The Affair at Alt Kirchendorf - Part 2

With the forces arrayed, now let's get to to the action! We'll cover the actions in the center and east end of the table first, then in Part 3, the actions around the town of Alt Kirchendorf. As usual, please click on the photos for larger versions.

Photo by Ed Sansing

Before the game started, the game master (Jim Pitts, on right) went over the rules with the players who weren't able to attend the 7 September School of the 18th Century Soldier (link). John Hesselberg, pictured here, would command the Carpanian Brigade. John is also an 18th Century reenactor and was very familiar with the details of the drill of the period.

Photo by Ed Sansing

The Electoral commanders (from left): Bill Hamilton (reserve brigade), Jay Stribling (army commander and Brittanian brigades), John Hesselberg (Carpanian Brigade), and Sean Pitts (light troops). Unfortunately we didn't get a picture of the Imperial commanders, but they were: Ed Sansing (army commander and light troops), Phil Young (reserve brigade), Clay James (Courland/Sachsen-Wachsenstein Brigade), and John Murdaugh (Reichsarmee Brigade).

Photo by Ed Sansing

On the east end as the Imperial attack begins, the Courland commander has brought a second line battalion up into the first line to increase his firepower. His Carpanian opponents have also advanced to meet him.

Photo by Jim Pitts

This works well for the Imperials as their first volley is devastating against the Carpanian first line battalions. The saving throws for the Carpanians was abysmal!

Photo by Ed Sansing

The Carpanian light troops commander contemplates his initial moves against his Courland opponent. The two groups of light troops were content to "pot away" in the woods and rough ground along the east side of the battlefield without causing much damage to each other. The light cavalry did not engage at all during the battle, just taking a few casualties from long range artillery fire.

Photo by Ed Sansing

A Carpanian volley knocks over a few more Sachsen-Wachsensteiners.

Photo by Jim Pitts

Meanwhile in the center, the Brittanians have advanced against the Reichsarmee brigade and have lost heavily due to poor saving throws. Who knew that the Reichsarmee soldiers could shoot so well! The Brittanian battalion in the center is down to 3 figures out of 24 and will retire from the action very quickly. The Eisenmuhlen Regiment formerly in the second line is now wrecking havoc on a Reichsarmee battalion, sending half of them away as casualties (the movement base in the lower left corner is all casualties).

Photo by Ed Sansing

One of the Courland Pandur companies occupies the Denkmal hill to try to outflank some Carpanian jagers.

Photo by Jim Pitts

A panoramic view of the center and west end of the battlefield with Imperial reserve brigade commander Phil Young pondering his options as he watches the fire fight in the center.

Photo by Jim Pitts

On the Denkmal hill, the Courland Pandurs, now supported by the Timofievich Cossacks, turn to face a new threat, a company of Carpanian freikorps. But the Pandurs quickly learned that even open order is no protection in open terrain as the freikorps first volley quickly forced them to fall back with a number of casualties. [Note: The back drop in this picture is a large piece of cardboard that I sprayed painted with green, brown, blue, and white paints.]

Photo by Jim Pitts

The action continues in the center between the Reichsarmee battalions on the left and the Brittanians and Eisenmuhlers on the right.

Photo by Ed Sansing

On the east, the Carpanian brigade withdraws in response to the pressure from the Courland and Sachsen-Wachsenstein advance.

Photo by Ed Sansing

The Imperials continue to close on the Carpanians who have angled their line to hopefully increase their effectiveness.

Photo by Jim Pitts

As General von Stuppe (bottom right) watches, more Reichsarmee troops fall to the Eisenmuhlen volleys. But the Imperials have also been shooting well and the Brittanian and Eisenmuhlen battalions are steadily loosing soldiers. [Note: Pay no attention to the labels on the Reichsarmee casualties. I raided my American Revolution armies for additional forces on both sides!]

Photo by Ed Sansing

A view of the action in the center from the Imperial perspective. The Carpanian center is very attrited but the second line brigade hasn't come forward. Intelligence has reached General von Stuppe that additional Imperial forces are approaching his deep left (east) flank and that these forces are led by none other than Reichs Duke Wilhelm von Beerstein himself. This brigade may be needed to blunt his anticipated attack.

Tune in later for Part 3, which will cover the fighting around the town of Alt Kirchendorf and the completion of the battle.