The Battle of Torgau 1760 : SYW

Finally feeling well enough to get a battle in so Martin came over for a run out with our SYW collection. Believe it or not we are at the end of my SYW scenario book with the Battle of Torgau. (Not Torbay as the spellchecker keeps wanted to change it to !) the battle took place on the 3 November 1760. After the battle of Liegnitz the Prussians and Austrians had manoeuvred around Silesia for a couple of months. Eventually Fredrick closed on the Austrians under the redoubtable Daun close to the Fortress city of Torgau.

The Austrian main army was on the plateau in a strong defensive position with artillery support from around the City itself. Rather than a frontal assault Fredrick once again split his army taking about half of his force through the forests to assault the Austrians from the rear. The Austrians  got wind of this and were able to adjust their position to be attacked from both sides.

Historically it was a very tough fight and although the Prussians eventually forced the Austrians to retire it cost Frederick over a third of his army and I believe he would never again assault a prepared Austrian position.

As usual a map of the battlefield from the internet, the red area roughly our battlefield

Converted to a 8x5 table. The Prussians to the right although on the table will have a random delayed arrival as they march through the woods to the battlefield. A couple of other adjustments, the Austrians have a battery of heavy artillery outside Torgau and we agreed these could fire without actually being able to see targets. The stream/river a key feature of the battle field would force a test for each regiment looking to cross as they search for less marshy areas to cross.

Lacy’s corps. advance to the sound of the guns from their positions around Torgau

Prussian Cavalry move through Siptiz (spelt several different ways) to hold the bridge 

These are countered by General Zeschwitz cavalry division

The Prussian cavalry have arrived to the north through Weslau.

The rest of the Austrian surge forward but there is still no sign of the Prussians from the north. I should mention here that the largest Division under General Buelow rolled a six first turn and immediately arrived on the battle field around Weslau. They then managed to roll 1’s three turns in a row and failed to activate. This was a major disadvantage for the Prussians.

The Prussian to the south attempt to cross the river and open fire on the main Austrian army, Prussian Hussars can be seen in the distance cross by the bridge

With the delayed piecemeal arrival of the Prussian infantry from the north, the hot headed Prussian cavalry who have charged and scattered the Austrian cavalry in the centre, find themselves caught isolated beyond the village of Weslau

They are forced to retreat, past the Prussian infantry who just stand immobile !!!!!!!!

I forgot to take many photos at the west end of the battlefield where some Prussians have now arrived these chatty the defending Austrians from both sides and start to clear that end of the plateau.

Lacy’s Corps is now starting to deploy to block the narrow gap at this end of the plateau 

A better shot of the situation to the west, although the Prussian cavalry has been forced back this end of the plateau has been nearly cleared

Finally General Buelow gets his division moving and these are supported by Grenadiers under General Markgraf and Frederick himself these are able to retake the village of Weslau

But with the Prussian cavalry blown, the Austrians have managed to reform their cavalry on the plateau and Lacy’s Corps is now in position

The Prussians have taken about half of the plateau but their attack is stalled. In the very top right of this picture you can see General Huelsen’s Division which repeatedly failed to arrive through the woods, in the end failing to roll a 2 !

And then catastrophe Buelow’s Division falls below half strength and collapses leaving the village of Weslau in Austrian hands again

At this point it was clear it was an Austrian victory, the Prussians still have forces on the table but are not in a position to force the Austrians to withdraw. The Austrians have maintained their cavalry and have a strong defensive position across the narrow part of the plateau. A really splendid battle which was very closely fought, had it not been for the delayed arrival of the Prussian infantry and ultimately the collapse of Buelow’s division it might have been a different result.

As an aside, those very eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed this is the first run out for a new base cloth. I picked up two cloths from Dunelm when they had a sale and have stitched them together prior to some spraying with acrylic cans. This gives me a single much larger cloth which can also be used to cover my 12x6 table when we play in the garden. It is also slightly lighter in colour which is better for the photos. The key thing is it makes arrangement of hills easier.

As the battlefield was set up the evening before I took the opportunity to see what the epic ECW figures looked like on what is technically 10mm terrain

Very happy with this look, so other than possibly picking up a handful of 10mm buildings appropriate to ECW I don’t need anything different, my 15mm hedges should work fine as well.

Thanks as always for checking by 🙂

Matt