A River Runs Through It

An early spring and good cycling weather saw me out on the bike in late March for a week of good roadwork.  That week was a false start to spring.  Seemingly plunged back into winter with many mornings seeing snow on the ground, strong winds, and frigid temperatures, the bike was configured back onto the indoor trainer for more than a month. 

Finally, the winds calmed, the rain stopped, and the temperatures are beginning to rise.  Unhitching the bike off the trainer, giving it a quick clean and check, I headed outdoors for the first time in a month.  Saturday's route would take me about 15 miles to the north and back through downtown Spokane for a thirty mile out and back.

Approaching Spokane from the west.

Spokane developed upon both banks of the Spokane (Sp’q’n’i in Salish) River centered upon a series of waterfalls as the river drops into the Spokane River Gorge.

As today's route brings me back into down from the west, I stop to take a few photos as I follow the river back into town.  Spring runoff always offers up enjoyable photo ops.  I reach the Lower Falls first.  Viewed from above on the bike path, the Lower Falls may look unimpressive.  That perception changes when the viewing angle switches to the Monroe Street Bridge. 

Lower Falls
with Monroe Street Dam in background.

Lower Falls viewed from Monroe Street Bridge.
(photo taken in February 2022)

Continuing upriver, I reach the Upper Falls.  The Upper Falls are bifurcated by an island as the river carves its way through the gorge.  Spectacular viewing especially in early spring when the torrent of water creates a spray that can soak pedestrians standing on the foot bridge above.  

Upper Falls from North footbridge looking west.

Upper Falls from North footbridge looking east.

Upper Falls from South footbridge looking east.

Finally, the waters calm as I reach Riverfront Park.  For those unaware, Spokane was the site of the 1974 World's Fair and marked my first visit to my Fair City.

Clock Tower in Riverfront Park.

From Riverfront Park, I turn south and make the 600 foot climb up the South Hill to return home.

Sunday looks equally promising and I expect to strike out on the bike again this afternoon following a scheduled remote game with Matt.  A return to our long-running AWI campaign sees another skirmish today.  Today's clash sees a skirmish at Drake's Farm.  Matt suggests this may be a tough one for the Americans.  Aren't they all?

Skirmish at Drake's Farm

Oh.  The solid painting session I anticipated in the last post, never materialized.

Back to Ancient Sumeria

After a steady diet of gaming and painting SYW units over the last thirty days, the workbench finally sees an additional Sumerian battle cart move out.  One more of these large, weighty beasts is slowly working its way through the production line to bring the total battle cart count up to five. After that, I dig into The Lead Pile to rediscover the three more that I believe are stashed away somewhere.  Figures are 28mm Newline Designs.

Having four gaming sessions last week, I figured I could use a slight break on the gaming front.

This week saw one game with the regular Tuesday gaming group.  On Sunday, Matt hosts another contest in our long-running AWI Rebels & Patriots campaign.  

Tuesday's action saw a return to the Russian Civil War in a playtest as Graham works on developing his new rules.  The scenario featured a meeting engagement between two mainly cavalry forces.  As White CiC, I led an unruly lot.  Getting subordinates to carry out orders was almost by chance.  The game ended in a near MAD outcome.  Few were left standing.

RCW cavalry action

For today, I expect a solid painting session sandwiched between other tasks. On the workbench are more SYW French and Sumerians. Let's see how those plans work out.

Mollwitz, A Near Run Thing

Romer's cavalry wing

Hot on the heels of the 10 April remote battle recounted in Mollwitz, A Battle Report, the table was reset and my Austrian opponent replaced.  Rather than having Chris at the helm of the Austrian Army, David (Not by Appointment) would pick up the reins in an 11 April contest. 

Would Chris' decisive Austrian victory on the field of Mollwitz represent a harbinger of things to come or was Chris' victory a fluke?  Is an Austrian victory at Mollwitz a repeatable event or a singular outcome?  We would put both of hypotheses to the test.

As a reminder, the armies were deployed as in the photo below:

Initial deployments

With a reminder of troop attributes and victory conditions, the two armies poised for battle step off in their attempt to secure a victory.

View of battle from the south

Overhead view of battlefield from Prussian line. 

Prussian lines

Prussian lines

At the sound of the cannon, both armies lurch into motion.  With great briskness, Austrian cavalry enjoy double moves across the battlefield.  While Romer advances smartly upon the Austrian left, Berlichingen in command of the Austrian right cavalry wing crosses the stream and engages the Prussian left cavalry wing.  The Prussian infantry in the center advances toward the enemy and Mollwitz at a measured pace.  Neither dithering Prussian cavalry commander moves.  

Early maneuvers

Prussian emerge from the woods

Unable to respond in a timely fashion, enemy cavalry are upon the Prussian hussars.  Outnumbered in both quantity and quality, the hussars are sent packing back toward the village. 

Prussian hussars are driven off.

This early success prompts Berlichingen to spur his horsemen on.  They collide with the rest of the Prussian left wing.  The Left Wing is overwhelmed but not without loss to Berlichingen's command.

Collision on the Prussian left

while the Prussian infantry march slowly forward.

On the Prussian right, Romer and his large cavalry wing crashes into Schulenburg's cavalry wing.  Again, outclassed in all ways, Schulenburg and his Prussian horsemen are driven back in great disarray.

Cavalries collide!

Schulenburg is driven back.

Not aware of the Austrian cavalry success on the wings and seeing Prussian infantry bear down, Neipperg orders his infantry to retrograde back.  Forward and back.  At least they are getting some exercise before the fight!

Neipperg orders infantry back to Mollwitz

where they await the Prussians.

Situation as Prussian cavalry wings reel back.

Having dispatched the Prussian left wing, Berlichingen crosses the stream to make his way toward the Prussian soft underbelly.  In the far distance, he sees Prussian cavalry being driven back by Romer.  The battle looks well in hand!  Frederick disagrees!  The battle looks lost and he abandons his army.  Schwerin takes over in command.

Berlichingen crosses back over the stream.

Schulenburg narrowly escapes capture.

Perhaps the battle is not yet lost?

As the Austrian cavalry wings meet with encouraging success, the real strength of the Prussian army marches on.  The objective?  Mollwitz and the destruction of the Austrian infantry.  Firefights erupt as the distance between the two forces decreases.  

The Prussians close upon Mollwitz.

Long-range firefight develops.

As the distance closes, casualties mount.  Neipperg orders Harrach to skirt the village and try to get onto the Prussian flank.  The poorly trained Austrian infantry positioned in front of Mollwitz are being battered.  They begin to waver and retire.

Harrach attempts to outflank the Prussians at Mollwitz.

Prussian grenadiers storm Mollwitz.

Fighting at Mollwitz.

Seeing the Austrians being shoved out of Mollwitz, Schwerin redoubles his efforts to take the village and destroy the white coated infantry.  Austrian regiments are fleeing the battlefield by the handfuls.  Mollwitz is within grasp. 

Prussians converge upon Mollwitz.

While success looks assured at Molllwitz, the concern that Schwerin faces is that his army is nearing a breaking point.  With Prussian cavalry having abandoned the field, only token resistance faces the Austrian cavalry as they turn back to the battlefield.

The race to win the battle is on.  Can Neipperg mop up the units lingering in the Prussian rear while inflicting enough damage upon the Prussian infantry at Mollwitz before the defenders are overwhelmed?

Austrians cling to Mollwitz.

Romer threatens Prussian guns

Berlichingen threatens Prussian guns.

The answer is yes!

While David may look more relieved (in the screenshot below) than joyous, both Prussian guns are lost and another Prussian infantry regiment is scattered in the attack upon Mollwitz.   

David and his Austrians are victorious!

The Austrians just cling onto Mollwitz long enough to see the Prussian army break and claim a close victory.

As David, said, "it was a near run thing."

Another fun and exciting contest on the fields of Mollwitz.  Again, the strategy boils down to whether the Austrian cavalry can defeat the Prussian cavalry before the Prussian infantry can reach Mollwitz.  For the second game in a row, the Austrian army does just that.

Thanks, David!  

Oh, David proved that Chris' earlier victory was no fluke.

French Regiments Aquitaine and Limousin

Wargaming activities of late seem to be ensconced in the SYW.  

This week witnessed three gaming sessions refighting the Battle of Mollwitz with two different opponents, a little painting, and a book order arrival.

On the painting front, two more French regiments of infantry muster out to join their brethren in the growing French army.  Out from the painting desk are Regiments Limousin and Aquitaine.  Figures are 15mm Old Glory with Eureka mounted officers and flags from Not By Appointment.  These latest additions bring the French army up to a strength of 18 infantry regiments.  I really need to turn attention to fielding some guns and horse.  Both are seeing progression through the painting queue.

Regiment Aquitaine

Regiment Limousin

On the gaming front, two Battles of Mollwitz are in the Battle Logbook. The anniversary game on Sunday has been chronicled (see Mollwitz, A Battle Report). Game #2 finished up on Friday afternoon. Once I gather all of the artifacts, expect a battle report on this action as well.

Finally, the library sees three new arrivals all on the SYW. Helion recently offered up a 3-for-2 sale and I nibbled. The books in this order are:

They all look to be handy reference books.  Let us hope they are!

Not on the SYW theme, this week also saw a remote game recreating the Hundred Years War Battle of Cravant.

Battle of Cravant

I would like to draft a Battle Report from this interesting action but with games coming fast and furious, I often fall behind.  Sometimes, way behind.

Mollwitz, A Battle Report

On the anniversary of the battle, the two armies once again take to the field.  This time, the outcome would be settled in a remote game against Chris (Horse and Musket Gaming).  Today's contest would be Chris' first game of Honours of War (HoW) but not his first remote game.  Chris chose to command the Austrians.  I would lead the Prussia army.

As a refresher, the two armies facing each other were deployed as shown below:

Initial dispositions

View from behind the Prussian lines.

The primary objective for the two armies is to either break their opponent or occupy Mollwitz.  Would Chris, at the head of the Austrian army, reverse history and see a victory for the Whitecoats or would the Prussian infantry, once again, carry the day?

Calm in the Austrian lines before the Prussian attack.

We will see.

Austrian cavalry advance.

Seizing the initiative, Neipperg orders both cavalry wings to advance upon the enemy.  The goal is to defeat the Prussian cavalry wings before the Prussian infantry can reach the Austrian infantry lines deployed in front of Mollwitz. 

Austrian cavalry advance continues.

On the Austrian left, Romer squares up his large cavalry wing in preparation to overpower Schulenburg's weaker cavalry.  The Prussian infantry plods forward through the snow.  On the Austrian right, Berlichingen's cavalry crosses the frozen stream and challenges the Prussian hussars defending the crossing.  The hussars put up little resistance despite the timely arrival of support.

Clash at the crossing.

Prussian cavalry driven back in great disorder.

While the Prussian infantry in the center march forward, some of Romer's cavalry out on the left wing take fire from both guns and grenadiers.  Romer draws up his massive formation in preparation for an attack against the Prussian right.

Cavalry clash on the Prussian right.

Romer prepares to attack.

The Austrian cavalry formations taking fire retire out of harm's way as Romer launches a cavalry charge into Schulenburg's cavalry.  Outnumbered and outclassed, Schulenburg's cavalry recoil. 

Romer attacks!

Schulenburg's cavalry wing is crushed in the attack and scattered.   Only grenadiers remain in Schulenburg's command.  Frederick has seen enough.  He leaves the battlefield concerned for his own safety.  Schwerin takes over command of the Prussian army.

Schulenburg isolated on the battlefield.

Having destroyed the Prussian right cavalry wing, Romer turns his attention to mopping up the grenadiers and artillery that remain.  The Prussian right has been turned.  Ignoring the growing threat, Prussian infantry continue their advance upon Mollwitz.  They have yet to reach the enemy lines.

Grenadiers and artillery with nowhere to hide.

Unable to respond, the Prussian right is attacked viciously.  The artillery and grenadiers, isolated by the destruction of their brethren, are attacked. To add insult to injury, the Prussian second line is attacked.

Prussian right crumbles.

Prussian infantry march toward Mollwitz

while the Austrians await.

All three attacks meet with success and the Prussians are scattered at the hands of Romer's jubilant cavalry.  Seeing the destruction of the Prussian right and the slow progress of the Prussian infantry, Neipperg shifts his second infantry line to the right as the front line comes under musketry fire.  Can the Austrians shift to their right without becoming entangled? 

Austrian second line shifts as
Romer mops up stragglers.

After dispatching the Prussian left cavalry wing, Berlichingen crosses back over the stream to threaten the main body.  Both Prussian infantry lines come under pressure as they attempt to turn to meet this unexpected threat. 

Prussian left is attacked!

Action on the Prussian left

as Berlichingen crashes into the Prussian infantry.

Even with pressure mounting on the flanks, the Prussians could win the day if the Austrian infantry to their front can be destroyed and Mollwitz taken.

That is not to be.

Uncharacteristically for the poorly trained Austrian, they let loose many volleys with devastating results.  All along the line, Prussian infantry are stopped and then repulsed. 

Prussian center repulsed!

Prussian fight a desperate rear-guard action.
Romer's cavalry are repulsed in great disorder.

The Prussians suffer mightily within reach of Mollwitz.

The Prussian army has broken.  The battle is over.

Chris and the Austrian army hold on to gain an impressive victory on the field at Mollwitz.  Well played.  Masterfully executed.  Chris demonstrated how the Austrians can win at Mollwitz.  While I have witnessed a few close calls by the Austrians, this is the first bona fide victory in my books.  Congratulations to the victor!

Great fun.  Hopefully, I will meet Chris on the field of battle again.