Background
At the end of April 1759, a large Russian army (about 70,000 men) started its advance on Brandenburg. Dohna, the commander of the small Prussian army (18,000) in this area, was very slow to react.
At the beginning of June, the Russian army, now under general Piotr Semionovitch Saltykov, had managed to concentrate at Posen (actual Poznań) without any interference from Dohna. Saltykov then proceeded to the invasion of Brandenburg, starting his advance on Crossen (actual Krosno).
By July 17, the Russians had reached the area of Züllichau (actual Sulechów) a few km from the Oder river. Dohna failed to interpose his small army between the Russians and the bridge at Crossen. Frederick II quite upset by Dohna’s inefficiency despatched lieutenant-general Kurt Heinrich von Wedel to replace Dohna.
Wedel reached his army in the evening of Saturday July 22.
On July 23 at daybreak, Wedel set out to reconnoitre the ground and to see with his own eyes the army that he was supposed to stop. The heavily wooded area prevented him from seeing very much, but he saw glimpses of stationary troops that he mistook for the Russian left wing while they were in fact the rearguard. This led him to think that the whole Russian army was still idle and that therefore he still had time to outmanoeuvre it. Indeed, the Russians were already on the move to march towards Crossen by Heinersdorf (unidentified location), Nickern (actual Niekarzyn) and Paltzig (actual Palck) to eventually make a junction with an Austrian corps led by Hadik and Loudon.
At 10:00 AM, Wedel returned to the Prussian camp at Züllichau reassured about the intention of the Russians.
However, at 11:00 AM, the heads of the Russian columns began to emerge from the woods in full view of the astonished Prussian left wing in front of the village of Paltzig about 9 km from Züllichau. Wedel was immediately informed but did not believe the report and went personally to observe the Russian troops.
Wedel could not ignore that the king had dismissed Dohna for being too cautious, he was under pressure and he took a step that under different circumstances he probably would never have taken, he decided to attack the Russian army while it was on the march. Some Prussian generals were not sharing his confidence. General Wobersnow pointed out that the enemy was probably 40-50,000 strong with plenty of artillery pieces while their own army could not muster more than 27,000 and “I know not if we can bring a single cannon to where Saltykov is.” (Tempelhof iii 132-134).
Nevertheless, Wedel ordered his troops to march in 2 columns by the left: the first towards Kay (actual Kije) and the second towards Mohsau (actual Mozow).
http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=1759-07-23_-_Battle_of_Paltzig
The Game
Situation:
The Russian Army has taken blocking positions behind the Prussian Army, cutting its route of communications. Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, the Prussians must break through the Russians and extract themselves from the trap.
Scenario Rules:
- Russian Player is the defender and deploys roughly in historical positions. Russian right flank forces that did not take part in the historical battle are not included. All Russian Infantry is on defend and cavalry on support orders to start the game.
- To bring off board forces onto the table, the Russian General must successfully change their orders. The Russian General may leave the table to achieve this. All Russian reserves enter on the road at the town of Kay in the back corner.
- Prussian player is on attack and may only enter on the bottom quarter of the board to the left of the stream (which is impassible).
- The Prussian player enters in waves. The first wave enters turn 1, the second wave rolls to enter starting on turn 3 (must roll under the turn number to enter) and the third wave rolls to enter on turn 6 (must roll 1 or 2, if unsuccessful need to roll on the next turn at a 1-4, if still unsuccessful, enters on turn 8 automatically).
- All terrain is open and hills are gradual.
- Prussian player wins if they can take and hold the first hill held by the Russian second line artillery. They win a strategic victory if they can capture Kay or break the Russian army. The Russian Player wins by preventing the Prussian Victory. The Russian player wins a strategic victory if they take half as many casualties as the Prussians and prevent the Prussian victory conditions.
Narrative:
Turn 1-2: Prussian first wave enters the table, receives long range Russian artillery fire.
Turn 3: Prussian second wave enters and Prussians clear their left flank of Russian Cossacks and Hussars. Russians continue their cannonade. Once cavalry runs off the table in pursuit of the Russians….
Turn 4: Prussian forces continue to move forward and try to pin the Russian left, while the cavalry moves into position. The Russians continue peppering the Prussians with cannon balls.
Turn 5: The Prussians engage the Russian first line across the front and position the cavalry to turn the Russian right flank. Russian cannons keep up their spirited fire.
Turn 6: the Prussians start grinding into the Russian infantry, while being raked by the Russian artillery. While the Prussian cavalry try to rest to start their next attack, the Russians commit their own cavalry to cover the flank.
Turn 7: The Prussians begin clearing the Russian first line with their infantry, but casualties are high. The now rested Prussian Cavalry forms up to turn the flank. With the arrival of some reserves, the Russians turn to the attack and try to roll up the Prussian right flank.
Turn 8: The Prussian Infantry continues to grind up the Russian first line in the center and works the Russian right flank in support of the cavalry. The Prussian left flank cavalry moves forward and engages the Russian cavalry covering the flank. While the Russian cavalry come out on the worse end, they stop the Prussians from breaking through. Meanwhile, the Russians begin turning the Prussian right flank and start building a third line with their steady columns of reserves entering from Kay.
Turn 9: The Prussians have successfully cleared the entire Russian first line and turned the Russian right flank. Unfortunately, the Russians have crushed the Prussian right flank and have their heavy batteries bravely holding out on the heights.
The Prussians have exhaused themselves and have to call off the attack. A very historical Russian victory!
– Manteuffel