The Seven Years War, Die Kriegskunst, 28mm

Last week, after my miserable defeat in the Advanced Column scenario, the Prussian commanders laid down a challenge. They said that if the Prussians had been attacking and the Russians defending, then they would have captured their objectives without any problem. Consequently we decided to repeat last week’s game, and swap forces.This time the Russians were on the defensive, charged with defending the river crossings, while the Prussians advanced through the woods to capture the bridge. The only real difference was that instead of Cossacks, the Prussians used small forces of hussars and jaegers.It all began well for them. While the Russians spent the first few turns failing to roll a successful order change, the Prussian hussars advanced as far as the river, and their infantry deployed to attack the Russian blocking force in the woods. It got even better for them when the Russians did start to react – the regiment of Russian horse grenadiers charged over a ford into the smaller force of hussars, and was hurled back in disorder.The Prussian hussars pursued into the river, and chopped up a supporting battalion of Russian foot. The Russian cavalry spent the rest of the game dealing with those pesky hussars, which meant that half a dozen Prussians kept five times their number of Russians out of the game.Back in the centre, things weren’t going so well for the Prussian commanders (that’s Dougie and Matt above, starting to look a little worried). The problem was, the Russian defence was pretty determined, and halted the Prussian advance using artillery and musketry. Then, despite being isolated, and ignoring the jaegers nipping around their flanks, the Russians charged the enemy. Amazingly they pulled it off, and by the end of the game the Prussians in the centre were in retreat.That left the rest of the Russians near the bridge, who repelled a charge by Prussian dragoons, and successfully held their position against all comers. The game ended with the Prussians conceding defeat. Once again the attacking force had failed – only this time it was the Russian commanders who were left looking smug.I put the victory down to the inspiration offered by Simonski Smithov and his dancing bear, pictured below, who offered encouragement from behind the Russian lines!

Tags: Die Kriegskunst