Lutterberg 1759. Game at NBHW

Friday saw a fictitious Seven Years War action played out using Osprey's Honours of War rules. The scenario was based on a "what if" hypothesis, in this case what if Duke Ferdinand had pressed the retreating French rearguard after the Battle of Minden.

The field of battle. Lutterberg centre left, allies on this side French on the right.

I had command of a the Hanoverian contingent consisting of brigade of four infantry battalions, a battery of medium artillery and a brigade of two cavalry regiments. I also had control of an independent unit of Jagers and regiment of Hussars. These formed up on the allied left with the hussars out of sight in the woods.

My command with cavalry still to arrive.

The British would arrive through the village of Lutterberg in the centre and on the right flank were deployed the Brunswick and Hessian contingent.
Unknown to the allies was the condition of the ground to the front of the British and Hanoverian forces. This turned out to be patchy marshy ground that caused problems with movement for those crossing.

French right flank facing my Hanoverians and centre right facing the British

French left flank, as seen, facing the Brunswick and Hessian units, and centre left.

The fiercest fighting developed on the Allied right, where the Brunswick and Hessian contingent fought the French left flank for control of a strongly defended hamlet. A flanking attack was met by concealed French infantry and cavalry who appeared from the nearby woods. A Brunswick battalion broke before the French horse but the latter were then scattered by the fire of a Grenadier battalion. French losses mounted as did those of the Brunswick and Hessian's. By the time the French rearguard was ordered to retire the Allies had finally got a foothold in the hamlet and the supporting french units on this wing were broken but the Germans had paid a high price for this limited success.

The concealed French advance out of the woods.

First assault goes in.

The grenadiers arrive in support.

The British in the centre were a bit tardy in their advance from Lutterberg and by the time the forward units found themselves mired down in the boggy ground in front of the French centre they were a bit isolated. This lead battalion soon came under sustained artillery fire with the inevitable result and together with its supporting battalion the survivors recoiled back up the slope to the safety of the late arriving battalions and cavalry. From here the British horse and foot watched as their artillery batteries dragged their pieces through the bog and engaged the French centre, which contented itself with retiring just enough to stay out of effective range.

The British left column arrive.

Over on my flank I eventually got my battalions into position to start firing upon the French occupying the hamlet to my front with my units of cavalry to their rear as support.

Hanoverian cavalry arrive in support.

Hanoverians about to cross the stream, British under heavy fire in the centre.

Fearing the arrival of French cavalry, there were some off the table, I moved the hussars out of the wood up to my left flank by the stream and proceeded to cross with my infantry. At this point the French grenadier battalions holding this flank advanced out of the hamlet to engage my forces. A fierce firefight and melee ensued and my lead battalion fell back over the stream.

French grenadiers and Hanoverian infantry engaged.

At this point the French cavalry did arrive behind the hamlet to my front but only, as it transpired, to deliver the orders for the rearguard to withdraw.

The game was called at this point as a French victory as the rearguard would have be enable to withdraw largely intact, only their left flank having taken any substantial casualties, whilst inflicting significant casualties on the pursuing allies.

This game maybe proves why, historically, Duke Ferdinand chose not to engage when the French rearguard turned and formed up.

Another great game where once again I claim no responsibility for any of the superb miniatures on display.

For even more photos and info see the club Facebook album Lutterberg 1759

Tony.