Background
In October 1744, the Franco-Bavarian army had succeeded, in coordination with Prussia, to expel the Austrians from Bavaria, and to reinstate Charles VII, Prince-elector of Bavaria and Holy Roman Emperor, in his capital Munich. Here he died 3 months later.
His 18-year-old son and heir Maximilian III Joseph wavered between the Peace-party, led by his mother Maria Amalia of Austria and Army Commander Friedrich Heinrich von Seckendorffand the War-party, led by Foreign Minister General Ignaz von Törring and the French envoy Chavigny.
This hampered the ongoing peace negotiations, so Maria Theresia ordered the Austrian Army to start a new offensive to put pressure on the Bavarian negotiators. Amberg and Vilshofenwere taken and the Bavarian army under Törring and its French, Hessian and Palatinate allies were pushed on the defensive.
Törring decided to pull back his Bavarian and Hessian troops behind the Lech River. The French Army commander Henri François de Ségur was not informed of this manoeuver and waited unaware and unprotected near Pfaffenhofen on Palatinate reinforcements under General Zastrow, which arrived on 14 April. The next day Segur decided to also pull back behind the Lech.
The Austrians, aware of the isolated French position, had by then reached Pfaffenhofen with a force larger than the French.
First the Austrians attacked the town of Pfaffenhofen and were met by French fire. But the Austrians took the town in house-to-house combat in which the fierce Croatian Pandurs inflicted heavy casualties on the French defenders.
Meanwhile, François de Ségur had hastily improvised a defensive position around a hill west of the city. But, when more and more Austrian troops, including the main force under Batthyány, reached the battlefield, de Ségur was forced twice to withdraw his army, to avoid encirclement. When the sign for a general withdrawal was given, panic broke out amongst the Palatinate troops and they fled. de Ségur had the greatest difficulty in preventing the panic spreading amongst his French troops.
The retreating army was harassed by the Pandur and Hussar light cavalry, which inflicted many casualties.
Only after the French and Palatinates had crossed the Paar river at Hohenwart at 18:00, the Austrians gave up their pursuit. The defeated army reached Rain on the Lech the next day at 11:00 at set up camp. But the next morning the Austrian army appeared and the allies fled over the Lech River, leaving all its material behind. Only the burning down of the bridge prevented a total disaster for the allies.
de Ségur had lost many troops and material, but his maintenance of discipline had prevented the total destruction of his army
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pfaffenhofen
The Game
In order to make the battle a bit more of a fun game, we added a “what if”. What if Torring rallied the Bavarians and attempted to join de Segur at the battle. This would balance the battle out a bit. The Austrians would still have an opportunity to smash the French, but there would still be a chance to link up in time. The battlefield was extended north to allow for the Bavarians to march on.
The French and Palatinate forces would deploy in their historical positions, while the main Austrian force would enter to attack. The Bavarians would enter later in the middle road of the French side of the table (die roll of 5-6 on 1D6 each turn). Once the Bavarians had entered, the additional trailing Austrian forces would enter on the far table side (die roll of 5-6 on 1D6). Commanders were rated equally, so neither side had a command advantage.
Initial Set Up
French and Palatinate troops await Austrian onslaught!
The Bavarians arrive!
Bavarians come to the aid of the Palatinate, as Grenzers try to sweep the flank.
Austrians try to overwhelm the Palatinate positions.
Palatinate and French troops fall back in the face of the Austrian assault.
Austrian follow on forces arrive and begin attacking the Bavarian rear guard.
Bavarian Cavalry recall to assist regard defense.
Summary
The battle began with the Austrian attempting to concentrate their forces on a narrow front to smash the Palatinate forces, while the Austrian Grenzers worked to turn the flank. The assault became a little entangled, which gave the Palatinate forces time to reorganize and delay. This was helped by the early arrival of the Bavarians (turn 2), who quickly sent a brigade to support their allies. The main Austrian attack turned into a slugfest against the reinforced positions all around the woods on the flank. Both sides lost a brigade in the fight, but neither could gain the advantage. The Bavarian rear guard was able to first stop and then destroy the pursuing Bavarians to their rear. As things were breaking down, the Austrians decided to unleash their cavalry and try to sweep the French cav. Unfortuantely, the Austrian troopers were not into it and were replulse bloodily (a few too many 1s rolled!). This resulted in the Autrians breaking of from the fight. The French, Palatinate and Bavarians held the field, for a rather counterfactual victory!
– Manteuffel