Prelude to the Battle
In September 1757, an Austrian army, under Prince Charles of Lorraine, was following up Bevern’s Prussian army in its retreat towards Silesia.
On Tuesday September 6, Prince Charles de Lorraine finally decided to attack the corps of General Winterfeldt at Moys, since it was almost isolated from Bevern’s Army, on the right bank of the Neisse River. The attack was confided to General of Cavalry Nádasdy.
Nádasdy planned the attack with the assistance of Brigadier Montazet, the Count Colloredo and the Duke of Arenberg. For this attack, in addition to his own corps, Nádasdy was reinforced with the Reserve Corps under the Duke of Arenberg (replacing Count Colloredo who had been slightly injured) and 22 grenadier companies under General Sprecher.
The Game
Prussian Deployment, viewed of the right flank, after initial Austrian approach march.
Prussian Deployment, viewed from the left flank (generally following historical positioning).
Turn 1. Austrian main army advances on the Gorlistzer Stadt Graben (sunken road), while the Prussian Grenadiers holding the redoubt on the Jackelsburg.
Turn 2. The Austrian main army advances towards the Jakelsburg Redoubt with their Grenzers and Grenadiers, while sending the rest of the army to skirt around towards the Prussian main positions.
Turn 3. Austrian main army continues their advance and starts their first firefights on the Jackelsburg.
Turn 3. The Saxon cavalry brigade leaves Leopoldhaven on the right flank and attempts to slip past the Prussian covering forces.
Turn 5. The Austrian cavalry attempting to cover the right flank of main army is attacked and pushed back by the defending Prussian Cavalry. The Austrian army makes their deployment turn to advance forward to cut off the Jackelsburg. The Austrian Grenzers attacking the Jackelsburg are completely repulsed, leaving the task to the Grenadiers!
Turn 5. The Saxon cavalry is attacked in their flank by the Prussian covering force cavalry and attempts to outrun their pursuers.
Turn 6. The Saxon Cavalry is routed from the field.
Turn 6. The Austrian continue their advance and assaults directly onto the Jackelsburg.
Turn 7. The Austrian push forward and the Prussian cavalry puts pressure on their flanks. the Grenadiers continue a firefight on the Jackelsburg. The Prussians start redeploying their forces to meet the Austrian main army.
Turn 8. The Prussian continue to hold the Jackesburg, causing unequal losses to the Austrians.
Turn 9. The Austrian cavalry attempt to push back the Prussian massed cavalry (a forlorn hope!)
Turn 10. The Jackelsburg continues to hold out!
Turn 11. The Austrians try to change their tactics and go into assault against the Jackelsburg. However, they have taken too many losses at this point in their pronged firefights and the Prussian hold on. With the continued attacks by Prussian cavalry on their flank, the Austrian attack breaks down and looses cohesion.
Turn 12. The Austrian main army is in complete disarray from dealing with the Prussian cavalry and quits the field. Prussian victory!
– Manteuffel