BatRep: Kunersdorf

With preparations finished, time to let the combatants take to the field for a refight of Kunersdorf.  The Kunersdorf battlefield is huge and the number of units staggering.  Still, a two-player game seemed accessible.  I took command of the Prussian Army under Frederick the Great while Jake led the combined Russo-Austrian Army under Saltykov.  For scenario information, please see Battle of Kunersdorf: A Scenario.

As a battlefield reminder, the Russian Observation Corps upon the Muhlberg finds itself nearly encircled by the Prussian army when the battle begins.  The battle begins with a Prussian artillery bombardment of the earthworks prior to launching its attack.  For much of this battle report, I will provide commentary from the perspective of Frederick the Great.  After all, that is whose boots I stepped into for this replay. 

Terrain features of Kunersdorf

Unfortunately for the Prussians, little damage was done against the Russian defenders.  Hopefully, the defenses can be softened up as the attack advances toward the heights.  More damage is accomplished by the Russian guns in counter-battery against Prussian guns on the Kleiner Spitzberg than the Prussians, themselves, can execute against the Muhlberg.

Prussian Army steps off on the attack

Russian counter battery proves effective

One feature of the Kunersdorf battle that becomes apparent almost immediately for the Prussian attacker is that the battlefield, while HUGE, is quite constricting.  On first glance, the Muhlberg position, indeed, sticks out like a sore thumb and seems ripe for the taking.  On closer inspection, moving toward the Grosser Spitzberg is extremely challenging.  Kunersdorf is burning and impassable.  The lakes and marshes along the road to Kunersdorf are either impassable or difficult.  How do the Prussians bring their forces to bear in this tight space?  If they choose to break out into the small plain, what next? 

Prussian cavalry tip-toe through the marsh

On the north face of the ridge, the water meadow presents an obstacle as well.  How does the Prussian army come to grips with the main allied line on the backside of the ridge even if the Muhlberg falls?  This difficult topographical challenge is magnified by being heavily outnumbered by the defenders.

Prussians close in on the Muhlberg

As the Prussians plod forward negotiating the difficult ground along the Hubner stream, Villebois' command decides to take the fight to the Prussians. Scrambling over the embankments, Villebois' Russians descend the heights.  On the extreme end of the Russian position on the Muhlberg, Galytsin's Observation Corps awaits the inevitable attack.

Villebois descends from the heights

Observation Corps looks on

Having crossed through the difficult terrain, Prussian brigades ready themselves for assaults upon the Muhlberg.  Casualties mount as the Prussians close within long range.

Keeping up a covering fire from Prussian batteries firing from the high ground surrounding the Muhlberg, the Prussians advance.  Elements of the Observation Corps begin to crack.  First, one of the batteries is driven back from the ramparts.  Then, the Russian grenadiers retreat back from the defenses after having taken much punishment from both muskets and cannon. 

Russian gun falls back

Russian grenadiers retreat

Before the Russian grenadiers abandon their position against the earthworks, they put torch to the abatis.  This action has a couple of important consequences.  First, it prevents the Prussians from overwhelming the northeast end of the Muhlberg since the attackers cannot move through the burning abatis.  Second, the smoke from the fires block line of sight for about one-third of the attacking Prussians and the guns targeting that end of the earthworks.  The Russians have bought themselves some time.

Abatis is put to the torch

Assault on the Muhlberg stalls as the abatis burns

While the attack on the Muhlberg heats up (literally!), cavalry clashes occur on both shoulders of the Muhlberg.  Finck sets his wing into motion, crosses the stream, and reorders his troops for an advance.  The huge cavalry wing under Schorlemmer meets Jeropkin's cavalry wing near the Water Meadow.

Schorlemmer vs Jeropkin

The clash

In the clash, destruction is widespread.  Schorlemmer loses three cavalry regiments with a loss of two regiments to Jeropkin.  Being outnumbered, Jeropkin can ill afford an attritional battle and he breaks off seeking cover in the relative safety of the Water Meadow.

Widespread destruction of cavalry

Survivors

On the other side of the ridge, Prussian cavalry formations make their way through the marshy ground to deploy out on the plain.  Met by Demiku's Russian cavalry wing, the forces collide.  Outnumbered and outclassed, the Russian cavalry wing at first gives ground allowing Villebois' infantry time to come up and cover his left.

Prussian cavalry advance on the left

as the Russian defense forms

In a series of charges and counter-charges, the fighting is fierce.  While the Russian cavalry is driven back, Demiku has bought enough time for Villebois' infantry to successfully plug the gap.  Prussian thoughts of pursuit are cut short by a wall of musketeers.  In one impetuous moment, Platen's Prussian dragoons charge into the waiting Russian lines of musketeers.  Faced by disciplined musketeers in good order, the dragoons are sent reeling back toward the bridgehead.  

Cavalry clash on the left

High watermark of Prussian cavalry on the left

Impetuous dragoons charge well-ordered infantry

Victorious in the cavalry clash on the right and stymied in the cavalry clash on the left, the Prussians settle in for another attack on the Muhlberg.

Battlefield overview

With Russian reinforcements prevented from relieving the Muhlberg by the presence of Schorlemmer's cavalry on the right, the Observation Corps prepares for the impending assaults.  Having nearly completed encircling the Muhlberg, the Russians face a difficult decision.  Do they defend in place for honor or try to break out before being over-run?

Fighting for the Muhlberg

As the noose closes around the Muhlberg position, the abatis has burned itself out on the northeast face of the defenses.  The Muhlberg is attacked from both the neck and northeast face.  Casualties to the defenders increase as pressure mounts.  With the Observation Corps wavering and the gaming session drawing to a close, we halt the action.

The noose tightens on the Muhlberg defenders

Situation at the end of the session

After calling the game due to time, we discussed the possibilities for both combatants if play continued in a follow-up session.  Consensus was that the Muhlberg position would be lost.  The main Russian positions could not be breached as reinforcements arrived from farther down the ridge to counter any threats from the outnumbered Prussians.  Cavalry casualties were extremely high in this battle.  Infantry casualties, in comparison, were relatively light.

The plan was to continue the game after the holidays fighting the battle to conclusion.  That did not happen.  In the interim, more discussion led to the decision to reset the game and begin the battle anew.  The way in which the battle was headed, we agreed the historical outcome was the most likely.  That is, the Prussians would take the Muhlberg but that would be the extent of the ground gained.  We both learned valuable lessons in the first battle especially with respect to time and space trade-offs over this large battlefield.  Maneuvering troops over such a large expanse takes time.  Given those considerations, we felt play could be improved upon if the battle was started again.  Would the same battle plans prove appropriate in a second game or would alternate plans be brought to the table?  The battle provides challenges to both players.  We shall see when we return to Kunersdorf again.