The Action at Sägemühledorf. . .

The situation by the end of Turn Two sees the Zichenauer defence (right) to the east of the various built up areas, more or less deployed to meet their Stollenian attackers.  The latter are still marching onto the field and have not yet deployed for action.

The morning of 1. September 1769 dawned gray and rainy but cleared somewhat and dried out by midday although the threat of additional rain hung in the air.  The Zichenauer rearguard had retreated to the village of  Sägemühledorf and environs since losing to the Stollenians at Blasthofheide on 12. August.  

The Zichenauers, commanded by Colonel von Kohlkopf, withdrew southward where they were  caught by a Stollenian advance guard just outside the small village of Sägemühledorf.  Von Kohlkopf, not wishing to incur the wrath of his commander, the notorious General Phillipe de Latte, reluctantly decided to give battle and let the chips fall where they may.  Here then is the account of the resulting action.

The Stollenian OOB (Colonel Kartoffel):
Erbprinz Regiment
Provisional Hanseatic Infantry
Corps of Jaegers (1 coy.)
Lauzun's Legion Hussars (1 sqn.)
Palatine Artillery (1 gun and crew)


The Zichenauer OOB (Colonel von Kohlkopf):
Kurköln and Hessen-Darmstadt Grenadiers (1 bn.)
Ernestine Saxon Infantry Regiment 
Croats (1 coy.)
Trumbach Dragoons (1 sqn.)
Wurttemburg Horse Grenadiers (1sqn.)
Saxon Artillery (1 gun and crew)


Victory conditions are for Kartoffel to defeat the Zichenauer defenders by seizing and holding two of the three built up areas by the end of ten turns.  For his part, the Zichenauer C.O. von Kohlkopf will prevail if he can hold off his attackers by seizing and holding two of the three built up areas by the end of ten turns. 

The built up areas are, for your edification and amusement, Sägemühledorf at the north center of the field depicted, a sawmill and storage shed just to its west, and a large farm near the southern edge of the field.

We find ourselves already at the end of Turn Two with nary a shot fired so far!  Now, then.  Let's see where colonels Kartoffel and von Kohlkopf take things, shall we?

-- Stokes

 The Croats move out!

 The Erbprinz Regiment and Colonel Kartoffel before the sawmill and storage shed.

 The main Zichenauer line.

 General de Latte managed to spare a single squadron of heavy cavalry to Colonel von Kohlkopf's rearguard.  Still not quite fully glossed though if you look closely enough.

Stollen's Lauzun Legion Hussar squadron takes to the field.

During Turn 3, von Kohlkopf's Trumbach Dragoons took seven casualties at the hands of Colonel Kartoffel's jaegers.  It came as no surprise that they failed their morale test and fled the field forthwith at the end of the turn.

A general view of the field at the end of Turn 3.

 During Turn 4, von Kohlkopf's Croats inflicted minimal casualties on approaching enemy hussars and infantry before withdrawing to a safer vantage point nearer their own lines.

Meanwhile, on his right flank at the north end of the field, Colonel von Kohlkopf's composite battalion of grenadiers, in an amazing turn of events, suffered heavy casualties at the hands of Kartoffel's company of jaegers and routed.

 Buy the middle of Turn Five, it was clear to all, with the possible exception of Colonel von Kohlkopf, how things would play out as a chilly drizzle began to fall across the field.  While Stollenian line infantry and artillery continued to move forward to establish a line, their commander Colonel Kartoffel already controlled all three built up areas: the village of Sägemühledorf itself, the nearby sawmill and shed, as well as the large farm some distance to the south.  In a silent scream, von Kohlkopf looked toward the heavens and, channeling The Tattooed Man himself Rod Steiger,  demanded, "Why Elba??!!"

Kartoffel's Palatine Artillery crew and gun finally came into action and exchanged shots in a short duel with von Kohlkopf's artillery across the field, suffering one casualty in the process.

And then the company of Stollenian jaegers went to work, decimating von Kohlkopf's Saxon artillery crew in short order with hot skirmish fire, effectively taking them out of action to the last man.

Although his right flank was now destroyed, and his current position untenable, in a momentary lapse, Colonel von Kohlkopf ordered his squadron of Wurttemburg Horse Grenadiers to wheel right and drive off those devilish enemy jaegers, who had mown down all units in their path so far that afternoon.

 A general view of the situation at the end of Turn Six when the drizzle turned to heavy rain, the fighting died down, and the Action at Sägemühledorf drew to a rapid close.

For a moment, or two von Kohlkopf considered fighting further.  He weighed his options and even rolled a D6.  4-6 yes, 1-3 no.  But in brief consultation with his officers, it was pointed out to him by one brave subordinate that half of his force had been destroyed already with no appreciable gain and without attaining his objective: control of at least two of the three built up areas on the table.  It was the turn of events and bad luck on his own right flank that was von Kohlkopf's undoing.  While things never really took off in the center, despite dueling cannon and a brief firefight between the infantry units station there, his right essentially melted away thanks to the crack unit of Stollenian jaegers and low rolls of the dice when it came time to check his battered units' morale.

 Colonel Kartoffel's aide rides into Sägemühledorf at the close of Turn Six to report that the remaining Zichenauer rearguard has withdrawn into the fog accompanying the rain.  So far, the score for the campaign of linked games looks like this:  Stollen 2, Zichenau 1. 

My ongoing Brigade(s) in a Box project/concept/fast-setup/breakdown method in practice.  I've managed to squeeze the light infantry elements into the plastic tub too, though have had to put the commanders and their aides back into the tub that holds my numerous command vignettes.

All in all, a quick, bloody, and decisive game (the time-pressed wargamers' holy grail) that lasted about 2.5 hours, possibly a bit more with 20 minutes or so to pack up the figures involved and another 10 minutes or so to clear away the scenic items atop the table.  Two mischievous cats and almost decade old blond, freckled fingers at work on the part of The Young Master, you know.  I'd prefer to have everything out for somewhat more leisurely games, but c'est la guerre as the saying goes.  

But back to the game for a moment.

Now, I'm not sure, but I've heard tell that our ol' friend Colonel von Kohlkopf has fallen back several days further to the south in the direction of the place where he'll make his last stand: Der Bauernhof des Hakens*, a.k.a. Hook's Farm.

-- Stokes


*Please excuse my very probably mangled German grammar here.  I can understand quite a bit of the written and spoken language, at least the standard version thereof, but mastery of the more difficult grammatical points and case system continue to elude me.  Since the German-speaking Grand Duchess is away with The Young Master until tomorrow, if any of you out there can provide insight into how I might render Hook's Farm more correctly, fire away.  I'm all ears.