

Hussar 3

Uhlan 2

Grenadier/guard 4

Musketeer 7

Grenzer 2

Heavy Artillery 0

Leopold

Cuirassier 8

Dragoon 6

Hussar 4

Grenadier 1

Musketeer 11

Fusilier 2

Heavy Artillery 3

With Frederick's arrival on 14th the Prussian totals are:

	Total	Observation Corps	Field Army
Cuirassiers	12	0	12
Dragoons	10	2	8
Hussars	8	2	6
Grenadiers	5	1	4
Musketeers	18	8	10
Fusiliers	2	2	0
Artillery	5	2	3

The Observation Corps under Leopold* remained before Dresden whilst Frederick took the field army to tackle Charles. 

*Frederick decided the old boy need a rest, though cynics said the King was jealous of his old Field Marshall's success.

Against Frederick Charles could only muster:

	Charles
Cuirassiers	4
Dragoons	2
Hussars	2
Uhlans	0
Grenadiers	2
Musketeers	12
Grenzers	0
Heavy artillery	2

Fairly even in infantry but massively outnumbered in cavalry. Charles opted to remain within the environs of the Königstein fortress. However, by the 16th heavy snows began to threaten to block the passes. Fearing the icing up of the Elbe, Charles elected to retire into Bohemia before his supply lines were cut. He would tell the court he had done everything he could on behalf of his sister-in-law, the Empress-Queen, to succour the Elector-King (the Elector of Saxony was also King of Poland).

The Saxons were left to negotiate a peace with the Prussians.

In a mellow tone

I had cause to remember this band earlier. I didn’t nt remember the cause. Very, very romantic when they sing in French. With this song I can imagine M.Broom (qui est surnommé le joyeux) dancing with Mme Broom. And pourquoi pas, eh?

Love the way the usually pretty unvoiced e is vocalised. Reminds me of those films c1990 based on Marcel Pagnol books. And of the Little Sparrow of course.

https://youtu.be/FbqLa7vNiEY?si=Ucc6ObjLUqK2wy6B

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.

Saxony 1745 Campaign - Moves from 25th November to 13th December

From the campaign diary for today's moves.

25th November

Frederick takes Görlitz. Leopold receives the order to invade Saxony.

Contact between Buchner and Ziethen north of Zittau at Leube by the Lausitzer-Neisse. Ziethen routs the Saxons (see previous post).

Up north Grünne inches closer to Berlin.

26th November

Grünne is now on the outskirts of Berlin when he gets news of Frederick’s incursion from Silesia. He spends a day re-organising his supplies and resting his troops for the march back south.

Charles retreats into Bohemia.

Diemer reaches Leipzig.

27th November

Frederick marches to Zittau (rolled a 5: 1,2 = Weissenberg, 3-6 = Zittau).

Grünne reaches Königswesterhausen.

28th and 29th November

Not much happens other than Grünne marching via Trebbin to Jüteborg

30th November

Frederick despatches Lehwaldt to Meissen (rolled a 6 on 27th to determine which day Lehwaldt leaves the main army).

Leopold leaves Halle and arrives at Schkeuditz. Diced to see if Renard and Diemer stand and fight. The Saxons have a slight numerical advantage in infantry but are inferior in cavalry and are outgunned. 1-4 retreat, 5,6 retreat. Rolled a 5 but the -1 for S-W still being in command, urging caution). Renard and Diemer retreat on the Torgau route to Dresden (1-4 via shorter Grimma route, 5,6 via Torgau).

Grünne reaches Luckau.

1st December

Leopold arrives before Leipzig and calls for it to surrender. Frederick remains at Zittau ensuring Charles has well and truly passed through the mountains into Bohemia.

Grünne rests at Luckau after 4 days of marching.

Lehwaldt arrives at Bautzen.

The end of a hard day's marching on the sandy soils of the Brandenburg-Saxon border lands for Grünne's Austrian force. The Sun sets early in December.

2nd December

Leipzig surrenders to Leopold.

Lehwaldt arrives at Königswartha.

Renard and Diemer reach Riesa on their march to Dresden

Frederick marches to Löbau but leaves Ziethen with 20 squadrons of hussars to watch Zittau.

Grünne reaches Übigau.

3rd December

Renard and Diemer join together Meissen, just one march short of Dresden. Meanwhile Grünne reaches Grossenhain.

Hearing that the Austrians are heading down from Brandenburg and the Saxons control Meissen, Lehwaldt remains at Königswartha, not wishing to get trapped (i.e.I rolled a 1 when a 3-6 would have resulted in an advance to contact Grünne).

Leopold collects the abandoned Saxon stores at Leipzig. Frederick reaches Bautzen. Zithen edges up to Löbau, having left strong patrols in the pass south of Zittau.

4th December

Leopold leaves Leipzig for Torgau.

Grünne crosses the Elbe Meissen. Diemer and Renard reunite with Rutowski at Dresden giving them a force of 45 s, 4 pulks of uhlans, 22 heavy guns and 31 battalions, excluding Grünne’s 8000 Austrians.

Ziethen joins Frederick at Bautzen. Lehwaldt moves forward to Grossenhain.

5th-7th December

A quiet few days generally. Leopold marches into Torgau on 5th and spends the next day organising supplies. On the 7th the Old Dessauer (Leopold) arrives at Riesa

8th December

Grünne blows up the bridge over the Elbe and leaves Meissen to avoid being caught by the superior forces of Leopold. Leopold enters the town after the Austrians have left. Lehwaldt arrives at the Elbe opposite Meissen.

9th December

The bridge demolition has been bungled in Grünne’s rush. Repairs can be effected within a day. (i.e. I diced for the effectiveness of the charges, and as in the historical case, the bridge can be repaired quickly).

Grünne joins with the combined Saxon army at Dresden. The Austrians and Saxons hold a council of war in the Saxon capital and elect to target Leopold first before tackling Frederick (History repeats itself on a roll of 3!). Frederick decides to take the northern route to Dresden via Meissen rather than risk a contested crossing of the Elbe.

10th December

Lehwaldt finally crosses the Elbe and joins Leopold.

11th December

Leopold's combined force advances on Dresden. Rutowski opts to wait for the Austrians. Frederick at arrives Grossenhain, just one march from the Elbe at Meissen.

12th December

Frederick reaches Meissen.
 Meanwhile in Dresden, Sachsen-Weissenfels is removed as effective commander-in-chief by the Elector-King.

Emboldened by having his fetters removed, Rutowski decides to march out to confront Leopold before the two Prussian armies can concentrate.

13th December

As Charles re-enters Saxony at Königstein (just two marches from Dresden), Leopold and Rutowski fight the Battle of Plauen.

The area southwest of Dresden. The distance from Plauen in the northeast of the map to Eckersdorf in the southwest is about 1 German Mile or c 4.7 English Miles. Part of the battlefield of the historical battle of Kesselsdorf can be seen at the top left (Kesselsdorf right at the edge below Zöllmen).

Campaign map on 13th December before the Battle of Plauen