http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerre_de_Sept_Anshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Years%27_War

Año Fecha Area Accion Contrincantes Resultado1755 9 Julio America Monongahela (Emboscada) British/French French victory1755 8 Sept America Combat of Lake George British/French British victory

1756 20 May Europa Battle of Minorca British/French French naval victory1756 1 Oct Europa Battle of Lobositz Austrian/Prussian Prussian victory

1757 21 Abril Europa Combat of Reichenberg Austrian/Prussian Prussian victory1757 6 Mayo Europa Battle of Prague Austrian/Prussian Prussian victory1757 18 Junio Europa Battle of Kolin Austrian/Prussian Austrian victory1757 26 Julio Europa Battle of Hastenbeck Allied/French French victory1757 13 Ago Europa Combat of Landshut (1 st ) Austrian/Prussian Austrian victory1757 30 Ago Europa Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf Prussian/Russian Draw1757 7 Sept Europa Combat of Moys Austrian/Prussian Austrian victory1757 5 Nov Europa Battle of Rossbach Franco-Imperial/Prussian Prussian victory1757 22 Nov Europa Battle of Breslau Austrian/Prussian Austrian victory1757 5 Dic Europa Battle of Leuthen Austrian/Prussian Prussian victory1757 4 Feb India Combat of Calcutta British/Indian Indian marginal victory1757 23 Jun India Battle of Plassey British/Indian British victory1757 /10/21 Caribe Combat of Cap-François British/French Draw

1758 06/23 Europa Battle of Krefeld Allied/French Alliedvictory1758 06/28-30 Europa Combats near Domstadtl Austrian/Prussian Austrian victory (presently depicted in the article on the siege of Olmütz)1758 07/23 Europa Combat of Sandershausen French/Hessian French victory1758 08/05 Europa Combat of Mehr Allied/French Allied victory1758 08/25 Europa Battle of Zorndorf Prussian/Russian Draw1758 09/11 Europa Combat of Saint-Cast British/French French victory1758 09/26 Europa Engagement of Tarmow Prussian/Swede Prussian victory1758 09/28 Europa Assault on Fehrbellin Prussian/Swede Swedish victory1758 09/29 Europa Assault on Bork Allied/French French victory1758 10/10 Europa Battle of Lutterberg Allied/French French victory1758/10/14 Europa Battle of Hochkirch Austrian/Prussian Austrian victory1758/11/18 Europa Combat of Güstow Prussian/Swede Prussian victory1758/04/29 India Combat of Cuddalore British/French French naval victory1758/08/03 India Combat of Negapatam British/French British naval victory1758/12/09 India Battle of Condore British/French Britishvictory1758/03/13 America Skirmish of Snow Shoes British/French French victory1758/07/08 America Battle of Carillon (Ticonderoga) British/French French victory

1759 04/13 Europa Battle of Bergen Allied/French Frenchvictory1759 07/01 Europa Attempt on Lippstadt Allied/French Alliedvictory1759 07/23 Europa Battle of Paltzig (Kay) Prussian/Russian Russianvictory1759 08/01 Europa Battle of Minden Allied/French Alliedvictory1759 08/01 Europa Engagement of Gohfeld Allied/French Alliedvictory1759 08/12 Europa Battle of Kunersdorf Austro-Russian/Prussian Austro-Russianvictory1759 08/18 Europa Battle of Lagos British/French Britishnavalvictory1759 09/02 Europa Combat of Sorau Austrian/Prussian Austrianvictory1759 09/08 Europa Combat of Zinna Austro-Imperial/Prussian Prussianvictory1759 09/10 Europa Combat of Neuwarp Prussian/Swede Swedishnavalvictory1759 09/21 Europa Combat of Korbitz (1ª de Meissen) Austro-Imperial/Prussian Prussianvictory1759 11/20 Europa Battle of Maxen Austro-Imperial/Prussian Austro-Imperialvictory1759 11/20 Europa Battle of Quiberon British/French Britishnavalvictory1759 11/30 Europa Attack on Fulda Allied/Württemberger Alliedvictory1759 12/03-04 Europa Combat of Meissen (2º de Meissen) Austrian/Prussian Austrianvictory1759 09/10 India Battle of Pondicherry British/French Frenchnavalvictory1759 07/31 America Battle of Beauport British/French Frenchvictory1759 09/13 America Battle of Québec British/French Britishvictory1759 10/4 America Raid on Saint-François British/French Britishvictory

1760 06/23 Europa Battle of Landeshut (2 nd ) Austrian/Prussian Austrianvictory1760 07/10 Europa Combat of Corbach Allied/French Frenchvictory1760 07/16 Europa Engagement of Emsdorf Allied/French Alliedvictory1760 07/31 Europa Battle of Warburg Allied/French Alliedvictory1760 08/15 Europa Battle of Liegnitz Austrian/Prussian Prussianvictory1760 08/20 Europa Combat of Strehla Austro-Imperial/Prussian Prussianvictory1760 09/17 Europa Combat of Hochgiersdorf Austrian/Prussian Prussianvictory1760 10/16 Europa Battle of Clostercamp Allied/French Frenchvictory1760 11/03 Europa Battle of Torgau Austrian/Prussian Prussianvictory

1760 01/22 India Battle of Wandewash British/French Britishvictory1760 04/28 America Battle of Sainte-Foy British/French Frenchvictory1760 07/08 America Battle of the Restigouche British/French Britishvictory (presentlydepictedinthearticle1760-FrenchreinforcementofCanada)

1761/02/15 Europa CombatofLangensalza Allied-Prussian/Franco-Imperial Allied-Prussianvictory1761/03/21 Europa EngagementofGrünberg Allied/French Frenchvictory1761/07/16 Europa BattleofVellinghausenAllied/FrenchAlliedvictory1761/09/15 Europa EngagementofGostynPrussian/RussianPrussianvictory1761/09/17 Europa CombatofKosabroma(akaBrohm-Cosa)Prussian/SwedeDraw1761/09/18 Europa CombatofRothemühl-NeuensundPrussian/SwedeSwedishvictory1761/09/19 Europa

CombatofGreenRedoubtPrussian/RussianPrussianvictory(presentlydepictedinthearticle1761-RussiancampaigninPomerania)1761/10/21 Europa EngagementofZarnglaffPrussian/RussianRussianvictory1761/10/22 Europa CombatofGollnowPrussian/RussianDraw(presentlydepictedinthearticle1761-RussiancampaigninPomerania)1761/12/12 Europa CombatofSpiePrussian/RussianDraw

1762/05/12 Europa CombatofDoebelnAustrian/PrussianPrussianvictory1762/06/24 Europa BattleofWilhelmsthalAllied/FrenchAlliedvictory1762/07/06 Europa CombatofAdelsbachAustrian/PrussianAustrianvictory1762/07/21 Europa BattleofBurkersdorfAustrian/PrussianPrussianvictory1762/07/23 Europa CombatofLutterberg(2nd)Allied/FrenchAlliedvictory1762/08/02 Europa CombatofTeplitzAustrian/PrussianAustrianvictory1762/08/16 Europa BattleofReichenbachAustrian/PrussianPrussianvictory1762/08/30 Europa CombatofNauheim(akaJohannisberg)Allied/FrenchFrenchvictory1762/09/21 Europa CombatofAmöneburg(akaBrücker-Mühle)Allied/Frenchdraw1762/10/29 Europa BattleofFreibergAustrian/PrussianPrussianvictory

1757-07-26 - Battle of Hastenbeck

French Victory

Prelude to the Battle

At the beginning of July, the French Army of the Lower Rhine under Maréchal d'Estréeshad

successfully crossed the Weser River. After retiring in front of this superior French army for two

weeks, the Duke of Cumberland decided to make a stand and selected a strong defensive

position between the fortified city of Hameln and the Obensburg hill.

After reconnoitring the Allied positions, the French determined that it prevented any frontal

assault. D'Estrées then decided to attack its left flank. The task was assigned toM. de

Chevert with a screen of light troops, and the brigades of Picardie, Navarre and La Marine, to

which was added the brigade d'Eu, initially under M. de Randan.

Description of Events

At 9:00 PM on the day before the battle, Chevert started his long flank march towards the Allied

left flank. The 12 grenadier companies formed the head of the column, followed by 4 guns, the

4 Picardie battalions, the 4 Navarre battalions and the 4 La Marine battalions. Chevert

advanced up to the village of Varonberg where he turned right into sunken roads in the woods.

During the night march, there was some confusion in Chevert's ranks. Navarre

Infanteriemistakenly continued its advance directly on the village of Varonberg. The Marquis de

Valfons stopped it when it was almost in contact with the enemies first outposts. The regiment

retraced its step to join La Marine to the left of Picardie Infanterie.

At 2:00 A.M., Chevert's entire corps was arrived on the plateau. Later on, d'Estrées sent the Eu

brigade to reinforce Chevert's Corps before its assault on the Allied left. However, the brigade

got lost in the dark.

A considerable fog raised at daybreak and the armies could see each other only at 5:30 AM.

The Allies then began a cannonade which was feebly answered while the French still awaited

M. de Chevert's signal.

At 8:00 AM, the Eu brigade finally joined Chevert's corps.

At 9:00 AM, using battalion columns, Chevert launched his attack on the Allied left flank in the

woods. When the sound of the engagement was heard, the French army began its general

advance while the artillery opened a devastating fire. The right of the Allied position attacked by

Chevert was anchored on a steep rock more than 12 m high. This obstacle just inside the wood

was securing its right and rear. Big oak trees stood in front of the Allies and between these trees

other fallen oak trees formed formidable breastworks. A very dense wood completed the

position. Repulsed from this initial position, the Allies retired on a second height, having a ravine

in front of them.

D'Armentières advanced on the right with the brigades of Belzunce, La Couronne and Alsace,

supported by the Austrian Brigade and by dismounted dragoons. His objective was to attack the

Allied redoubt and batteries.

Contades at the head of the Orléans, Vaubécourt, Lyonnais and Mailly brigades began a slow

advance towards the ravines between the Obensberg and the village of Hastenbeck.

The first line of the left wing infantry, led by MM. de Guerchy and de Saint-Pern, also began a

slow advance in 3 columns against the village of Hastenbeck.

The difficult terrain chosen by Cumberland to make his stand did not allow the cavalry to

charge. So d'Estrées assigned it to support the infantry. It was to debouch into the plain once

the main infantry attack had taken place.

However, d'Armentières slightly modified the direction of his advance and got entangled in the

woods. This manoeuvre mixed up the general order of battle. The situation was corrected by

launching the reserve under M. d'Anlézy (Champagne and Reding brigades) against the

redoubt. Champagne attacked a battery of 8 guns. It fell into disorder at the first salvoes.

However, it soon rallied and captured the battery.

Around 10:00 AM, the woods on the right became the focal point of the battlefield while the rest

of the field belonged to the French artillery who made superior execution.Navarre

Infanterie stormed the second position occupied by the Allied units on their extreme left flank.

Chevert continued to make gains against the enemy flank. Meanwhile, the Champagne and

Alsace brigades captured the redoubt and Reding brigade covered the edge of the woods.

At this moment, with Guerchy and Saint-Pern in position in front of Hastenbeck, d'Estrées

ordered an attack against the village. The approaching French columns were still at half a

cannonshot from Hastenbeck when the village took fire. Nevertheless, theGrenadiers de

France advanced into the village while Du Roi Infanterie and theGrenadiers Royaux de

Solar took position on each side of the village. When theGrenadiers de France debouched from

Hastenbeck they were fired upon with canister by some Allied guns entrenched at the edge of

the woods. The grenadiers charged and captured these guns.

Meanwhile, Chevert had cleared the woods in front of him and ordered his corps to advance into

the plain, taking the Allied redoubts in rear. However, de Lorge, commanding the Eu brigade,

did not obey orders and remained on the plateau.

The French cavalry now had ample room to deploy into the plain to support the general

advance. However, the Grenadiers de France received the quite surprising order to withdraw

into the village of Hastenbeck.

Indeed, d'Estrées had realized that the Allies were moving troops from their left through the

woods. An intense firefight could be heard. Three Hanoverian battalions under Hardenberg had

managed to take the isolated Eu brigade in flank, utterly routing it and causing heavy losses.

Hardenberg now master of the plateau used abandoned guns to fire on Chevert's right in the

plain. Simultaneously, Hardenberg launched a few Allied squadrons in the gap created on the

French right. Furthermore, d'Estrées was wrongly informed by the Comte de Maillebois that a

force of some 10,000 Allies was actually turning its right flank. D'Estrées immediately ordered all

his light troops to retreat to the camp to protect it and he sent almost all of his cavalry and an

infantry brigade to plug this hole in his lines. Orders were issued to all the infantry to halt its

advance and to the artillery to move back. However, these orders did not originate from

d'Estrées... The Royal-Pologne brigade which was debouching in the plain on the French left

flank was also ordered to stop in front of retreating Allied units. These confusing orders, the

movements that they caused and the disordered French infantry retreating in front of the Allied

counter-attack interrupted all other attacks for almost 2 hours.

This pause in the combats gave the Allies the opportunity to begin an orderly retreat across the

Hameln River.

The French cavalry finally restored the situation. Fire from the wood had ceased and dust

clouds indicated that the Allies were retreating from those parts. Realizing that he had been

misinformed, d'Estrées decided to resume the attack of the Grenadiers de France, supporting it

with the Royal-Carabiniers and the Royal Pologne brigades who had now debouched into the

plain.

By this time, the Allies continuing their retreat had already passed the small creek at Afferde,

burning their camp upon leaving it.

At 6:00 PM, the Allied army was out of sight. D'Estrées sent troops to follow him up to the

village of Afferde. But, seeing that the enemy was retreating in good order and being master of

the battlefield, he encamped his army and simply pushed a detachment to cover Hameln.

The French captured 9 guns, 2 howitzers and a few prisoners, among which a major-general

and 2 officers. The losses of the Allies amounted to some 1,420 men (300 killed, 900 wounded,

220 taken prisoners) while the French lost 1,500 men killed or wounded. The Marquis de

Laval, aide maréchal général des logis, was killed while M. du Châtelet and M. Belzunce were

wounded.

Throughout the day, the French artillery under the supervision of Vallières had performed

outstandingly.

Outcome

The French victory led to the convention of Klosterzeven whereby Cumberland agreed to

disband his army and to allow French to occupy Hanover.

Map

Reconstruction based on the maps of "Großer Gerneralstab, Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II, Der Siebenjährige

Krieg 1756-1763", vol. V; and "Camps topographiques de la Campagne de 1757 en Westphalie ect., par le Sr.

Du Bois", Le Hague, 1760.

 

Courtesy: Christian Rogge

The Allied army had its right at Hameln covered by a brook and a marsh and its left anchored on

the woods and heights of Apserte with a strong detachment on the Obensberg. This part of the

Allied position was supported by batteries and a redoubt.

The French army was assembled on the heights of Ohsen, its left reaching the Weser. There

was an impracticable marsh in front of the French left. On the Allied side, it was protected by a

plateau where Cumberland had established guns. The village of Hastenbeck was in the centre.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-Chief: Duke of Cumberland

First Line Second Line

Right Wing under Lieutenant-general Zastrow

von Block Brigade (Hanoverian)

Druchtleben - 3B (1 bn)

Knesebeck - 3A (1 bn)

Scheither - 1A (1 bn)

Buckeburg Battalion (1 bn)

Sachsen-Gotha - 9A (1 bn)

Stolzenberg - 4B (1 bn)

Post - 10A (1 bn)

Artillery Battery #1A (extreme right wing): 2 x 24-pdrs

and 4 x 6-pdrs

Artillery Battery #1B (right wing): 2 x 6-pdrs and some x

3-pdrs

von Sporcken Brigade (Hanoverian)

Jung-Zastrow - 9B (1 bn)

Diepenbroick - 8A (1 bn)

Right Wing Cavalry

von Dachenhausen Brigade

(Hanoverian)

Busche Dragoons - 7C (4 sqns)

Breidenbach Dragoons - 6C (2

sqns)

Grenadier zu Pferde - C-B (1

sqn)

Dachenhausen Dragoons - 5C

(2 sqns)

Leibgarde zu Pferde - C-A (1

sqn)

von Zepelin Brigade (Hanoverian)

Hammerstein - 2C-B (2 sqns)

Schollen - 1C-B (2 sqns)

Reden - 4C-A (2 sqns)

Gilten - 4C-B (2 sqns)

Center under Lieutenant-general Wutginau Center

Prinz von Anhalt Brigade (Hessian)

Leib-Regiment (1 bn)

Prinz Karl (1 bn)

Prinz von Anhalt (1 bn)

Fürstenberg (1 bn)

von Gilsa Brigade (Hessian)

Kanitz (1 bn)

Hanau (1 bn)

Haudring (1 bn)

Artillery Battery #2 (north of Hastenbeck): 3 x 24-pdrs,

2 x 12-pdrs and 4 x 6-pdrs

von Fürstenberg Brigade (Hessian)

Prinz Ysenburg (1 bn)

Mansbach (1 bn)

Erbprinz (1 bn)

Grenadier-Regiment (1 bn)

von Einsiedel Brigade (Hessian)

Leib Regiment (2 sqns)

Miltitz (1 sqn)

Ysenburg (2 sqns)

von Urff Brigade (Hessian)

Prinz Wilhelm (2 sqns)

Leib Dragoner (4 sqns)

Left Wing under Lieutenant-general Imhoff

Brigade Erbprinz of Brunswick

Brunswick Behr (2 bns)

Brunswick Leib-Regiment (2 bns)

Brigade von Behr

Brunswick Zastrow (1 bn)

Brunswick Imhoff (2 bns)

Hanoverian Brunck - 12B (1 bn)

Hanoverian Block - 8B (1 bn)

Left Wing

von Kielmansegg Brigade

(Hanoverian)

Kielmannsegg - 12A (1 bn)

Oberg - 11B (1 bn) ???

Garde (2 bns)

von Hodenberg Brigade

(Hanoverian)

Wagenheim - 7A (1 bn)

Hodenberg - 5B (1 bn)

Other Detachments

Advance Guard of Left Wing Protecting Forward Batteries

von Hardenberg Brigade of converged grenadiers

Hanoverian Grenadiers (2 bns)

Hessian Grenadiers (1 bn)

Brunswick Grenadiers (1 bn)

Artillery Battery #3 (east of Hastenbeck): 4 howitzers and 8 x 12-pdrs

von Schulenburg Brigade

Brunswick Grenadiers (1 bn)

Hessian Stockhausen Grenadiers (1 bn)

Hanoverian Grenadiers (1 bn)

Artillery Battery #4 (left wing northwest of Voremberg): 2 howitzers, 2 x 12-pdrs and 6 3-

pdrs

Detachment on the Obensburg under Major von Freytag

Hanoverian Fuss Jäger (3 companies)

Scouts on Right Wing : Hanoverian Jäger zu Pferde (2 companies)

Detachment on the Weser

Hanoverian Bock Dragoons - 8C (4 sqns)

Hanoverian Hussars  (1 sqn)

Buckeburg Carabiniers  (1 sqn)

Detachment around the Afferde Watchtower under von Ledebur (Hanoverian)

Dachenhausen Dragoons  - 5C (2 sqns)

Leib-Regiment  - 1C-A (2 sqns)

Ledebour  - 4A (1 bn)

Fabrice  - 2B (1 bn)

Detachments in and near Hameln (Hanoverian)

Kommandierte Infanterie (2,000 men) converged from various regiments

1st Garrison Battalion  (1 bn)

Hessian Miltitz (1 sqn of dismounted recruits)

East of Afferde under Colonel Dachenhausen

Schlutter (2 sqns) unidentified unit

Dachenhausen  - 2C-A (2 sqns)

Detachment on the Schecken Height between Afferde and Diedersen under Breidenbach

(Hanoverian)

Breidenbach Dragoons  - 6C (2 sqns)

Sporken  - 2A (1 bn)

von Hardenberg  - 6A (1 bn)

Zandre de Caraffa  - 6B (1 bn)

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-Chief: Maréchal d'Estrées

Total force:

50,000 infantry and artillery in 84 battalions, 10,000 cavalry in 83 squadrons, supported by 68

heavy guns, 84 battalion guns and 8 howitzers.

These figures are given according to the information in Grosser Generalstab. They are based

on a “plan” of the French camp on the battlefield in the afternoon of July 26 “…listing all

regiments by name and in strength of 70 bns and 63 sqns. To this force, the troops of Broglie’s

Reserve (8 bns and 12 sqns) which recrossed the river Weser the same day, 2 bns of

the Grenadiers Royaux de Solar, the 4 bns brigade d’Alsace, that are not listed as with

d’Armentières force, but took part in the battle, and 8 sqns from Randan’s Reserve and

d’Armentières' vanguard would have to be added” – all apparently detached. “This gives a

strength of 84 bns and 83 sqns for the French army” … (incl. 2 bns of artillery).

Cavalry generals are speculative, though based on fragmental record elsewhere – no

confirmation on the commands here. Cavalry regiments and brigading should be exact at about

80%, that of the infantry near 100%.

N.B.: most sources, except Jomini, agree with the German Grosser Generalstab on the total

force of the French Army.

First Line Second Line Reserve

Right Flank: Division under M. de Chevert assisted by Maréchaux de Camp de Vogüé and de Maupeou

Screening Light Troops

Volontaires du Hainaut (400

men) under M. de La

Morlière

Volontaires de Flandre (400

men) under M. de Vigneau

Volontaires de l'armée (200

mounted men) under Bussi

Detachement of Volontaires

du Hainaut and de

Flandre (5 troops) under M.

de Bourgmarie

Converged Grenadiers (12 coys)

Artillery: 4 x 4-pdrs

Picardie Brigade (4 bns)

Navarre Brigade (4 bns)

La Marine Brigade (4 bns)

Eu Brigade under the Comte de

Lorge

Eu (2 bns)

Enghien (2 bns)

Right Wing Infantry under the Marquis d'Armentières

Austrian Infantry Brigade

de Ligne (1 bn)

Sachsen-Gotha (1 bn)

Belzunce Brigade (4 bns)

La Couronne Brigade

La Couronne (2 bns)

Conty (2 bns)

Alsace Brigade

Alsace (3 bns)

Saint-Germain (1 bn)

Colonel Général Dragons (4

dismounted sqns)

Mestre de Camp Général

Dragons (4 dismounted sqns)

Orléans Dragons (4 dismounted

sqns)

Reserve

Champagne Brigade (4

bns) under M. d'Anlézy

Infantry Division (coming

from Imbeck)

Reding (2 bns)

Salis de

Mayenfeld (2 bns)

Infantry Centre under the Marquis de Contades

Mailly Brigade (4 bns)

Lyonnais Brigade

Lyonnais (2 bns)

La Roche Aymon (2 bns)

Vaubécourt Brigade

Vaubécourt (2 bns)

Right Wing Cavalry under the Duc d'Orléans (behind Contades Centre Division)

Colonel Général Brigade

Colonel Général (3 sqns)

Clermont-Tonnerre (2 sqns)

Dauphin Brigade

Dauphin (2 sqns)

Moustiers (2 sqns)

Right Wing Cavalry

Commissaire Général

Brigade

Commissaire

Général (2 sqns)

Bellefonds (2 sqns)

Aquitaine (2 sqns)

Bourgogne Brigade

Condé (2 bns)

Orléans Brigade

Orléans (2 bns)

Chartres (2 bns)

Talleyrand (2 sqns)

Cuirassiers du Roy Brigade

Cuirassiers du Roy (2 sqns)

2 unidentified Cavalry

Regiments (4 sqns)

Bourgogne (2 sqns)

Bourbon-Busset (2

sqns)

Royal Roussillon Brigade

Royal Roussillon (2

sqns)

Saluces (2 sqns)

Fumel (2 sqns)

Left Wing Infantry Division under theDuc de Broglie

Du Roi Brigade (4 bns) under M.

de Guerchy

Grenadier Brigade under M. de

Saint-Pern

Grenadiers Royaux de

Solar(2 bns)

Grenadiers de

France Brigade (4 bns)

Left Wing Infantry Division under the Duc de Broglie

Infantry Division under M. de

Souvré and M. d'Isselbach

1st Palatinate Brigade

Osten (2 bns)

Prinz Karl von

Zweibrucken (2 bns)

Preysing (2 bns)

2nd Palatinate Brigade

Baaden (2 bns)

Prinz Birkenfeld (2 bns)

Poitou Brigade

Poitou (2 bns)

Provence (2 bns)

Royal-Suédois Brigade

Royal Suédois (2 bns)

Royal Bavière (2 bns)

Left Wing Cavalry under the Duc de Brissac (behind Broglie's Left Wing Division)

Royal Cravate Brigade

Royal Cravate (2 sqns)

Noailles (2 sqns)

Charost (2 sqns)

Mestre de Camp Général

Brigade

Left Wing Cavalry

Royal-Pologne Brigade

Royal-Pologne (2 sqns)

Harcourt (2 sqns)

Henrichemont (2 sqns)

du Roy Brigade

du Roy (2 sqns)

Rochefoucauld-Langeac (2

sqns)

Mestre de Camp Général (2

sqns)

2 unidentified Cavalry

Regiments (4 sqns)

Condé (2 sqns)

Other Detachments

Cavalry Reserve under the Marquis de Poyanne

Royal-Carabiniers  Brigade Maisne (2 sqns)

Royal-Carabiniers  Brigade Saint-George (2 sqns)

Royal-Carabiniers  Brigade Rosen (2 sqns)

Hussars

Bercheny Hussards  (4 sqns)

Polleresky Hussards  (4 sqns)

Artillery under M. de la Vallière (in front of the center and right wing of the army)

Corps Royal de l'Artillerie  - Lamotte Battalion

Corps Royal de l'Artillerie  - Menouville Battalion

6 groups of about 10 to 12 guns each consisting of:

25 x 12-pdrs and 16-pdrs

4 x 24-pdrs

8 howitzers

8 x 8-pdrs (with Broglies reserve)

27 x 4-pdrs

Contemporary Accounts

Relation of the battle of Hastenbeck by an anonymous French officer

References

Archenholz, J. W., The History of the Seven Years War in Germany, translated by F. A. Catty,

Francfort, 1843, p. 78

Beringer, Ingo, Guns and Brigades at Hastenbeck, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X

No. 4

Évrard P., Praetiriti Fides

Du Bois, Camp Topographies of the Campaign of 1757, in Westphalia. Begun by M. le maréchal

d’Estrées, continued by M. le duc de Richelieu, & concluded by Mgr. le comte de Clermont: With

a journal of its operations, & some other very courious Piece. (original "Camps topographiques

de la Campagne de 1757 en Westphalie ect., par le Sr. Du Bois", Le Hague, 1760). Translation

by James J. Mitchell, publ. Old Battlefields Press, USA, 1996.

Großer Gerneralstab, Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II, Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756-1763

Horse and Musket Users Group

Rogge, Christian, The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War,

Frankfurt, 2006

Vial J. L., Nec Pluribus Impar

West, Dean, Additional Thoughts on Hastenbeck - Definitive Order of Battle?, Seven Years War

Association Journal Vol. VII No. 3

Yahoo SYW Group Message No. 5515

1758-06-23 - Battle of Krefeld

Allied Victory

Prelude

Since the beginning of his winter offensive in West Germany in February 1758, the Allied Army

under the command of Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick had first pushed back the French Army to

the Rhine. Then, at the beginning of June, Ferdinand had led his army across the Rhine and

initiated a campaign on the west bank of the Rhine and he was now trying to pin the French

army against the Rhine.

On June 23, Ferdinand, now some 70 km on the west side of the Rhine, found the French

drawn up in battle order at Krefeld. The French army, under the Comte de Clermont, counted

some 47,000 men while Ferdinand had 33,000 men.

Map

Map of the battle of Krefeld on June 23 1758.

 

Source: Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, volume III by the German Grosser Generalstab

The French positions at Krefeld were very advantageous. The French right wing extended

towards a very thick wood having in its front the village of Ravensgät (unidentified location) and

the town of Krefeld. The village of Sankt-Tönis covered the front of the left wing which extended

up to Anrath and another thick wood. These lines were covered by a thick rampart surrounded

by two wide ditches. Only a few passages existed for communications. All roads leading to

these lines were bordered with trees and the countryside was covered with properties separated

by canal-ditches, osier-thickets, hedges, farm-villages, peat-bogs... An open plain extended

between these lines and Krefeld. A frontal attack seemed impossible while the French right flank

was covered by a large marsh and the left flank extended over an intricate ground as previously

described. 

Description of Events

Ferdinand divided his army into three corps:

1. Ferdinand's corps (16 bns and 26 sqns) on the right wing;

2. General Oberg's corps (6 bns and 6 sqns) in the centre;

3. General Spörcken's corps (16 bns and 20 sqns) on the left wing.

Ferdinand planned to outflank the French left wing with his own corps winding itself round and

bursting in upon Clermont's rear. Oberg was to support him with diversionary attacks on the

passages of Stoeken (unidentified location) and Hukesmey (unidentified location). Meanwhile,

Spörcken had to mislead Clermont in thinking the threat was to his right and to contain the

French army until the outflanking movement had succeeded.

On June 23 at 4:00 AM, the Allied army began to move. The right wing advanced in 2 columns

to Sankt-Tönis, the left on the plain leading to Krefeld. Ferdinand, theHereditary Prince of

Brunswick and Holstein assembled on the heights of Sankt-Tönis to observe the French

positions. Ferdinand then resolved to march to the right and to attack the French left wing in the

villages of Vorst and Anrath. He also ordered Spörcken to make diversion and to send

Lieutenant-general Oberg with 6 bns

(Chevallerie, Druchtleben, Kielmannsegg, Schele, Reden and the Fusiliers) of the second

line, Bremer Cavalry Regiment with the Hanoverian Garde du Corps with 6 x 12-pdrs in a single

column towards Sankt-Tönis. Meanwhile, Spörcken marched in two columns along the marsh of

Kleud.

At 8:00 AM, Ferdinand put himself at the head of the grenadiers of the right wing and took the

road leading to the village of Vorst. He then left the village on his right and with great difficulty

moved in two columns against Anrath through scrubs, thickets, hedges and ditches.

At 10:00 AM, Clermont was informed that several Allied columns were in sight, marching up to

his camp. He immediately deployed his army in front of his camp. His right extended to the

wood at Fischeln from where it lined the Landwehr dyke as far as Ant Stock. The dyke was

occupied by the infantry. In the centre, behind the infantry, Clermont deployed two lines of

cavalry. A reserve of carabiniers and dragoons formed en potence on the left wing;

the Grenadiers de France and the Grenadiers Royaux were kept in reserve behind the right

wing and Navarre Infanterie in reserve behind the centre. He also posted 4 bns towards Anrath

which was occupied by 200 foot and 200 horse of the Légion Royale. Finally, he threw 800 men

(infantry, cavalry and hussars) in the village of Krefeld.

About noon, while Clermont was deploying his army the Légion Royale and the 4 bns defending

Anrath fell back on their camp, after some skirmishes, gave the alarm and joined the French left

wing. When Clermont realised that Ferdinand was trying to outflank his left wing, he sent 15

battalions (the brigades of La Marine, Touraine,Brancas and Lochmann) under the command of

Saint-Germain against him. He also deployed 30 squadrons to support Saint-Germain. Clermont

also recalled the detachment occupying Krefeld.

Ferdinand rapidly passed a defile and crossed woods near Anrath with his vanguard. He then

deployed them on the plain between Anrath and Willich. Saint-Germain's corps along with its

support of cavalry lined a wood running parallel to the river Niers. According to the Allied plan,

Oberg and Spörcken then started their advance towards the French lines. A lively cannonade

opened in this part of the battlefield.

At 1:00 PM, on the Allied right wing, Ferdinand moved his artillery forward, allowing his infantry

to form against a wood and Malachowski Hussars to extend on his right towards the village of

Willich as if to turn the French left flank. Bock Dragoons were kept behind the right of the

infantry. After a lively cannonade, Ferdinand realised that he would have to oust the 15 French

bns from the wood by a direct attack. The Hereditary Prince put himself at the head of the first

line (Schulenburg and Schack converged grenadiers

battalions, Block, Spörcken, Hardenberg, Wangenheim, Post, Dreves) and entered into the

wood.

Clermont, realizing that the decisive action of the battle would take place on his left wing, sent

for the reserve (Grenadiers de France, Grenadiers Royaux, Navarre brigade) to march to the

support of Saint-Germain's corps. However, these reserve units were quite distant from the left

wing and Clermont's courier lost precious time locating it.

Meanwhile, the French brigades of the second line of the French left wing led by Saint-Germain

bore the brunt of the fighting. All on their own, without being reinforced, they fought for almost 3

hours defending the crossing of the ditch and the possession of the hamlets alongside this

serious obstacle. Three successive Allied attacks were repulsed. Ferdinand had to commit the

second Allied line who penetrated into the wood to force Saint-Germain back. Only 8 Allied sqns

remained on the plain as a reserve. The other 16 sqns never managed to enter into the wood,

stopped by 2 batteries supported by 30 sqns.

At about 5:00 PM, the Hereditary Prince, assisted by Wangenheim and Kielmannsegg,

launched his grenadiers in an attack on the two ditches defended by the French in the wood,

forcing both of them. The grenadiers were imitated by the other battalions all along the line.

Saint-Germain, after sustaining heavy casualties, finally retired from the wood. His retreat was

covered by the 48 French squadrons of the left wing who prevented the Allied infantry to

advance into the plain despite the very effective fire of the Allied artillery. However, only three

brigades of French cavalry (Carabiniers, Aquitaineand Royal-Roussillon) took an active part to

the fighting. It is said that 3 more French cavalry brigades of the left wing refused twice to

engage despite explicit orders to do so.

Between 5:00 and 6:00 PM, 3 dragoon squadrons (1 Hessian and 2 Prussian) under colonel

Bandemer, chef of the Holstein-Gottorp Dragoons, crossed the ditch at an unguarded passage

near Engershöfe and advanced into the rear of the French cavalry, causing considerable

surprise. Clermont ordered the Carabiniers along with Royal-Roussillon Cavalerie and Aquitaine

Cavalerie to charge the Allied troops debouching on the plain. The Hessian dragoons and a

Hessian cavalry rgt had first shock with theCarabiniers de Provence and Royal-Roussillon

Cavalerie and were driven back to the wood with significant loss.

Meanwhile, Major-general von Urff had also passed the defile at the head of his ownLeib-

Regiment and of the Leib-Dragoner. He countercharged the pursuing Carabiniers, allowing

Holstein's remaining squadrons to deploy. After a number of successive furious charges and

melees, the French cavalry was completely broken.

During this cavalry engagement, the Hereditary Prince and Gilsa managed to rally a number of

battalions (Hessian Prinz Carl, Hanoverian Post, Dreves and possiblyHardenberg) and then

advanced onto the plain. The Comte de Gisors at the head of four squadrons

of Carabiniers charged these advancing battalions who let them close in to about 20 paces

before firing a devastating volley mowing down in an instant most of the first rank. A single

squadron managed to break through but the third rank of infantry coolly made an about turn and

knocked it down with its disciplined fire.

Meanwhile, Oberg in the centre had reached Hukesmey on the fortified lines. The French,

threatened on both flanks, soon abandoned these lines. Oberg got over the fortified lines at

Hukesmey with his infantry and at Stoeken with his cavalry and made a junction with

Ferdinand's corps.

Finally, M. de Saint-Pern at the head of the French reserve of grenadiers along withNavarre

Infanterie brigade arrived on the scene. The Comte de Lusace wanted to lead these fresh

troops into the attack but he rather received orders to cover the retreat of the army. Even

considering their late arrival, these 18 battalions if they had been supported by some fresh

cavalry could have changed the course of the battle.

Saint-Pern's inexplicable delay before coming to the rescue of Saint-Germain was attributed by

certain to treachery within the French high commands.

Clermont retreated to Neuss and then to Worringen.

At 9:00 PM, the three Allied corps joined each other on the battlefield and spent the night under

arms. Meanwhile, the Allied light troops were sent forward to harass the retiring French army.

Outcome

During this battle, the French lost some 4,000 men including some of their best cavalry,

the Carabiniers alone suffering some 60 officers and 600 men casualties. Among the wounded

were the Comte de Gisors (son of maréchal Belleisle), the Chevalier de Muy, Lieutenant-

general comte de Maille colonel of Condé regiment, the Duc de Montmorency colonel

of Touraine Infanterie, the Comte de Lauraguais colonel of the Roussillon regiment, Colonel

Lochmann, Lieutenant-colonel Escher, 4 captains, 17 officers of the same regiment. About 8

French regiments were entirely ruined. The gunners of Prinz Karl Infantry captured a pair of

kettle drums while the Leib-Dragonercaptured 2 Carabiniers standards, colonel Stein of

the Prinz Wilhelm regiment a third one and the Holstein-Gottorp Dragoons a fourth plus another

pair of kettle drums.

Ferdinand lost only 1,700 men.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: General Ferdinand of Brunswick

Summary: 37 battalions, 55 squadrons and 3 units of light troops for a total of 31,900 men

(including 1,400 light troops)

Right Wing under Ferdinand of Brunswick

Infantry (18 bns) under Lieutenant-general Hereditary Prince of Brunswick assisted by

Major-generals von Gilsa, von Wangenheim and von Kielmansegg

Hanoverian Infantry (9 bns)

Scheither  (1 bn)

Spörcken  (1 bn)

Bock  (1 bn)

Hardenberg  (1 bn)

Halberstadt  (1 bn)

Wangenheim  (1 bn)

Block  (1 bn)

Post  (1 bn)

Dreves  (1 bn)

Hessian Infantry (4 bns)

Garde  (1 bn)

Leib-Regiment  (1 bn)

Prinz Carl  (1 bn)

Hessen-Hanau  (1 bn)

Brunswick Infantry (3 bns)

Leib-Regiment  (2 bns)

Bückeburg  (1 bn)

Converged Grenadiers (2 bns) (formed from the grenadier companies of the right wing

excluding the grenadiers from the Brunswick Leib-Regiment, Hanoverian grenadiers @

56 men per battalion, Hessian @ 80 men per battalion and Brunswick @ 141 men per

battalion)

Converged Grenadier Battalion von der Schulenburg (1 bn)

Converged Grenadier Battalion von Schack (1 bn)

Cavalry (26 sqns) under Lieutenant-general Duke of Holstein-Gottorp assisted by Major-

generals von Einsiedel and von Urff

Prussian Cavalry (12 sqns)

Holstein Dragoons  (5 sqns)

Finckenstein Dragoons  (5 sqns)

Malachowski Hussars  (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Cavalry (4 sqns)

Bock Dragoons  (4 sqns)

Hessian Cavalry (10 sqns)

Leib-Regiment  (2 sqns)

Prinz Wilhelm  (2 sqns)

Miltitz  (2 sqns)

Leib Dragoons  (4 sqns)

Artillery (11 pieces)

4 x 12-pdrs guns

4 x heavy 6-pdrs guns

3 x mortars

Centre under Lieutenant-general von Oberg assisted by Major-generals von Drachenhausen,

Diepenbroick and Druchtleben

Infantry (6 bns)

Hanoverian Infantry (6 bns)

Scheele  (1 bn)

Reden  (1 bn)

Druchtleben  (1 bn)

Oberg  (1 bn)

Kielmansegg  (1 bn)

Fersen Füsilier  (1 bn)

Cavalry (6 sqns)

Hanoverian Cavalry (6 sqns)

Leib-Regiment  (2 sqns)

Hodenberg  (2 sqns)

Bremer  (2 sqns)

Artillery (10 pieces)

6 x 12-pdrs guns

4 x howitzers

Left Wing under Lieutenant-general von Spörcken assisted by Lieutenant-general von

Wutginau and Major-generals von Fürstenberg and Prince von Anhalt-Bernburg

Infantry (13 bns)

Hanoverian Infantry (6 bns)

Garde  (2 bns)

Behr  (1 bn)

Linstrow  (1 bn)

Jung-Zastrow  (1 bn)

Brunck  (1 bn)

Hessian Infantry (4 bns)

Leib-Grenadiers  (1 bn)

Fürstenberg  (1 bn)

Anhalt  (1 bn)

Mansbach  (1 bn)

Brunswick Infantry

Behr  (2 bns)

Converged Grenadiers under von Cramm (3 bns)

Grenadiers from Behr (2 coys or 282 men)

Grenadiers from Leib-Regiment (2 coys or 282 men)

Cavalry (23 sqns)

Prussian Cavalry (3 sqns)

Ruesch Hussars  (3 sqns)

Hanoverian Cavalry (20 sqns)

Garde du Corps  (1 sqn)

Grenadiers à Cheval  (1 sqn)

Heise  (2 sqns)

Hammerstein  (2 sqns)

Grothaus  (2 sqns)

Reden  (2 sqns)

Breidenbach  (2 sqns)

Drachenhausen Dragoons  (4 sqns)

Breidenbach Dragoons  (4 sqns)

Hanoverian Artillery

??? x 24-pdrs guns

??? x 12-pdrs guns

Hanoverian Light Troops

Hussar Corps  (2 coys)

Scheither Corps  (2 mounted coys, 4 foot coys)

Jäger Corps  (4 mounted coys, 4 foot coys)

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Comte de Clermont

Summary: some 47,000 men in 74 bns, 111 sqns, 3 bns of artillery and 18 coys of light troops.

First Line Second Line

Right Wing of cavalry under Marquis d'Armentières

Colonel Général Brigade

Colonel Général (3 sqns)

Rochefoucauld-Langeac (2 sqns)

Berry (2 sqns)

La Reine Brigade

La Reine (2 sqns)

de Vienne (2 sqns)

Archiac (2 sqns)

Cuirassiers du Roi Brigade

Cuirassiers du Roy (2 sqns)

Lastic de Saint-Jal (2 sqns)

Chabrillan (2 sqns)

Right Wing of cavalry under Duc de Sourches

Du Roi Brigade

Du Roy (2 sqns)

Moustiers (2 sqns)

Noë (2 sqns)

Bourgogne Brigade

Bourgogne (2 sqns)

Montcalm (2 sqns)

Condé (2 sqns)

Royal-Roussillon Brigade

Royal-Roussillon (2 sqns)

Harcourt (2 sqns)

Fumel (2 sqns)

All infantry under Marquis de Contades All infantry under Chevalier de Nicolay

Right Wing of infantry under M. de Chevert

Picardie Brigade

Picardie (4 bns)

Enghien (2 bns)

Auvergne Brigade

Auvergne (4bns)

Bretagne (2 bns)

Right Wing of infantry under Duc de Havré

Navarre Brigade

Navarre (4 bns)

Orléans (2 bns)

Vaubécourt Brigade

Vaubécourt (2 bns)

Tournaisis (1 bn)

Aumont (2 bns)

Centre under Comte de Guerchy

Belzunce Brigade

Belzunce (4 bns)

Rohan-Rochefort (2 bns)

Du Roi Brigade

Du Roi (4 bns)

Provence (2 bns)

Left Wing of infantry under Comte de Lorges

La Tour du Pin Brigade

Condé (2 bns)

La Tour du Pin (4 bns)

Champagne Brigade

Aquitaine (2 bns)

Champagne (4 bns)

Left Wing of infantry under Comte de Saint-Germain

Touraine Brigade

Touraine (2 bns)

Chartres (2 bns)

La Marche (1 bn)

Brancas (2 bns)

Lochmann (2 bns)

La Marine Brigade

La Couronne (2 bns)

La Marine (4 bns)

Left Wing of cavalry under Duc de Fitzjames

Royal Cravates Brigade

Royal Cravates (2 sqns)

Noailles (2 sqns)

Grammont (2 sqns)

Dauphin Brigade

Dauphin (2 sqns)

Talleyrand (2 sqns)

Orléans (2 sqns)

Mestre de Camp Général Brigade

Mestre de Camp Général (2 sqns)

Lénoncourt (2 sqns)

Chartres (2 sqns)

Left Wing of Cavalry under Chevalier de Muy

Royal-Piémont Brigade

Royal-Piémont (2 sqns)

Trasseigny (2 sqns)

Bourbon-Busset (2 sqns)

Aquitaine Brigade

Aquitaine (2 sqns)

Dampierre (2 sqns)

Crussol (2 sqns)

Royal-Étranger Brigade

Royal-Étranger (2 sqns)

Charost (2 sqns)

Marcieux (2 sqns)

Reserve

Grenadiers under M. de Saint-Pern

Grenadiers de France  Brigade (4 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de Modène Brigade

Grenadiers Royaux de Modène  (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux d'Aulans  (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de Bergeret Brigade

Grenadiers Royaux de Bergeret  (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de Chantilly  (2 bns)

Carabiniers under the Marquis de Poyanne

Corps des Carabiniers  (10 sqns)

Dragoons under the Duc de Chevreuse

Colonel Général  (4 sqns)

Orléans  (4 sqns)

Du Roy  (4 sqns)

Caraman  (4 sqns)

Artillery under M. de la Vallière

Corps Royal de l'Artillerie  – Bataillon de La Motte

Corps Royal de l'Artillerie  – Bataillon de Ménonville

Corps Royal de l'Artillerie  – Bataillon de Cosme

Corps Royal de l'Artillerie  – Workers (3 coys)

Corps Royal de l'Artillerie  – Miners (2 coys)

Hussars under M. de Turpin

Bercheny  (6 sqns)

Turpin  (6 sqns)

Light Troops probably under the Comte de Chabot

Légion Royale  (12 coys)

Volontaires de Flandre  (6 coys)

References

This article incorporates texts from the following books which are now in the public domain:

1. Jomini, Henri, Traité des grandes opérations militaires, 2ème édition, 2ème partie,

Magimel, Paris: 1811, pp. 29-37

2. Carlyle T., History of Friedrich II of Prussia vol. 18

3. Anonymous, A Complete History of the Present War, from its Commencement in 1756,

to the End of the Campaign, 1760, London, 1761, pp. 299-302

4. Hotham, The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene Highness

Prince Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and

ending in the year 1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, pp. 46-47

Other sources

Horse and Musket Users Group

Rohan Chabot, Alix de, Le Maréchal de Belle Isle ou la revanche de Foucquet, Perrin, Paris,

2005

Rogge, Christian, The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War,

Frankfurt, 2006

Vial, J. L., Nec Pluribus Impar

1758-07-23 - Combat of Sandershausen

French Victory

Prelude to the Battle

Since June 1 1758, the main Allied Army under Ferdinand of Brunswick was operating on

the west bank of the Rhine. On June 23, it had defeated the French Army at thebattle of Krefeld.

However, the French still had a small army on the east bank under theDuc de Broglie that could

pause a threat to Ferdinand supply lines. In July, Broglie was ordered to advance against

Hesse, hoping that this action would induce Ferdinand to re-cross the Rhine.

Maps

Thumbnail image of the map of the battle of Sandershausen on July 23 1758

Source: reproduced with the kind authorization of Digitales Archiv Marburg © 2007 DigAM

A larger version of this map is available at: DigAM - document 4983

DigAM also proposes several other maps of the battle of Sandershausen:

DigAM - document 4984

DigAM - document 4985

DigAM - document 4986

DigAM - document 4988 (3 maps)

DigAM - document 5016

DigAM - document 5004 (2 maps)

DigAM - document 5006

Description of Events

On July 23, at 11:00 AM, the small Hessian force under Prince Ysenburg started to lift its camp

located near Kassel but on the opposite bank of the Fulda. Infantry went first followed by

cavalry, leaving a battalion near the suburb of Kassel to support the retreat of the jägers who

occupied the village of Bettenhausen, which was only a musket shot away.

The Duc de Broglie then sent the infantry volunteers and the grenadiers to occupy the suburb of

Kassel with interdiction to go further. At 12:00 AM, the infantry being in musket range, he

immediately sent it through the town and simultaneously sent orders to the Royal-Nassau

Hussards, to the dragoons and to the cavalry to ford the Fulda and to advance towards the

village of Bettenhausen, leaving it to their left in order to join with the infantry beyond the village.

When he was close enough, he sent the infantry volunteers and the grenadiers out of the

suburb and the whole force united between Bettenhausen and Sandershausen. However,

Broglie left two battalions of Royal Deux-Ponts Infanterie to hold the town of Kassel and another

battalion of the same regiment at Sandershausen to guard the defiles.

Meanwhile, Ysenburg had marched by his right to reach the highway to Münden. He then

decided to make a stand at Sandershausen. He deployed his small force (some 6,000 men) on

a height with his right anchored to a steep slope of the Fulda and his left protected by the

Ellenbach woods on a ridge. His troops consisted mainly of militia (3 bns), "Invalids" (2 coys)

and some regular units. However, several troopers from the militia and jäger units were

experienced hunters armed with their own rifled guns. Ysenburg placed all his cavalry on his left

in a position overlooking the plain where the French had to debouch.

Broglie, approaching as close as he could from the village of Sandershausen, climbed the

height and was quite surprised to see Ysenburg's corps drawn up in battle order. Broglie

planned to attack the Allied infantry positioned in the woods on the Allied left flank. This would

allow him to cut off Ysenburg line of retreat to Münden and to push him back against the Fulda.

The terrain being narrow, Broglie put his infantry in the first line and his cavalry and his

dragoons in the second. He anchored his right to a wood and reinforced it with three grenadier

companies of Royal Deux-Ponts Infanterie. He also advanced his right more than his left in

preparation for his main attack.

At 3:00 PM, once his army deployed, Broglie launched his attack. He placed the ten guns of his

two artillery brigades in front of his right to shoot at the Hessian cavalry placed against the

woods. Reacting to the fire of the French artillery, the Hessian cavalry advanced to charge the

French infantry. Seeing this, Broglie supported Waldner Infanterie and Royal Bavière

Infanterie by deploying Diesbach Infanterie and Royal Deux-Ponts Infanterie (only 1 bn) behind

them.

Broglie then advanced the Wurtemberg, Royal-Allemand and Nassau-Sarrebruck cavalry

regiments, under M. Raugrave, through the gap created on his right by the doubling of his

infantry line.

When the Hessian cavalry saw the French cavalry advancing in front of its infantry, it moved to

its right as if it was going for the French left.

Broglie reacted by instructing Raugrave to advance infantry through a gap, supported byApchon

Dragons on its left. This movement stopped the Hessian cavalry. The Royal-

Allemand and Nassau-Sarrebruck regiments then charged the Hessian cavalry but were broken

and hotly pursued. This left the infantry of the French right unsupported by the cavalry.

However, Royal Bavière Infanterie fired a furious volley on the advancing Hessian cavalry,

stopping its advance.

Meanwhile, MM. Waldner and Diesbach, at the head of the Swiss Brigade and of the 3

grenadier companies of Royal Deux-Ponts Infanterie, attacked the Hessian Jägers in the

Ellenbach woods and met strong resistance the Hessians.

At this moment, Ysenburg ordered a general advance of the Hessian right and centre. These

units then quickly marched on the French left wing held by Rohan Montbazon

Infanterie and Beauvoisis Infanterie. This brigade suffered from the deadly fire of the Hessian

troops facing them. Rohan Montbazon Infanterie managed to repulse the Hessians who moved

back a few hundred paces. However, they soon came back even stronger. The Hessians had

the advantage of being covered by the steep slope while the Rohan Montbazon brigade stood in

the open. The French left was forced to move back and the Hessians extended their line along

the steep slope, trying to reach the French rear. To prevent this move, Broglie advanced a few

squadrons of the Apchon Dragonsalong with some cavalry squadrons who had now rallied. The

Hessian battalions continued to pour continuous fire upon their French adversaries.

As the battle developed, the inexperience of the Hessian militia began to tell. Two of these

battalions along with the Invalids soon formed a completely disorganised mass in the centre of

Ysenburg line.

Broglie then ordered a general advance of his entire first line: Royal Bavière (2 bns),Royal-

Deux-Pont (1 bn), Rohan-Montbazon (2 bns) and Beauvoisis (2 bns). Since, the French had no

more powder, they marched with the bayonet. Broglie had managed to isolate Ysenburg's left

wing from his right. Furthermore, the disorganised Hessian units of the centre were about to

break and rout. Ysenburg then ordered to retreat. The engagement had been a 5 hours

prolonged and intense fire fight. About 300 Hessians tried to escape through the river where

several of them perished. The rest of Ysenburg's corps retired in good order to Landwehrhagen.

It was now 7:00 PM, the weather was very bad, the country very wooded and the French

infantry had marched 28 km. Broglie preferred to stop, sending the Baron de Travers with 700

volunteers to follow up the Hessians.

The French lost 677 killed and 1,385 wounded. M. de Saint-Martin, Lieutenant-colonel of Rohan

Infanterie, and Major Rousette, major of Beauvoisis Infanterie were both killed. The Prince of

Nassau was severely wounded. Their left wing suffered particularly with the single brigade of

Rohan-Montbazon loosing 66 officers and 778 men killed and wounded. Beauvoisis

Infanterie regiment was almost wiped out. This high casualty rate on the French side can only

be explained by the massed employment of the rifled German Jägerbüchse by the Hessians.

Hessian losses were far less important, amounting to only 56 killed, 162 wounded and 250

taken prisoners (including Count Kanitz, the first aide-de-camp to Prince Ysenburg and several

lieutenant-colonels and majors). However, the French captured 2,000 more Hessians and 15

guns (out of 16: 7 on the battlefield, 8 at Münden) during the following days. The prisoners were

mostly militia who had deserted after the battle.

Outcome

This French victory coupled with Chevert's attempt two week later (August 5) to seize the bridge

at Rees (combat of Mehr) finally convinced Ferdinand to retreat to the east bank of the Rhine,

which he did on August 8.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Prince Ysenburg

Summary: 5 bns, 5 grenadier coys, 2 Invalid coys, 3 jäger coys, 3 cavalry sqns, 1 hussar sqn for

a total of some 6,500 men.

N.N.: all troops were Hessian unless specifically noted

First Line (listed from right to left)

Feld-Jäger  (1 coy)

Garnison-Grenadiers (5 coys)

Ysenburg  (1 bn)

Wurmb Landmiliz  (1 bn)

Gundlach Landmiliz  (1 bn)

Kanitz  (1 bn)

Prüschenck  (2 sqns)

Prinz Friedrich  dragoons (1 sqn)

Hanoverian Jäger (2 coys) unidentified unit

Freywald Landmiliz  (1 bn)

Second Line

Invalids (2 coys)

Husaren Corps  (1 sqn)

Artillery

16 light guns

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Duc de Broglie

Summary: 14 bns, 12 sqns and 2 Volontaire corps for a total of some 8,500 men.

First Line (listed from right to left):

Waldner Brigade

Waldner  (2 bns)

Diesbach  (2bns)

Royal Bavière Brigade

Royal Bavière  (2 bns)

Royal Deux-Ponts  (1 bn)

Rohan-Montbazon Brigade

Rohan Montbazon  (2 bns)

Beauvoisis  (2 bns)

Second Line

Royal Allemand Brigade

Royal-Allemand  (2 sqns)

Nassau-Sarrebruck  (2 sqns)

Wurtemberg  (2 sqns)

Cavalerie Liégeoise  (2 sqns)

Apchon Dragons  (4 sqns = 800 men)

Artillery

Right wing brigade (10 pieces) in front of the right wing

Another brigade (18 pieces)

Light Troops

Royal-Nassau Hussards

Chasseurs de Fischer

Detached

Royal Deux-Ponts  (1 bn) in Sandershausen

Royal Deux-Ponts  (2 bns) in Kassel

References

This article incorporates texts from the following books which are now in the public domain:

Carlyle T., History of Friedrich II of Prussia vol. 18

Hotham, The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene Highness

Prince Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and ending in

the year 1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, pp. 52-53

Other sources

Cookman, David, Sandershausen 1758, Battlefields Vol. 1 Issue 6

Evrard P., Praetiriti Fides

Rogge, Christian, The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War,

Frankfurt, 2006

Service historique de l'armée de terre, A4, 27, pièce 58

Yahoo Lace Wars Group Message No. 23657

1758-09-11 - Combat of Saint-Cast

French Victory

Prelude

Since the beginning of August 1758, a strong British amphibious force (12 bns, 9 light dragoons

troops and 109 sails) under lieutenant-general Bligh was conducting raids on the French

coasts of Normandy and Bretagne. After capturing Cherbourg (August 7), destroying its docks

and burning its shipping; the British force sailed for Saint-Malo at the beginning of September.

Troops were landed on September 4 and 5. The attack on Saint-Malo soon proved to be

impracticable but in the meantime, weather had seriously worsened and admiral Howe had to

abandon his anchorage at Saint-Lunaire. He instructed Bligh to rendezvous with the fleet at

Saint-Cast, a few km west of Saint-Malo.

Bligh set out towards Saint-Cast on September 7 and encamped near the Arguenon river. His

army forded the Arguenon on September 9 at 3:00 pm. On September 10, resuming his march

towards Saint-Cast, Bligh met a first force of 500 French troops who were easily repulsed. He

then encamped at Matignon, sent his engineers to reconnoitre the beach at Saint-Cast and

informed Howe that he intended to re-embark on September 11. Then, a battalion of

the Coldstream regiment of Guards took possession of the ground to the right of the village of

Saint-Cast, near the windmill. The bay was covered by an entrenchment made by the French to

prevent a landing. The British began to modify these entrenchments to turn them against the

French but work could not be completed for want of tools. It was proposed to choose another

beach, located between Saint-Cast and Saint-Guildo, but the proposal was rejected. However,

in the meantime, the French had gathered troops near Saint-Cast. During the night, a battalion

of the Coldstream regiment of Guards captured two small batteries and destroyed them.

Map

Map not yet available

Description of Events

Early in the morning of Monday September 11 (around 2:00 am), the British drums beat

the Générale as usual, soon followed by the "Assembly". This immediately informed the French

of the departure of the British army. The British troops then moved off in a single column,

consuming a long time in the march of 5 km to Saint-Cast (they would arrive only at 9:00 am).

At 4:00 am, the French were assembled on the heights of Saint-Cast. The duc d'Aiguillon

arranged his small army into four corps. He then ordered three of these corps to advance upon

Saint-Cast.

By 6:00 am, the French had reached the coast. The British had deployed their rearguard in

entrenchments built by the French Garde-Côtes militia several years earlier.

Around 9:00 am, when the British troops finally reached the beach of Saint-Cast, embarkation

immediately began under the cover of five frigates and three bomb-ketches. The first troops

embarked on board the boats were mistakenly rowed too far in quest of their respective ships,

loosing precious time. On their return, the flat bottomed boats were employed in carrying away

horses and cows instead of men. Meanwhile, the French had appeared by a windmill to the left

and played on the troops embarking from a battery of 10 guns and 8 mortars. They soon after

marched down a hollow way to attack the British. As soon as the French troops appeared on the

beach, the British ships severely played on them, putting them into great confusion.

Nevertheless, the French formed in a long line under cover of small hills on the British right.

At 11:00 am, when two-thirds of the British force had already been shipped, the left wing of the

French army under d'Aubigny formed into columns and marched forward despite the fire from

the frigates. The 300 grenadiers under the marquis de Cussi and the comte de Montaigu

attacked first, soon followed by M. Latour d'Auvergne at the head ofBoulonnais Infanterie.

The Brie and Fontenay-le-Comte regiments did the same. There were still some 3,000 British

troops on the beach.

General Drury, who commanded the British rearguard, consisting of 1,400 men of the Guards

and all the grenadiers, was obliged to form his men behind protective sand banks across the

beach to cover the embarkation. Twice he drove back the French but; when the French brought

up their artillery and opened a furious fire; the British units panicked, broke and fled in the

utmost confusion. Sir John Armitage was shot through the head at the beginning of the action,

many of the officers fell and a great number of men were slain. It soon became a dreadful

carnage: some ran into the sea and endeavoured to save their lives by swimming towards the

boats which were ordered to give them all possible assistance. Drury perished in the sea. The

men were butchered both on the shore and in the water. So many of the British boats were

destroyed that the sailors shrank from approaching the shore and were only kept to their work

by the personal example of Howe who ordered himself to be rowed in his own boat through the

thickest of the fire and brought off as many men as he could.

During this time, several of the frigates continued to fire on the French army. However, the

commodore ordered them to cease fire. Seeing this, the French officers and soldiers behaved

instantly with the greatest generosity and moderation, giving immediate quarter and protection

to the vanquished. This was quite surprising given the marauding, pillaging, burning and other

excesses committed by the British during this expedition.

Outcome

In all 1,160 British officers and men were killed and wounded. General Drury was among the

slain. The rest of the rearguard were taken prisoners (702 men and 30 officers). Of the British

naval officers who were superintending the embarkation, captains Joshua Kowley, Jervis

Maplesden and William Paston, and commander John Elphinstone, were taken. The further

naval loss, however, was but 8 killed and 17 wounded.

The French lost 445 men killed or wounded.

It was the last British amphibious operation against the French mainland during this war. The

next major British combined operation against France was launched only in1761 against the

island of Belle-Isle.

Order of Battle

British Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: General Edward Bligh

Summary: approximately 10,000 men

Guards brigade

1st Regiment of Foot Guards  (about half a battalion)

2nd Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards  (only 1 battalion) under colonel Caesar

3rd Scots Regiment of Foot Guards  (only 1 battalion)

1st brigade under general Mostyn seconded by major Vaughan

5th Bentwick's Regiment of Foot

67th Wolfe's Regiment of Foot

33rd Hay's Regiment of Foot

2nd brigade under major-general Boscawen seconded by major Wright

34th Effingham's Regiment of Foot

68th Lambton's Regiment of Foot

24th Cornwallis' Regiment of Foot

3rd brigade under major-general Elliot seconded by major Preston

30th Loudon's Regiment of Foot

72nd Duke of Richmond’s Regiment of Foot

36th Manner's Regiment of Foot

Light Dragoons taken from various dragoon regiments (9 coys)

Rear-guard under general Drury

Converged grenadiers (12 coys)

1st Regiment of Foot Guards  (about half a battalion)

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Emmanuel-Armand Vignot du Plessis Richelieu, duc d'Aiguillon and

governor of Bretagne

Summary: approximately 7,000 men

Regulars (from right to left)

Royal Vaisseaux  (2 bns)

Bourbon  (2 bns)

Cossé Brissac  (2 bns)

Bresse  (1 bn)

Quercy  (1 bn)

Converged Grenadiers (300 men)

Marboeuf Dragoons (2 sqns dismounted)

Infantry (12 picquets)

Boulonnais  (1 bn)

Brie  (1 bn)

Penthièvre  (2 bns)

I./Volontaires Étrangers (1 bn)

Militia

Fontenay-le-Comte (1 bn)

Marmande (1 bn)

Garde-Côtes Militia

Dol

Saint-Malo

Treguier

Dinan

Morlaix

Brest

Saint-Brieuc

Artillery under Ville-Patour

10 guns

8 mortars

N.B.: the French forces were organised in four corps under M. de Balleroy (right), the marquis

de Broc (centre), the marquis d'Aubigny (left and the marquis de Saint-Pern (reserve). The

above order of battle is derived from a map entitled "Plan du combat de St-Cast" kept at the

Municipal Library of Dinan

References

This article incorporates texts from the following books which are now in the public domain:

Anonymous, A Complete History of the Present War, from its Commencement in 1756, to

the End of the Campaign, 1760, London, 1761, pp. 286-294

Anonymous, Journal of the Campaign on the Coast of France 1758, 2nd edition, J.

Townsend, London, 1758, pp. 95-102

Clowes, Wm. Laird, The Royal Navy – A History from the Earliest Time to the Present, Vol.

III, Sampson Low, Marston and Company, London: 1898, pp. 194-195

Fortescue, J. W., A History of the British Army, Vol. II, MacMillan, London: 1899, pp. 344-

345.

Revue anglo-française , vol. 4, Poitiers: 1836, pp. 45-48

Other sources:

Amiot, Pierre, Histoire de Saint-Cast-le-Guildo, Saint-Cast: 1990

Castex, Jean-Claude, Dictionnaire des batailles terrestres franco-anglaises de la Guerre de

Sept Ans, Presse de l'université Laval, Québec: 2006

Horse and Musket Users Group

Unknown author, La milice face aux incursions anglaises 2000

1758-09-29 - Assault on Bork

French Victory

Prelude to the Battle

In September 1758, during the French offensive in Westphalia, Contades wanted to restore the

compromised reputation of the French army. He charged Saint-Pern, who was stationed with his

corps near Lünen to control the bridges across the Lippe, to attack the isolated Allied

observation corps under the duke of Holstein near Bork. Indeed, Holstein was posted in an

advanced position some 20 km in front of Ferdinand's army.

During the night of September 28 to 29, the French made themselves master of 2 bridges over

the Lippe at Lünen and Beedeburg (unidentified location). They then passed the Lippe and

marched during the night to approach Holstein's positions. At daybreak, favoured by the

wooded nature of the terrain, the French managed to get close to the Allied camp unnoticed.

Description of Events

Saint-Pern was within gun range when Allied grenadiers posted as pickets in the woods gave

the alarm. The Allies were taken completely by surprise, the troops still being in their tents.

The French advanced their infantry through thickets while their cavalry kept the high road. The

Allies had time to throw Druchtleben battalion and 2 guns into Bork. The French planted 4

batteries on an eminence. Inexplicably, Saint-Pern then ordered to cannonade the Allied camp

rather that to storm it. This strange decision gave the Allies time to load up and to retire in good

order towards Olfen before the French uselessly charged the abandoned Allied positions.

The French, advancing in the woods, pursued cautiously Holstein's corps for a distance. The

Allied rearguard deployed on the plain to oppose them. The French did not attack but retreated

to Lünen where they repassed the Lippe. The same day, the French surprised an Allied post at

Dalem (unidentified location) but this post was recaptured during the following night.

In this action, the French only seized a few tents and cooking pots. They also captured 31

prisoners from among the posts that had been caught as they lost direction within the woods.

Besides these prisoners, the Allies lost 6 killed, 12 wounded.

Outcome

Well planned but poorly executed, this surprise attack on Holstein's camp gave no tangible

results.

Map

not yet available

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: lieutenant-general duke of Holstein

Summary: 7 battalions, 10 squadrons and some light troops

Infantry (7 bns)

major-general von Fürstenberg Hessian Brigade (unidentified units)

major-general Post Hanoverian Brigade (mostly unidentified units)

Druchtleben  (1 bn)

Prussian Cavalry (10 sqns)

Holstein-Gottorp Dragoons  (5 sqns)

Finckenstein Dragoons  (5 sqns)

Hanoverian Light Troops

Jägers (detachment of unspecified strength)

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: M. de Saint-Pern

Grenadiers de France  Brigade (4 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de Modène Brigade

Grenadiers Royaux de Modène (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux d'Aulan (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de Bergeret Brigade

Grenadiers Royaux de Bergeret (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de Chantilly (2 bns)

Converged Grenadiers

Navarre  (6 coys)

Palatine Grenadiers (4 coys) from the 2nd Brigade (unspecified units)

Carabiniers (10 sqns)

2 brigades of cavalry (12 sqns) (mostly unidentified units)

Du Roy Cavalerie  (2 sqns)

unidentified cavalry regiments (10 sqns)

Artillery

4 x 8 pdrs.

References

Hotham, The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene Highness Prince

Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and ending in the year

1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, pp. 61-62

Rogge, Christian, The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War,

Frankfurt, 2006

1758-10-10 - Battle of Lutterberg

French Victory

Prelude

In September, during the French offensive in Hesse, when Soubise advanced on Einbeck

defended only by the small force of prince Ysenburg (7,500 men), Ferdinand of

Brunswick detached general Oberg with 14,000 men to support him. In front of the combined

forces of Ysenburg and Oberg, Soubise retired first on Göttingen and then on Kassel. The Allies

were on his heels and soon the two armies were facing each other near Kassel.

The situation remained stable until October 3 when Oberg learned that two strong detachments

had been sent by the marquis de Contades to reinforce Soubise. The same night, Oberg

crossed the Fulda and encamped on the plateau of Sandershausen.

On October 9, the two detachments sent by Contades made their junction with Soubise who

immediately crossed the Fulda and formed a line of battle in front of the Allied army.

Description of Events

Soubise plan for the battle was to turn the Allied left flank with Chevert's corps while Fitzjames

would attack in the centre and himself would launch an assault against the Allied right wing on

the plateau of Sandershausen.

During the night of October 9 to 10, fearing for his lines of communication, Oberg decamped

from the plateau of Sandershausen, passed the village of Landwehrhagen, he left only a

detachment on the plateau to protect his retreat. He planned to recross the Fulda at Münden.

At 3:00 AM, lieutenant-general Chevert and Lusace began a long 8 km march around the Allied

left flank through Dahlheim and a wooded area, crossing a small affluent of the Fulda.

At dawn, Fitzjames marched to take position to the right of Soubise's corps. Meanwhile,

Soubise sent detachments under MM. de Broglie, de Lanion and de Castries.

Broglie reconnoitred the plateau of Sandershausen which was now devoid of any enemy troops.

Soubise then formed his corps and Fitzjames' corps into 6 columns and crossed the brook of

Bettenhausen. After the crossing of the brook of Sandershausen, Soubise rearranged his 6

columns into 8.

Continuing his advance on the plateau of Sandershausen, Broglie came to contact with some

Jäger units who soon retired. Broglie then rapidly marched towards Landwehrhagen which had

also been abandoned by the Allies.

When Oberg saw Broglie's forces close behind his army, he realized that it would be dangerous

to continue his march towards Münden through difficult terrain with the French so close behind

his columns. He then decided to deploy his army with the infantry in two lines in the centre, a

right wing of cavalry and the cavalry of the left wing positioned behind the infantry to the left. His

right was anchored on light woods and heights, the village of Lutterberg behind his centre. His

left wing extended to a thicket upon an eminence where 5 x 6-pdrs were placed. His front was

covered by a deep and wide ravine with marshes at its bottom. The village of Lutterberg was

behind the Allied lines and 4 x 12-pdrs were planted on the rising ground towards the village.

About 7:00 AM, while waiting for the main body of the French army, Broglie reconnoitred the

enemy position and cannonaded them to slow down their deployment. Upon reaching

Landwehrhagen, Broglie was informed that Chevert was now some 3 km to his right. Indeed,

Chevert had reached the village of Benterode which lay to his left. Fitzjames was also

approaching this village, placing himself to the left of Chevert's corps.

Learning of the movements of the Allies, Soubise personally joined Broglie to reconnoitre their

positions. He then ordered his columns to speed up their advance. The columns, with artillery at

their head, then advanced in good order and deployed under the supervision of MM. de Lugeac

and du Mesnil. To the left, Soubise battleline was anchored on woods and on the scarps of the

Fulda. His right extended to the village of Benterode. The hedges of the village of

Landwehrhagen were occupied by the Waldner Infanterie brigade and 9 Württemberger

battalions. Rohan Infanterie brigade linked this position to the Gendarmerie on left wing while

the Commissaire Général Cavalerie brigade and other Württemberger units were placed behind

Rohan. This section of the battleline was under the command of prince Camille assisted by MM.

de Puységur, de Raugrave and de Bezons. The infantry of the second line was under the

command of the marquis de Crillon. Fitzjames' infantry was placed to the right of

Landwehrhagen, extending to Benterode. Fitzjames' cavalry, under M. de Champignolles and

the chevalier de Montbarrey, was placed in the third line of the centre.

Chevert had now reached Sichelnstein. While his advanced units under M. de Chabot, chased

enemy light troops in front of them, Chevert deployed his troops in two lines with his left 1 km to

the right of Benterode and his right at Sichelnstein. He also formed a third line with his cavalry.

At 1:00 PM, the entire French army was deployed in order of battle. It was resolved that the left

and centre would stand still until Chevert would be ready to launch his attack.

At 2:00 PM, Chevert received the order to attack. The French artillery positioned all along the

line, opened a very efficient fire while Chevert debouched in three columns followed by his

cavalry in front of the enemy positions. The Allies could barely return fire since most of their

artillery was still on the road towards Münden. Shortly after, Soubise ordered Fitzjames to

advance. Oberg reacted by detaching major-general Zastrow from the right wing with 2 bns of

the second line and 4 sqns to reinforce his left.

At 2:45 PM, Chevert's columns came to contact with the Allies left flank. Zastrow's battalions

attacked the French with their bayonets and forced them to retire from the wood. Oberg sent 4

bns and 4 sqns of his second line to reinforce major-general Zastrow to prevent Chevert to

deploy in the plain. He also placed 2 bns and 2 dragoon sqns of the second line behind a thin

wood between the Allied left and Zastrow's corps.

At 4:00 PM, Chevert began a brisk cannonade against this column with his 42 guns and

simultaneously fell on Zastrow's corps. His first line was composed of infantry which Zastrow

attacked with the bayonet and routed. However, a considerable line of cavalry was supporting

this first line. Chevert then ordered Voyer and Bellefonds (at the head of the cavalry) to charge

the Allied column. The cavalry attacked Zastrow's infantry in front and flank and broke it. Voyer

was wounded during the charge.

The attack of Chevert was the signal that the French army was waiting for. The left wing cavalry

then swiftly advanced but was delayed by a dale and a brook. The Piémont, Castellas and

Alsace infantry brigade advanced so rapidly that they soon reached the opposite slope, so did

the artillery.

As the Allied column retired in front of Chevert, his cavalry deployed in the plain. Eight sqns of

Allied cavalry then advanced in good order and deployed to cover the retiring column. During

the engagement that ensued, the cavalries of both sides clashed five times and the Allied

cavalry was repeatedly pushed back. Meanwhile, the Saxon column stormed the Stodberg hill

where the Allies had placed several batteries and an important force. The comte de Lusace

attacked the position frontally while the baron d'Hyrn turned it. After some bitter fighting the

Saxons remained master of the Stodberg.

Meanwhile, the rest of the French army advanced against the front of the Allied first line. Faced

with the success of the attack of Chevert, Oberg soon ordered the retreat towards the defile

leading to Münden. The French artillery opened on the Allies while they passed this defile,

breaking down the artillery and ammunition wagons. Oberg then formed 3 to 4 bns in front of the

defile. When the other corps of the French army reached the Allied positions they could only

contemplate retiring cavalry units as darkness slowly took possession of the battlefield. During

their retreat, the Allies abandoned most of their artillery on the road to Münden and several

soldiers were captured in the woods. Overall, the Allied losses during this action amounted to

about 1,500 men killed, wounded or taken prisoners and 28 guns.

The French army encamped for the night on the positions that it had conquered. During the

night, the Allied army crossed the Werra, finally halting at Dransfeld.

Map

Reconstruction based on various documents.

 

Courtesy: Christian Rogge

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Summary: about 14,000 men in 17 bns and 20 sqns

Commander-in-chief: Lieutenant-General von Oberg with von Ysenburg commanding the

second line.

First Line Second Line

Right Wing Right Wing under major-general von Urff (?)

Hanoverian Cavalry

Busche Dragoons (4 sqns)

Reden (2 sqns)

Hessian Cavalry

Leib-Regiment (2 sqns)Centre Infantry (from right to left)

Zastrow Brigade under major-general von Zastrow

Hanoverian von Block (1 bn)

Hanoverian Jung-Zastrow (1 bn)

Hanoverian Linstrow (1 bn)

Bückeburg (1 bn)

Fürstenberg Brigade under major-general von

Fürstenberg,

Hessian von Fürstenberg (1 bn)

Hessian Toll (1 bn)

Hessian Erbprinz (1 bn)

Brunswick Zastrow (1 bn)

Post Brigade under major-general Post

Hanoverian von Post (1 bn)

Hanoverian von Oberg (1 bn)

Diepenbroick Brigade under major-general von

Diepenbroick

Hanoverian von Diepenbroick (1 bn)

Hessian Hanau (1 bn)

Hanoverian Wangenheim (1 bn)

Hanoverian "Neues Bataillon" von Marschalk(1 bn)

N.B.: only 700 men since 300 were detached to Osnabrück

Kanitz Brigade under major-general Kanitz

Hessian Canitz (1 bn)

Hessian Prinz Ysenburg (1 bn)

Hanoverian Füsiliers von Fersen (1 bn)

Centre Cavalry

Hessian Cavalry Brigade

Prinz Friedrich Dragoons (4 sqns)

Prinz Wilhelm (2 sqns)

Left Wing under major-general von Bock (?) Left Wing Cavalry

Hanoverian Bock Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hessian Jäger Corps (2 coys)

Hessian Prüschenk (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Artillery

4 x 12-pdrs

8 x 6-pdrs

French Order of Battle

The order of battle below is an approach to the historic composition of the French army at

Lutterberg. It’s the formation the army deployed into around noon, when the main forces

columns had caught up with their vanguards, that now reformed with the line of battle.

Summary: about 38,000 men and circa 40 guns in 78 bns and 52 sqns

Commander-in-chief: prince de Soubise

First Line Second Line Third Line

Far Left under M. de Lanion(?)

Rohan-Montbazon Brigade

Rohan-Montbazon (2 bns)

Beauvoisis (2 bns)

Volontaires "du Plessis" (about

250 infantrymen in a semi-

permanent light troops unit)

Royal-Nassau Hussards (4

sqns) (?)Left Wing Cavalry under prince Camille de Lorraine assisted by MM. de Puységur, de Raugrave and de Besons

Gendarmerie de France

Brigade (8 sqns)

Commissaire Général Brigade

Commissaire Général (2

sqns)

unidentified cavalry

regiment (2 sqns)

Württemberg Brigade

Wurtemberg (2 sqns)

Cavalerie Liégeoise (2

sqns) aka RaugraveInfantry Centre under duc de Broglie assisted by MM. de Waldner

Infantry Centre under the marquis de Crillon assisted by Carl von

Cavalry Reserve under M. de Champignelles and the

and d’Orlick

Württemberg grenadiers

Brigade (3 bns)

Grenadier Battalion Nr. 1.

von Plessen

Grenadier Battalion Nr. 2.

von Lengenfeld

Grenadier Battalion Nr. 3.

von Bouwinghausen-

Walmerode

1st Württemberg Brigade

Werneck (2 bns)formerly

Fußgarde

Romann (2 bns)

Alsace Brigade

Alsace (3 bns)

Saint-Germain (1 bn) (?)

Castellas Brigade

Castellas (2 bns)

Courten (2 bns)

Planta (2 bns)

Piémont Brigade (4 bns)

Württemberg (?)

Waldner Brigade

Waldner (2 bns)

Diesbach (2 bns)

2nd Württemberg Brigade

Prinz Louis (2 bns)

Truchseß (2 bns)

Roeder (2 bns)

Allemands Etrangers Brigade

unidentified German

regiments (6 bns)

chevalier de Montbarrey

Royal Allemand Brigade

Royal-Allemand (2

sqns)

Nassau-Sarrebruck (2

sqns)

Apchon Dragons Brigade (4

sqns)

Royal-Étranger Brigade

Royal-Étranger (2

sqns)

La Viefville (2 sqns)

Charost (2 sqns)

Right Wing under the duc de Fitzjames

La Marine Brigade

La Marine (4 bns)

La Couronne (2 bns)

Touraine Brigade

Touraine (2 bns)

Chartres (2 bns)

Artillery

Corps Royal de l'Artillerie  battalion Loyauté under M. le chevalier de Pelletier and M. de

Guiol

32 field guns

Chevert's Division

Right column under the chevalier de Grollier and the baron d’Osten

vanguard of grenadiers (10 coys) under the vicomte de Belzunce

Belzunce Brigade under the prince de Rochefort

Belzunce  (4 bns)

Rohan-Rochefort  (2 bns)

2nd Palatine Brigade under Harscamp

Baaden  (2 bns)

Osten  (2 bns)

Centre column

Saxon Reserve

Kurprinzessin  (2 bns)

Lubormirsky  (1 bn)

Artillery Brigade

8 field guns

34 battalion guns

Left column under the comte de Lusace assisted by MM. von Dyherrn, Goldberg and

Kleinenberg

vanguard of Saxon grenadiers (10 coys) under the comte von Solms

Two Saxon Brigades consisting of:

Prinz Friedrich August  (2 bns)

Prinz Maximilian  (1 bn)

Prinz Xaver  (2 bns)

Gardes  (1 bn)

Prinz Clemenz  (1 bn)

Rochow Fusiliers  (1 bn)

Prinz Gotha  (1 bn)

Minckwitz  (1 bn)

Graf Brühl  (1 bn)

Prinz Joseph  (1 bn)

Cavalry under M. de Voyer assisted by M. de Bellefonds

First Line

Dauphin Brigade under M. de Périgord on the left

Dauphin  (2 sqns)

Orléans  (2 sqns)

Chartres  (2 sqns)

Cuirassiers Brigade under M. de St. Jal on the right

Cuirassiers du Roy  (2 sqns)

Saint-Jal  (2 sqns)

Chabrillan  (2 sqns)

Second Line under M. de Bourbon-Busset

Royal Piémont Brigade

Royal Piémont  (2 sqns)

Bourbon-Busset  (2 sqns)

Trassigny  (2 sqns)

Light Troops under the comte de Chabo on Chevert's right flank

Légion Royale

Volontaires de Flandre

Chasseurs de Fischer (8 foot coys)

Detachment under the marquis de Castries on the opposite (left) bank of the Fulda

Aquitaine Brigade

Aquitaine  (2 sqns)

2 unidentified cavalry regiments (4 sqns)

Bercheny Hussards  (6 sqns)

probably some infantry

Artillery (4 field guns)

References

Archenholz, J. W., The History of the Seven Years War in Germany, translated by F. A. Catty,

Francfort, 1843, p. 230

Bourcet, M. de, Principes de la guerre de montagnes Ministère de la guerre, Paris, 1775, pp.

201- 206

Hotham, The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene Highness Prince

Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and ending in the year

1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, pp. 64-66

Rogge, Christian, The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War,

Frankfurt, 2006

1759-04-13 - Battle of Bergen

French Victory

Prelude to the Battle

When Ferdinand of Brunswick heard of the capture of Frankfurt early in January 1759, he

resolved to risk a long march at this bad season and to attack de Broglie near this town. He

hoped to paralyse French operations in this region by severing them from their base. Ferdinand

first launched diversionary operations against Hessen. He then launched a surprise attack on

the French positions. However, Broglie managed to concentrate a French force at the fortified

town Bergen blocking the road to Frankfurt.

Description of Events

Initial Manoeuvres

On April 12, Broglie's army bivouacked near Bergen. He deployed Royal-Suédois, Royal Deux-

Ponts, Waldner and Planta in the orchards near Bergen.

In the evening of April 12, the Allies designed their plan of attack: the Hereditary Princewould be

in the vanguard, Ysenburg on the left, Holstein-Gottorp on the right. They would deploy in the

country between Vilbel and Bergen. Ferdinand assumed that Bergen was occupied by only

some 2 to 3,000 French troops and decided for a quick attack without artillery for the next day.

Indeed, the artillery had been left behind in the mud. Orders were sent at midnight. Troops had

to concentrated at their starting positions around Rossdorf and Kilianstädten, 3 km south of

Windecken. The hour of the attack was fixed at 6:00 AM on April 13. However the short time

allowed to deploy (only 6 hours) made it impossible for every units to reach their assigned

positions in due time.

Map and initial deployment

Map of the battle of Bergen on April 13 1759

Source: Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, volume III by the GermanGrosser Generalstab

The area where the battle was fought is comprised between Frankfurt to the south-west, the

Nidda river to the north and the Main river to the south-east. The southern half of the battlefield

was boggy and flat and ended in a transversal slope forming a plateau. This plateau was

steeper in the front than on the flanks. The fortified village of Bergen stood in the middle of the

slope, surrounded gardens delimited by hedges. It was built near a crossroad where many

roads converged. One of these roads led to Fechenheim on the banks of the Main river, a

second to Frankfurt, a third eastwards. Furthermore, two parallels sunken roads led northwards,

one of them to Vilbel on the Nidda. Ground was soft and muddy, very difficult to pass by heavy

guns and carriages.

To the north of Bergen, there was an open country with two hills, behind the two sunken roads:

the Wartberg and the Am Hohen Stein. Two-thirds of the country between Bergen and the river

Nidda, was covered with trees and broken by streams tributary of this river. A third hill, the

Friedberger Warte, stood near the Bergen-Frankfurt road. On the top of the Wartberg, there was

a tower commanding the village of Bergen. The village consisted of fortified houses and manors

and was surrounded by a wall. Eastward, between the slope and the Main river, stood the

village of Bischofheim.

Battle

On April 13, at daybreak, Broglie deployed his army in order of battle. His right was anchored on

the village of Bergen and continued up to Frankfurt on a quite steep terrain interspersed with

orchards separated by hedges. Appletrees were fell to form abatis. His left was anchored on a

wood along the Nidda river. He placed his cavalry in 3 lines on the wings, keeping the dragoons

in reserve. He also placed 8 bns in and around the village of Bergen and 5 additional bns

(Piémont and I./Royal Roussillon) behind the village of Bergen, supported by 2 bns of Alsace

Infanterie. Then, formed in columns came 8 bns (Castellas, Diesbach, Rohan

Montbazon and Beauvoisis). The left of the infantry centre consisted of the Saxon rgts along

with a reserve of 11 French bns deployed behind the left wing, behind the Wartberg, in

regimental columns. Broglie's artillery was deployed along his front.

The Hereditary Prince’s column advanced first. He sent detachments to Friedberg, Giessen and

Hanau, while the duke of Holstein–Gottorp halted in Langenbergheim and Ysenburg in

Marköbel.

At 6:00 AM on April 13, an increasing musketry fire began to tell. After a fight, Freytag's light

troops who were marching at the head of the vanguard occupied Marköbel to the north-east of

Bergen, pushing back the French picquets. They were followed by 2 squadrons of Ruesch Black

Hussars and by the Hereditary Prince’s column.

At 8:00 AM, the Hereditary Prince’s column reached the cover of the eastern slope of the Am

Hohen Stein. Ferdinand accompanied the vanguard, hurrying soldiers to march quickly, to reach

enemy as fast as possible. By this time, the French army was completely deployed. The Allied

light troops attacked the Volontaires d’Alsace (approx. 450 men) occupying advanced posts.

Broglie wrote to Saint-Germain, asking him to speedily march towards Bergen with his corps.

Ysenburg’s column closely followed the vanguard. However, the duke of Holstein-Gottorp's

column, to the right of Ysenburg, was 3 hours late. Ferdinand reconnoitred the ground between

Am Hohen Stein and Vilbel. But from there he only had a partial view of the enemy lines. He

could see many regiments in front and in Bergen, but none of the reserves behind Bergen and

the Wartberg. Ferdinand considered that the enemy was just arriving and not in full possession

of the ground. Consequently, he ordered an attack on Bergen. Freytag marched to the north to

fix the Saxons. He captured Vilbel, destroying a pontoon.

Meanwhile, Broglie had assembled his generals behind the Wartberg tower and had given them

his instructions, insisting on a stubborn defence of the town of Bergen. He also took dispositions

for an eventual retreat.

At 9:30 AM. Allied troops advanced on 3 columns on Bergen.

At 10:00 AM, the action began. The Hereditary Prince with Hessian and Brunswicker units

attacked from the north, followed soon by Gilsa advancing from the east. A violent musketry fire

hit the advancing Allied troops who, disorganised by orchards and hedges, were soon

disordered. At last they slowly fell back, answering shot to shot to defenders. The French

regiment most heavily involved in this fire fight were Planta and Royal Suédois.

Ferdinand, escorted by a grenadier company, accompanied the first line. He was swept along

with the retreating units. However, he immediately rode to 2 grenadier companies deployed

near the Am Hohen Stein by the Hereditary Prince and ordered them to attack. This gave the

opportunity to the retreating battalions to rally and to advance behind the grenadiers. A few

Allied guns (2 x 6-pdrs and 1 x 12-pdrs) opened fire to support them.

While withstanding heavy losses, the grenadiers conquered orchards and farms and reached

the eastern sunken road. After a minute to take breath in the sunken road, they advanced in the

open ground at the eastern outskirts of Bergen, just by the wall. Under a heavy fire and

defending themselves with violent volleys, the Allied grenadiers reached the wall, but were

slowed by an abatis. The French then fire on them at point-blank range while a battery took

them in enfilade fire. The grenadiers were stopped and thrown back by a mass of French

infantry coming from the rear of the village. In fact, two battalions of Piémont Infanterie and the

first battalion of Royal Roussillon Infanterie, advanced along the main street of Bergen but were

thrown back by a volley at less than 50 paces. Despite this initial check, others French

companies attacked at the point of the bayonet and repulsed the Allied grenadiers who

immediately counter-attacked pushing their French opponents back into a vineyard. Then four

French grenadier companies belonging to Piémont and Royal Roussillon launched an attack as

they emerged from the village. Seeing this the other French battalions rallied, returned from the

vineyard and supported the French grenadiers. The Allied grenadiers were finally forced to retire

and the French captured two 6-pdrs.

Broglie, who was watching the battle from the Wartberg, sent 15 additional battalions around the

village, 11 from the north and 4 from the south, overpowering the Allies.Rohan Montbazon

Infanterie and Beauvoisis Infanterie charged with the bayonet andRoyal Bavière

Infanterie pursued the retiring Allies.

Prince Ferdinand ordered a Brunswicker battalion to move against the four French battalions

emerging at the south of Bergen to cover the Allied grenadiers. French were in their time

repulsed and the Brunswickers and the grenadiers advanced for the third time towards Bergen.

Broglie recalled every unit at his disposal, even the Saxons. He managed to collect 23

battalions and personally led them to the attack. The exhausted Allied units were driven back

and could not rally before reaching the cover of Am Hohen Stein. During this combat, von Gilsa

was wounded.

Meanwhile Ysenburg’s column had reached the field and 4 Hessian squadrons and a Hessian

battalion were immediately ordered to form line and to attack. This allowed the exhausted

grenadiers to rally and to resume their gallant advance. The sunken road was conquered for the

second time and the abatis reached. But for the second time the abatis halted the Allies who

were forced to retire.

For some time the bloody battlefield fell silent. Ferdinand ordered forwards every gun he could

collect to support the advance of Ysenburg’s entire column. The Allied launched a fourth attack

covered by intense musketry and gun fire. Nevertheless, after a little time, they were caught into

violent artillery fire from the sunken road: Broglie had deployed every gun he could collect from

batteries along the eastern side of the road. From this place they poured a devastating fire into

the advancing columns. Despite this lively artillery fire, the Hanoverians and Hessians orderly

deployed themselves into line and marched ahead for the fifth time aiming straight at Bergen.

Behind them the remains of Gilsa’s battalions rallied and followed up.

However, this was a fight against all odds. The enormous difference of number began to tell, as

Broglie threw against them all available battalions, personally leading Rohan Montbazon

Infanterie. Thus, 19 Allied battalions, of whom only 9 were fresh, faced 30 French battalions.

Ysenburg fell killed while trying to rally his men. Outnumbered by five to one, the Allies fell back,

leaving behind many dead and wounded.

The Hereditary Prince with some troops covered their retreat, while Ferdinand ordered Urff’s 4

squadrons to charge. These squadrons met considerable success, charging the triumphant

French battalions in flank, routing them and reaching the walls of Bergen before infantry fire

forced them to retire.

Meanwhile Ferdinand was rallying the crowd of disordered troops which were regrouping behind

the Am Hohen Stein, under the cover of a line of Allied cavalry who had repulsed some French

squadrons which have tried to pursue Ysenburg’s defeated infantry. When Broglie ordered the

artillery deployed in the sunken road to concentrate its fire on these Allied cavalry units,

Schulenburg (who had now replaced Ysenburg) called them back. At last, the duke of Holstein-

Gottorp’s column appeared on the battlefield with 4 heavy guns.

Broglie remained in his strong position without attempting any offensive action.However, he

moved his reserve in a position from which it could support both wings.

The duke of Holstein-Gottorp ordered his column to deploy, along with 21 heavy guns, to the

right of what remained of the Hereditary Prince’s column. Ferdinand reconnoitred the French

positions and observed enemy battalions advancing from the Wartberg. Ferdinand suspected a

French attack but this was only Broglie trying to reinforce his lines with fresh troops.

The gunners of both armies engaged into an artillery duel that lasted until sunset.

During the night, the Allies retired with the Hereditary Prince’s column forming the rearguard.

Broglie maintained his position while Saint-Germain arrived at Bergen with his corps to reinforce

him.

Outcome

The Allies lost 415 dead, 1,770 wounded, the French 500 dead and 1,300 wounded.

Ferdinand's plan to drive the French out of Hesse had failed and he retired towards Minden.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick

Summary: 40 squadrons, 27 battalions, 21 field guns and approximately 46 battalion guns; for a

total of about 22,000 men plus 1,900 light troops in 13 companies (excluding Prussian hussars).

N.B.: According to strength report dated April 1759, the average Allied battalion strength was

about 600 men while a squadron averaged some 150 men.

Vanguard

Hanoverian Jägercorps (3 mounted coys or about 240 men) aka Freytag

Hanoverian Jägercorps (6 foot coys or about 600 men)

Prussian Ruesch Black Hussars (2 sqns)

First column (or avant-garde column) under the Hereditary Prince

Vanguard under major-general von Gilsa (4 sqns, 2 bns)

Detachment of Hessian Grenadiers (ca. 100 men)

Hessian Leib-Dragoner (4 sqns)

Brunswick Converged Grenadier Battalion Dehne (2 coys Leib-Regiment and 2

coys Imhoff)

Brunswick Converged Grenadier Battalion Cramm (2 coys Zastrow and 2 coys

Behr)

Artillery (2 x 6-pdrs, 1 x 12-pdrs)

Main Force (9 bns, 7 sqns)

Brunswick Zastrow (1 bn)

Hessian Mansbach (1 bn)

Hessian Prinz Anhalt (1 bn)

Brunswick Imhoff (2 bns)

Brunswick Behr (2 bns)

Brunswick Leib-Regiment (2 bns)

British 2nd (Royal North British) Dragoons (2 sqns) aka Grey Dragoons

British 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons (2 sqns)

British Royal Horse Guards (3 sqns) a.k.a. The Blues

Artillery (2 x 6-pdrs, 2 x 12-pdrs, 3 howitzers

Second column (or left column) under prince von Jsenburg assisted by lieutenant-general

von der Schulenburg

Vanguard (1 bn, 6 sqns)

Hessian and Hanoverian Converged Grenadier Battalion von Mirbach (1 bn)

Hanoverian Dachenhausen Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hanoverian Hammerstein Cavalry (2 sqns)

Main force under major-general von Urff (10 sqns, 9 bns), from left to right

Hessian Prinz Friedrich Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hessian Pruschenk Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hessian Leib-Regiment Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hessian Prinz Wilhelm Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Post (1 bn)

Hanoverian Linstrow (1 bn)

Hanoverian Monroy (1 bn)

Hanoverian Wrede (1 bn)

Hanoverian Fersen (1 bn)

Hessian Prinz Carl (1 bn)

Hessian Prinz Ysenburg (1 bn)

Hessian Canitz (1 bn)

Hessian Hessen-Hanau (1 bn)

Artillery (11 x 12-pdrs)

Third column under duke von Holstein assisted by lieutenant-general Granby, prince von

Anhalt and von Wutginau

Vanguard

Hessian Jägers (4 coys mixed horse and foot)

Detachment of Volontaires de Prusse (unknown strength) aka Trümbach

Prussian Ruesch Black Hussars (1 sqn)

Hessian Grenadier Battalion Faust (1 bn)

Main force (10 sqns, 5 bns), from right to left

Prussian Holstein-Gottorp Dragoons (5 sqns)

Prussian Finckenstein Dragoons (5 sqns)

Hessian Garde (1 bn)

Hessian Leib-Grenadiers (1 bn)

Hessian Erbprinz (1 bn)

Hessian Leib-Regiment (1 bn)

Hessian Gilsa (1 bn)

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Victor François, duc de Broglie

Summary: 44 squadrons, 46 battalions, 45 field guns and about 66 battalion guns (incl. 16

Saxon); for a total of about 30,000 men plus 450 light troops

N.B.: The average French battalion strength was about 450 men while a squadron averaged

some 120 men.

Advanced Positions First Line Second Line Third Line

Right Wing under prince Camille de Lorraine seconded by comte d’Orlick and marquis de Saint-Chamond

French troops occupying Bergen

Planta (2 bns)

Waldner (2

bns)

Royal-Suédois (

2 bns)

Royal Deux-

Ponts (2 bns)

behind Bergen (deployed in regimental columns)

Piémont (4 bns)

I./Royal Roussillon (1

bn)

behind Bergen (deployed in regimental columns)

Alsace (2 bns)

behind Bergen (deployed in regimental columns)

Castellas (2 bns)

Diesbach (2 bns)

Rohan Montbazon (2

bns)

Beauvoisis (2 bns)

Centre under comte de Beaupréau seconded by marquis de Castries

Artillery guns Cavalry behind the Cavalry Dragoon Reserve

deployed along the sunken road to the east of the Wartberg under chevalier de Pelletier

Royal Artillerie

- Chabrié(1 bn)

with 45 guns in

8 batteries

Saint-Germain

(1 bn) on the

Wartberg

Wartberg

Commissaire Général

Brigade

Commissaire

Général (2 sqns)

Balincourt (2

sqns)

Archiac (2 sqns)

Lameth Brigade

Lameth (2 sqns)

Montcalm (2

sqns)

Toustain-Viray (2

sqns)

Penthièvre Brigade

Penthièvre (2

sqns)

Moustiers (2 sqns)

Poly (2sqns)

Des Salles Brigade

Des Salles (2 sqns)

Vienne (2 sqns)

Vogué (2 sqns)

Du Roy Dragons (4

sqns)

La Feronnaye (4 sqns)

Left Wing under baron de Dyherrn, north of the Wartberg near Vilbel

1st Saxon Brigade

Garde zu Fuss (1 bn)

Kurprinzessin (1 bn)

Prinz Friedrich

August (1 bns)

Prinz Karl

Maximilian (1 bn)

Prinz Joseph (1 bn)

Prinz Anton (1 bn)

2nd Saxon Brigade

Prinz Xaver (1 bn)

Prinz Clemenz (1 bn)

Graf Brühl (1 bn)

Fürst Lubomirsky (1

bn)

Rochow Fusiliers (1

bn)

Prinz Sachsen-

Gotha (1 bn)

Apchons Dragons (4 sqns) Cavalry

Royal-Allemand

Brigade

Royal-Allemand (2

sqns)

Nassau (2 sqns)

Wurttemberg (2

sqns)

Cavalerie Liègeoise

(2 sqns)

Artillery (16 x 4-pdrs)

Left Wing Reserve, deployed in regimental columns behind the Wartberg

Dauphin Brigade

Dauphin  (2 bns)

Enghien  (2 bns)

Anhalt Brigade

Anhalt  (2 bns)

Bergh  (1 bn)

Royal Bavière Brigade

Royal Bavière  (2 bns)

Nassau Prince Louis  (2 bns)

Light Troops

Volontaires d’Alsace (approx. 450 men), deployed en tirailleur in the woods near Vilbel in

front of the Saxon line

Detachment

Chasseurs de Fischer occupying Friedberg

Eptingen Infanterie  left behind as garrison in Frankfurt

References

Carlyle T. History of Friedrich II of Prussia, Vol. 19

Évrard, Philippe, Praetiriti Fides

Fortescue J. W., A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899, pp. 478-498.

Jomini, baron de, Traité des grandes opérations militaires, Vol. 3, 2nd ed., Magimel, Paris,

1811, pp. 7-10

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. IV, Paris, 1891, pp. 370-371

Pengel and Hurt, Allied armies in Germany during the Seven Years War

Rogge, Christian, The French and Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War,

Frankfurt: 2007

Savory, Reginald, His Britannic Majesty's Army in Germany during the Seven Years War,

Oxford University Press: 1966

Susane, Louis, Histoire de l'infanterie française, Librairie Militaire Maritime et Polytechnique de

J. Corréard, Paris: 1876

Westphalen, Christian Heinrich Philipp, Geschichte der Feldzüge des Herzogs Ferdinand von

Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Berlin: 1859

Wikipedia, Battle of Bergen

Acknowledgements

User:Carlo bessolo for the entire initial version of this article

1759-07-01 - Attempt on Lippstadt

Allied Victory

Introduction

The following document is a letter sent by the Comte de Melfort on July 3 1759, describing the

French unsuccessful attempt on Lippstadt on July 1 1759.

Document

From Halle, July 3 1759

Sir,

It has been impossible to me to report earlier on what happened last Sunday, July 1.

Around 1:00 P.M., I was ordered by the maréchal de Contades to march, with all that I could

gather from my brigade and with 300 dragoons who should join me, on the town of Lippstadt, to

repulse any troop that would be outside, and to summon the governor to surrender by telling

him that the army of the Hereditary Prince was in full march to retire on the Lower Weser, that

he had no hope to be rescued and that consequently, if he did not instantly surrender his place,

he could not expect any kind of capitulation.

An hour after receiving this letter, I was heading for Lippstadt by the right bank of the Lippe. As

time was pressing me, having 3 and a half lieues (about 14 km) to do before approaching, I left

without waiting for the 300 dragoons, who however, because of my infantry, joined me on my

way.

The enemies had in front of Lipperode, a village half a lieue (about 2 km) from Lippstadt, a

redoubt that they abandoned as our troops approached.

In Lipperode, we began to find some luckemburgs (?) (maybe Bückeburg Carabiniers) who

hastily retired.

At the left of the village, there is a small brook on which there is a drawbridge, where I sent a

lieutenant and 20 dismounted dragoons, that I supported with the rest of the piquet.

I sent a cavalry piquet of my brigade to the right of the village with instructions to push forward

many small outposts to cover my right flank. And since I did not want to let the enemies time to

reconnoitre, I debouched with my vanguard on the terrain separating the glacis of the town from

the hedges of the village of Lipperode, where I left my troops formed in columns, occupying only

half of the highway.

As soon as we debouched from the hedges, they cannonaded us and I noticed jägers retiring on

the town by the right and left flanks of the village.

Since in this position we were at half-range for their guns and they were shooting some 19-pdr

cannonballs, I did not consider appropriate to debouch with more cavalry until the infantry

arrived. This way, the jägers, seeing that we were remaining on our position, came back on our

flanks. But having dismounted 100 dragoons we soon chased them back, even though two

troops of infantry were marching to their support.

As soon as the head of my infantry appeared, I launched 100 horses upon them. They pushed

them back up to the glacis and captured them 3 soldiers, a grenadier and abackemberg

(?) (maybe Bückeburg Carabiniers).

As I considered having fulfilled the first objective of my mission who was to repulse any troop

that would be outside the town, I prepared to fulfill the second and ordered the marquis de

Vassé, who while we are on the subject I congratulate myself to have chosen as lieutenant-

colonel of the Volontaires Liégeois, to go with a drummer make the summon that I had to do. He

did so, in the middle of musketry, with the best grace possible.

After managing to explain that he had to negotiate, he came to tell me that the Hanoverian

officer had warned him that he would fire his guns if I did not stop the skirmishers from firing.

Even though I sent orders upon orders, it was impossible to stop them and I was obliged to go

by myself. It was only half an hour later that I was able to have all my people under control.

I then approached the place where the negotiations took place. An English colonel, aide de

camp of the Hereditary Prince, asked if I was the one commanding the troops. Once he had

been told that this was me, he came to talk to me and told me that he had thought that the

summon that had just been made to M. d'Ardemberg was a joke. However, he considered that

M. de Melfort, whom he had heard advantageous comments from the Hereditary Prince, was

unable to undertake such a thoughtless action without order from his general. He invited me to

look at the place, and guaranteed me that it was well supplied, that there was a sufficient

garrison, and that, if M. de Melfort commanded the place, he was sure that he would not

surrender it upon a simple summon. I answered him that circumstances sometimes forced the

bravest men to behave according to political principles when their means and forces were not at

par with their courage. Furthermore, I declared to him that I was charged to assure him that M.

d’Ardemberg could not hope for any capitulation if he waited the place to be besieged. He

answered me that brave men, to save their honour, should be ready to incur all kinds of

dangers, and that, by doing their duty, they rather expected to deserve the esteem of the French

than to receive a treatment which their generosity would make them unable to apply.

Furthermore, since he was not carrying any response from M. d'Ardemberg, if I wanted to

summon him in writing, he would deliver it to him although he believed that he had guessed his

thoughts and that his answer would be negative.

After having waited till night, I received a written answer that I could read only when I returned to

Lipperode. In substance, he knew too well the Hereditary Prince's manoeuvres to believe that if

he had moved back, it was only to jump better. A verbal answer also mentioned that, if in 15

minutes the French troops were still at the same place, he would begin to fire again. Besides

that, prisoners told us that there were from 4 to 5,000 men in the place. Here is everything that I

could learn during this day. I have the honour to be, Sir, your very obliging and very obedient

servant.

Melfort.

Outcome

The French detachment retired without gaining any advantage.

Map

Map of the French attempt on Lippstadt.

 

Courtesy: Philippe Évrard

1. Lipperode, a village 30 minutes from Lippstadt.

2. Drawbridge on a brook where a piquet of dragoons was placed.

3. French piquet of cavalry of the Volontaires to cover the right flank of the village.

4. French infantry piquet to cover the right flank of the cavalry column.

5. Hanoverian jägers firing at the head of the column.

6. French dismounted piquet of dragoons exchanging fire with the jägers.

7. French cavalry column ready to debouch.

8. French dragoons positioned to support the cavalry.

9. Retreat of the Hanoverian jäger unit on the right and left.

10. French Infantry positioned to support the skirmishers of the infantry as well as of the cavalry.

11. French skirmishers.

12. Hanoverian skirmishers.

13. Marshy terrain.

14. Hanoverian troops.

15. Road to Münster.

+. Place where the conference took place.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

not yet available

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: comte de Melfort

not yet available

References

Évrard, Philippe, Praetiriti Fides

Services historiques de l'armée de terre, A1 3518, pièce 40

1759-08-01 - Battle of Minden

Allied Victory

Prelude to the Battle

At the beginning of July 1759, a

French force under the duc de

Brogliecaptured the town of Minden

by surprise, thus securing a bridge

over the Weser and getting access

to Hanover. By July 16, themarquis

de Contades had joined Broglie at

Minden with the main French army.

Meanwhile,Ferdinand of

Brunswickconcentrated the Allied army and methodically approached the town.

Did you know that...

In 1759, Voltaire published the satire Candide ou l'optimisme. To preserve Voltaire's anonymity, the satire was initially attributed to Dr. Ralph, a German doctor.

A new edition with amendments was published in 1761. The English

title of this edition was Candide, or Optimism. Translated from the

German of Dr. Ralph. With the additions found in the Doctor's pocket

when he died at Minden, in the Year of Grace 1759.

In 1762, Candide was listed in the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, the

Roman Catholic Church's list of prohibited books.

In 1768, Voltaire finally recognized paternity of this controversial

satire.

Acknowledgement: Leonard Dorn for this interesting anecdote

On July 29, Ferdinand, leaving Wangenheim's corps in its entrenched positions at

Todtenhausen, advanced to Fredewald and Hille with the rest of his army. The British held the

place of honour on the right of the line and picquets were pushed on forward. A small corps

under Gilsa was sent to Lübbecke to maintain communication with the Hereditary Prince.

Furthermore, Ferdinand made sure that his left could rapidly link with Wangenheim's right.

Ferdinand had ordered his army to hold itself ready to march at 1:00 AM. the following day.

Contades, ignoring these dispositions, considered that the Allied army was dispersed. With his

lines of communication with Kassel cut, it looked very tempting to engage a battle against

Ferdinand. In preparation for such an endeavour, Contades detached the duc de Brissac with

8,000 men to Gohfeld to cover the Hereditary Prince, he also threw 19 bridges over the Bastau

for the passage of his troops across it in as many columns, and he ordered Broglie to be ready

to cross the Weser with his corps to form a 9thcolumn upon his right and to attack Todtenhausen

and Bevern's camp at Petershagen. To do so, Contades reinforced Broglie with the Grenadiers

de France, the Grenadiers Royaux, 6 guns and 4 howitzers. The grenadiers were destined to

form Broglie's 3rd line.

Contades could bring 51,000 men with 162 guns into the plain of Minden while Ferdinand could

oppose him 41,000 men and 170 guns.

Map

Ferdinand's posts extended from the Weser river and Todtenhausen round by Stemmern,

Holzhausen, to Hartum and the bog of Bastau, in various villages and woody patches and

favourable spots, all looking in upon Minden. His positions formed a kind of arc 8 or 11 km from

Minden.

Initially Contade was deployed south of the Bastau to the west of Minden.

Map of the battle of Minden - Source: "History of the British Army" volume II by J. W. Fortescue

Description of Events

On Tuesday evening July 31, the French camp was all alert in the darkness. More than 50,000

French were in motion. Contades had 19 bridges ready on the Bastau brook, in front of him. He

planned to march his army across these bridges, to its various stations on the plain of Minden.

The same evening, Ferdinand ordered that, at 1:00 AM, the army should be ready to march;

that the cavalry must be saddled (Sackville never received or ignored this order for his cavalry

got saddled only by 4:00 AM) ; the artillery horses harnessed, and the infantry gathered; but

tents were not to be struck, nor the troops put under arms till further orders.

On August 1, about midnight, Contades' army came out of its camp in 8 columns. Meanwhile,

Broglie passed the Weser by the town bridge, formed a ninth column to the right of the French

army and gradually ranked himself opposite Todtenhausen.

Around 1:00 AM, two French deserters were brought in by a picquet to the prince of Anhalt,

general officer of the day in the Allied army, with the important intelligence that the whole

French army was in motion. Ferdinand had seen signs of some stir on the previous evening,

and had directed that, on the observance of the slightest movement at the advanced posts,

information should be brought to him at once.

Around 3:00 AM, a messenger arrived at Ferdinand's headquarters from Anhalt with the news.

Instantly Ferdinand called the whole of his troops to arms, and ordered them to march to their

appointed positions. His orders had already been issued, and were clear and precise enough.

At about the same moment, a French battery of 6 guns began to cannonade Ferdinand's

headquarters at Hille. A French corps was deployed nearby to make a false attack on Hille to

distract Ferdinand's attention from their main effort on the Allied left wing. However, Ferdinand

contented himself with sending 2 heavy guns to Hille and instructing the Allied forces posted

there to hold to the last extremity.

The morning was very misty. Broglie's instructions were to root Wangenheim and then to take

advantage of the 5 km gap between Ferdinand and Wangenheim. Even though his plan called

for an attack on the Allied army at 5:00 AM, Contade's troops wasted many hours to form after

crossing the Bastau.

By 5:00 AM, Broglie, a capable officer, had crossed the Weser, taken up his appointed position

on the right close to the Weser, and made his dispositions to fall upon Wangenheim, punctually

and in good order. But he dared not attack until the rest of the army was formed. Meanwhile,

Contades' main army was forming in order of battle on the plain of Minden. His cavalry occupied

the heath in the centre and his infantry on the left extended to the morass near the village of

Hahlen.

From 5:00 AM, Ferdinand was issuing from his camp, advancing eastward, closing on

Contades. The advance was to be in 8 columns:

1st column: cavalry of the right wing

2nd column: heavy artillery of the right wing

3rd and 4th columns: infantry of the right wing

5th column: heavy artillery of the centre

6th and 7th column: infantry of the left wing

8th column: cavalry of the left wing

The Allied centre included 6 British infantry battalions. With the Allies, 7 out of the 8 columns

were formed and marched off with great promptitude but in Sackville's column all was confusion

and delay. Some of the regiments were ready and others were not. Sackville himself was not to

be found. It was no good beginning for the British cavalry who was supposed to form the right

wing at Hahlen. There was therefore every likelihood that the village on which Ferdinand had

intended to rest his right flank, might be occupied by the French before Sackville could be there

to prevent them.

Around 5:00 AM, Wangenheim's corps moved out of its camp through the openings previously

made in the dyke and formed in order of battle as follows (from right to left):

18 cavalry sqns

8 infantry bns in the hedges of Kutenhausen

grenadiers

batteries of Thonhausen

While Ferdinand's columns were on the march, Broglie began to cannonade Wangenheim's

positions around Todtenhausen. Broglie persisted in this tactic for 3 hours.

To compensate for the delay of Sackville's column, Ferdinand galloped away to Hartum and

ordered the picquets stationed therein to move at once to Hahlen, and then hurried back with all

speed to the latter village, only to learn the bad news that it was already in possession of the

French. Meanwhile not a word had come from Wangenheim, who, for aught he knew, might be

in serious difficulties. Ferdinand then despatched his solitary aide-de-camp to Todtenhausen to

ascertain how matters were going on the left.

Between 6:00 and 7:00 AM, the Allied columns deployed in order of battle from Hartum and

Hahlen to their right and Stemmeren to their left. According to Ferdinand's instructions, the

Allied picquets under the prince of Anhalt were deployed in front of the cavalry of the right wing

near Hahlen.

About 7:00 AM, a French battery of the left wing opened against the second Allied column of

artillery on its march and raked it. The British brigade forming part of this column deployed and

returned fire and silenced the French battery within 10 minutes.

By 7:00 AM and even by 8:00 AM, Contade's troops were still struggling to take position. Some

columns were too close, others too distant. His line was convex in form, following, as it were,

the contour of the walls of Minden, with the right resting on the Weser and the left on the

morass. At the extreme right, Broglie's corps on the right was drawn up in two lines, the first of

infantry, the second of cavalry, with two powerful batteries in advance. The ground on both

wings was rough and quite unfit for cavalry. Therefore, Contades put his entire cavalry in the

centre. These 10,000 horses were the flower of the French Army, they had firm open ground

ahead of them and strong batteries and masses of infantry to support on each flank. The

batteries were positioned to catch any assailant in cross-fire. However, the French left wing of

infantry was late in arriving at its position, and its tardiness was not without effect on the issue of

the action.

By 8:00 AM, the British cavalry under Sackville had finally taken position at the village of

Hartum. Contades and Broglie together had 57,000 foot and horse. Ferdinand's entire force was

near 42,000 men, excluding the detachment sent towards Gohfeld under the Hereditary Prince.

Broglie, realising that his cannonade was producing no tangible results and that Wangenheim

was opposing him a larger force than expected, went to Contades to request reinforcements.

Soon after 8:00 AM, combats began. As Ferdinand feared, the French right wing advanced

against Wangenheim, attacking him at Kuttenhausen. But meanwhile a furious cannonade

began about Hille on the French left, where the causeway issued from the western end of the

morass. However, Ferdinand had already sealed up the outlet of the causeway with 500 men

and two guns. Nevertheless, to make assurance still surer, Ferdinand then ordered two more

guns and Gilsa's detachment from Lübbecke to Hille. He also sent information to the Hereditary

Prince of what was passing. After making sure that his columns were advancing, Ferdinand

turned his attention back on Hahlen. There, the prince of Anhalt had duly brought up the

picquets and 2 howitzers from Hartum before Hahlen, as directed, but had halted instead of

clearing the French out of the village. This inaction had delayed the deployment of the whole of

Spörcken's column. Ferdinand then ordered the prince of Anhalt to take at once the village,

occupied by 2 French bns during the night, which Anhalt finally did after three assaults, driving

the French back to Dützen along the marshes.

After the occupation of Hahlen, matters on the right began to adjust themselves for the Allies.

Ferdinand ordered captain Foy's battery to the front of the village, to cover the formation of the

troops, and was soon satisfied by the admirable working of these British guns that all was safe

in that quarter. Meanwhile his aide-de-camp returned from Todtenhausen with intelligence that

Wangenheim was holding his own, though the enemy had gained ground on Wangenheim's

right, where his flank was uncovered.

Observing the excellent practice of Foy's battery before Hahlen, Ferdinand had already sent

Macbean's British battery to join it and ordered Haase's Hanoverian brigade of heavy guns to

the same position. Then seeing Spörcken's column of British infantry in the act of deployment,

he sent orders that its advance, when the time should come, should be made with drums

beating. The order was either misdelivered or misunderstood, for to his surprise the leading

British brigade shook itself up and began to advance forthwith. A flight of aides-de-camp

galloped off to stop them and the British line halted behind a belt of fir-wood to await the

formation of the rest of the army. In the first line of Spörcken's division stood, counting from right

to left, the 12th Foot, 37th Foot and 23rd Foot under brigadier Waldegrave. In the second line,

which extended beyond the first on each flank, the 20th Foot, 51st Foot and 25th Foot under

brigadier Kingsley, Hardenberg's Hanoverian battalion, and 2 battalions of Hanoverian Foot

Guards. There then they stood for a few minutes, while the second line, which was only partially

deployed, hastened to complete the evolution. Suddenly, to the general amazement, the drums

again began to roll and the first line stepped off once more, advancing rapidly but in perfect

order, straight upon the cavalry deployed on the left of the French centre. The second line,

though its formation was still incomplete, stepped off likewise in rear of its comrades, deploying

as it moved, and therefore of necessity dropping somewhat in rear. And so the 9 battalions, with

the leading brigade far in advance, swung proudly forward. Two French batteries of 30 and 36

guns took the advancing line in cross-fire. Alone and unsupported from the rest of the line, the

British line continued its advance.

No aide-de-camp, gallop though he might, could stop the British infantry brigades now. The

British battalions deployed on the right were the more exposed to destruction, for the French

batteries at Malbergen on their left were too remote to maintain a really deadly fire. For nearly

150 paces of the advance, the French guns tore great gaps in their ranks. However, Allied

batteries soon silenced the French battery, and the British brigades pressed on with steadiness

against the motionless lines of French cavalry. Then at last the wall of men and horses started

into life, and 11 squadrons of the French first line coming forward from the rest bore straight

down upon the British first line. The British and Hanoverian battalions stood firm until the enemy

were within 10 meters. They then poured a deadly volley which strewed the ground with men

and horses, throwing back the French first line of cavalry and continuing their advance.

Ferdinand, perceiving the disorder of the French, sent an aide-de-camp at full speed to lord

George Sackville to bring up the British cavalry and complete the rout. Sackville disputed the

meaning of the order for a time, and then advancing his squadrons for a short distance, as if to

obey it, brought them once more to a halt. A second messenger came up in hot haste to ask

why the cavalry of the right did not come on, but Sackville remained stationary, and the

opportunity was lost.

Indeed, Contades arrived in the centre and ordered Beaupréau to occupy a few houses and

hedges situated in front of the French cavalry with Touraine brigade and 8 guns. While

Beaupréau marched to his new positions, 3 additional French infantry brigades and 24 guns

were coming forward from the French left to enfilade the audacious British and Hanoverian

battalions. Ferdinand, since Sackville would not move, advanced Phillips's brigade of heavy

guns in order to parry, if possible, this flanking attack.

Then the second line of the French cavalry came thundering down, eager to retrieve their

defeat, upon the 9 isolated battalions. For a moment the Anglo-Hanoverian lines seemed to

waver under this attack, but recovering themselves they closed up their ranks and met the

charging squadrons with a storm of musketry which blasted them off the field. At this moment,

Scheele's infantry brigade along with Wangenheim Infantryand Hessian Garde then brought a

timely support to this attack. The comte de Lusace attacked these Allied units with the Saxons

deployed to the left of the French cavalry and momentarily forced them back. But the Allied

infantry soon rallied, resumed its advance and routed the Saxon regiments with terrible loss.

The Aquitaine and Condé infantry brigades, under the command of Maugiron, wanted to march

to the support of the Saxons but they were driven back. Maugiron was wounded during the

action.

Again an aide-de-camp flew from Ferdinand's side to Sackville, adjuring him to bring up the

British squadrons only, if no more, to make good the success. However, it was not jealousy of

the foreign squadrons under his command that kept Sackville back. The messenger delivered

his order; but not a squadron moved.

Now the French reserve, consisting of the Gendarmerie de France and the Carabiniers,

attempted a third attack upon the 9 brave battalions. It charged and broke through the first line

of Allied infantry. However, the second line received them with a deadly fire and forced them to

retire. Poyanne, commanding the reserve, suffered several wounds during this charge. A fourth

messenger was sent to Sackville, but with no result. Ferdinand's impatience waxed hot. “When

is that cavalry coming?" he kept exclaiming. "Has no one seen that cavalry of the right wing? "

But no cavalry came. “Good God! is there no means of getting that cavalry to advance," he

ejaculated in desperation, and sent a fifth messenger to bring up lord Granby with the

squadrons of Sackville's second line only. Granby was about to execute the order, when

Sackville rode up and forbade him and then, as if still in doubt as to these repeated orders,

Sackville trotted up to Ferdinand and asked what they might mean. “My Lord," Ferdinand is said

to have answered, calmly, but with such contempt as may be imagined, “the opportunity is now

passed."

The rightmost French cavalry brigade, under the command of Vogué, then launched a fourth

charge. But this brigade was caught in flank and routed by general Urf who was arriving from

the left wing with a few squadrons. The French cavalry was now totally beaten.

Meanwhile, the French battery at Malbergen had been taken. Several cavalry regiments

(Hanoverian Garde du Corps, Hammerstein Cavalry, Prussian Holstein-Gottorp Dragoons and

some Hessian cavalry) along with the Hessian grenadiers distinguished themselves in this

attack on Malbergen. They gained the right flank of Touraine and Rouergue infantry brigades

and drove them back, capturing a large part of Rouergue brigade and taking possession of the

houses and hedges previously occupied by these brigades.

The astonishing attack of the British infantry had virtually gained the day. Ferdinand's line had

gained time to form and to join with Wangenheim's. On the Allied left wing, the battery in front of

Thonhausen totally silenced the French batteries on their right and made great havoc among

the Swiss infantry and Grenadiers de France. Ferdinand's left wing then took the offensive, and

the German cavalry by a brilliant charge dispersed the whole of the infantry opposed to them.

About 9:00 AM, the French began to give way.

About 10:00 AM, the whole French army fled in disorder, taking shelter under the guns of

Minden or recrossing the bridges over the rivulet to their camp behind the marsh. These bridges

were then broken for fear of being pursued. Contandes sent the second line French right wing

infantry (Auvergne and Anhalt brigades) to cover the retreat but the Prussian cavalry swept

them home again. The duc de Broglie, who was still cannonading Wangenheim's corps and had

never seriously engaged his force, sent his cavalry to support the right flank of the main French

army, badly mauled byHammerstein Cavalry. However, this French cavalry was driven back by

the PrussianHolstein-Gottorp Dragoons. La Marine Infanterie then advanced and fired on the

Prussian dragoons who wheeled left, attacked La Marine and captured it along with 10 guns

and 2 colours. After covering the retreat of the right wing of the French army, Broglie withdrew

into Minden.

Meanwhile, the Saxon brigades had covered the retreat of the left wing of the French army into

its old camp. Ferdinand ordered the British artillery to advance as near the morass as possible

to dislodge the French units who had taken refuge in this camp. The British artillery then forced

the French to retire.

Gilsa's corps pushed forward from Lübbecke over the morass by Eickhorst, reaching the old

French camp. About this time, the remnants of Brissac's corps defeated during theengagement

of Gohfeld arrived in the neighbourhood of Minden and joined the main army in its retreat.

Had Sackville's cavalry come forward when it was bidden, it might have cut the flying French

squadrons to pieces, barred the retreat of most if not all of the French left wing and turned the

victory into a decisive one. As things happened, it fell to Foy and Macbean of the British Artillery

to gather the laurels of the pursuit. Hard though they had worked all day, these officers limbered

up their guns and moved with astonishing rapidity along the border of the marsh, halting from

time to time to pound the retreating masses of the enemy.

The victorious Allied army encamped on the battle field for the night. The headquarters were

established at Süd-Hemmern.

Outcome

French lost 7,086 men killed, wounded and taken prisoners. Prince Camille was killed in action

while the count of Lutzelburg and the marquis de Monti were taken prisoners. The Allies

captured 43 guns, 10 pair of colours and 7 standards. The Allies lost 2,822 men, half of it falling

on those rash 6 British battalions who, from 4,434 men and 78 officers, lost 1,252 men. The

heaviest sufferers were the 12th, which lost 302 men and the 20th, which lost 322 of all ranks,

these regiments holding the place of honour on the right of the first and second lines.

During the following night, abandoning his communications with Paderborn, Contades crossed

the Weser, broke down the bridge of Minden, burned his bridges of boats and retired through a

difficult and distressing country to Kassel, with an army not only beaten but demoralised.

After this victory, the Allied army advanced into Hesse recapturing Kassel, Marburg and

Münster, recovering all territories previously lost during this campaign.

For his conduct at the battle, lord Sackville was considered disgraced and, in order to clear his

name, he requested a court martial. However, the evidence against him was substantial and the

court martial declared him "...unfit to serve His Majesty in any capacity whatsoever."

Maréchal de Contades was subsequently relieved of his command and replaced by the duc de

Broglie.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Ferdinand of Brunswick

Summary: 42,000 men in 48 bns, 65 sqns and 105 artillery pieces

Main Army under Ferdinand of Brunswick

First Line Second Line

First column: Cavalry Right Wing under lieutenant-general lord Sackville

First Line of Cavalry under lieutenant-general lord Sackville

Colonel John Mostyn's Brigade

British Royal Horse Guards(The Blues)

(3 sqns)

British 1st King's Dragoon

Guards (Bland's) (3 sqns)

British 6th Inniskilling Dragoons (2

sqns)

Colonel Charles von Breitenbach's Brigade

Second Line of Cavalry under lieutenant-general marquis of Granby

Colonel Elliot's Brigade

British 3rd Howard's Dragoon Guards (2 sqns)

British 10th Mordaunt's Dragoons (2 sqns)

British 2nd Royal North British Dragoons(2

sqns) (also known as Scots Greys)

Hanoverian Bremer Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Veltheim Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Grenadiers à cheval (1

sqns)

Hanoverian Maximilian Breitenbach

Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hanoverian Garde du Corps (1 sqn)

Second column: Artillery under major Haase

Hanoverian Heavy Artillery Brigadeunder

major Haase

16 x 12-pdrs

4 x 3-pdrs

2 x 30-pdrs howitzers

British Heavy Artillery Brigade

6 x 12-pdrs

Hanoverian Sachsen-Gotha (1 bn)

Third column under lieutenant-general von Spörcken

Major-general Waldegrave's Brigade

British 12th Napier's Foot (1 bn)

British Light Artillery Brigade (9 pieces)

under captain MacBean

British 37th Stewart's Foot (1 bn)

British 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers(1 bn)

under Huske

Hanoverian Foot Guards (2 bns)

Major-general Kingsley's Brigade

British 20th Kingsley's Foot(1 bn)

British 51st Brudenell's Foot (1 bn)

British 25th Home's Foot (1 bn)

Fourth column: Prinz Anhalt Division under lieutenant-general Scheele

Major-general von Scheele's Brigade

Hanoverian Hardenberg (1 bn)

Hanoverian Reden (1 bn)

Hanoverian Scheele (1 bn)

Major-general Wissembach's Brigade

Hanoverian Stolzenberg (1 bn)

Hanoverian Estorff (1 bn)

Hessian Erbprinz Friedrich (1 bn)

Fifth column: Artillery under colonel Braun

Hanoverian Heavy Artillery Brigadeunder

colonel Braun

2 x 10-pdrs (captured French 8-pdrs)

12 x 6-pdrs

2 x 3-pdrs

3 x 16-pdrs howitzer

Sixth column under lieutenant-general von Wutginau

Major-general von Toll's Brigade

Hanoverian Wangenheim (1 bn)

Hessian Leibgarde zu Fuss (1 bn)

Bückeburg Light Artillery Brigade (8 x 6-pdrs)

Hessian Toll (1 bn)

Major general von Bischausen

Hessian Prinz von Anhalt (1 bn)

Hessian Bischhausen (1 bn)

Hessian Mansbach (1 bn)

Seventh column under lieutenant-general von Imhoff

Major-general von Einsiedel's Brigade

Hessian Gilsa (1 bn)

Hessian Prinz Wilhelm (1 bn)

Hessian Leib Grenadier (1 bn)

British Light Artillery Brigade (9 pieces)

under captain Foy

Brunswicker II./Behr (1 bn)

Major-general von Behr's Brigade

Hessian Leib-Regiment (1 bn)

Brunswicker Imhoff (2 bns)

Eighth column: Left Wing under lieutenant-general duke of Holstein

Lieutenant-general duke of Holstein's Brigade

Hanoverian Hammerstein Cavalry(2 sqns)

Hessian Leib Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hessian Prinz Wilhem Erbprinz Cavalry (2

sqns)

Prussian Holstein-Gottorp Dragoons (5

sqns)

Lieutenant-general von Urff's Brigade

Hessian Miltitz Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hessian Pruschenk Cavalry (2 sqns)

Prussian Finckenstein Dragoons (4 sqns)

Wangenheim Corps between the village of Kutenhausen and the Weser

First Line Second Line Third Line

Cavalry Right Wing

Major-general Reden's Brigade

Hessian Leib Dragoons (2 sqns)

Hessian Prinz Friedrich Dragoons (4 sqns)

Major-general von Hanstein's

Brigade

Hanoverian Leib-Regiment

Reuter(2 sqns)

Major-general Grothausen's

Brigade

Hanoverian Reden Cavalry (2

sqns)

Hanoverian Heise Cavalry (2

sqns)

HanoverianHodenberg

Cavalry (2 sqns)

HanoverianGrothaus

Cavalry(2 sqns)

Prussian Ruesch Hussars (1 sqn)

Infantry Centre

Brigade under ???

Hanoverian Kielmannsegg (1 bn)

Hanoverian Spörken (1 bn)

Hanoverian Jung Zastrow (1 bn)

Hanoverian Halberstadt (1bn)

Hanoverian Schulenburg (1 bn)

Hanoverian Oberg (1 bn)

Hanoverian Laffert (1 bn)

Hanoverian Scheither (1 bn)

Artillery (6 x 6-pdrs)

Brigade under ???

Hanoverian Converged Grenadiers (1 bn)

under Wersabe

British Converged Grenadiers (1 bn from

12th, 20th, 23rd,

25th, 37th and 51st Foot) under Maxwell

Hessian Converged Grenadiers (1 bn)

under Donopp

Hessian Converged Grenadiers (1 bn)

under Schlotheim

Brunswicker Leib-Regiment/Imhoff

Converged Grenadiers (1 bn) under

Stammer

Brunswicker Converged Grenadiers (1 bn)

under Wittorff

Hessian Artillery (3 coys) under lieutenant-

colonel Huth

16 x 12-pdrs

4 x 6-pdrs

2 x 3-pdrs

2 x 20-pdrs howitzer

Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Artillery

6 x 6-pdrs

10 x 3-pdrs

Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg (1 bn) escorting

the artillery

Brunswicker Converged Grenadiers (1 bn)

under Wittorff

Reinecke Detachment near Hille guarding the Eickhorst causeway crossing the peat bog

Brunswicker Imhoff Detachment (500 men)

Artillery

2 x 12-pdrs

2 x 6 pdrs

Gilsa Detachment at Lübbecke

Hanoverian Linstrow (1 bn)

Hessian Prinz Karl (1 bn)

Brunswicker I./Behr (1 bn)

British Dragoons (300 men from an unidentified unit)

Prussian Ruesch Hussars (2 sqns)

Laffert Detachment on the left bank of the Weser

Hanoverian Luckner's Hussars (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Converged Grenadiers (1 bn) under Wense

Hanoverian Converged Grenadiers (1 bn) under Sydow

Hanoverian Jägers

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: maréchal de Contades assisted by lieutenant-general comte de Noailles

and maréchal de camp de Raugrave

Summary: 57,000 men in 84 bns (avg. 500 men per bn), 85 sqns (avg. 120-140 men per sqn)

and 90 artillery pieces

Main Army under maréchal de Contades deployed in front of the fortress of Minden

First Line Second Line Third Line

Right Wing Infantry

Chevalier de Nicolaï's Division assisted by lieutenant-general Beaupréau

Picardie Brigade

Picardie (4 bns)

La Marche (1 bn)

Belzunce Brigade (4 bns)

Touraine Brigade

Touraine (2 bns)

d'Aumont (2 bns)

Rouergue Brigade

Rouergue (2 bns)

Comte de La Marche (1

bn)

Tournaisis (1 bn)

Artillery (34 pieces)

Comte de Saint-Germain's Division

assisted by maréchaux-de-camp

Leyde and Glaubitz

Anhalt Brigade

Anhalt (2 bns)

Saint-Germain (1 bn)

Bergh (1 bn)

Auvergne Brigade (4 bns)

Centre Cavalry

Duc de FitzJames' Division

assisted by lt-gen. Vogué and

Castries

Colonel Général Brigade

Colonel général (3 sqns)

Marcieux (2 sqns)

Du Mesnil's Division

assisted by lt-gen. Andlau and

d'Orlick

du Roi Brigade

du Roy (2 sqns)

Henrichemont (2 sqns)

Marquis de Poyanne's Division

assisted by maréchaux-de-camp

Bellefonds and Bissy

Gendarmerie de France

Gendarmes

Écossais& Gendarmes de

Vogüé (2 sqns)

Condé (2 sqns)

Royal Cravate Brigade

Royal-Cravate (2 sqns)

La Rochefoucault de

Surgère (2 sqns)

Talleyrand (2 sqns)

Mestre de Camp Brigade

Mestre de Camp (2

sqns)

Fumel (2 sqns)

d'Espinchal (2 sqns)

Poly (2 sqns)

Moustiers (2 sqns)

Noé (2 sqns)

Bourgogne Brigade

Bourgogne (2 sqns)

Cavalerie Liègeoise (2

sqns)

Archiac (2 sqns)

Royal Étranger Brigade

Royal-Étranger (2 sqns)

Crussol (2 sqns)

Noailles (2 sqns)

Balincourt (2 sqns)

Bourgogne (1 sqn)

Gendarmes

Anglais &Chevau-légers de

Bourgogne (1 sqn)

Gendarmes

Bourguignons &Gendarmes

d'Aquitaine(1 sqn)

Gendarmes de

Flandres & Chevau-légers

d'Aquitaine (1 sqn)

Gendarmes de la

Reine& Gendarmes de

Berry(1 sqn)

Chevau-légers de la

Reine & Chevau-légers de

Berry (1 sqn)

Gendarmes du

Dauphin& Gendarmes

d'Orléans (1 sqn)

Chevau-légers du

Dauphin & Chevau-légers

d'Orléans (1 sqn)

Corps des carabiniers de

Monsieur le Comte Provence (10

sqns)

Left Wing Infantry

Guerchy's Division

assisted by maréchaux-de-camp

Laval and Maugiron

Condé Brigade

Condé (2 bns)

Enghien (2 bns)

Aquitaine Brigade

Aquitaine (2 bns)

Vastan (2 bns)

Saxon Division under comte de Lusaceassisted by comte de Solms

N.B.: out of the Saxon division,

one battalion

was not present on the field that

day but

we do not know which one

Second Saxon Brigade

Kurprinzessin (2 bns)

du Roi Brigade (4 bns)

Champagne Brigade (4 bns)

Artillery (30 pieces)

Prinz Sachsen-Gotha (1

bn)

Prinz Anton (1 bn)

Graf Brühl (1 bn)

Rochow Fusiliers (1 bn)

First Saxon Brigade

Fürst Lubomirsky (1 bn)

Prinz Clemenz (1 bn)

Prinz Joseph (1 bn)

Prinz Friedrich

August (2 bns)

Prinz Xaver (2 bns)

Prinz Karl Maximilian (1

bn)

N.B.: The rightmost battalion of each brigade was formed in column. The battalions of the

second line were spread wider than those of the first. Exceptionally, Auvergne Infanterie had its

first battalion formed in column on the left to link with the cavalry centre. Each line of the French

army maintained a distance of 400 paces. The 64 pieces in front of Contades infantry would

include 8 12-pdrs, a good number of 8-pdrs, and the most being long barreled 4-pdrs.

Broglie Corps

Attack First Line Second Line

Artillery (22 pieces) deployed in

front of the infantry

6 x 12-pdrs

4 x howitzers

12 x unidentified calibers

Grenadiers de France Brigade

under M. de Saint-Pern

Grenadiers de France (4 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de

Modène (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de

Chantilly (2 bns)

Infantry, probably under chevalier du Muy

Piémont Brigade

Piémont (4 bns)

Dauphin (2 bns)

Royal Bavière Brigade

Royal Deux Ponts (2

bns)

Royal Bavière (2 bns)

Waldner's Brigade

Waldner (2 bns)

Planta (2 bns)

Cavalry, probably under prince Camille

Lameth Brigade

Commissaire Général (2

sqns)

Lameth (2 sqns)

Des Salles (2 sqns)

Penthièvre Brigade

Penthièvre (2 sqns)

Toustain (2 sqns)

Prince Holstein's Brigade

Royal Allemand (2 sqns)

Nassau-Sarrebruck (2

sqns)

Wurttemberg (2 sqns)

N.B.: Each infantry brigade was preceded by 100 workers with the necessary wagons and tools.

Once ordered to only contain Bevern’s grenadiers and Wangenheim’s corps, Broglie redeployed

in a different formation with his infantry in 3 lines and the horse to their left.

Broglie also commanded the following light troops:

Apchon Dragoons (4 sqns)

Volontaires de Schomberg (3 sqns) probably on the far bank of the Weser watching

Luckner’s detachment

Royal Nassau Hussars (4 sqns)

Duc d'Havré Corps in an advanced post at Eichhorst to the left, opposing Hille.

Navarre  (4 bns)

Volontaires du Dauphiné (approx. 500 men)

Volontaires Liégeois (approx. 500 men)

Volontaires de Muret (approx. 150 men)

Artillery (4 x 8-pdrs)

Garrison of Minden under maréchal de camp de Bisson

Lowendahl Brigade under the command of maréchal-de-camp Bisson

Lowendahl  (2 bns)

Bouillon  (2 bns)

N.B.: Lowendahl brigade occupied the ramparts of Minden and the 3 bridgeheads. Most heavy

artillery pieces were placed on the cavaliers of Minden and some pieces in the work covering

the stone bridge.

References

This article incorporates texts from the following books which are now in the public domain:

Anonymous, A Complete History of the Present War, from its Commencement in 1756, to

the End of the Campaign, 1760, London, 1761, pp. 398-404

Carlyle, T., History of Friedrich II of Prussia, Vol. 19

Fortescue, J. W., A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London: 1899, pp. 487-

494.

Hotham, The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene Highness

Prince Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and ending in

the year 1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, p. 99-104

Jomini, baron de, Traité des grandes opérations militaires, Vol. 3, 2nd ed., Magimel, Paris,

1811, pp. 30-46

This article also incorporates texts from the following articles published in Wikipedia:

Battle of Minden

Other sources:

Bruns, J.C.C., Die Schlacht bei Minden, Bruns Verlag, Minden in Westfalen: 1959

Rogge, Christian, The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War,

Frankfurt: 2006

Schirmer, Friedrich: Minden (1. August 1759), in: Die Zinnfigur (1959) Neue Folge, 8. Jg., H.

5, page 81-94

Vial, J. L., Nec Pluribus Impar

Acknowledgements

Hannoverdidi for the information supplied

1759-08-01 - Engagement of Gohfeld

Allied Victory

Prelude to the Battle

Early in July 1759, during their offensive in West Germany, the French captured Minden. The

French had now secured a bridge over the Weser and had free access into Hanover. This

forced Ferdinand of Brunswick to react quickly to this threat. On July 17, hoping to lure the

French into a battle, he deployed his army in the plain of Minden but this plan did not succeed.

Ferdinand then methodically advanced his positions towards Minden while giving the impression

that his various corps were isolated.

On July 31 1759, the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick and general Dreves established

themselves at Kirchlengern across the lines of communication between Minden and Paderborn

and Kassel, cutting all supplies coming from the south to Contades' army at Minden. In the

evening, Brissac's corps took position at Gohfeld with the Warre river in his front. The cavalry of

the Volontaires de Dauphiné was charged to maintain communication between d'Havré's and

Brissac's corps through the vale of Bergkirchen.

The Hereditary Prince decided to attack Brissac the next morning.

Map

Reconstruction of the map of the engagement of Gohfeld.

 

Courtesy: Chris Salander

Furthermore, the following website offers a large map of the battle of Minden covering the

engagement at Gohfeld (on the right side approximately in the middle of the map).

Digitales Archiv Marburg - Plan der Schlacht bei Todtenhausen (Minden), 1. August 1759

There were salt pans around the junction between the Weser and the Warre. The bridge

nearest the Weser was called the Salt Pan Bridge. It was apparently flimsy and designed mainly

for the salt pan workers to use. This bridge collapsed during the French retreat. The main road

ran over the next bridge, the "Gohfeld Warre" bridge.

There is a small stream running into the Warre downstream of the French force initial positions

(between Gohfeld and the Weser).

The Beck defile was located near the town of Menningenhuffen and a large estate house (Haus

Beck, now an inn).

Description of Events

Since the front of the French positions was inaccessible, the Allied centre kept the French at

bay while the right wing turned the French left and the left wing advanced towards the bridge to

cut the French from Minden.

On August 1 at 3:00 AM, the Hereditary Prince set from his camp at Kirchlengern. However,

Brissac's troops too were on the move to attack the Allies. When count Kielmansegg came out

of the defile of Beck, he came into contact with the French. The two forces cannonaded each

other for 2 hours.

Meanwhile, the Allied right crossed the Warre at Kirchlengern. When the French saw that their

left had been turned, they immediately gave way. While retreating they came under the fire of

the artillery of the Allied left wing.

Completely surrounded, the Brissac's force broke and routed. The Allies captured 5 guns and all

the baggage. During this engagement, Alt Zastrow Infantry repulsed the French cavalry.

Outcome

The Allies captured 5 guns and all the baggage.

Immediately after the engagement, the Hereditary Prince took position near the defile of

Bergkirchen. The same day (August 1), the army of Ferdinand of Brunswick defeated the main

French army in the battle of Minden. Since the Hereditary Prince had already cut the line of

communication from Minden to Paderborn and Kassel, where the French had considerable

magazines, the main French army was forced to retreat through countries where it had no

subsistence.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Hereditary Prince of Brunswick

Summary: 10 battalions, 9 squadrons and some light troops for a total of about 8,500 men

Right wing under the Hereditary Prince and general Dreves

Vacant (Diepenbroick)  (1 bn)

Brunswick Leib-Regiment  (2 bns)

Volunteers (200 men)

Bock Dragoons  (4 sqns)

Centre under lieutenant-general count Kilmansegg

Alt Zastrow  (1 bn) under colonel Otte

Behr  (1 bn)

Bock  (1 bn)

Kanitz  (1 bn)

Karl Breitenbach Dragoons  (1 sqn)

Artillery (16 heavy guns including 6 x 12-pdrs)

Left wing under Bock

Block  (1 bn)

Dreves  (1 bn)

I./Zastrow  (1 bn)

Busche Dragoons  (4 sqns)

Light troops:

Unidentified Jäger Unit (400 men)

Malachowski Hussars  (1 sqn of 100 men)

N.B.: 1 battalion of Prussian volunteers (Trümbach) had been detached to Herford.

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Jean-Paul Timoléon duc de Brissac

Summary: 1 brigade of infantry (under the command of Phillipe-Henri, marquis de Ségur), 1

brigade of cavalry, a few guns and possibly 12 hussar squadrons.

The infantry was made up of a composite force consisting of 20 grenadier companies and 20

infantry piquets for a total of 2,000 men.

The cavalry counted 1,000 horse, maybe cavalry piquets or possibly carabiniers of various

regiment of cavalry.

The artillery consisted of 4 or 5 x 4-pdrs.

In addition, Brissac's troops had been reinforced by the Bercheny and Turpin hussars on July

29, after being forced to leave their position at Lübbecke. This would add another 12 squadrons

to his detachment.

References

Anonymous, A Complete History of the Present War, from its Commencement in 1756, to the

End of the Campaign, 1760, London, 1761, pp. 405-406

Hotham, The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene Highness Prince

Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and ending in the year

1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, p. 98

Jomini, baron de, Traité des grandes opérations militaires, Vol. 3, 2nd ed., Magimel, Paris,

1811, pp. 35, 46

Rogge, Christian, The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War,

Frankfurt, 2006

Witzel, Rudolf, Hessen Kassels Armee in der Alliierten Armee 1762, p. 238

1759-11-30 – Attack on Fulda

Allied Victory

Prelude to the Battle

Late in November 1759, the contingent of Württemberg (about 10,000 men), led personally by

the duke Karl Eugen of Würtemberg, entered the country of Fulda and took up its winter

quarters in this province to assist the French army. As instructed by the duc de Broglie the

contingent was now in a position to threaten the Allied left flank and to deny them supplies from

this area. A detachment of about 1,000 French light cavalry took post at Lauterbach and

Herbstein, between the Württembergers and the Allies.

To improve the safety of his contingent, Karl Eugen sent 1 battalion along with Phull

Cuirassiers forward, between Fulda and the two French held places. As this area was thought

most important, general von Wolff was detached to Hersfeld with 4 battalions, 1 squadron

of Leib-Grenadiers à Cheval, 1 squadron of Roeder Dragoons and most ofGorcy Hussars.

These troops were posted along the Fulda river where they created the cordon of the

Württemberg army's quarters with each patrol in close touch to one another. General von Augée

was placed with a brigade along the Werra. Both detachments denied all supplies to the Allies

from these areas and the province was put under contribution. Near Rothenburg, there was an

Allied party of some 800 men and near Wanfried some 500 Allied hussars, engaging into daily

skirmishes with the Württembergers.

Ferdinand of Brunswick decided to send a corps (7 bns, 12 sqns) under the command of

the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick to dislodge this contingent from Fulda and prevent its

junction with the main French army.

On November 28 in the morning, the Hereditary Prince corps set out from Marburg and

marched to Kirtorf.

On November 29, the corps of the Hereditary Prince marched to Angersbach and Lauterbach.

His vanguard repulsed a detachment of the Royal-Nassau Hussards. The same day at 6:00 AM,

Karl Eugen received the first report of the Allied approach. The French brigadier von Nordmann,

commanding his detachment of some 500 dragoons and hussars, informed him that the Allies

now occupied his former position at Lauterbach. He had been forced to retire to Schlitz and

even as far as across the Fulda. Karl Eugen asked to comte de Gréaulme, aide maréchal-des-

logis of Broglie's army and attached to the Württemberger staff as liaison officer, to order

brigadier von Nordmann to recross the Fulda and to take up a position between Lauterbach and

Fulda, this town giving him a safe line of retreat, if necessary. Duke Karl Eugen also sent orders

to his two generals (von Wolff and von Augée) to leave their quarters and immediately assemble

at Fulda.

Map

Sketch of the action of Fulda.

 

Courtesy: Christian Rogge

Fulda, a town with some 7,000 inhabitants by the late 18th century, is located in a quite even

plain watered by the Fulda river. To the west of the town towards the river, the fields were

divided by a long hollow road. The Württemberg contingent had encamped very irregularly in

small bodies on separate spots of ground on one side of this hollow road. The left (west) bank of

the Fulda provided some rising ground commanding the bridges and the right bank.

Description of Events

On November 30 at 1:00 AM, the corps of the Hereditary Prince advanced directly towards

Fulda. It met no troops on the road. A little distance from Fulda, the Allied force deployed behind

a height while their hussars marched forward.

The Hereditary Prince then reconnoitred almost to the gates of the town.

The Allied hussars and Prinz Friedrich Dragoons drew up in front of the encampment of the

Württemberger troops along the hollow road to the west of the town. The rest of the Allied corps

went round the hill, proceeded to the other side of the hollow road and took position upon the

flank of the Württemberger troops.

At 9:00 AM, after skirmishing with the Allied avant-garde, Phull Cuirassiers were forced to retire

back to the bridge in front of the town of Fulda.

Karl Eugen realised that he was on the point of being attacked by an Allied corps of no less than

8,000 or 10,000 men while he had no more than his 1,200 Grenadiers andPhull Cuirassiers at

Fulda, the rest of his force being dispersed in various detachments. The duke now had two

options. He could march towards Hersfeld and make a junction near Hünfeld with his

approaching detachments and then withdraw towards Saxony and join the Reichsarmee. His

other option was to hold his ground, defend the bridges with his force as long as possible and

await the arrival of his approaching detachments. He decided for the latter option.

The Württemberger grenadiers, along with a number of 3-pdrs guns, were ordered to occupy

the 3 stone bridges near Fulda (should probably read 2 bridges). One company was ordered to

cross the river to support Phull Cuirassiers. Led by general von Gorcy, they charged in close

order the Allied dragoons and hussars, gaining some time. By engaging into further skirmishing,

they managed to delay the Allied advance until around 1:00 PM.

By 1:00 PM, Phull Cuirassiers were forced to abandon their positions. About this time, the first

elements of general Angée’s brigade arrived near Fulda and formed up in line of battle on the

right bank of the river. Meanwhile, the Allied had deployed infantry and a powerful artillery on

the heights on the left bank of the Fulda. Phull Cuirassiers then withdrew over the river while the

Württembergers grenadiers, although being under a murderous cannon fire, held the bridges for

some time. However, the grenadiers were eventually recalled into the town in order to prepare

its defence.

The Württemberger infantry started to form in the town square but Allied howitzers drove them

away. Seeing that the Württembergers were exiting the town on the opposite side, the

Hereditary Prince led the hussars, Prinz Friedrich Dragoons, Hessian Grenadier-

Regiment and Bock Dragoons against the town. They occupied the town gate leading to the

position of Angée's brigade, thus, leaving some 5 or 600 Württemberger grenadiers cut off

inside the town. These grenadiers finally managed to leave through another gate joining a late

arriving battalion of Werneck Infantry . Meanwhile, Bevern had forced the St. Johannis bridge

(the southern bridge) and passed the river.

The delaying action of the Württemberger grenadiers at the bridge allowed Karl Eugen to

assemble his force and to organise the withdrawal. The Württemberger grenadiers (3 bns)

and Werneck Infantry (1 bn) formed in order of battle, under the command of baron von

Poellnitz, on the opposite side of the town to contain the Allies during the retreat of their main

body. The Allied hussars and Bock Dragoons advanced against the deployed Württemberger

units while Bevern gained their flanks. The Allies then attacked these units who tried to make

good their escape. Closely pursued by the Allied cavalry and under continuous cannon and

musketry fire, they lost a great number of men. Eventually, what was left of these units was

forced to lay down their arms and surrender.

Now all bridges were in the hands of the Allies. Duke Karl Eugen ordered general Wolff’s

brigade, which was not yet arrived at Fulda, to redirect his march towards Hünfeld. The Duke’s

force now consisted of Phull Cuirassiers, Leib-Grenadiers à Cheval(3 sqns), grenadiers (6 coys)

and 7 battalions. He directed his retreat to Motten, an hour march from Fulda. During the

retreat, the duke formed his troops in line of battle at one time, in order to keep the pursuing

enemy at a distance. General von Goren (maybe Gorcy), commanding the grenadiers of his

rearguard engaged the pursuers.

Outcome

During this action, the Allies lost 6 killed and 14 wounded. The Württembergers lost several men

killed and 923 taken prisoners, along with 2 guns, 2 colours of Werneck Infantry and their

baggage. Half their grenadiers were missing along with an entire battalion of Werneck Infantry.

Among the prisoners was the colonel and general-adjutant baron von Poellnitz.

On December 1, duke Karl Eugen resumed his retreat to Brückenau to take up supplies as well

as to support general Wolff’s retreat, the latter being now at Bischofsheim.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand hereditary prince of Brunswick assisted by prince

von Bevern

Summary: 7 battalions, 10 cavalry squadrons, 2 light cavalry squadrons

Hereditary Prince's column

Infantry (1 bn)

Hessian Grenadier-Regiment  (1 bn)

Cavalry (8 sqns)

Bock Dragoons  (4 sqns)

Prinz Friedrich Dragoons  (4 sqns)

Light troops (2 sqns)

Prussian Ruesch “Black” Hussars (1 sqn)

Hanoverian Luckner's “White” Hussars (1 sqn)

Prussian Freibataillon Trümbach (100 jägers) aka Volontaires de Prusse

Bevern's column

Infantry (6 bns)

Mansbach  (1 bn)

Bischhausen  (1 bn)

Brunswick Leib-Regiment  (2 bns)

Imhoff  (2 bns)

Guarding the baggage (did not take part to the action)

Prinz Wilhem Cavalry  (2 sqns)

Württemberger Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Karl Eugen duke of Württemberg

Württemberg Contingent

Summary: 15 battalions, 12 sqns

Infantry (12 bns among which 4 bns were with Wolff's brigade and did not take part to the

engagement)

Prinz Louis  (2 bns for a total of about 1,023 men)

Wolff  (2 bns for a total of about 1,023 men) probably part of Wolff's brigade

Werneck  (2 bns for a total of about 1,023 men)

Roman  (2 bns for a total of about 1,023 men)

Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm  (2 bns for a total of about 1,023 men)

Truchsess Fusilier (Vacant)  (2 bns for a total of about 1,023 men)

Grenadiers (3 bns for a total of 1,213 men)

1. von Bode Grenadiers  (1 bn)

2. von Witzleben Grenadiers  (1 bn)

3. von Reischach Grenadiers  (1 bn)

Cavalry (12 sqns among which 5 sqns were with Wolff's brigade and did not take part to the

engagement)

Leib-Grenadiers à Cheval  (4 sqns for a total of 504 men) 1 sqn was part of Wolff's

brigade

Phull Cuirassiers  (4 sqns for a total of 504 men)

Gorcy Hussars  (3 sqns for a total of 380 men) most of them were part of Wolff's brigade

Roeder Dragoons  (1 sqn for a total of 122 men) part of Wolff's brigade

N.B.: Wolff's brigade did not take part to the action, being still on its way to Fulda.

French Detachment

Royal-Nassau Hussards  (4 sqns for a total of about 500 men) under the command of

lieutenant-colonel Wurmser

Nornmann brigade (4 sqns for a total of about 500 men)

unidentified dragoon unit

Turpin Hussards

N.B.: the French detachment did not take part in the action

References

This article incorporates texts from the following books or documents which are now in the

public domain:

A relation of the action by an anonymous Württemberg officer, published in Gregor

Stasch, Die Schlacht auf dem Münsterfeld von 1759, Exhibition catalogue No. 9, Vonderau

Museum Fulda, 2003

Anonymous, A Complete History of the Present War, from its Commencement in 1756, to

the End of the Campaign, 1760, London, 1761, pp. 465-466

Hotham, The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene Highness

Prince Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and ending in

the year 1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, pp. 130-133

Other sources

Most of this article is derived from:

Rogge, Christian, The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War,

Frankfurt, 2006

1760-07-10 - Combat of Corbach

French Victory

Prelude to the Battle

On June 16 1760, the French army of the Lower Rhine, under the command of the comte de

Saint-Germain, had passed the Rhine and support the main army of the duc de Broglie in

its offensive in West Germany. By the end of June, Broglie had already seized Marburg. On July

4, he instructed Saint-Germain to quit Dortmund and to march towards Corbach to make a

junction with the French main army. On July 8, whenFerdinand of Brunswick was informed of

Broglie's manoeuvres, he detached theHereditary Prince of Brunswick with the vanguard and

ordered major-general von Luckner to occupy the heights of Sachsenhausen and Corbach. At

3:00 PM, Ferdinand followed them with his main army. On July 9 in the morning, Ferdinand

encamped near Wildungen, sending Kielmansegg on Frankenberg. The same day, the main

French army passed the Eder at Frankenberg and Clausen brigade marched on Corbach to

observe the movements of the Allies. Clausen came to contact with Luckner's corps. Broglie

ordered to immediately dislodge them and sent the comte de Rooth with an infantry brigade and

the marquis de Poyanne with the Corps des carabiniers de Monsieur le Comte de Provence to

support Clausen and to guard the defiles debouching on the plain of Corbach. However, the

French could not mount an attack before nightfall. Meanwhile, part of the Army of the Lower

Rhine under Saint-Germain had reached Fritzlar abbey. Broglie ordered Saint-Germain to

quicken pace. Clausen brigade took position in the wood to the left of Corbach and Broglie

personally led 6 brigades towards Corbach to support Saint-Germain's attack.

Description of Events

Initial Manoeuvres

At 2:00 AM on July 10, the corps of Ferdinand of Brunswick and the Hereditary Prince resumed

their march. Ferdinand sent forward a corps (6 bns and 6 sqns) under lieutenant-general

Oheimb to reinforce the Hereditady Prince before the combat.

The Hereditary Prince at the head of the vanguard of the Allied army had made a junction with

Kielmansegg's corps. He arrived at Corbach while the main Allied army was still passing the

defile of Sachsenhausen.

Believing that he was facing only Saint-Germain's corps, the Hereditary Prince resolved to

attack immediately without waiting for the main army.

Map and initial deployment

Map of the combat of Corbach on July 10 1760.

 

Source: Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, volume 12 by the German Grosser Generalstabfrom the collections of

Frédéric Aubert and Christian Rogge

The town of Corbach is located on heights rising to some 400 meters above the surrounding

plain and extending about 1,8 km east of Corbach to the woods of Berndorf.

Battle

At 10:00 AM, M. de Clausen that a considerable Allied force could be seen on the heights near

Corbach. Broglie went to the court of justice of Corbach to observe the Allied dispositions and

saw them debouching from a wood.

A skirmish took place between French hussars and Allied light troops and the hussars

discovered a column of Allied infantry.

At this moment, Saint-Germain appeared on the field with only 2 infantry brigades (La Tour-du-

Pin and La Couronne) and part of his light troops (Volontaires de Flandres), without his cavalry

and artillery who could not arrive during the day. Broglie instructed Saint-Germain to support the

Volontaires de Flandres with his 2 infantry brigades. Soon afterward, the Royal-Suédois and

Castellas infantry brigade arrived with a few pieces.

As not more than 10,000 foot and 17 sqns of the French were yet deployed, the Hereditary

Prince personally led the Bock and Malsburg brigades to the attack of the woods and dislodged

the enemy while the French du Roi and Navarre infantry brigades appeared on the field.

Broglie was surprised by this bold action and first believed that he was facing the entire Allied

army. However, when he saw the size of the two columns following the initial attack, he ordered

Saint-Germain to enter into the wood while he supported him with the Castellas, Royal-Suédois.

Clausen took possession of a knoll where he planted 24 pieces.

About 2:00 AM, the engagement became extremely hot. The Navarre brigade, under the

command of lieutenant-colonel de Saint-Victor distinguished itself by capturing a battery.

As these additional units came up, the Hereditary Prince was soon driven back by superior

numbers. Part of his infantry retired disorderly on his cavalry deployed in line of battle. The

presence of the Allied cavalry prevented the French infantry to follow up the Allied infantry.

Ferdinand who had now reached Saschsenhausen ordered the Hereditary Prince to retire and

to make a junction with the main army.

Oheimb's corps arrived on the field towards the end of the combat.

It fell to the British infantry (5th Foot, 24th Foot, 50th Foot and 51st Foot) to cover the retreat.

The leftmost units fell on Navarre Infanterie. Broglie sent the newly arrived infantry brigades

Auvergne and Orléans to its support. Furthermore, prince Camille de Lorrain, galloping ahead of

his cavalry corps took command of Beauffremont Dragons and Turpin Hussards and charged on

retiring troops near watchtower hill. So hard were Allied units pressed that the Hereditary Prince

only extricated them by putting himself at the head of two squadrons of the 1st Dragoon

Guards and 3rd Dragoon Guards and leading them to a desperate charge against the French

hussars and the Beauffremont Dragons. The British squadrons responded superbly (the 1st

Dragoon Guards had gone into this charge with 90 men and returned with 24), and so the rear-

guard was saved.

Then, 24 additional French squadrons, from the corps of prince Camille, started to appear on

the battlefield.

Outcome

The Hereditary Prince lost 824 men killed, wounded and missing (7 officers, 8 sergeants and

163 rank and file killed; 18 officers, 21 sergeants and 428 rank and files wounded; 2 officers, 2

sergeants and 175 rank and file missing) and 12 guns, 7 of which last were British, 4 howitzers

and 30 ammunition wagons. The Hereditary Prince received a slight wound in the shoulder. The

French lost about 750 men.

The Hereditary Prince had received an unpleasant reverse and the French had secured their

first object, the junction of the armies of Saint-Germain and Broglie, with signal success.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Hereditary Prince of Brunswick

Summary: 12,000 men

Main corps

right column under lieutenant-general count von Kilmannsegg seconded by major-generals

Howard and Grothaus

British 50th Carr's Foot (1 bn)

British 51st Brudenell's Foot (1 bn)

Hanoverian Wangenheim Infantry (1 bn)

Hanoverian Bock Infantry (1 bn)

Hanoverian Reden Infantry (1 bn)

Hanoverian Laffert Infantry (1 bn)

Hanoverian Plessen Infantry (1 bn)

British 1st Bland's Dragoon Guards (3 sqns)

Hanoverian Leib-Regiment Reuter (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Hodenberg Cavalry (2 sqns)

left column under lieutenant-general Griffin

Hanoverian [[Drachtleben Infantry|Schulenburg] Infantry] (1 bn)

Hessian Prinz Karl Infantry (2 bns)

Hessian Füsilier-Regiment von Gilsa (2 bns)

Hessian Malsburg Infantry (2 bns)

Hanoverian Artillery under captain Eitel (mixed Hanoverian and Hessian crews)

4 x heavy 3-pdr guns

6 x 6-pdr guns

2 x 12-pdr guns

1 howitzer

Hanoverian Grothaus Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Heise Cavalry (2 sqns)

major-general Luckner's detachment

Hanoverian Wersabé Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Hanoverian Bock Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Hanoverian Geyso Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Hanoverian Walthausen Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Luckner's Hussars (4 sqns)

Brunswicker Foot Jäger (3 coys or about 300 men)

Brunswicker Mounted Jäger (1 sqn)

approaching column (at Meineringhausen at 9:00 AM) under lieutenant-general von Oheimb

seconded by major-general von Dreves

attached to the right wing

Hanoverian Dreves Infantry (1 bn)

Brunswick Zastrow Infantry (2 bns)

attached to the right wing

British 3rd Howard's Dragoon Guards (2 sqns)

Hessian Leib Dragoons (4 sqns)

British light artillery brigade (9 guns) under captain Charlton

detachment under major-general Webb (at Meineringhausen at noon)

British 5th Hodgson's Foot (1 bn)

British 24th Cornwallis' Foot (1 bn)

Hanoverian Jung Zastrow (1 bn)

Reserve (did not take part to the combat) under lieutenant-general von Gilsa assisted by major-

general Bischhausen

infantry (11 bns)

Schlottheim Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Stirn Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Balke Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Hanoverian Alt Zastrow (1 bn)

Hanoverian Chevallerie (1 bn)

Hessian 2. Garde (2 bns)

Hessian Mansbach Infantry (2 bns)

Hessian Bischhausen (2 bns)

cavalry (10 sqns)

British 2nd Scots Greys Dragoons (2 sqns)

British 10th Mordaunt Dragoons (2 sqns)

Hessian Prinz Wilhem Erbprinz Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hessian Prinz Friedrich Dragoons (4 sqns)

light troops

Prussian Ruesch Hussars (3 sqns)

Prussian Malachowsky Hussars (2 sqns)

Prussian Freibataillon Trümbach (1 bn and 1 sqn) aka Volontaires de Prusse

Hanoverian Stockhausen Corps (1 bn and 2 sqns)

Hanoverian Foot Jägers (6 foot coys and 6 mounted coys)

artillery

16 guns (including 6 guns attached to the grenadier battalions)

Reserve (did not take part to the combat) under prince von Anhalt assisted by Hanoverian

major-general Behr

infantry (6 bns)

Hanoverian Behr (1 bn)

Hanoverian Marschalk (1 bn)

Hanoverian Wrede (1 bn)

Hanoverian Rhoedern (1 bn)

Hessian Prinz von Anhalt (2 bns)

Reserve (did not take part to the combat) under lieutenant-general Waldegrave assisted by

major-general Mansberg

infantry (7 bns)

British Maxwell Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

British Daulhat Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Brunswicker Stammer Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Brunswicker Redecken Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Brunswicker Wittdorf Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

British 88th Campbell's Highlanders (1 bn)

British 87th Keith's Highlanders (1 bn)

cavalry (4 sqns)

British 6th Inniskilling Dragoons (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Busche Dragoons (2 sqns)

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Victor François, maréchal duc de Broglie

N.B.: the French detachments at Corbach were under the overall command of lieutenant-

general comte de Saint-Germain

Part of Broglie's vanguard under the baron de Clausen (in the wood to the left of Corbach at the

beginning of the action)

Converged grenadiers (2 bns) drawn from Royal-Suédois and Castellas brigades

Converged chasseurs (2 bns) drawn from Royal-Suédois and Castellas brigades

Brigade wallonaise de Bouillon (Bouillon Infanterie was not present because it garrisoned

Marburg)

Horion (2 bns)

Vierzet (2 bns)

Light troops from Chabot's corps

Turpin Hussards (probably 6 sqns)

Beauffremont Dragons (4 sqns)

Volontaires du Dauphiné (8 mounted coys or approx. 350 men)

Volontaires du Dauphiné (8 foot coys or approx. 580 men)

Part of Broglie's vanguard under the marquis de Poyanne, sent as reinforcements on July 9:

Corps des carabiniers de Monsieur le Comte de Provence  (10 sqns)

Army of the Lower Rhine under the command of lieutenant-general comte de Saint-Germain

was still on its way. Saint-Germain, probably seconded by the marquis d'Amenzaga force

marched with 2 brigades and some light troops to take part in the action:

Volontaires de Flandres (8 mounted coys or approx. 350 men)

Volontaires de Flandres (8 foot coys or approx. 580 men)

La Tour-du-Pin brigade  (4 bns)

La Couronne brigade under M. de Montbarrey

La Couronne  (2 bns)

d'Aumont  (2 bns)

N.B.: the rest of Saint-Germain's army arrived gradually during the following days, too late to

take part in the action.

Reinforcements personally led by Broglie (6 brigades) (arriving piecemeal on the scene on July

10)

leading brigades

Royal-Suédois brigade presumably under the command of the maréchal de camp

comte de Rooth

Royal-Suédois  (3 bns)

Royal Deux-Ponts  (3 bns)

Castellas brigade

Castellas  (2 bns)

Eptingen  (2 bns)

Diesbach  (2 bns)

Artillery: 8 x heavy 4-pdrs

left wing of the Grande Armée arriving at noon under the direct command of Broglie (listed

in order of march)

lieutenant-general comte de Guerchy division

Navarre brigade commanded by the comte de Waldner, maréchal de camp, and the

comte du Châtelet, brigadier

Navarre  (4 bns)

La Marche Prince  (1 bn)

Du Roi brigade  (4 bns)

Orléans brigade under M. de Blôt

Orléans  (2 bns)

Durfort  (2 bns)

Auvergne brigade  (4 bns) under M. de Rochambeau

Artillery: 24 pieces

cavalry of prince Camille's corps (24 sqns)

Royal-Cravate brigade

Royal-Cravate  (2 sqns)

Lameth (2 sqns)

Seyssel (2 sqns)

Orléans brigade

Orléans  (2 sqns)

Damas (2 sqns)

La Rochefoucault (2 sqns)

Royal brigade under M. de Moustiers

Royal  (2 sqns)

Des Salles (2 sqns)

Moustiers (2 sqns)

Bourgogne brigade under M. du Ploury

Bourgogne  (2 sqns)

Charost (2 sqns)

Fumel (2 sqns)

N.B.: the cavalry of prince Camille de Lorraine arrived in the afternoon, too late to take part in

the action. However, prince Camille put himself at the head of Beauffremont Dragons and

Turpin Hussards, that were formed up forward to screen the army’s approach

References

Anonymous officer, Journal de la Campagne de M.DCC.LX. (1760). Entre l’Armée du Roi aux

ordres de Monseigneur le Maréchal Duc de Broglie; Et celle des Alliés, commandée par S.A.S.

Mgr. le Prince Ferdinand de Brunswich, où l’on a joint les Opérations des deux Armées aux

mois de Février & Mars M.DCC.LXI, par M* L* R* D* B*, Officier de Dragons & Aide-de-Camp

de M. le Marquis de B* (Béthune, lieutenant-général, commandant la cavalerie en 1760),

Frankfurt, 1761 (from Google Books) – pp. 10 ff.

Évrard, Philippe, Praetiriti Fides

Fortescue J. W., A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899, pp. 503-504

Grosser Generalstab, Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen - Part 3 Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756-

1763, vol. 12, Berlin, 1902

Hotham (probably), The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene

Highness Prince Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and

ending in the year 1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, pp. 149-151

Jomini, baron de, Traité des grandes opérations militaires, Vol. 3, 2nd ed., Magimel, Paris,

1811, pp. 227-228

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. V, Paris, 1891, pp. 55-58

C. Renuard, Geschichte des Krieges in Hannover, Hessen und Westfalen von 1757 bis 1763, 3

vols., Kassel, 1863-64.

Rogge, Christian, The French and Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War,

Frankfurt: 2007

Westphalen, Christian Heinrich Philipp, Geschichte der Feldzüge des Herzogs Ferdinand von

Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Berlin: 1859, pp. 328-333

Wikipedia, Battle of Corbach

1760-07-16 - Engagement of Emsdorf

Allied Victory

Prelude to the engagement

At the end of June the French Grande Armée, under the command of the duc de Broglie,

proceeded to the invasion of Hesse. At the beginning of July, Broglie instructed the comte de

Saint-Germain to leave Dortmund and to make a junction with his own army. On July 10,

the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick vainly attempted to prevent this junction but was defeated at

the combat of Corbach. On the night of July 14, Ferdinand of Brunswick had intelligence that a

considerable French brigade under major-general baron Glaubitz (6 bns, 1 hussar rgt, some

light troops) was on its way from Marburg to Ziegenhain to cover the French field-bakery

established at Marburg. Ferdinand detached the Hereditary Prince to take command of 6

battalions which were lying at Fritzlar and to attack this detachment and then to destroy this

field-bakery. On the morning of July 15, the prince marched rapidly southward, being joined on

the way by Luckner's Hussars and by the 15th Light Dragoons, which had just arrived from

Great Britain. On reaching the vicinity of Ziegenhain, he found that Glaubitz was encamped

farther to the west, near the village of Emsdorf. His troops being exhausted by a long march, the

prince halted for the night at Treysa. The Hereditary Prince now had an occasion to take his

revenge...

Map and initial deployment

no map available yet

From Speckswinkel the Hatzbach stream flowed west towards Wohra, in a deep valley through

a forest north of Erksdorf. A track of open land, traversed by a few hedges, gently sloped from

the Hatzback to Erksdorf. A forest extended to the north and west of Emsdorf towards the

Hatzbach. To the north of the French camp, between Emsdorf and Erksdorf, several streams

ran through a swampy valley. An open track of land occupied the area to the south of the camp.

The French were posted at the mouth of the valley of the Hatzbach, fronting to north-east,

astride of the two roads that lead from Kirchhain to Fritzlar and to Ziegenhain. Their right lay in

rear of the village of Erksdorf, and their left in front of the village of Emsdorf, resting on a forest

some 5 km long extending to Allendorf. The camp extended on about 4 km.

The Bercheny Hussards were encamped on the right wing to the south of Erksdorf while light

infantry was posted to the west of this village. Anhalt Infanterie occupied the centre of the camp

and Royal Bavière Infanterie the left wing.

There were very few advanced posts to guard the approach of the camp.

Description of Events

On the morning of July 16 1760, the Hereditary Prince picked up Hanoverian Freytag Jägers,

which were on their way to him, and pushed on with his mounted troops only, to reconnoitre the

French position. The prince and major-general Nikolaus Luckner, who was with him, entered the

forest, but found neither picquets nor sentries. They pushed forward through the corn-fields to

within 1 km of the French camp but saw neither vedettes, nor patrols, nor so much as a main-

guard. Furthermore, the village of Erksdorf itself, though within less than 2 km of the camp, was

not occupied. They stole back well content with what they had seen.

At 10:00 AM, not expecting to be attacked, Glaubitz sent one battalion of Royal Bavière

Infanterie towards Marburg where it would be assigned to the guard of the field-bakery, thus

depleting his left wing.

The Hereditary Prince waited at Speckswinkel for his infantry to join him. His infantry had

marched 11 km from Treysa through the villages of Wiera and Momberg before reaching

Speckswinkel at 11:00 AM. The Allies were only 2 km from the French right wing. Meanwhile,

the Hereditary Prince had resolved to approach the French camp through the forest north of

Emsdorf, thus turning the French left wing, combined with a cavalry attack on the French right

wing at Erksdorf.

At 11:00 AM, the Hereditary Prince posted Behr Infantry , Luckner's Hussars, the 15th Elliot's

Light Dragoons, a mounted coy of Freytag Jägers and 3 guns, in a hollow near Speckswinkel,

1.5 km before Erksdorf. He placed this detachment under the command of major-general von

Luckner. The latter was instructed to attack the French right wing at Erksdorf as soon as he

would hear musketry fire coming from the French left wing. Then, taking the 5 remaining

battalions, together with the rest of the Freytag Jägers and 11 guns, the Hereditary Prince

marched through the woods towards Emsdorf. Maybe as a stratagem, maybe because the day

was very hot, the soldiers removed their coat.

At noon, after a march of 10 km, the Allies arrived unnoticed at Burgholz, only 2.5 km from the

French left wing at Emsdorf. The few French outposts in the forest between Burgholz and

Emsdorf were captured before they could alarm the camp. Meanwhile, the bread arrived at the

camp of Glaubitz.

Around 1:15 PM, the Allies were deployed for the attack of the French left wing. As they

approached the French positions, the Allied foot clad in pale waistcoats and breeches were

initially mistaken for French or Saxon troops. However, when they formed in order of battle, they

put their coat back on. Mansbach Infantry was deployed on the left at the edge of the woods

with 6 guns. Then came the 2nd Garde formed north and northwest of Emsdorf. Marschalk

Infantry along with the Freytag Jägers and 5 guns covered the road from Emsdorf to Kirchhain.

Before 2:00 PM, the Freytag Jägers opened fire on the French positions. This was the signal for

general attack. The French were completely surprised. The 2 remaining battalions of Royal

Bavière Infanterie were at the bread distribution, they rushed to their arms in waistcoats.

Glaubitz initially thought that it was a simple skirmish with Allied jägers which were known to

have roamed in the area. Royal Bavière Infanterie formed and counter-attacked Freytag

Jägers but soon realised that they were facing a much larger Allied force. Their right flank was

immediately attacked by the 2nd Garde whose colonel was wounded at the first discharge. The

colonel of Royal Bavière Infanterie, count von Helffenberg was killed by a cannon shot but his

regiment managed to retire, narrowly avoiding encirclement. It lost 300 men and all its guns in

this first engagement.

During this combat, Anhalt Infanterie had formed to the south-east of Emsdorf to support Royal

Bavière Infanterie. The 6 Allied guns deployed with Mansbach Infantryopened on Anhalt

Infanterie.

Simultaneously Luckner, at the sound of the firing, marched Behr Infantry and 3 guns in the

open on his right. Then came Luckner's Hussars and, on the left, the 15th Light Dragoons.

The French Bercheny Hussards tried to stop the advancing Allied cavalry but were routed.

French light troops and part of Anhalt Infanterie then opened fire on the victorious Allied cavalry

but they were charged in flank and rear by the 15th Light Dragoons. In this action, Anhalt

Infanterie lost its 2 cannon.

Seeing this, the entire French force abandoned its camp and retired through the woods in their

rear towards Langenstein. Here they rallied but Luckner's Hussars and Behr Infantry hurried on

beyond them to bar their way over the Ohm to westward, while the 15th Light Dragoons,

pressing on along their flank, stationed itself across the road to Amöneburg, and charging full

upon them headed them back from that side. With some difficulty the French repelled the attack,

and turning about to south-eastward made for a wood not far away, hoping to pass through it

and so to escape to the south. The Allied infantry could not keep pace with the pursuit after it

reached Langenstein.

On arriving at the southern edge of the wood, the French found every outlet blocked by the

prince's mounted irregulars. Perforce they turned back through the wood again and emerged on

to the open ground on its western side, trusting that some marshy ground, which lay in the way

of the prince's cavalry, would secure them from further pursuit.

The French had not marched over the plain for more than 1,5 km before Luckner's Hussars and

the 15th Light Dragoons were upon them again. For the second time, the 15th Light Dragoons

crashed single-handed into the midst of them, cutting them down by scores and capturing an

entire battalion.

With great difficulty the remnant of the French beat back their pursuers and continued the

retreat: half of them had been killed or captured, or had dropped down unable to march farther,

but the rest struggled gallantly on. Reaching an open wood they again halted and formed for

action. The Hereditary Prince, still close at their heels with his cavalry, thereupon surrounded

them and summoned them to surrender.

At 7:00 PM, major-general Glaubitz, despairing of further resistance in the exhausted state of

his troops, was obliged to yield.

So ended the action. The French camp had been surprised at noon and the last fragment of

their force capitulated at 7:00 PM, having striven manfully but in vain to shake off the implacable

enemy that had hunted them for nearly 30 km. The French prisoners were conducted to

Ziegenhain.

Outcome

On the Allied side, colonel Freytag and M. Derenthal, Ferdinand's aide-de-camp, were wounded

and M. Normand, Behr's aide-de-camp, killed. Overall, the Allies lost 162 killed, 152 wounded

and 6 missing. Of these, 125 men and 116 horses belonged to the 15th Elliot's Light dragoons.

In fact, it was the 15th Light Dragoons who did most of the fighting. The other Allied regiments

engaged did not lose 20 men apiece. The 2 other Allied cavalry units, though they did excellent

work in heading back the enemy, never came to close quarters. Luckner's Hussars did not lose

a man nor a horse, and of the mounted irregulars but 23 men and horses were killed or

wounded. The Allies captured 9 pairs of colours, 5 artillery pieces and a howitzer.

The French lost 7 officers (including count Hessenberg and Muschinski) and more than 500

men killed, 34 officers and 577 men wounded, 300 men missing. Furthermore a large number

had been taken prisoners: 177 officers and 2,482 privates, including major-general Glaubitz and

prince of Anhalt. The French also lost 1,000 horses, 9 colours and 5 guns and a howitzer.

Despite this tactical success, due to the stubborn resistance of the French detachment until 7:00

PM, the Allies were unable to fulfill their objective: the destruction of the French field-bakery at

Marburg.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, hereditary prince of Brunswick seconded by

major-general Behr and M. de Bischausen

Summary: approx. 1,290 horse, 3,740 foot and 18 guns

Infantry

Hanoverian Behr  (1 bn)

Hanoverian Marschalk  (1 bn)

Hessian 2nd Garde  (2 bns)

Hessian Mansbach  (2 bns)

Light troops:

Hanoverian Luckner's Hussars  (4 sqns)

British 15th Elliot's Light Dragoons (3 sqns)

Hanoverian Freytag Jägers  (2 foot coys and 2 mounted coys)

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: major general Christian baron von Glaubitz

Summary: 990 hussars, 4,200 foot and 6 guns

Infantry

Anhalt  (3 bns)

Royal Bavière  (3 bns)

Light troops

Bercheny Hussards  (6 sqns)

Chasseurs d'Origny (1 bn of approx. 450 men) a small unit of volunteer attached to

Bercheny Hussars

References

This article is essentially a compilation of the following books which are now in the public

domain:

Anonymous, A Complete History of the Present War, from its Commencement in 1756, to

the End of the Campaign, 1760, London, 1761, pp. 524-525

Carlyle T. History of Friedrich II of Prussia, Vol. 20

Fortescue J. W., A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899, pp. 504-507

Hotham (probably), The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene

Highness Prince Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and

ending in the year 1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, pp. 152-155

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. V, Paris, 1891, pp. 60-61

Other sources

Erdel, Eike; Das Gefecht bei Emsdorf am 16. Juli 1760

1760-07-31 - Battle of Warburg

Allied Victory

Prelude to the Battle

At the end of June 1760, the French Grande Armée, under the command of the duc de Broglie,

proceeded to the invasion of Hesse, seizing Marburg. On July 10, at thecombat of Corbach,

the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick failed to prevent the junction of the army of the Lower Rhine,

under Saint-Germain, with the Grande Armée. On July 15, Dillenburg surrendered to the

French. On July 16, the Hereditary Prince surprised and captured a French corps at

the engagement of Emsdorf but was unable to capture the magazines and the bakery

established at Marburg which were timely rescued by M. de Stainville. From July 24, Broglie

successfully manoeuvred to force Ferdinand out of his advantageous positions. On July 27,

Broglie's main army marched to Volkmarsen while the reserve under prince Xavier marched to

Naumburg; and the chevalier de Muy marched downstream along the Diemel on Warburg.

Meanwhile, Stainville's corps besieged the fort oz Ziegenhain. Broglie's manoeuvres aimed at

cutting the Allies from Paderborn and Lippstadt. Reacting to these moves, Ferdinand sent the

Hereditary Prince with 10 bataillons of grenadiers and 8 squadrons and general Spörcken's

corps to Körbecke to secure the passage of the Diemel. Together, the two joint forces amounted

to 23 bataillons, 22 squadrons, and 26 heavy guns totalling some 14.578 men on the day of

battle, not including Spörcken's detached command under major von Bülow, one of Ferdinand's

most trusted general-adjutant's, consisting of the "Legion Britannique", the Bückeburg

carabiniers, and captain von Linsingen's brigade of Hanoverian chasseurs already located on

the Diemel passage at Liebenau. On July 29, Spörcken's reenforced corps passed the river.

On July 30, moving towards Kassel, Broglie marched to Zierenberg with his main army, leaving

de Muy's corps dangerously isolated at Warburg. The Hereditary Prince reconnoitred de Muy's

position and recommended that their own corps should turn its left flank, while Ferdinand with

the main army advanced against its front. The Hereditary Prince was not officially put in

command of the attacking force, because Spörcken was senior in command, in fact, he was

second in command of the Allied army at that time, but the idea for an attack stemmed from the

Hereditay Prince's driving initiative, which effectively put him at the head of the operation. As

soon as Ferdinand was informed of the situation, he agreed and prepared his army. His general

plan of attack was that the corps of Spörcken and the Hereditary Prince should advance

westward in two columns from Körbecke and form up in three lines between the tower and

Papenheim, so as to fall on de Muy's left flank and rear, while Ferdinand crossing the Diemel at

Liebenau should attack his centre and right. As the Allied camp between Liebenau and

Körbecke lay about 13 km from de Muy's, and as Ferdinand's camp lay between Imminghausen

and Calden, some 24 km to the south of the Diemel from Liebenau, the operation called for

extreme nicety in the execution. At 9:00 PM, Ferdinand's army marched from its camp.

Description of Events

Initial Manoeuvres

At 6:00 AM on the morning of July 31, the heads Ferdinand's columns passed the Diemel They

then debouched on the heights of Körbecke. They arrived, however, at later than the appointed

hour. The passage of the Diemel had caused much delay; and not all the haste of officers nor

the eagerness of men could bring the army forward the quicker. Ferdinand then bent southward,

at his best speed, to support the Hereditary Prince.

At 7:00 AM, Spörcken and the Hereditary Prince, after much anxious waiting, decided to march

from Körbecke in two columns before more time should be lost. A mist fell and hung on the

higher ground, covering the Hereditary Prince's march for more than an hour. Just before the

mist began, the Hereditary Prince saw the first troops of Ferdinand appear on a knoll-top on the

right.

The Hereditary Prince's first column (which included the right wing of all three arms), under

general Spörcken, made a long detour, passed by Eissen and Großeneder, marched across the

woods near Nörde and formed in 3 lines towards the heights at the rear of the French positions.

The second column, under the command of lieutenant-general Zastrow, marched by Körbecke,

Kleineneder (probably Lütgeneder) and Menne; and formed in 3 lines with its left at Menne and

its right at Ossendorf. Both columns were led by British troops – Spörcken's columns by the 1st

Royal Dragoons, whose place was on the extreme right of the first line, while the British

grenadiers, massed in two battalions under colonels Maxwell and Daulhatt marched at the head

of the infantry. Zastrow's column was headed by the 7th Queen's Own Dragoons, with 87th Foot

Keith's Highlanders and 88th Foot Campbell's Highlanders following them to cover the

grenadiers in second line.

With these dispositions, the Hereditary Prince was outflanking the French on their left and

threatening their rear.

At about 8:00 A.M., the Hereditary Prince launched the Légion Britannique upon Warburg on de

Muy's right wing.

De Muy was informed of the approach of the Allies. He gave orders to the marquis de Castries

to reconnoitre the Allied positions with the grenadiers and chasseurs coys of all regiment of de

Muy's corps, 2 dragoon rgts and Fischer Corps. However the thick fog rendered his

reconnaissance useless.

At 9:30 AM, when the fog lifted, Castries found himself facing the Légion Britannique. He

engaged it and momentarily drove it back, seizing a hill in front of the French positions from

where he could see that a large Allied corps had passed the Diemel was was marching by the

right. The chevalier de Muy personally joined Castries on the hill. When he saw the Allied corps

preparing to launch an attack on his left, he quickly rode back to deploy his corps in order of

battle.

For his part, Castries retired with his detachment to move closer to the French camp, leaving

only his rearguard to occupy the hill.

Map and initial deployment

Map of the battle of Warburg on July 31 1760.

 

Source: Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, volume 12 by the German Grosser Generalstabfrom the collections of

Frédéric Aubert and Christian Rogge

Chevalier de Muy, with Broglie's rearguard of 20,000 foot and horse, occupied a high ridge

across a bend of the Diemel, facing north-east, with his back to the river with two bridges across

it. De Muy's right flank leaned on Warburg and his left flank on the village of Ossendorf, some 3

km to northwest. Warburg was a pleasant little Hessian town, about 40 km west of Kassel, on

the north bank of the Diemel, among knolls and hollows. To the left of the French rear rose a

circular hill crowned by a tower while the village of Papenheim lay in front of its left wing.

In fact, de Muy's corps occupied a pretty bad position with woods to its front, screening the

Allied position; a tower looming into its camp from which all moves could be observed; its right

anchored on a weakly fortified town; its left dominated by heights; to its rear, a river with steep

banks and only two bridges which where half blocked by its baggage and mobile hospital; and

for its retreat nothing but the mountain-passes from where it had debouched.

De Muy placed 4 brigades of foot (Bourbonnais, La Couronne, Jenner and Planta) under major-

generals d'Amenzaga and de Travers on the heights of Menne. The La Tour-du-Pin and

Touraine brigades, under lieutenant-general de Maupéou and major-general de Roquepin were

disposed on the right close to Warburg. The lieutenant-generals de Lutzelberg and d'Auvet, with

major-generals de Lugeac, de Soupire and de Maugiron occupied the centre with the cavalry

facing a very extensive plain. The dragoons under the duc de Fronsac were placed between the

right of the foot and the left of the horse. The Rouergue brigade formed a reserve on a small

knoll behind the left of the cavalry. The artillery was disposed in front of the line and Fischer

Corps occupied the town of Warburg.

Assault on the French left

At 1:30 PM, the Hereditary Prince, having posted his artillery on the outskirts of Ossendorf and

Papenheim, opened fire as the signal for attack; and at the same time the British grenadiers

began to file through Ossendorf. The Bourbonnais brigade, which de Muy had thrown back en

potence to protect his left flank, thereupon retired without firing. The success of the Allied attack

depended on the capture of the heights in front of Ossendorf and in rear of the French position.

When it was perceived that the Allies were making for the steep hill, one battalion

of Bourbonnais Infanterie deliberately faced about and marched off to occupy the hill. To permit

such a thing would have been to derange the whole of the plans of the Allies, so it was

necessary to prevent it at any cost. Colonel Beckwith with 10 grenadiers ran forward, keeping

out of sight of the French, to reach the hill before them; the Hereditary Prince himself with 30

more hurried after him; and with this handful of men, all panting and breathless, they crowned

the crest of the height. Bourbonnais Infanterie arriving on the scene a little later found itself

greeted by a sharp fire, and, being unable to see the numbers opposed to it, halted for 10

minutes to allow its second battalion to come up. The delay gave time for Daulhatt's entire

battalion of grenadiers to join Beckwith's little party; and then the two battalions of Bourbonnais

Infanterie attacked in earnest, and the combat between French and British, at odds of two

against one, became most fierce and stubborn. The disparity of numbers however, was too

great; and Daulhatt's men after a gallant struggle were beginning to give way, when Maxwell's

battalion came up in the nick of time to support them. This reinforcement redressed the balance

of the fight; Daulhatt's then speedily rallied, and the contest for the hill was renewed.

At 2:00 PM, seeing the attack on the French left flank, Castries retired, throwing Fischer Corps

into Warburg to occupy the town. He then marched with the rest of his detachment to support

the French left. After his departure, the Légion Britannique threw the French out of Warburg and

plundered the town.

De Muy then sent the brigades of La Couronne, Jenner and Planta, supported by the Rouergue

brigade, to the help of the Bourbonnais brigade.

De Muy then ordered his left wing brigades to form in 2 lines and the engagement began. The

brigades of Bourbonnais, La Couronne and Rouergue; led by Messrs. de Ségur and Travers.

They were soon joined by Castries. Meanwhile Jenner brigade under M. d'Amengaza dealt with

the second Allied column.

The situation of the Allies became critical; for a battery of artillery, which was on its way to the

hill to support them, got into difficulties in a defile near Ossendorf and blocked the advance of

the rest of the northern column. Fortunately it was extricated, though none too soon, and being

brought up to the hill was speedily in action. Castries and Ségur launched 5 successive attacks

on the Allied positions with the greatest courage and, notwithstanding their superiority, forced

them to give way several times. The timely support of Allied artillery and of some Hessian

grenadier battalions put a stop to the French progress.

At this moment, Zastrow's column debouched on the right flank of the Bourbonnais brigade.

Zastrow immediately sent all the units he could spare to the assault of these strategic heights.

The French brigades were driven back. The 1st Royal Dragoons and the 7th Queen's Own

Dragoons were then let loose upon the broken French battalions, completing their discomfiture

and taking many prisoners.

Ferdinand sends his cavalry forward

After desperate but fruitless efforts it had been found that the infantry of Ferdinand's army could

not hope to arrive in time to take part in the action. The British battalions, urged by general

Waldegrave, struggled manfully to get forward, but the day was hot, and the ground was difficult

and in many places marshy: the men would not fall out, but they dropped down insensible from

fatigue in spite of themselves. Ferdinand therefore ordered lord Granby, who had succeeded to

Sackville, to advance with the 22 squadrons of British cavalry and the British artillery alone.

Away therefore they started at the trot, the guns accompanying them at a speed which amazed

all beholders. They advanced towards the battlefield at the top of their speed for above 8 km

Charge of the British cavalry

So far the turning movement had succeeded; but its success was not yet assured, for only a

portion of Zastrow's column was yet formed for action, and the troops on the field were

becoming exhausted. De Muy might yet have hoped to turn the scale in his left, when his

attention was suddenly called to the advance of troops upon his front. It was Granby's cavalry

which after two hours of trotting were finally within sight of the French positions. Granby at once

turned them upon the cavalry of de Muy's right wing. The pace was checked for a brief moment

as the squadrons formed in two lines for the attack. In the first line from right to left were the 1st

King's Dragoon Guards, 3rd Dragoon Guards and 2nd Queen's Dragoon Guards, in one

brigade, the Royal Horse Guards, 4th Horse, and 3rd Horse Carabiniers in another; in the

second line were the2nd Royal North British Dragoons, 10th Mordaunt's Dragoons, 6th

Inniskilling Dragoons, and 11th Dragoons. Then the advance was resumed, Granby riding at the

head of theRoyal Horse Guards, his own regiment, and well in front of all. His hat flew from his

head, revealing a bald head which shone conspicuous in the sun, as the trot grew into gallop

and the lines came thundering on. De Muy sent forward the Bourbon cavalry brigade supported

by the Royal-Piémont cavalry brigade to protect the right flank of his infantry. The French

squadrons wavered for a moment, and then, with the exception of the Bourbon brigade under

the command of the marquis de Lugeac, turned and fled without awaiting the shock. The scarlet

ranks promptly wheeled round upon the flank and rear of the French infantry; whereupon the six

squadrons of the Bourbon cavalry brigade plunged gallantly down on the flank of the 1st King's

Dragoon Guards, and overthrew them. But the Royal Horse Guards quickly came up to liberate

their comrades. Lugeac's brigade was beaten in two minutes and forced to withdraw in the

greatest disorder. The French infantry, finding itself now attacked on both flanks by Zastrow's

column and by Granby's cavalry, retired towards the Diemel, its retreat covered by the Swiss

Planta brigade.

After 4 hours of combat, some of the Allied battalions filed off towards the French bridges on the

Diemel. De Muy marched with Touraine brigade (under the command of M. de Roquepin) to

defend his bridges and sent orders to La Tour-du-Pin brigade to join him as soon as possible.

The French cavalry, dragoons and the left wing infantry began to withdraw over the bridges. The

two bridges being half blocked by baggage, the rest of the retreating troops were forced to pass

the river at fords or to swim across it. The Touraine and La Tour-du-Pin brigades formed on the

heights in front of the bridges to cover the retreat.

A party of French irregulars in Warburg tried likewise to escape, but was caught by the cavalry

and well-nigh annihilated.

Du Muy feigned to defend the line of the Diemel but the British batteries under captain Phillips

came down to the river at a gallop, unlimbered on the bank, and played on the fugitives so

destructively as wholly to prevent them from reforming. Furthermore, the Hereditary Prince sent

12 bns along with Granby's 10 sqns across the river, forcing de Muy to retire unmolested to

Volkmarsen, 10 km south of Warburg.

Broglie, at the head of the main army, had been delayed by the thick fog and took full

responsibility for this defeat.

Outcome

During this action the French lost 1,600 men killed and wounded, 2,000 taken prisoners, most of

their baggage and 12 guns. The brigades of Bourbonnais, La Couronne, Rochefort and Planta

(particularly Lochmann Infanterie) were the greatest sufferers. Colonel chevalier de Valence of

Bourbonnais Infanterie, the prince de Rochefort and the chevalier de la Tour-du-Pin were

wounded. M. Lochmann was killed.

The Allies lost 1,200 men out of which 800 were British, including 590 men from the British

cavalry, 240 men from Maxwell's grenadiers. Colonel Beckwith was wounded in the head. For

the British this battle redeemed the character of the cavalry which had been so shamefully

sacrificed by Sackville at Minden; since it was evidently the recollection of that disgrace which

spurred Granby on to so rapid an advance and so headlong an attack.

For Ferdinand the victory effectually opened the way into Westphalia.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand Hereditary Prince of Brunswick

Extreme right wing

British converged grenadier battalion Maxwell, lieut.col. (of Kingsley's 20th regt)

British converged grenadier battalion Daulhat, major (of Griffin's 50th regt)

Right wing

First line (in front of Ossendorf)

Hanoverian converged grenadier bataillon Wersabé, lieut.col. (of Laffert 5-A regt)

Hanoverian converged grenadier bataillon Bock, titular lieut.col. (of Foot Guards)

Hanoverian converged grenadier bataillon Geyso, lieut.col. (of Plessen 7-B regt)

Hanoverian Scheither (1 bn)

Hanoverian Estorff (1 bn)

Hanoverian Post (1 bn)

Second line (in front of Ossendorf)

British 87th Foot Keith's Highlanders (1 bn)

British 88th Foot Campbell's Highlanders (1 bn)

Hanoverian Block (1 bn)

Hanoverian Monroy (1 bn)

Third line (on each side of Ossendorf)

Hanoverian Breidenbach Dragoons (4 sqns)

British 1st Royal Dragoons (2 sqns) aka Conway

Fourth line (behind Ossendorf)

Hessian Einsiedel Cavalry (2 sqns)

British 7th Queen's Own Dragoons (2 sqns) aka Cope

Hessian Pruschenk Cavalry (2 sqns)

Artillery battery

Center between Ossendorf and Menne

First line

Hessian 4. Garde (2 bns)

Brunswick converged grenadier battalion Wittdorf, lieut. col. (of Leib-Grenadier Corps)

Brunswick converged grenadier battalion Stammer, lieut. col. (of Imhoff regt)

Brunswick Converged grenadier battalion Redecker, major (of Imhoff regt)

Second line

Hessian Land-Grenadier-Bataillon (1 bn)

Hessian Toll (2 bns)

Third line

Hessian converged grenadier battailon Mirbach, lieut. col. (of Anhalt regt No. 11)

Hessian converged grenadier battailon Papenheim, lieut. col. (of Bischhausen regt No.

4)

Hessian converged grenadier battailon Rückersfeld, lieut. col. (of Erbprinz regt No. 12)

Hanoverian Bremer Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Bock Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hanoverian Reden Dragoons (4 sqns)

Left wing isolated facing Warburg

Converged Légion Britannique Dragoons  (5 sqns)

I./Légion Britannique  (1 bn)

II./Légion Britannique  (1 bn)

III./Légion Britannique  (1 bn)

IV./Légion Britannique  (1 bn)

V./Légion Britannique  (1 bn)

lord Granby British cavalry brigade detached from Ferdinand's main army

First line

1st King's Dragoon Guards  (3 sqns)

3rd Dragoon Guards  (2 sqns)

2nd Queen's Dragoon Guards (2 sqns)

Royal Horse Guards  (3 sqns) aka the Blues

4th Horse  (2 sqns)

3rd Horse Carabiniers (2 sqns)

Second line

2nd Royal North British Dragoons  (2 sqns)

10th Mordaunt's Dragoons  (2 sqns)

6th Inniskilling Dragoons  (2 sqns)

11th Ancram's Dragoons (2 sqns)

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: chevalier de Muy

Corps of Chevalier de Muy (about 18,000 men in 28 battalions and 32 squadrons with 24

heavy guns)

First Line Second Line Reserve

Right Wing under lieutenant-general de Maupéou and Mestre de Camp de Roquepin

Chasseurs de Fischer (2,000 men) in front of the town of Warburg

La Tour-du-Pin brigade (4 bns)

Touraine brigade

Touraine (2 bns)

Enghien (2 bns)

Centre under lieutenant-generals de Lutzelberg and d'Auvet and the Mestres de Camp de Lugeac, de Soupire and de Maugiron

Royal-Étranger cavalry brigade

Royal-Étranger (2 sqns)

Archiac (2 sqns)

Saint-Aldegonde (2 sqns)

Bourbon cavalry brigade

Bourbon (2 sqns)

Beauvilliers (2 sqns)

Montcalm (2 squadrons)

Thianges Dragons (4 sqns)

Royal Dragons (4 sqns)

La Reine cavalry brigade

La Reine (2 sqns)

Balincourt (2 sqns)

Crussol (2 sqns)

Royal-Piémont cavalry

brigade

Royal-Piémont (2

sqns)

Descars (2 sqns)

Espinchal (2 sqns)

Rouergue brigade

Rouergue (2 bns)

Rohan Rochefort (2

bns)

Left Wing under lieutenant-generals marquis de Ségur and the Mestres de Camp d'Amenzaga and de Travers

Planta brigade

Planta (2 bns)

Lochmann (2 bns)

Jenner brigade

Jenner (2 bns)

Courten (2 bns)

La Couronne brigade

La Couronne (2 bns)

d'Aumont (2 bns)

Bourbonnais brigade (4 bns) en potence on the left

flank

Artillery: 24 pieces

Corps of maréchal de camp M. de la Morlière in support of de Muy, at Welda 6 km to the

south of Warburg

Alsace infantry brigade  (4 bns)

Vaubécourt infantry brigade

Vaubécourt  (2 bns)

Vastan  (2 bns)

References

This article is essentially a compilation of texts from the following books which are now in the

public domain:

Jomini, baron de, Traité des grandes opérations militaires, Vol. 3, 2nd ed., Magimel, Paris,

1811, pp. 230

Carlyle T. History of Friedrich II of Prussia, Vol. 20

Dumouriez, Charles-François (attributed); in Galerie des Aristocrates militaires et Mémoires

secrets, London, 1791 (translated by Christian Rogge)

Fortescue J. W., A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899, pp. 508-512

Hotham (probably), The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene

Highness Prince Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and

ending in the year 1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, pp. 160-164

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. V, Paris, 1891, pp. 67-69

Other sources

For the allied order of battle: Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre, Château de

Vincennes/Paris original allied staff document entitled Disposition des corps détachés de

l'armée du camp de Calle [sic.] au 29 juillet 1760 and Ordre de bataille au camp de Calle [sic.]

le 29 juillet 1760

Castries, Duc de; Le Maréchal de Castries (1727-1800), Flammarion, 1956, pp. 40-41

Grosser Generalstab, Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen - Part 3 Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756-

1763, vol. 12, Berlin, 1913

1760-10-16 - Battle of Clostercamp

French Victory

Prelude to the Battle

On September 22 1760, during the campaign in West Germany, Ferdinand resolved to prepare

an offensive on the Lower Rhine with the objective of Capturing the fortress of Wesel. On the

same day, a powerful train of siege-artillery, under the count of Lippe-Bückeburg, marched

away from Geismar for Wesel. On September 25, the Hereditary Prince followed from Warburg

with 15,000 men to cover the siege of Wesel. A few day later, Ferdinand sent reinforcements to

the Hereditary Prince (12 bns, 4 cavalry rgts). The British division consisted of the 11th

Foot, 20th Foot, 23rd Foot, 25th Foot, 33rd Foot, 51st Foot; 2 grenadier bns, 2 Highlanders bns,

the 1st (Royal) Dragoons, 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons and 10th Dragoons. On September 30, the

Hereditary Prince appeared in front of Wesel. By October 3, the place was completely invested.

Meanwhile Castries was advancing with a relief force by forced marches, despite the dreadful

state of the roads, along a route full 80 km south of the prince's, to the Rhine. On October 12,

Castries crossed the Rhine at Cologne. By October 13, Castries had assembled a corps of 32

bns and 38 sqns (about 20,000 men) at Neuss. On October 14, Castries marched to Moers, his

vanguard reaching Rheinberg, forcing an Allied advanced post to retire. When the Hereditary

Prince heard of the approach of a French relief force, he resolved to attack it. Accordingly, he

left a few bns in the trenches and marched to the enemy despite his numerical inferiority (21 bns

and 22 sqns). On October 15, the Hereditary Prince encamped at Ossenberg on the left bank of

the Rhine. The same day, Castries took position in a strong position behind the Eugene Canal

running from Geldern to Rheinberg.

Description of Events

Initial Manoeuvres

On October 15, at 10:00 PM, leaving 3 bns and 4 sqns towards Rheinberg in front of the French

right, the Hereditary Prince marched in dead silence on Clostercamp with 18 bns and 20 sqns.

His force was disposed in 5 divisions. The 1st Royal Dragoons and6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons,

and Prussian hussars formed the advanced guard. Then came the support of 2 battalions of

Highlanders; then the main body under command of general Waldegrave; then the reserve

under general Howard; then a rear-guard of the10th Dragoons and 10 Hanoverian and Hessian

squadrons.

Map and initial deployment

Map of the Erbprinz's approach of Clostercamp on October 16 1760.

 

Source: Christian Rogge in “The French and Allied armies at Kloster Kamp October 16, 1760”

Castries had taken up a position behind the Eugenian Canal, facing north-west, with his right

resting on Rheinberg, and with the abbey of Kloster Kamp, on the northern side of the canal,

before his left front. Immediately before his left, but on his own side of the canal, stood the

village of Kampenbrück, consisting of several scattered houses with gardens, ditches, and

hedges. In front and to the left, or western, side of Kampenbrück was a morass covered by a

straggling wood of sparse and stunted trees, through which were cut paths to a bridge that

connected the village with the abbey on the other side of the canal. Across this bridge lay the

Prince's only way to penetrate into the French camp; and Castries had been careful to guard the

passage by posting no less than 2,000 irregular troops in and about the abbey. The only

possible chance for the Prince lay in an attack by surprise.

Map of the battle of Clostercamp on October 16 1760.

 

Source: Christian Rogge in “The French and Allied armies at Kloster Kamp October 16, 1760”

The Attack

On October 16 at 2:00 AM, the Allied vanguard reached a French outpost 2 km north of

Clostercamp. Despite the strict orders, Allied troops fired on this post which was soon taken.

This sporadic fire did not alarm the French troops who believed that it was simply a patrol. The

Allied army managed to reach the bridge over the Eugene canal unmolested, thus cutting off

Fischer Corps in the abbey from the French main body.

The isolated Fischer Corps was then attacked. Fischer took the only reasonable decision and,

despite darkness, assembled most of his men and retired towards Guelders. While the musketry

was still crackling loud round the abbey's walls the prince stealing silently on with the British

grenadiers penetrated into the wood towards village of Kampenbrück. Nevertheless alarm had

been given and the French left wing dressed the ranks, but the darkness of the night prevented

it to take any other precautions safe to send grenadiers and chasseurs of Auvergne

Infanterie on the left at the place from where the enemies could debouch, to support Fischer's

Corps as agreed the previous day.

The Hereditary Prince resumed his march so quietly and yet so swiftly that he had passed the

canal at Niederkamp and seized the village of Kampenbrück before the French were aware of

his presence. Castries went to the left wing where he found M. de Rochambeau who had

deployed the chasseurs and grenadiers of Auvergne Infanterie on the road to Moers as well as

in the hedges and houses of Kampenbrück. This advanced post had temporarily stopped the

Allied column, allowing Auvergne Infanterie to come to its support.

A picquet of Auvergne Infanterie posted in the thickets in front of Kampenbrück came to contact

with British grenadiers. Captain chevalier d'Assas then shouted “Auvergne, voici les ennemis!”

before falling, pierced by several bayonets. Rochambeau reported the situation to Beusenval

who sent ahead lieutenant-colonel de Ségur. The latter immediately rushed to the spot with a

battalion of Auvergne Infanterie and advanced into the village where he was wounded and

captured. Furthermore, M. de Beusenval had his horse killed under him and M. de Castagnos

was wounded. Castries ordered Rochambeau to deploy the 4 battalions of Auvergne

Infanterie along the canal, their extreme left anchored on the marsh near Kampenbrück.

Castries then led Alsace Infanterie to the left wing to support Auvergne Infanterie.Alsace

Infanterie took positions in the hedges and houses to the right of Auvergne Infanterie and these

2 brigades sustained repeated attacks.

With the Allies advance stopped, Castries now dealt with the means to oblige them to retire, and

it was with this in view that La Tour-du-Pin Infanterie, who was then arriving, was ordered to

advance in column by the right on a wide opening debouching on Kloster Kamp where the Allied

column could be attacked in the rear. The guns of this brigade then opened on the left flank of

the Allies. A fierce combat ensued. Meanwhile, M. de Lugeac planted 2 16-pdrs, under the

command of M. Thiboutot, in front of theGendarmerie de France. The supports of the Allies

came up in their turn; and the fight swayed furiously backward and forward until daylight.

At daybreak, M. de Roquepine arrived from the right with 8 battalions while M. de Chabot was

instructed to leave only 200 men of Fischer Corps in the town and to march to the point of attack

with the rest of his corps. The reserves of the Allies were promptly and frequently summoned,

but through some mistake were not to be found. Auvergne Infanterie and Alsace

Infanterie having suffered heavily while repulsing repeated attacks. M. d'Auvet was sent to their

support with Normandie Infanterie and Briqueville Infanterie.

D'Auvet's brigade entered into the hedges to stop the head of the Allied column. Still the little

force of British and Hanoverians fought desperately on.

As the action lasted since three hours and could not be decided, M. de Castries went himself

at La Tour-du-Pin Infanterie to make it charge at the point of the bayonet the Allied column

attacking Auvergne Infanterie, Alsace Infanterie and Normandie Infanterie. The Hereditary

Prince himself fell wounded from his horse. After a deadly combat which lasted until noon, the

Allies, unable to drive the French out of their positions, were forced to retire on Alpen.

The French broke their ranks with loud cries of exultation for the pursuit and entered into the

heath near Kampenbrück despite orders given to them to keep their position. Elliot's British

cavalry swooped down upon them, charging home as their custom is, broke up 2 battalions

completely, and drove the rest flying back in confusion into the hedges.

D'Auvet then advanced with I./Briqueville Infanterie who fired on the British cavalry and stopped

it.

Royal-Piémont Cavalerie along with 1 squadron of Balincourt Cavalerie, led by the comte de

Thiard de Bissy, now came forward in overwhelming numbers and handled the British

squadrons very roughly; but the charge of the British cavalry had given the infantry time to rally,

and to make their retreat in good order.

The Allied reserve finally appeared at Kloster Kampen in time to cover the retiring troops.

By noon, the battle of Clostercamp was over.

During the combat on the French left wing, a small Allied column tried to turn the French right

and fired a few cannonballs on the Royal-Étranger cavalry brigade, commanded by the marquis

de Cursay, who managed to contain the Allied column till the arrival of La Couronne infantry

brigade. Upon the approach of this brigade, the Allied column retired.

During the affair, the Allies planned to attack Rheinberg. The comte de Chabot, who

commanded there with the vanguard, and who, not waiting for the orders given to him by M. de

Castries, had moved part of his troops on his left to be in a better position to help him, walked

immediately to his right when he heard that fire was moving away and he penetrated in

Rheinberg at the moment when an enemy detachment was going to attack it. His dispositions

during this day were made with such accuracy that he was always able to help the left and to

assure the right for which he was responsible. When the enemies retired, he debouched from

Rheinberg, followed them up and took a few prisoners.

Outcome

The Allies lost 10 officers, 16 NCOs and 221 privates killed; 68 officers, 43 NCOs and 812

privates wounded; 7 officers, 6 NCOs and 429 privates made prisoners 1 gun, 1 British colour

and 14 ammunition wagons. Lieutenant-colonels Pitt and Lord Downe were wounded and taken

prisoners; major-generals Elliot and Griffin together with lieutenant-colonels Johnson and

Harvey were wounded; and Major Follock of Keith's Highlanders was killed. The Hereditary

Prince had his horse killed under him and received a slight wound in a leg.

The French loss was as heavy and heavier, Normandie, Auvergne and Alsace brigades having

heavily suffered. Overall, 2,469 men and 192 officers of all ranks had been killed or wounded.

The French infantry alone losing 19 captains killed and 87 wounded; 7 lieutenants killed and 76

wounded; 815 soldiers killed and 1,644 wounded. The French cavalry lost 1 officer killed and 3

wounded; 5 troopers killed and 28 wounded; and 92 horses killed or wounded. Furthermore,

lieutenant-general de Ségur and brigadier-general de Wangen and 300 men were taken

prisoners. The marquis de la Tour-du-Pin had been wounded by a shot in the thigh, the marquis

d’Escars, colonel of Normandie, by a shot at the head. The comte de Rochambeau, colonel of

Auvergne, had been slightly wounded. The baron de Wangen, brigadier, colonel

commanding Alsace Infanterie, had been captured at the beginning of the action. M. de

Grenneville, officer of the Gendarmerie, had been killed by a gun shot. The French also lost 2

guns and 1 pair of colours.

The struggle was unusually stubborn and murderous, and the fire of the British was so rapid and

deadly that 3 French brigades were almost wiped out of existence. Yet it is said that after this

action the Hereditary Prince would never take British troops under his command again (yet the

British Guards were with him on the Lippe in 1761). He admitted that general Waldegrave did

wonders in the combat, but he complained of the behaviour of his troops, though Waldegrave

bore witness that not a man retired until his ammunition was exhausted. It may have been that

the prince was irritated by the failure of the reserve to arrive when it was wanted; but no blame

is imputed to any one for this mischance, which appears to have been due simply to bad luck.

Mauvillon, who is always very frank in his criticism of the British, says flatly that he does not

believe in their misconduct on this occasion; and as the only extant list of casualties, though

very far from complete, shows that they lost 500 killed and wounded, it should seem that the

prince's strictures were ill deserved.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand Hereditary Prince of Brunswick

Summary: 7.500 men in 21 bns, 22 sqns and 24 guns, excluding Kielmansegg's brigade left

behind in front of Wesel (as per Savory), all units being much below strength with an average

battalion strength of about 250 men

Troops within each column listed in order of march: right wing forming the head.

Avant-garde under major-general Elliot

Prussian Malachowski Hussars (2 sqns) under lieutenant-colonel Jeanneret

British 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons (2 sqns)

British 1st Royal Dragoons (2 sqns) aka Conway

British 87th Foot Keith's Highlanders (1 bn)

British 88th Foot Campbell's Highlanders (1 bn)

Main force under lieutenant-general Waldegrave

Avant-garde under colonel Beckwith

Picked Highlanders (150 men) (drawn from 87th Keith's Highlanders and 88th

Campbell's Highlanders)

British converged grenadier battalion Maxwell (lieutenant-colonel of Kingsley's 20th

regt)

British converged grenadier battalion Lennox (former Daulhat)

Main body

1st brigade under major-general Griffin

British 20th Kingsley's Foot (1 bn)

British 25th Edinburgh aka Home's (1 bn)

British 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers (1 bn)

2nd brigade under major-general von Behr

Hanoverian Marschalk (1 bn)

Hanoverian Reden (1 bn)

Hessian Erbprinz von Hessen (2 bns)

Reserve under lieutenant-general Howard

1st brigade

British 11th Bocland's Foot (1 bn)

British 33rd Griffin's Foot (1 bn)

British 51st Brudenell's Foot (1 bn)

2nd brigade

Hessian 2. Garde (2 bns)

Hessian Landbataillon von Müller (4 coys)

Cavalry under colonel Harvey

British 10th Mordaunt's Dragoons (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Leib-Regiment (2 sqns)

Hessian Einsiedel Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hessian Prüschenk Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hessian Prinz Friedrich Dragoons (4 sqns)

Containing force under major-general von Bock, north of Rheinberg

Hanoverian Alt Zastrow (1 bn)

Hessian 3. Garde (2 bns)

Hanoverian Bock Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hanoverian and Hessian artillery (24 guns), for the most part but some guns assigned to

other brigades

Containing the French north of Rossenray

Hanoverian Volontaires (1 bn) under captain von Winzigerode

Kielmansegg's brigade left behind near Wesel

Hanoverian Block (1 bn)

Hanoverian Jung Zastrow (1 bn)

Hanoverian Wrede (1 bn)

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: lieutenant-general marquis de Castries, his headquarters in Rossenray

with part of II./Corps Royal de l'Artillerie - Invilliers Brigade (1 battery of 6 guns, including 2 to 4

16-pdrs)

Summary: 16,000 men in 31 bns, 32 sqns and 6 field guns, excluding Fischer Corps (as per

Renouard). Savory gives only some 7,000 men. However, in a relation of the battle written by

Castries himself, he evaluates the French force who took part to the engagement to 12,000

men, including cavalry.

First Line Second Line Reserve

Far Right under maréchal-de-camp comte de Chabot assisted by maréchal-de-camp marquis de Roquépine

La Couronne brigade under the comte de Montbarrey in front of Rheinberg

La Couronne (2 bns)

Horion Infanterie (2 bns)

Brigade Liégeoise under M. de Sionville (absent) in Rheinberg

Bouillon (2 bns)

Vierzet (2 bns)

Rouergue infantry brigade under the comte de Champagne, south of Rheinberg

Rouergue (2 bns)

Rohan Rochefort (2 bns)

Tournaisis (1 bn)

Réserve de dragons under the

maréchal-de-camp duc de Fronsac

Royal Dragons (4 sqns)

Thianges Dragons (4 sqns)

Right Wing under lieutenant-general marquis d’Auvet

Normandie brigade

Normandie (4 bns)

Briqueville (2 bns)

La Tour-du-Pin brigade (4 bns)

under the marquis de la Tour-du-

Royal-Étranger cavalry brigade under the marquis de Cursay

Royal-Étranger (2 sqns)

Bourbon (2 sqns)

Crussol (2 sqns)

Royal-Pologne (2 sqns)

Pin

Left Wing under lieutenant-general marquis de Ségur assisted by maréchaux-de-camp baron de Beusenval and baron de Wurmser

Alsace infantry brigade (4 bns) under the baron de Wangen

Auvergne infantry brigade (4 bns)

under the comte de Rochambeau

Royal-Piémont cavalry brigade under the comte de Thiard de Bissy

Poly Saint-Thiébault (2 bns)

Descars (2 sqns)

Balincourt (2 sqns)

Royal-Piémont (2 sqns)

Gendarmerie de France (8 sqns) under the marquis de Lugeac

Far Left

Fischer Corps (1 bn and 4 sqns), detached on the far left at Kloster Kamp

N.B.:

Pajol also mention a “Mante” militia battalion accompanying the artillery

The bulk of Castries' remaining heavy guns (16?) under the command of the chevalier de

Pelletier, maréchal-de-camp, actually arrived at the end of the action and formed up behind

the cavalry

References

The main source for this article has been an article written by Christian Rogge on “the French

and Allied armies at Kloster Kamp October 16, 1760”. This article has been complemented with

texts extracted from the following books which are now in the public domain:

Anonymous, A Complete History of the Present War, from its Commencement in 1756, to

the End of the Campaign, 1760, London, 1761, pp. 533-534

Carlyle T. History of Friedrich II of Prussia, Vol. 20

Castries, Duc de; Le Maréchal de Castries (1727-1800), Flammarion, 1956, pp. 41-49

Castries, marquis de; Relation de la Bataille donnée par M. le marquis de Castries le 16

octobre 1760

Fortescue J. W., A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899, pp. 515-518

Hotham (probably), The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene

Highness Prince Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and

ending in the year 1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, pp. 178-179

Jomini, baron de, Traité des grandes opérations militaires, Vol. 3, 2nd ed., Magimel, Paris,

1811, pp. 238-239

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. V, Paris, 1891, pp. 70-73

Renouard, Carl; Geschichte des Krieges in Hannover, Hessen und Westphalen von 1757

bis 1763, Kassel 1863

Tempelhof, G. F. v., Geschichte des Siebenjährigen Krieges in Deutschland vol. IV, Berlin,

1783

Other sources

Évrard, Philippe; Praetiriti Fides

Savory, R; His Britannic Majesty’s Army in Germany during the Seven Years War, Oxford 1966

1761-02-15 - Combat of Langensalza

Prusso-Allied victory

Prelude to the Battle

On February 9 1761, Ferdinand of Brunswick launched an offensive in Hesse hoping to

reconquer this country while the French were dispersed in their winter-quarters. On his extreme

left, Spörcken advanced against the isolated Saxon corps stationed in the area of Langensalza

(today Bad Langensalza). Frederick II had also detached a corps (7,000 men) under the

command of General Syburg to assist Spörcken in his enterprise against the Saxons.

On February 14, the Allied and Prussian corps made their junction near Langensalza, repaired

the broken bridges over the Unstrut during the night and prepared to launch a coordinated

attack on the Saxon corps.

Map

Map of the combat of Langensalza fought on February 15 1761.

Source: Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, by the German Grosser Generalstab

Description of Events

On February 15 before daybreak, the Comte de Solms at the head of Prinz Friedrich August

Infantry to position on a height to the left of Langensalza on the road between Thamsbrück and

Schönstedt. A battalion of Saxon Converged Grenadiers already occupied the position. They

were soon reinforced by Prinz Xaver Infantry.

At 7:00 AM, all Allied and Prussian troops came to the Unstrut river side to pass it, but the thaw

had so increased the waters that the banks were flooded from Mühlhausen almost to

Langensalza. The Prussian cavalry got through the passage of Merxleben while their cannon

was battering the town of Langensalza. Spörcken sent 8 sqns of his first line across the Unstrut

at Thamsbrück with a brigade of chasseurs and a squadron of Luckner's whose whole corps

could not pass, the waters continuing out all day.

At 7:30 AM, Prinz Joseph Infantry and Prinz Maximilian Infantry joined the Saxon force

assembled under the Comte de Solms on the height near Langensalza. The Prussians

appeared almost simultaneously, debouching in 4 columns and deploying in order of battle in 2

lines on the heights of Merxleben. The Comte de Solms immediately sent a messenger to

Mühlhausen and another officer to ask Prinz Anton Infantry to force march to join him as soon

as possible. However, the latter officer could not reach Prinz Anton Infantry because enemy

hussars and jägers had already taken position between de Solms' corps and Prinz Anton

Infantry.

Major von Falkenberg at the head of one squadron of Alt Bremer Cavalry delayed the Saxon

regiment Prinz Anton Infantry for more than two hours till the arrival of Lieutenant-general

Reden followed by his regiment (Reden Dragoons).

At about 7:45 AM, Stainville arrived and deployed his force in order of battle on the slopes

behind the Judenberg; his dragoons on the right in a prairie, his left towards Langensalza, and

the Judenberg occupied by some cannon and infantry piquets.

At 8:00 AM, the 10 hussars sent by the Comte de Solms to reconnoitre the banks of the Unstrut

near Thamsbrück fired to signal that they had located the Allies. Shortly after, Allied cavalry and

jägers were seen forming on a height near Thamsbrück. They were soon joined by other cavalry

and by 8:15 AM, 8 Allied squadrons and 2 jägers battalions were deployed in order of battle on

this height.

At 8:15 AM, the Prussian right formed in column and debouched on the bridge of Merxleben,

halting as soon as it reached it. The Prussian left was deployed near Nägelstedt. The Prussians

then began to cannonade Stainville's positions with the battery plated the previous day near

Merxleben.

The Comte de Solms had deployed his division in order of battle on a height with a ravine

running from Zimmern to Uffhofen on his left; the road from Langensalza to Schönstedt to his

front; his right anchored on a ravine facing the enemy.

With the Allied cavalry now deployed in order of battle on the left of Solms' division, the latter

was redeployed with its right to the road leading to Schönstedt; and the Prinz Maximilian

Infantry and Prinz Joseph Infantry en potence to protect the exposed Saxon left flank.

The Comte de Sols asked for cavalry reinforcements to the Comte de Stainville.

At about 8:45 AM, the Volontaires de Schomberg (250 horse) joined the Comte de Solms.

Meanwhile, the Vicomte de Gréaulme informed the Comte de Solms that Stainville had received

orders to retire on Eisenach.

At this moment, the Allied cavalry marched speedily against Solms' left while the Prussians,

who now had nothing to fear from Stainville, marched on Langensalza.

The Comte de Solms retreated by his centre, staying behind with his grenadiers to cover his

retreat. The Chevalier d'Orb, captain at Royal-Nassau Hussards, offered his services to guide

the retreating force through the ravine made even more impracticable by the thaw and

continuous rain. But instead of leading the column by Uffhofen as planned, he directed it on

Zimmern. The Comte the Solms realised to late the mistake made by the Chevalier d'Orb, the

Hanoverian cavalry was already reaching Zimmern to attack his flank. The Saxon infantry was

forced to pass the Salza with water at knee height and the Saxon artillery had mush difficulties

to pass the stream. This delay gave enough time to Lieutenant-general Hodenberg to march

through the village of Zimmern and to arrive on the right flank of the retreating Saxons. In the

mean time, the Prussian cavalry debouched from Langensalza, threatening the left of the

Saxons.

Part of the Prussian cavalry formed in column to attack the flank of the Saxon grenadiers

forming the rearguard who were still near Uffhofen, delayed by a false manoeuvre of

the Volontaires de Schomberg who had thrown themselves between the grenadiers and Prinz

Maximilian Infantry. Another part of the Prussian cavalry, who had deployed in line on a slope,

charged the grenadiers frontally. The Saxon grenadiers repulsed these two initial attacks.

However, the Prussians rallied and launched a second charge. Meanwhile a detachment

of Zieten Hussars who had marched by Langensalza to the right of the ravine of Uffhofen

attacked the Saxon grenadiers in the rear. Surrounded on all sides, the Saxon grenadiers finally

surrendered.

While the Saxon grenadiers delayed the Prussians, the head of the Saxon columns continued to

cross the ravine to avoid total encirclement.

The 8 Allied squadrons under Hodenberg had already passed the village of Zimmern and

marched on Prinz Friedrich August Infantry, the first Saxon unit to pass the ravine. The Saxon

cannon were located so low that they could not fire at the Allied cavalry. The rest of the Saxon

division managed to pass the ravine and most of it took refuge in a wood sheltered from the

enemy cavalry.

However, the Allied cavalry attacked the two Saxon regiments forming the end of the

column: Prinz Joseph Infantry and Prinz Maximilian Infantry. The Allies charged them with 6

squadrons, isolating a division of Prinz Joseph Infantry and the entire battalion ofPrinz

Maximilian Infantry. Four Allied squadrons then surrounded these isolated Saxon units who

received them with a general salvo and at the point of the bayonet. During the engagement, 2

Allied squadrons managed to turn the rear of these units.

Lieutenant-general Hodenberg attacked a Saxon regiment who had formed a square and was

wounded during the ensuing engagement.

The Saxon Garde zu Fuss, I./Prinz Xaver Infantry and I./Prinz Friedrich August

Infantrysurrendered to the Prussians while Prinz Maximilian Infantry (aka Prinz Karl) and Prinz

Anton Infantry surrendered to Spörcken's 8 sqns.

During the combat, the infantry of Spörcken's first line had passed the Unstrut at Thamsbrück.

The Saxons were on the point of being completely surrounded when La Ferronnaye

Dragons arrived to the rescue. Without taking time to form properly, they charged the Allied

cavalry, driving it back and capturing Lieutenant-general Hodenberg, 1 standard, 3 officers and

about 60 troopers. After the intervention of the French dragoons, the Saxons managed to reach

Eisenach, not without loosing many exhausted prisoners to the hussars who were following

them in the distance.

Near Eisenach, the Saxons made a junction with Stainville's corps. The head of the column

reaching the place at 7:00 PM while the tail of the column arrived only on February 16 at 10:00

AM.

After the action, the Allied and Prussian troops being greatly fatigued, Syburg cantoned his

corps at Langensalza and Spörcken's corps re-entered its former quarters on the left of the

Unstrut, except Luckner's body which remained at Mülverstedt and Schönstedt.

Outcome

Spörcken computed the enemy loss that day at 5,000 men, at the same time that his own

scarcely exceeded 100. Lieutenant-general Hodenberg was wounded and taken prisoner.

The Prussians took 3 bns and 7 pieces and Spörcken's troops took 2 bns and 6 pieces.

Furthermore, the Saxons lost 2,000 taken prisoners before managing to make a junction with

Stainville's corps near Eisenach.

Order of Battle

French Order of Battle

Since the departure of Prince Xaver of Saxony for Paris on February 7, the Reserve of the Army

of the Upper Rhine was under the command of the Marquis de Saint-Pern. Hereafter, we list the

entire reserve although only a part of it took part in the action.

Commander-in-Chief: Marquis de Saint-Pern

First line under the Lieutenant-general Comte de Stainville assisted by the maréchaux de

camp Baron de Klingenberg and Baron La Brüggen

Cavalry deployed along the left bank of the Gera from Tottleben to Gebesee

Du Roy Dragons  (4 sqns)

La Ferronnaye Dragons  (4 sqns)

Volontaires de Schomberg  (4 sqns)

Légion Royale  (900 foot and 400 horse)

Infantry from Gotha to Gräfentonna and, along the Unstrut, to Langensalza

Castellas Infanterie  (2 bns) at Gotha

Rochow Fusiliers  (1 bn) at Gotha

Kurprinzessin Infantry  (2 bns) at Langensalza

Prinz Sachsen-Gotha Infantry  (1 bn) at Langensalza

Prinz Clemenz Infantry  (1 bn) at Nägelstedt

Graf Brühl Infantry  (1 bn) at Burgtonna

Fürst Lubomirsky Infantry  (1 bn) at Gräfentonna

Champagne Infanterie  (4 bns) at Mühlhausen

Volontaires d'Austrasie  (400 men) at Mühlhausen

Compagnie Franche de Monet (1 coy of 50 men) at Mühlhausen

Second line under the Comte de Solms assisted by Lieutenant-general de Galbert, Major-

General de Borck and Colonel Carlsbourg

Converged Saxon Grenadiers (2 unidentified bns) at Eisenach

Saxon Garde zu Fuss  (1 bn) at Eisenach

Royal-Nassau Hussards  (100 men) at Eisenach

Artilery (1 coy) at Eisenach

Prinz Maximilian Infantry  (1 bn) aka Prinz Carl at Mechterstädt

Prinz Anton Infantry  (1 bn) at Wenigenlupnitz

Prinz Joseph Infantry  (1 bn) at Sonneborn

Prinz Xaver Infantry  (2 bns) at Großengottern

Prinz Friedrich August Infantry  (2 bns) at Oberdorla, Niederdorla, Langula and Bollstedt

Saint Pern's division had been sent to the area of Sontra the preceding day

Grenadiers de France  (4 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux

unspecified regiment (2 bns)

unspecified regiment (2 bns)

Picardie Infanterie  (4 bns)

Volontaires du Hainaut  (a detachment)

Prusso-Allied Order of Battle

Spörcken's Allied Corps

Commander-in-Chief: General von Spörcken assisted by Lieutenant-general Count von

Kielmansegg, Lieutenant-general von Wangenheim; Major-general von Mansberg, General-

major von Hanstein, Lieutenant-general von Hodenberg, Lieutenant-general von Reden, Major-

general von Bock, Major-general von Scheele, Major-general von Luckner, Colonel von Donop

Infantry

Halberstadt  (1bn)

Rhoedern  (1 bn)

Kielmannsegg  (1 bn)

Dreves  (1 bn)

Schulenburg  (1 bn)

Laffert  (1 bn)

Plessen  (1 bn)

Ahlefeld  (1 bn)

Mansbach  (2 bns)

Bischhausen  (2 bns)

3/9 Balcke Grenadiers  (1 bn)

Hilgenbach Hessian Grenadiers ?? (1 bn)

1/6 Schlotheim Grenadiers  (1 bn)

5/8 Stirn Grenadiers  (1 bn)

Kutzleben Militia  (1 bn)

Cavalry

Grothaus  (2 sqns)

Luckner's Hussars

Heise  (2 sqns)

Veltheim  (2 sqns)

Walthausen  (2 sqns)

Hodenberg Cavalry  (2 sqns)

Alt Bremer Cavalry  (2 sqns)

Reden Dragoons  (2 sqns)

Hessian Leib Dragoons  (4 sqns)

The following units are also mentioned in the Nafziger order of battle but do not correspond to

the order of battle given by Westphalen

Estorff Infantry  (1 bn)

Hardenberg Infantry  (1 bn)

Syburg's Prussian Corps

Commander-in-Chief: Syburg (6 bns, 25 sqns, 20 pieces)

Syburg's Detachment

Grenadier Battalion G-I/G-II Lossow  (1 bn)

Grenadier Battalion 2/G-XI Natalis  (1 bn)

Grenadier Battalion 38/43 Heilsberg  (1 bn)

Prussian Leib-Carabiniers  (5 sqns)

Prinz von Preußen Cuirassiers  (5 sqns)

Artillery

4 x 12-pdr guns

6 x 6-pdr guns

Löllhöfel's Detachment

Frei-Infanterie de Angelelli  (2 bns)

Frei-Infanterie von Wunsch (? bn)

Frei-Infanterie von Lüderitz (1 bn)

Leibregiment zu Pferde  (5 sqns)

Seydlitz Cuirassiers  (5 sqns)

Zieten Hussars  (500 men) under Major von Prittwitz and Major Reitzenstein

References

This article is essentially a compilation of texts from the following books which are now in the

public domain:

Broglie, Victor François (duc de); Correspondance inédite de Victor-François, duc de

Broglie, maréchal de France,: avec le Prince Xavier de Saxe, comte de Lusace, lieutenant

général, pour servir à l'histoire de la Guerre de sept ans (campagnes de 1759 à 1761) tome

III, Paris: Albin Michel; pp. 485-487, 635-642

Hotham (probably), The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene

Highness Prince Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and

ending in the year 1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, pp. 193-194

Renouard, Carl; Geschichte des Krieges in Hannover, Hessen und Westfalen von 1757 bie

1763, vol. 3; pp. 79-86

Westphalen, C. H. P.; Geschichte der Feldzüge des Herzogs Ferdinand von Braunschweig-

Lüneberg, vol. 5; Berlin 1872; pp. 83-84

Other sources

Hanoverian Forces at the Battle of Langensalza February 15 1761, Nafziger collection

1761-03-21 - Engagement of Grünberg

French victory

Prelude to the Battle

At the end of February 1761, the Allies drove Broglie's army back to the Rhine during

their campaign in Hessen. However, on March 9, Broglie received a reinforcement of 15,000

men led by de Muy and arriving from the Lower Rhine. On March 11, the duc de Broglie

marched with all his army to relieve Kassel, forcing the Allies to gradually retire. On March 16,

Stainville cannonaded the positions of the Hereditary Prince of Brunswickat Stangenrod, forcing

him to retire to Homberg/Ohm. On March 19, the Hereditary Prince advanced on Stangenrod

and Wirberg near Grünberg while Luckner drove theLégion Royale from Laubach back to

Hungen. On March 20, the duc de Broglie sent reinforcements (3 cavalry brigades and

the Grenadiers de France) to Stainville to attack the Hereditary Prince and drive him back

beyond the Ohm. He also sent Closen to Stangenrod to support Stainville's main attack on

Grünberg and prevent any Allied counter-attack from Homberg; Poyanne (Carabiniers and

Auvergne brigade) to Londorf to support Closen; furthermore, Boccard's Swiss brigade was sent

to support Poyanne.

Map

No map available yet.

Description of Events

On March 21, Stainville deployed his corps in 2 columns. Broglie personally joined Stainville on

a height near Grünberg. They observed the French columns arriving in very good order.

Stainville led personally the column attacking Grünberg while brigadier Diesbach led the second

column against Laubach.

During his attack on Grünberg, Stainville heard a cannon and musket fire on his right.

Presuming that it was Luckner's corps who had been driven out of Laubach by M. de Diesbach,

he dispatched the Volontaires de Schomberg supported by the Royal-Allemand brigade to the

heights separating Grünberg from Laubach to cut Luckner's line of retreat.

Stainville then sent the comte of Scey-Montbeillard with the Du Roy Dragons and La

Ferronnaye Dragons to the heights of Stangenrod on his left before launching his attack on

Grünberg.

When the comte de Scey reached the heights of Stangenrod, he could see Closen's corps

(Orléans Dragons, Autichamp Dragons, Volontaires d'Austrasie, Volontaires du

Hainaut, Volontaires Étrangers de Clermont Prince and Volontaires de Saint-Victor) to his left.

Scey also discovered the positions of the Hereditary Prince in the village of Alzenhain which

was surrounded by a pond and several ravines. The Allies were not expecting an attack in this

area and would have been completely surprised. However, Closen preferred to open with his

artillery on the closest Allied units.

The Allies then retired precipitously from the village and formed on the heights behind

Alzenhain. Closen detached his light infantry in the woods of Bernsfeld to outflank the Allies on

their right and personally led his mounted light troops and dragoons against their left flank. At

the head of 2 sqns of Autichamp Dragons, supported by 2 sqns ofOrléans Dragons and followed

by the mounted light troops (the Volontaires), he overwhelmed their cavalry who gained the

cover of the wood. Seeing this, Closen wheeled left and attacked the infantry column, throwing it

into disorder and taking several prisoners.

When Du Roy Dragons from Scey's corps joined the fray, marching to the right of the pond

located on the left side of the village, the Allied infantry formed in columns and marched towards

the nearby wood. The Allied infantry then broke and was pursued through the thickets.

The Allied cavalry had by now rallied. When Closen reached the plain, he was charged by this

Allied cavalry. Closen's squadrons where by this time disordered and were driven back.

However, the II./La Ferronaye Dragons countercharged supported by a salvo from the

Volontaires de Saint-Victor. The Allied cavalry was repulsed and the French dragoons and

mounted light troops pursued them. However, the last charge of the Allied cavalry gave enough

time to the Hereditary Prince to retire on Burg-Gemünden and to repass the Ohm in great

confusion.

During this time, the Royal-Allemand brigade, who was supposed to advance through the

woods along the Ohm and to form in the plain, came under fire of Luckner's artillery planted on

the the village of Niederohmen. This delay prevented Royal-Allemand from reaching its

assigned position to complete the encirclement of the Allies and allowed the Hereditary Prince

to escape with most of his corps.

During the action at Grünberg, d'Origny took possession of the village of Wetter, abandoned by

the Allies, while Wurmser drove back the Allies from Gross-Seelheim and Klein-Seelheim; and

Rochambeau made a diversion to attract Ferdinand's attention.

Outcome

In this action, the Allies lost 3,000 men (including 2,000 prisoners: 1 bn of theBrunswick Leib-

Regiment, 2 bns of Imhoff Infantry and 1 bn of Rhoedern Infantry), 18 colours, 1 standard and

14 guns. General Rhoedern, who commanded the Hanoverians, was killed. The French lost

about 100 men killed or wounded, the Baron de Closen being wounded at an elbow by a musket

ball. He was replaced at the head of his vanguard by M. de Montchenu.

Order of Battle

These orders of battle are very preliminary. We have not yet found a comprehensive source

listing all units involved.

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-Chief: Hereditary Prince of Brunswick

Infantry (9 rgts)

Brunswick Leib-Regiment  (2 bns)

Imhoff Infantry  (2 bns)

Rhoedern Infantry  (1 bn)

Halberstadt Infantry  (1 bn)

Laffert Infantry  (1 bn)

Unidentified Hanoverian or Brunswicker or Hessian units (4 rgts)

Cavalry

Unidentified Hanoverian cavalry (2 sqns)

Luckner's corps

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-Chief: Stainville

Volontaires de Schomberg  (3 sqns)

Royal-Allemand cavalry brigade

Royal-Allemand  (2 sqns)

Wurtemberg  (2 sqns)

Nassau-Ussingen  (2 sqns)

Scey-Montbeillard brigade

Du Roy Dragons

La Ferronnaye Dragons

Closen's corps

Orléans Dragons  (2 sqns)

Autichamp Dragons  (2 sqns)

Volontaires d'Austrasie

Volontaires du Hainaut

Volontaires Étrangers de Clermont Prince

Volontaires de Saint-Victor

References

This article is essentially a compilation of texts from the following books which are now in the

public domain:

Hotham (probably), The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene

Highness Prince Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year 1757 and

ending in the year 1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, p. 201

Jomini, Henri, Traité des grandes opérations militaires, 2ème édition, 4ème partie, Magimel,

Paris: 1811, p. 221

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. V, Paris, 1891, pp. 161-162

Renouard, Carl; Geschichte des Krieges in Hannover, Hessen und Westfalen von 1757 bis

1763, Vol. 3; Kassel, 1864, pp. 113-119

Other sources

The London Magazine: or, Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer, Vol. 30, 1761, pp.

1761-07-16 - Battle of Vellinghausen

Allied victory

Prelude to the Battle

On July 8, during the campaign of 1761 in West Germany, the French Army of the Upper Rhine,

under the Duc de Broglie, and the larger Army of the Lower Rhine, under the Prince de Soubise,

made a junction at Soest. The joint strength of the two French armies, after deducting the

detachments made from both of them, was just about 100,000 men. The Allied army under the

command of Ferdinand of Brunswick, after the arrival of Spörcken, who had made his way to

him from the Diemel with all haste, amounted to no more than 60,000 men. However, even with

such odds against him, Ferdinand stood firm, refusing to cross to the north bank of the Lippe

and abandon Lippstadt, as the French commanders had hoped. He was determined that they

should fight him for Lippstadt; and they, knowing their adversary, were not too eager to hazard

the venture.

On July 10, Ferdinand reorganised his camp:

his right at Hilbeck

his centre at Illingen

Granby at Vellinghausen

Spörcken (8,000 men) at Herzfeld on the left bank of the Lippe to watch Prince Xavier of

Saxony, who lay with a corps in the vicinity of Paderborn.

From July 11 to 14, the Allied and French armies faced each other without attempting any

attack. Indeed, Broglie and Soubise first planned to attack on Sunday July 13. Then, Broglie

postponed the attack to July 15 to make further reconnaissance.

On July 14, after several days of deliberations, Broglie and Soubise finally agreed on a plan of

attack. Broglie would march by Oestinghausen to take position near Hultrop. The French plan

called for Broglie's vanguard to launch 2 divisions against the posts of Nateln and

Vellinghausen, defended by the corps of Wutgenau and Granby, but particularly that of Granby

between the Lippe and the Ahse. Broglie's army should be reinforced by Condé's corps.

Simultaneously, Soubise would advance from Erwitte on the Salzbach and keep the rest of the

Allies distracted by an attack on Scheidingen, at the same time sending a cloud of light troops

round the right flank of the Allies to Hamm, 9 km in their rear, so as to create confusion and

embarrass their retreat. This plan had the default to announce the intentions of the French

general much in advance.

Map

Vellinghausen was a poor little hamlet in a moory difficult ground in Paderborn Country, near the

south or left bank of the Lippe River. It lay to the north of Soest. Ferdinand's positions extended

about 13 km, looking eastward. General von Spörcken with about 8,000 men was left on the

north bank of the Lippe at Herzfeld, to watch Prince Xavier of Saxony, who lay with a corps in

the vicinity of Paderborn. The main Allied army was encamped on the south bank of the Lippe,

with its left resting on the river; from whence the left wing extended to the village of Kirch-Dinker

on the Ahse, a branch of the Lippe impassable except by bridges. Vellinghausen, Ferdinand's

headquarters, lay midway between the Ahse and the Lippe at the foot of a declivity called the

Dinkerberg. From the Lippe to Vellinghausen the ground was occupied by Wutginau's corps, of

7 battalions and 5 squadrons, all of them German troops. From Vellinghausen to Kirch-Dinker

the heights were held by Granby's corps, consisting of 2 battalions of British grenadiers, the 5th

Foot, the 12th Foot, the 24th Foot and the 37th Foot under Brigadier Sandford, 87th Keith's

Highlanders and 88th Campbell's Highlanders, 6 Allied battalions, the Scot Greys Dragoons, the

7th Dragoons and the 11th Dragoons in one brigade under General Harvey, and 8 Allied

squadrons, together with a regiment of Hanoverian artillery. From the Ahse the position was

prolonged to the right along a similar line of heights by the villages of Sud Dincer and Wambeln

to the rear of Werl at Budberg, the whole of the front being covered by a marshy brook called

the Salzbach. From the Ahse to Wambeln the ground was occupied by Anhalt's corps of 10

German battalions and the British 1st Dragoons, 6th (Inniskilling) Draggons and 10th Dragoons;

to the right of Anhalt stood Conway's corps, of 3 battalions of British Guards with their

grenadiers massed into a fourth battalion, Townsend's brigade of the 8th Foot, 20th Foot, 25th

Footand 50th Foot, and the 1st (The King's) Regiment of Dragoon Guards, 3rd Regiment of

Dragoon Guards and 4th Regiment of Horse, or The Black Horse; to the right of Conway stood

Howard's corps, consisting of Cavendish's brigade of the 11th Foot, 33rd Foot,23rd

Foot and 51st Foot, 2 German battalions, the British light batteries and 2 brigades of Hessian

artillery; and finally the extreme right from Wambeln to Hilbeck was held by the Hereditary

Prince's corps of 25 battalions and 24 squadrons of Germans.

The centre of the Allied positions was astride of the Ahse and the right wing stood to the south

side of the Ahse. In front of these positions, Ferdinand had various little hamlets: Kirch-Dinker,

Scheidingen, Wambeln and others. Ferdinand has thrown up earthworks in most of these

villages, taking advantage of bogs, rough places and woods. The Salzbach was an obstacle

well-nigh insuperable, the only passage by which the French could cross it being by the village

of Scheidingen, opposite to Conway's corps, where an old redoubt, dating from the days of

Turenne, still remained to bar the way. The weak point of the position was its right flank which,

though more or less protected by a quaggy brook which ran into the Ahse and the marshy

ground bordering it, lay practically in the air, and could have been turned with little difficulty.

Map of the battle of Vellinghausen fought on July 15 and 16, 1761 - Source: Fortescue J. W., "A History of the

British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899"

Ferdinand position was strong but dangerous since he had no retreat, should he be tumbled

back into the angle where Ahse and Lippe meet, and into the little town of Hamm where his

magazine was.

Description of Events

Tuesday July 15, Broglie reconnoitred all day and drove in all Ferdinand's outposts.

For some reason Wutginau's corps had been encamped one km in rear of its position in the line

of battle.

At noon, Wutginau received orders, in consequence of suspicious movements by the French, to

strike tents and march forward. However, this order was later cancelled.

At 5:00 PM, Broglie set out from the camp of Erwitte, marched in 3 columns and encamped his

army at Oestinghausen. These 3 columns consisted of:

the rightmost column consisting of the vanguard division under M. de Closen, was to march

by Hultrop and attack Vellinghausen

the centre consisting of the main body of the army under the duc de Broglie, charged to

support the attacks of the 2 other columns

the leftmost column consisting of the vanguard division under M. de Belzunce with

the Grenadiers de France and the Grenadiers Royaux under the command of the Comte de

Stainville, were to proceed along the Ahse and attack the castle of Nateln

At about 6:00 PM, Broglie suddenly burst into onslaught on Ferdinand's position. His attack

came upon it as a complete surprise. Belzunce occupied the castle of Nateln where he took

about 100 prisoners. Closen's column attacked the wood of Vellinghausen with the light infantry

of the Volontaires de Saint-Victor, supported byNassau Prince Louis Infanterie and Royal Deux-

Ponts Infanterie, and by the 2 elite battalions (grenadiers and chasseurs) of Auvergne

Infanterie and Poitou Infanterie, dislodging one of Granby's outposts at Hause Nehle. Granby's

corps (10 bns, 6 sqns, 10 x 6-pdrs), which was in camp about Vellinghausen, had only just time

to seize its arms and turn out, leaving the tents standing; the Highlanders indeed hardly

emerging from their tents before the French guns opened fire on them. The British first opposed

a vigorous resistance to Closen's assault but were finally pushed back into the village of

Vellinghausen where they were charged anew.

When Ferdinand was informed of the French manoeuvres who threatened the road to Hamm.

He immediately gave orders to Granby to hold his positions at all cost. Wutginau with his corps

(7 bns, 5 sqns) was instructed to march to the left to Bloch (unidentified location) upon the high

road from Lippstadt to Hamm to cover the line of retreat and then to support Granby. Ferdinand

also sent order to Anhalt (10 bns, 6 sqns) to pass the Ahse with his division to replace Wutginau

and to link with the right of Wutginau's division. Lieutenant-general Conway (9 bns, 7 sqns,

some British artillery) was ordered to replace the Prince of Anhalt between Illingen and

Hohenover. Finally, Spörcken, who was encamped at Hertzfeld on the right bank of the Lippe,

received orders to send 6 bns and 6 sqns under general Wolff to reinforce Granby. Ferdinand

then went to Granby's camp.

Closen drove the Allies back beyond Vellinghausen and even captured the barricade protecting

Granby's camp. However, Granby managed to contain the French attack until the arrival of

Wutginau's division, who attacked the enemy right flank. The French were then forced to take

refuge into the wood.

M. de Closen then asked Broglie for reinforcements. Broglie sent the Comte de Guerchy who

commanded the rightmost division to support the Volontaires de Saint-Victor. Guerchy

advanced with the battalion of grenadiers and chasseurs of the Dauphin Brigade. The latter

brigade led by the Marquis de Maupéou and the Marquis de Rochechouart supported Closen.

Guerchy followed personally at the head of Du Roi Infanterie and 15 field-pieces. Closen then

renewed his attack on Vellinghausen, repeatedly taking and losing the village. Granby's and

Wutginau's corps made a fine defence.

Broglie called off the assault at 10:00 PM. His troops were masters of the villages of

Vellinghausen and Nateln. Broglie then sent forward the Duc d'Havré with the Aquitaine and

Rougé's brigades to occupy the village, relieving the troops engaged during the day. He also

sent the Duc de Duras and the Comte de Vaux at the head of the Champagne, Auvergne and

Poitou brigades to support the troops defending Vellinghausen.

During the attack on Vellinghausen, Broglie received a letter from Soubise, announcing his

march on Einecke and informing Broglie of his intention to retain Condé's corps because he felt

that the Allies were reinforcing their right. Broglie knowing that, on the contrary, Ferdinand was

reinforcing his left, directly invited Condé to join him with his corps and suggested to Soubise to

replace Condé's corps with another one in his present position.

During the whole day, Soubise had not moved forward against Scheidingen. In fact, the time

fixed by the French marshals for their decisive attack had been the early hours of July 16, so

that Broglie's advance had been premature. He excused himself by saying that he had intended

only to drive in the outposts of the Allies but that he had been encouraged by his unexpected

success to bring forward more troops to hold the ground that he had gained, and that he had

accordingly appealed to Soubise to hasten his movements likewise. Had Broglie really pushed

his attack home he would probably have succeeded, for the Allies were too weak to stop him

and were, moreover, short of ammunition. But Broglie was too timid a man to take responsibility

on his own shoulders; so instead of making a bold attempt to carry the Dinkerberg, which if

successful must have forced Ferdinand to retreat, he stopped short at Vellinghausen, leaving

the Allies in their position unmoved.

The night passed uneasily in the Allied camp. Between the Lippe and the Ahse skirmishing

never ceased. The road to Hamm was full of wagons going and returning with loads of

ammunition; Anhalt's corps, together with all the British of Howard's corps, was streaming

across the Ahse to reinforce Granby; and Conway's and the Hereditary Prince's were extending

themselves leftward to cover the ground thus left vacant. For Ferdinand knew Broglie to be his

most dangerous antagonist and was determined to stop him at all costs by fresh troops. Broglie,

on his side, was equally busy replacing the battalions that had already been engaged. Colonel

Grevendorff took position in the village of Krich-Dinker with 2 Allied battalions

Next morning, July 16, at about 4:00 AM, Broglie, having warned Soubise overnight, deployed

his columns and launched a new assault in earnest on Ferdinand's left wing which had been

considerably strengthened overnight. The ground was so much broken up by hedges and

ditches that in many places the troops engaged, though no more than 150 m. apart, were

unable to see each other and fired furiously, not without destructive effect, at every puff of

smoke that betrayed an enemy's presence.

The Allied artillery opened on the village of Vellinghausen. Broglie, considering that he was not

strong enough to sustain the Allied attack alone, informed Soubise that he intended to retire to

his initial positions at Oestingshausen. However, Broglie's army, being engaged, could not

retire. Furthermore, Condé, who had received no troops to replace his force at Nateln, could not

come to Broglie's support.

At 7:00 AM, Soubise received Broglie's message announcing his intention to retire. Soubise had

just began to move to force the passage of the Salzbach towards Scheidingen, faintly attacking

Allied piquets in three different places, making himself master of the bridge and village of

Scheidingen, repeatedly attacking a redoubt commanding the débouché of that village, and

launching his Irish Brigade against 3 Allied battalions. Soubise now feared to engage the Allies

alone, he immediately recalled his columns and retired to his former camp at Kloster-Paradies

despite the fact that he benefited from an overwhelming superiority over Allied forces facing

him. Indeed, a column (16 bns, 30 sqns) under the command of Lieutenant-General Marquis de

Dumesnil had taken post near Werl and another column (12 bns, 14 sqns) had marched to

Unna. These two columns were ready to turn the positions of the Hereditary Prince.

Until 8:00 AM, this fusillade continued, neither side gaining or losing ground, till at last it

slackened from the sheer exhaustion of the men, after more than 12 hours of intermittent action.

Meanwhile Broglie was looking anxiously for Soubise's demonstration against the Allied centre

and right, but he looked in vain. Soubise had already decided to retire.

At about 8:30 AM, after a brief respite, the fire opened again on the Allied left. Spörcken had

detached 6 battalions from Herzfeld to reinforce Wutginau and the arrival of fresh Allied troops

infused new life into the engagement. Broglie too showed symptoms of reviving energy, for 2

French batteries were observed in motion towards a height opposite the Dinkerberg, from which

they might have made havoc of Granby's corps.

Ferdinand ordered that Vellinghausen and the height should be carried at all costs and

Maxwell's grenadiers, the 87th Keith's Highlanders, the 88th Campbell's Highlanders,Imhoff

Infantry (2 bns), and the Hanoverian Foot Guards (2 bns) advanced forthwith to storm it. The

French were so much exhausted that they appear hardly to have awaited the attack. They broke

and fled precipitately, abandoning their dead, their wounded, and several guns. Maxwell’s

grenadiers alone made the 4 battalions of Rougé Infanterieprisoners.

At 10:00 AM, disheartened by his failure and by the apathy of Soubise, Broglie stopped the

attack and gave the word to retreat.

Allied light troops followed the retreating French as far as Hultrop. Broglie covered his

movements with the Grenadiers de France and the Grenadiers Royaux. The retreat was made

in good order in a difficult terrain which prevented any attack of the Allied cavalry. Broglie was

able to draw off his troops with little loss indeed.

Outcome

In this action, the Allies lost from 290 killed, 927 wounded, 183 taken prisoners and 3 cannon in

the area of Vellinghausen while the Hereditary Prince had lost 21 killed, 84 wounded and 9

taken prisoners. Total Allied losses thus amounted to 311 killed, 1,011 wounded and 192

prisoners.

Broglie's loss was 5,500 men, 2,000 of them prisoners, 6 colours and 19 guns. The Duc

d'Havré, the Marquis de Cirrae, the Lieutenant-General Marquis de Rougé and his son Colonel

Rougé were killed during the battle. Soubise had 24 men killed...

Dumouriez who was present at this battle said:

“This battle was lost by the ambitious rashness of the maréchal de Broglie, who

attacked one day too early to win it all by himself, and by the reprehensible envy of the

Prince de Soubise, who sacrificed the honour of France to the criminal pleasure of

mortifying his rival.”

The Allied victory was in fact trifling except for its moral effects. The French were humbled

at the failure of a 100,000 men against 60,000. Furthermore, Broglie and Soubise, who

had left the camp with embraces, returned to it sworn enemies, each bitterly reproaching

the other for the loss of the battle. Lasty, Broglie, who possessed some military talent and

had hitherto been anxious to bring his enemy to action, came to the conclusion that a

general engagement with Ferdinand was a thing henceforth not to be courted but to be

shunned.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-Chief: Ferdinand of Brunswick

Right wing under the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick

Lieutenant-General Oheimb's brigade

Hanoverian Busche Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hessian 1/6 Wolf von Gundersberg Grenadiers (1 bn)

Hessian 7/11 Mirbach Grenadiers (1 bn)

Hessian 3/9 Balcke Grenadiers (1 bn)

Hessian 10/12 Bülow Grenadiers (1 bn)

Lieutenant-General Kielmansegg assisted by Major-General Halberstadt

Hessian Leib Dragoner (4 sqns)

Hanoverian Bock Dragoons (4 sqns)

Artillery (1 coy)

Hessian 2/4 Schmidt Grenadiers (1 bn)

Hessian 5/8 Stirn Grenadiers (1 bn)

Hanoverian Kielmannsegg (1 bn)

Hanoverian Craushaar (1 bn)

Artillery (1 coy)

Major-General Bartheld

Hanoverian Monroy (1 bn)

Hanoverian Halberstadt (1 bn)

Hessian I./Prinz Karl (1 bn)

Artillery (1 coy)

Hessian II./Prinz Karl (1 bn)

Hanoverian Block (1 bn)

Hanoverian Estorff

Artillery (2 coys)

Lieutenant-General Bose

Hanoverian Meding (1 bn)

Hanoverian Schele (1 bn)

Hessian Leib Regiment (2 bns)

Hessian Bartheld (2 bns)

Hessian Erbprinz (2 bns)

Hessian 2nd Garde (2 bns)

Hessian 3rd Garde (2 bns)

Lieutenant-General Bremer in second line

Hanoverian Leib-Regiment Reuter (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Heise (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Jung Bremer (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Alt Bremer (2 sqns)

Hessian Wolff (2 sqns)

Hessian Hessian Gens d'Armes (2 sqns)

Centre

Lieutenant-General Prince von Anhalt's Corps

Major-General Bischausen's Brigade

Hessian Mansbach (2 bns)

Hessian Prinz von Anhalt (2 bns)

Major-General Harling's Brigade

Brunswicker Imhoff (2 bns)

Brunswicker Leib-Regiment (2 bns)

Major-General Scheele's Brigade

Hanoverian Foot Guards (2 bns)

Major-General Elliot's Brigade

British 1st Royal Dragoons (2 sqns) under Conway

British 10th Mordaunt's Dragoons (2 sqns)

British 6th Inniskilling Dragoons (2 sqns)

Lieutenant-General Howard's Corps

Major-General Cavendish's Brigade

British 11th Bocland's Foot (1 bn)

British 33rd Griffin's Foot (1 bn)

British 51st Brudenel's Foot (1 bn)

British 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers (1 bn)

Major-General Pembroke's Brigade behind the left wing

British Royal Horse Guards (3 sqns) aka "The Blues"

British 4th Regiment of Horse, or The Black Horse (2 sqns) under Honeywood

British 3rd Regiment of Horse (Carabiniers) (2 sqns)

Major-General Braun's Reserve Brigade

British Light Artillery

Hanoverian Sachsen-Gotha (1 bn)

Hanoverian II. Artillery Brigade

Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg  (1 bn)

Lieutenant-General Conway's Corps

Major-General Caesar's Brigade

Converged Grenadiers of the British Guards (1 bn)

British II./1st Regiment of Foot Guards (1 bn)

British II./3rd Scots Regiment of Foot Guards (1 bn)

British II./2nd Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards (1 bn)

Major-General Townshend's Brigade

British 8th King's (1 bn) under Colonel Barrington

British 25th Edinburgh (1 bn) under Colonel Erskine

British 50th Carr's Foot (1 bn)

British 20th Kingsley's Foot (1 bn)

Major-General Douglas' Brigade

British 1st (The King's) Regiment of Dragoon Guards (3 sqns) under Colonel

Bland

British 3rd Regiment of Dragoon Guards (2 sqns) under Sir George Howard

British 2nd (The Queen's) Regiment of Dragoon Guards (2 sqns) under

Waldegrave

Left wing

Lieutenant-General Marquis of Granby's Corps, assisted by Lieutenant-General

Waldegrave

Colonel Beckwith's Brigade

British Welsh's Converged Grenadiers (1 bn)

British Maxwell's Converged Grenadiers (1 bn)

Major-General Sandford's Brigade

British 5th Hodgson's Foot (1 bn)

British 24th Cornwallis' Foot (1 bn)

British 37th Stuart's Foot

British 12th Napier's Foot (1 bn)

Major-General Mansberg's Brigade

Hanoverian Artillery  (1 brigade)

Brunswicker Mansberg (2 bns)

Colonel Beckwith's Brigade

British 88th Campbell's Highlanders (1 bn)

British 87th Keith's Highlanders (1 bn)

Harvey's Reserve Brigade

British Scots Greys Dragoons (2 sqns)

British 11th Ancram's Dragoons (2 sqns)

British 7th Queen's Own Dragoons (2 sqns) under Mostyn

Captain Pentz Light Troops Brigade

V./Légion Britannique  (1 bn) under Pentz

II./Légion Britannique  (1 bn) under Udam

Light Cavalry

British 15th Elliot's Light Horse (3 sqns)

Prussian Ruesch Hussars (3 sqns)

Prussian Malachowski Hussars (2 sqns)

Hessian Jäger-Corps

Lieutenant-General Wutginau's Corps supporting the left wing

Lieutenant-General von Gilsa's Brigade

Hessian Wutginau (2 bns)

Hessian Füsilier-Regiment von Gilsa (2 bns)

Major-General von Rosenberg's Brigade

Brunswicker Prinz Friedrich (2 bns)

Major-General Bock's Brigade

Hanoverian Bock (1 bn)

Major-General von Bülow's Brigade

Hanoverian Garde du Corps (1 sqn)

Hanoverian Grenadiers à cheval (1 sqn)

Brunswicker Brunswick Carabiniers|Carabiniers (3 sqns)

Wolff's Corps detached by Spörcken from Herzfeld to reinforce Wutginau

Colonel Ahlefeld Brigade

Hanoverian Jung Zastrow (1 bn)

Hanoverian Dreves (1 bn)

Hanoverian Sance (1 bn)

Hanoverian Ahlefeld (1 bn)

Hanoverian Scheither (1 bn)

Hessian Bischhausen (2 bns)

Wolff Brigade

Hanoverian Walthausen Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hessian Erbprinz (2 sqns)

Rest of Spörcken which remained at Herzfeld on the left bank of the Lippe and did not take

part in the battle

Hanoverian Behr (1 bn)

Hanoverian Otten (1 bn)

Hanoverian Laffert (1 bn)

Hanoverian Rhoedern (1 bn)

Hanoverian Wrede (1 bn)

Hessian Malsburg (2 bns)

Hanoverian Hodenberg Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Alt Behr Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hessian Prinz Friedrich Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hessian Einsiedel Cavalry (2 sqns)

Brunswicker Riedesel Hussars (6 coys)

Hanoverian Freytag Jägers (3 brigades) under Lieutenant-Colonel Friederich, major von

Linsingen and captain von Bülowsen

French Order of Battle

The French order of battle is very preliminary. We have not yet found a comprehensive

source listing all units involved.

Armée du Haut Rhin

Commander-in-Chief: Maréchal Duc de Broglie

Advance guard

Baron de Closen

Volontaires de Saint-Victor

Grenadiers and Chasseurs of Auvergne (1 bn)

Grenadiers and Chasseurs of Poitou (1 bn)

Nassau  (3 bns)

Royal Deux-Ponts  (3 bns)

Lieutenant-General Marquis de Poyanne

Corps des carabiniers de Monsieur le Comte de Provence  (1,600 men)

Lieutenant-General Comte de Guerchy

Grenadiers et Chasseurs of Dauphin (1 bn)

Dauphin  (2 bns)

Du Roi  (4 bns)

Lieutenant-General Duc d'Havré

Rouergue  (2 bns)

Aquitaine  (2 bns)

Lieutenant-General Duc de Duras

Champagne  (2 bns)

Auvergne  (4 bns)

Poitou  (2 bns)

Lieutenant-General Comte de Stainville

Grenadiers de France  (4 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de Puységur  (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de Le Camus  (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de Chantilly  (2 bns)

Vicomte de Belzunce

Rougé  (4 bns)

Light Infantry (400 men)

Artillery

10 light guns

5 medium guns

To do: complete Broglie's OOB

Armée du Bas Rhin

Commander-in-Chief: Maréchal Prince de Soubise

This order of battle is based on an order of battle of Soubise's army in June 1761. Soubise

had surely done some detachments and his entire army was probably not present at

Vellinghausen.

Order of Battle

First Line Second Line

Right Flank

Grenadiers Royaux d'Ally (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de Cambis (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de Méhégan (2 bns)

Right Wing Cavalry under Lieutenant-General du Mesnil assisted by Maréchaux de camp de Thiars and de Cursay

Royal Brigade under La Roque

Royal (2 sqns)

Trasseigny (2 sqns)

Saint-Aldegonde (2 sqns)

Aquitaine Brigade under Saint-Astier

Aquitaine (2 sqns)

Vogüé (2 sqns)

Bourbon (2 sqns)

Royal-Piémont Brigade under de Gamaches

Conti (2 sqns)

Preyssac (2 sqns)

Royal-Piémont (2 sqns)

Second line under the Prince de Croy assisted by Maréchaux de camp de Melfort and Comte de Bissy

Royal-Cravate Brigade under Nanclas

Royal-Cravate (2 sqns)

Espinchal (2 sqns)

Fumel (2 sqns)

Orléans Brigade under Noé

Orléans (2 sqns)

Descars (2 sqns)

Beauvilliers (2 sqns)

La Reine Brigade under Crussol

des Salles (2 sqns)

Crussol (2 sqns)

La Reine (2 sqns)

Infantry Centre under Lieutenant-General de Chevert

Lieutenant-General de Mailly assisted by the

Lieutenant-General de Castellas assisted by

Maréchal de camp de la Tour du Pin and

Maréchaux de camp Bréhant and Roquepine

Piémont Brigade under d'Esparbès

Piémont (4 bns)

Forez (1 bn)

Lyonnais Brigade under Vastan

Lyonnais (2 bns)

Vastan (2 bns)

Lieutenant-General de Voyer assisted by the

Prince de Rohan

La Reine Brigade under Crussol

d'Amboise

La Reine (1 bn)

Flandres (2 bns)

Condé (2 bns)

La Marck Brigade under de Bergh

La Marck (3 bns)

Royal Suédois (3 bns)

Lieutenant-General de Vogüé assisted by

Drummond

Brigade Irlandaise under O'Gilvy (N.B.:

regiments not necessarily listed in

precise order)

Bulkeley (1 bn)

Dillon (1 bn)

Berwick / Fitz James (1 bn)

Royal Écossais (1 bn)

O'Gilvy (1 bn)

Rooth (1 bn)

O'Brien de Clare (1 bn)

Limousin Brigade

Rouergue (2 bns)

Limousin (2 bns)

Lieutenant-General de La Salle

Vaubécourt Brigade under Montazet

Bretagne (2 bns)

Lemps

Boisgelin Brigade

Boisgeslin (4 bns)

Lemps (2 bns)

Touraine Brigade

Touraine (2 bns)

Gardes Lorraines (2 bns)

Lieutenant-General de Ségur assisted by the

Prince de Rochefort and de Blot

Orléans Brigade

Orléans (2 bns)

Saint-Maurice ?? (2 bns)

Bouillon Brigade

Bouillon (2 bns)

Horion (2 bns)

Vierzet (2 bns)

Lieutenant-General Chevalier de

Lévisassisted by the Maréchal de camp de

Wurmser and Brigadier de Salis

Reding Brigade

Reding (2 bns)

Salis de Mayenfeld (2 bns)

Boccard (2 bns)

Alsace Brigade

Alsace (4 bns)

Lieutenant-General de Saint-Chamont

assisted by the Maréchaux de camo de

Talaru and de Bezons

Briqueville Brigade under Merville

Enghien (2 bns)

Briqueville (2 bns)

Talaru Brigade

La Couronne (2 bns)

Talaru

Vaubécourt (2 bns)

Normandie Brigade under Molière

La Marche Prince (1 bn)

Normandie (4 bns)

Left Wing Cavalry under M. de Luzenne assisted by the Maréchaux de camp d'Aubigné and Turpin

Royal-Pologne Brigade

Royal-Pologne (2 sqns)

Escouloubre (2 sqns)

Poly Saint-Thiébault (2 sqns)

Le Roy Brigade

Condé (2 sqns)

Charost (2 sqns)

Le Roy (2 sqns)

M. de Brancas assisted by the Maréchaux de camp de Lugeac and de Périgord

Bourgogne Brigade under Moustiers

Bourgogne (2 sqns)

Moustiers (2 sqns)

Talleyrand (2 sqns)

Royal-Roussillon Brigade under d'Heere

Lusignan (2 sqns)

Noailles (2 sqns)

Royal-Roussillon (2 sqns)

Right Flank

Grenadiers Royaux la Tresne (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de L'Espinasse ?? (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de Longaunay (2 bns)

Corps of the Prince de Condé

Dragons under the Maréchaux de camp de Thianges and d'Apchon and Brigadiers La

Potterie and La Badie

Royal Brigade

Royal  (4 sqns)

Flamarens  (4 sqns)

Choiseul Brigade

Choiseul  (4 sqns)

Languedoc  (4 sqns)

Dauphin Brigade

Chapt  (4 sqns)

Dauphin  (4 sqns)

Maison du Roy under M. de Fougères

Gardes du Corps  (4 coys, each of 343 men, equivalent to 8 sqns)

Gardes Brigade

Gendarmes de la Garde  (1 sqn)

Chevau-légers de la Garde  (1 sqn)

Mousquetaires de la Garde  (2 sqns)

Gendarmerie

Grenadiers à cheval  (1 sqn)

Gendarmerie de France  (8 sqns)

Brigades des Gardes

Gardes Françaises  (4 bns)

Gardes Suisses  (2 bns)

Other Units

Troops attached to the Etat-Major

Damas Cavalerie  (2 sqns)

Royal Cantabres Infanterie  (1 bn)

Paris Militia (1 bn)

Montargis Militia (1 bn)

Valenciennes Militia (1 bn)

Soisson Militia (1 bn)

Sarreguemines Militia (1 bn)

Colmar Militia (1 bn)

Lons-le-Saulnier Militia (1 bn)

Alençon Militia (1 bn)

Guides (1 coy of 40 men)

Artillery

I./Corps Royal de l'Artillerie – Saint-Auban  (1 brigade)

Joigny Militia (1 bn)

III./Corps Royal de l'Artillerie – de la Pelleterie  (200 men)

Mantes Militia (1 bn)

V./Corps Royal de l'Artillerie – d'Invilliers  (1 brigade)

Light Troops under Brigadier Fischer

Volontaires du Dauphiné  (948 men)

Volontaires Étrangers de Clermont Prince  (948 men)

Chasseurs de Cambefort (150 men)

Dragons et Chasseurs de Conflans (2,000 men)

Chamborant Hussards  (6 sqns)

Corps du Génie under M. de Bourcet

Ingénieurs (5 brigades)

Mineurs (1 coy of 60 men)

References

This article is essentially a compilation of texts from the following books which are now in

the public domain:

Carlyle T., History of Friedrich II of Prussia vol. 20

Fortescue, J. W.; A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899, pp.

527-531

Hotham (probably), The operations of the Allied Amy under the command of his Serene

Highness Prince Ferdinand Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg beginning in the year

1757 and ending in the year 1762, London: T. Jefferies, 1764, pp. 212-220

Jomini, Henri, Traité des grandes opérations militaires, 2ème édition, 4ème partie,

Magimel, Paris: 1811, p. 20-23

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. V, Paris, 1891, pp. 183-186

Sichart, L. v.; Geschichte der Königlich Hannoverschen Armee, Hannover, 1870 (order

of battle 761GAC of the Nafziger Collection)

1762-06-24 - Battle of Wilhelmsthal

Allied victory

Introduction

For the campaign of 1762 in West Germany, Ferdinand of Brunswick could count on a larger

army than in his previous campaign. However, the French armies still remained far superior to

his own. Nevertheless, Ferdinand determined to be first in the field.

On June 21, Ferdinand advanced to the Diemel and took position between Körbecke and the

heights of Teichsel with the main Allied army.

On June 22, Soubise and d'Estrées moved northward from Kassel, closer to the Diemel, with

the French army of the Upper Rhine, encamping at Burguffeln between Immenhausen and

Grebenstein. The Reserve of the right wing under M. de Castries advanced towards Carlsdorf

and took position with its right anchored on the wood of Reinhardswald. Meanwhile, the Comte

de Stainville covered the left of the French army by taking position on the heights bordering the

stream of Westuffeln. Soubise and d'Estrées thought that Ferdinand had moved closer to the

Diemel to prevent the passage of French troops. They did not consider the possibility of an

Allied attack. They fixed their headquarters at Wilhelmsthal and halted. The positions taken by

the French army were very badly chosen: too far from the Diemel to prevent its passage by the

Allies; its right flank rested on the large forest of Reinhardswald who could have been rendered

absolutely secure by the occupation of the Sababurg, which commanded every road through

that forest. Nevertheless, Soubise and d'Estrées allowed this important post to fall into

Ferdinand's hands. Again, the occupation of the passes to the south of the Diemel would have

secured their front; but here also they had allowed the Allies to be before them. Furthermore,

they had stationed Castries with the Reserve of the right wing at Carlsdorf, in absolute isolation

from their main body.

On June 23, Ferdinand sent all his advanced posts across the Diemel to cover the construction

of bridges over the river. Meanwhile, seeing the bad dispositions of the French camp, Ferdinand

saw his opportunity and, though he could bring but 50,000 men against their 70,000, resolved to

strike at once. Accordingly, he recalled Luckner, posted at Sülbeck across the Weser, to pass

this river at Wambeck during the night and to march to Gottsbüren, a little to the north of the

Castle of Sababurg. When Ferdinand received confirmation of Luckner safe arrival at 8:00 PM,

he ordered the whole army to be under arms at midnight, ready to pass the Diemel in 7 columns

by 3:00 AM.

Allied plan of attack

Luckner's corps was just one of those that Ferdinand was preparing to draw around the

unsuspecting French.

The position of the other corps had already been chosen:

the first column, consisting of the British cavalry, would pass the Diemel at Liebenau and

move south upon Zierenberg to fall upon the French left flank

the second column, consisting of the British infantry and artillery, would pass the Diemel

downstream of Liebenau

the third column, consisting of the Brunswicker infantry, would pass the Diemel at Lamerden

the fourth column, consisting of the Hanoverian heavy artillery, would pass the Diemel at

Eberschütz

the fifth column, consisting of the Hessian infantry followed by 16 sqns of the left wing,

would pass the Diemel between Eberschütz and Sielen

the sixth column, consisting of 12 bns of Hanoverian infantry under Spörcken, would pass

the Diemel at Sielen, turn a little to the eastward upon Hümme and, marching from thence

southward, would fall upon the right flank and rear of Castries' corps at Hombressen

the seventh column, consisting of the rest of the cavalry of the left wing, would pass the

Diemel downstream of Sielen

The 20th Kingsley's Foot would pass at 2:00 AM near Liebenau and would take position on the

heights facing Zwergen to cover the passage of the Allied columns. Lord Cavendish's

Chasseurs (unidentified unit) along with Hanoverian jägers, the picquets of the army

and Riedesel Hussars would form the vanguard. The passage of the Diemel was planned at

4:00 AM for all 7 columns.

As soon as the British, Hessian and Brunswicker troops would reach the heights near Kelze,

they would form with their right at the wood and ravine of Niedermeiser and their left to the Asse

River; with the village of Kelze, the ponds and the heights of Langenberg to their front. The

cavalry of the fifth column would form in echelon on the left behind the Hessian infantry.

Cavendish's Chasseurs and Hanoverian jägers should try to make themselves masters of the

heights of Langenberg and of the débouchés of Westuffeln and Calle (maybe Calden).

Meanwhile at 3:00 AM, Luckner, with 6 bns and 7 sqns, would march south-west from

Gottsbüren through the forest of Sababurg to Mariendorf, and then advance to Udenhausen to

form up to the left of Spörcken on Castries' right rear. Furthermore, Major Specht and Colonel

Riedesel would push forward from the Sababurg with a body of light troops. Specht would then

leave his infantry near Holzhausen and advance with his cavalry to Hohenkirchen, on the south

and left of Luckner.

Once the Allied army in position, Spörcken would attack the French right flank posted near

Carlsdorf while General Luckner would try to turn this right flank.

All equipages would remain a the Tower of Warth (unidentified location) between Borgentreich

and Bühne.

Supposing that every corps fulfilled its duty exactly in respect of time and place, there was good

hope that the entire force of the French might be destroyed.

Map

Map of the battle of Wilhelmsthal - Source: Fortescue J. W., "A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan,

London, 1899"

Description of Events

In the night of June 23 to 24, the Allies threw bridges over the Diemel.

On June 24 between 1:00 and 2:00 AM, Granby's corps passed the Diemel near Warburg and,

after a long detour by Nieder-Listingen and Ober-Meiser arrived on the rear of the French army

to capture Dörnberg.

At 4:00 PM, the seven columns of Ferdinand's army passed the Diemel.

At 5:00 AM, Spörcken's two columns emerged from the Reinhardswald. They found only two

vedettes before them on the heights of Hombressen, and ascended those heights unopposed.

Spörcken, not seeing Castries' corps, which, as it chanced, was hidden from them by a wood,

turned mistakenly left instead of right and advanced unconsciously towards the front of the

French main army instead of marching against Castries' Corps. The startled French vedettes

galloped back to give the alarm. Castries' corps started to cannonade Spöcken who decided to

launch his attack on the heights of Hombressen without waiting for Luckner's support. Spörcken

deployed his artillery to answer to Castries' cannonade.

All this noise gave alarm to the French army who finally came out of its lethargy. The situation

was critical since French commanders had no instruction and did not know if they should attack

or retire.

During this time, Castries did not spare any effort to put a stop to Spörcken's advance,

threatening his right flank with a few battalions who were finally forced to retire. Castries was

preparing to repeat the same manoeuvre with his cavalry against the left flank of the

Hanoverians when he noticed the arrival of Luckner's corps. Castries cancelled the attack but

maintained his defensive positions.

Between 7:00 and 8:00 AM, Spörcken's gradually arrived near Hombressen.

Indeed, by 7:00 AM, Riedesel had reached Hohenkirchen and Luckner was at Mariendorf,

punctually in their appointed places. Luckner formed with the village of Mariendorf on his left

and his right towards Hombresssen: his infantry in the first line, his cavalry in the second.

The cannonade continued for another hour without any significant effect on Castries'

disposition. However, the head of the Allied third, fourth and fifth columns appeared and

Castries decided to retire. Castries quickly set his infantry in order for march; and having

contrived to hold Spörcken at bay for an hour, began his retreat upon Wilhelmsthal and Kassel.

The retreat was done in good order, covered by Alsace Infanterie, and Castries reformed his

corps in the ravine of Grebenstein, throwing part of his infantry into this small town. Lückner

came up as he had been bidden at Udenhausen, but meeting part of Spörcken's corps on its

march in the wrong direction was fired upon by it.

In the confusion, Castries was able to make his escape. Riedesel being weak in numbers could

not stop him, though he fell furiously with Riedesel Hussars upon the rear-guard and cut Fitz-

James Cavalerie to pieces; but except for this loss Castries retired with little damage. Thus, as

so often happens, failed the most important detail of Ferdinand's elaborate combinations.

Meanwhile the French main army, startled out of its sleep by the sound of the guns about

Hombressen, was in absolute confusion. Fortunately for Soubise and d'Estrées, the unlucky

mistake which had saved Castries, saved them also, since it checked Spörcken's advance

against their right.

D'Estrées took command of the cavalry of his right wing and advanced to cover Castrie's

retreat, while Soubise took dispositions for the centre and the left wing.

During Ferdinand's slow advance against the French positions, Granby arrived by Dörnberg,

outflanking the French left.

Soubise and d'Estrées were not expecting the involvement of Granby's corps and its arrival

made them panic. They broke up their camp with amazing rapidity, formed upon the heights and

hastened their baggage away towards Kassel under escort of 6 bns. Soubise then ordered the

army to retire in 4 columns towards Kassel.

This retreat had to be done very rapidly because Ferdinand's army was now deploying at the

foot of the Langenberg between Meimbressen and Kelze while Granby was advancing by

Ehrsten and Fürstenwald.

Lückner, awake to the miscarriage of the turning movement on the French right, now begged

Kielmansegg, who commanded the left column of Spörcken's corps, to hasten with him to

Hohenkirchen, from whence a cross way to westward would enable them to bar every road

between Wilhelmsthal and Kassel. But Kielmansegg persisted in attacking the right flank of the

French main body, despite the fact that it was covered by a brook running through a swampy

valley; and before he could effect his passage over this obstacle, the opportunity for cutting off

the French retreat was lost.

Meanwhile the troops under Ferdinand in the centre advanced against the French front, though

very slowly. Spörcken's right column formed up on their left, but being out of its right place

hampered the advance of the rest and caused lamentable delay.

The French main army, having cleared its baggage out of the way, was falling back in several

columns towards Wilhelmsthal, when the appearance of Granby on their left showed them the

full extent of their peril.

Stainville's corps (Grenadiers de France, Aquitaine Infanterie, Poitou Infanterie, Waldner

Infanterie, Eptingen Infanterie) posted in front of the left wing on the heights of Schachten along

the stream of Westuffeln was in great danger of being cut form the rest of the French army.

Stainville changed his front, deploying en potence in the wood between Meimbressen and

Wilhelmsthal, to cover the retreat of the French columns at any cost. He threw Waldner

Infanterie and Eptingen Infanterie against the Highlanders who were debouching from the

woods near Wilhelmsthal, and drove them back.

Meanwhile, back from the right wing, d'Estrées took command of the Carabiniers and of

the Cuirassiers du Roy on the left wing and advanced against Granby's cavalry who retired

behind its infantry.

Stainville's infantry then debouched from the wood and formed in front of d'Estrées' cavalry

which was deployed in 3 lines.

A very long and stubborn combat began opposing Stainville's elite troops to Granby's British

infantry which consisted of 3 battalions of British Guards, 3 converged battalions of British

grenadiers, the 5th Foot and the 8th Foot - some of the finest troops in the British Army.

Stainville charged with some initial success the head of Granby's columns before the whole of

his troops had come up. Nicolaï Dragons captured a battery of 3 guns and 200 grenadiers.

However, Aquitaine Infanterie and the Grenadiers entered into the wood of Fürstenwald and

became separated from the other part of Stainville's infantry which had entered into the wood of

Wilhelmsthal.

However, Stainville was gradually forced back as more and more of the British battalions

advanced into action. French and British came to close quarters, guns were taken and retaken.

and for a time two British cannon remained in the hands of the French.

Meanwhile, d'Estrées sent the Duc de Duras with 1 infantry brigade (4 German battalions) to

occupy the height of Wilhelmsthal.

During this combat, Ferdinand's columns continued their advance and soon occupied the

heights of Calle (probably Calden) in the rear of Stainville's corps while a detachment attacked

the right of this corps.

Granby had started to surround the wood of Fürstenwald occupied by part of Stainville's corps

on two sides and was making dispositions to surround it on all sides, when Ferdinand's troops

at last came up on Stainville's rear. The joint attack of Granby's corps and Ferdinand's

advanced units had reason of Stainville's infantry which broke and routed, suffering heavy

losses.

Stainville, even though partially surrounded, then managed to extirpate a few battalions of his

corps from the trap, marching to Heckershausen and Wählershausen.

During this time, the main French army came to contact with a few Allied units near

Hohenkirchen. Soubise sent 4 battalions of grenadiers and chasseurs along with 1 dragoon rgt

who contained them till the arrival of Castries at the head of his corps.

The French cavalry retreated only once Soubise's infantry columns had marched a certain

distance from its original camp. Then the cavalry of the right wing went to Hohenkirchen to

support Castries and the cavalry of the left wing went to Mönchehof. Batteries were then planted

to stop the Allies at the foot of these heights.

The French army then retired to Kassel.

Around 3:00 P.M., the Allied army advanced a little to the south of Wilhelmsthal and so the

action came to an end.

Outcome

The losses of the French consisted essentially of Stainville's corps. From this corps 1,500 men

were killed or wounded, and nearly 2,702 surrendered (the 5th Foot having captured a large

body Grenadiers de France received the privilege of wearing French grenadiers' caps, which

were modified later into the fusilier-caps, which they wear for over a century). Only 2 battalions

from Stainville's corps made good their escape. The Allies also took 1 standard, 6 colours and 2

guns.

The losses of the Allies were small, reaching but 208 men killed (including 4 officers) and 273

men wounded (including 2 officers) and 315 men taken prisoners (including 4 officers). Of these

losses, 450 belonged to Granby's corps. The result of the action was in fact a great

disappointment, due partly to the mistakes of Spörcken and Kielmansegg, partly to the extreme

slowness of Ferdinand's advance in the centre. The main body of the Allies indeed seems to

have taken 5 hours to move from Grebenstein to Wilhelmsthal, a distance of about 7 km; and

the fact would appear to indicate considerable clumsiness on the part of some officer or officers

in the handling of their men. Still the fact remained that 40,000 men had attacked 70,000 and

driven them back in confusion; and the French were not a little shamefaced and discouraged

over their defeat.

Order of Battle

The order of battles of both armies have been quite difficult to reconstruct.

For the French army, it has been reconstructed based primarily on Pajol's and Kessel's book

(see the References section).

For the Allied order of battle, we have used the information provided in Sichart and compiled by

Nafziger (see the References section). After normalizing the enumeration of the various

brigades, we reorganized this order of battle to correspond to the seven columns described by

Jomini, Pajol and Mauvillon.

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: general Ferdinand of Brunswick

Main Allied army

1st column: British cavalry

Lieutenant-general Mostyn's Division

Major-general Pembroke's Brigade

British 1st (The King's) Regiment of Dragoon Guards (3 sqns) under Colonel

Bland

British 3rd Regiment of Dragoon Guards (2 sqns) under Sir George Howard

Major-general Johnson's Brigade

British 2nd (The Queen's) Regiment of Dragoon Guards (2 sqns) under

Waldegrave

British 1st Royal Dragoons (2 sqns) under Conway

British 6th Inniskilling Dragoons (2 sqns)

Unidentified officer's Brigade

British 4th Regiment of Horse, or The Black Horse (2 sqns) under Honeywood

British 3rd Regiment of Horse (Carabiniers) (2 sqns)

Major-general Pelt's Brigade

2 unidentified mounted units (4 sqns) maybe the Légion Britannique Dragoons

Lieutenant-general Howard's Division

Unidentified officer's Brigade

British 10th Mordaunt's Dragoons (2 sqns)

British Scots Greys Dragoons (2 sqns)

Major-general Wolff's Brigade

British 11th Ancram's Dragoons (2 sqns)

British 7th Queen's Own Dragoons (2 sqns) under Mostyn

2nd column: British infantry (about 500 men per battalion) and artillery

Lieutenant-general von Wissenbach Division

Major-general Sandford's Brigade

British 5th Hodgson's Foot (1 bn)

British 24th Cornwallis' Foot (1 bn)

British 37th Stuart's Foot

British 12th Napier's Foot (1 bn)

Lieutenant-general Conway's Division

Major-general Monpesson's Brigade

British 11th Bocland's Foot (1 bn)

British 33rd Griffin's Foot (1 bn)

British 51st Brudenel's Foot (1 bn)

British 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers (1 bn)

Lieutenant-general Waldegrave's Division

Major-general Lord Cavendish's Brigade

British 8th King's (1 bn) under Colonel Barrington

British 25th Edinburgh (1 bn) under Colonel Erskine

British 50th Carr's Foot (1 bn)

British 20th Kingsley's Foot (1 bn)

British Royal Regiment of Artillery (12 x 6-pdr guns, 8 x 30-pdr howitzers and 12 x 12-

pdr guns)

3rd column: Brunswicker infantry (11 bns for a total of 6,442 men) under Prince Friedrich

von Braunschweig

Major-general von Rhetz's Brigade

Brunswicker Leib-Regiment (2 bns)

Brunswicker Imhoff (2 bns)

Major-general von Mansberg's Brigade

Brunswicker Prinz Friedrich (2 bns)

Brunswicker Mansberg (2 bns)

Major-general von Sommer's Brigade

Brunswicker Appelboom Converged Grenadiers (1 bn)

Brunswicker Imhoff Converged Grenadiers (1 bn)

Brunswicker Warnstedt Converged Grenadiers (1 bn)

4th column: Heavy artillery under Major-general Braun

Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg  (1 bn) escorting the artillery

Hanoverian Artillery (8 x 30-pdr howitzers and 12 x 12-pdr guns)

5th column: Hessian infantry (about 460 men per battalion) and 16 sqns of the left wing

under the Prince von Anhalt

Lieutenant-general Prince von Anhalt's Division

Major-general von Bischausen's Brigade

Hessian Mansbach (2 bns)

Hessian 2nd Garde (1 bn)

Hessian 3rd Garde (1 bn)

Lieutenant-general von Gilsa's Division

Major-general von Malsburg's Brigade

Hessian von der Malsburg Infantry (2 bns)

Hessian Füsilier-Regiment von Gilsa (2 bns)

Major-general von Wilcke's Brigade

Hessian Bischhausen (2 bns)

Hessian Prinz von Anhalt (2 bns)

Hessian Wutginau (2 bns)

Cavalry units (16 sqns)

Hessian Einsiedel Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hessian Erbprinz Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hessian Prinz Friedrich Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hanoverian Estorff Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Alt Bremer Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Veltheim Dragoons (4 sqns)

6th column: Hanoverian infantry (12 bns) of under Spörcken

Lieutenant-general Count Kielmansegg's Division

Colonel von Rhoedern's Brigade

Hanoverian de la Motte (1 bn)

Hanoverian de la Chevallerie (1 bn)

Hanoverian Rhoedern (1 bn)

Hanoverian Bock (1 bn)

Lieutenant-general von Scheiter's Division

Major-general von Bock's Brigade

Hanoverian Alt Zastrow (1 bn) might also be Jung Zastrow instead

Hanoverian Hardenberg (1 bn)

Hanoverian Foot Guards (2 bns)

Lieutenant-general von Zastrow's Division

Colonel de la Chevallerie's Brigade

Hanoverian Goldacker (1 bn)

Hanoverian Plessen (1 bn)

Hanoverian Schele (1 bn)

Hanoverian Sachsen-Gotha (1 bn)

Hanoverian Artillery (12 x 6-pdr guns)

7th column: rest of the cavalry of the left wing

Lieutenant-general von Hodenberg's Division

Colonel von Behr's Brigade

Hanoverian Alt Behr Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Hodenberg Cavalry (2 sqns)

Major-general von Wallmoden's Brigade

Hanoverian Leib-Regiment Reuter (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Garde du Corps (1 sqn)

Hanoverian Grenadiers à cheval (1 sqn)

screening force marching in front of the central columns

Cavendish Chasseurs

Freytag Jägers

Riedesel Hussars  (6 coys)

Granby's Corps forming the left wing towards Dörnberg

Lieutenant-general von Wangenheim's Division

Lieutenant-colonel Beckwith's Brigade

British 88th Campbell's Highlanders (1 bn)

British 87th Keith's Highlanders (1 bn)

British Welsh's converged grenadiers (1 bn)

British Maxwell's converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Colonel Pierson's Brigade

II./1st Regiment of Foot Guards  (1 bn)

II./2nd Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards  (1 bn)

II./3rd Scots Regiment of Foot Guards  (1 bn)

British converged grenadiers of the Guards (1 bn)

Colonel von Ahlefeld's Brigade

Hanoverian Ahlefeld (1 bn)

Hanoverian Reden (1 bn)

Hanoverian Wangenheim (1 bn)

Artillery

Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Artillery  serving

6 x 6-pdr Hanoverian guns

6 x 6-pdr British guns

Cavalry Division

Colonel Harvey's Brigade

British 15th Elliot's Light Horse (3 sqns)

British Royal Horse Guards (3 sqns) aka the Blues

Prussian FH IV (Frei) Hussars von Bauer (5 sqns)

Colonel von Veltheim's Brigade

Hanoverian Alt Sprengel Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Veltheim Cavalry (2 sqns)

Luckner's Corps

Colonel von Plessen's Brigade

Hanoverian Schlepegrell converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Hanoverian Kauffman converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Hanoverian Bock converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Hanoverian Greven converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Hanoverian Schlemme converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Hanoverian Mutio converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Cavalry Brigade

Hanoverian Luckner's Hussars (4 sqns)

Hanoverian Walthausen Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hessian Husaren Corps (4 sqns)

Light troops

Brunswicker Foot Jägers

Speth Jägers covering the left flank at Hohenkirchen

French Order of Battle

Commanders-in-chief: Prince de Soubise assisted by the Comte d'Estrées

Right vanguard under the command of M. de Castries assisted by MM. de besenval, Wurmser,

Thiars, Duc de Fronsac and Caulincourt

infantry (12 bns)

Auvergne Infanterie  (4 bns)

Alsace Infanterie  (4 bns)

Castellas Infanterie  (2 bns)

Salis de Mayenfeld Infanterie  (2 bns)

cavalry (18 sqns)

Royal-Picardie Cavalerie  (4 sqns)

Fitz-James Cavalerie  (2 sqns)

Dauphin Dragons  (4 sqns)

Orléans Dragons  (4 sqns)

Royal-Nassau Hussards  (4 sqns)

light troops

Volontaires de Soubise

Volontaires de l'armée

Left vanguard under the command of M. de Stainville assisted by MM. de Lillebonne, Chevalier

de Modène, de Rochambeau, de Montbarey

infantry (12 bns)

Poitou brigade

Poitou Infanterie  (2 bns)

Aquitaine Infanterie  (2 bns)

Grenadiers de France  (4 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux le Camus  (1 bn)

Grenadiers Royaux de Narbonne  (1 bn)

Grenadiers Royaux de l'Espinasse ? (1 bn)

Grenadiers Royaux de la Roche-Lambert  (1 bn)

cavalry (14 sqns)

Choiseul Dragons  (4 sqns)

Nicolaï Dragons  (4 bns)

Chamborant Hussards  (6 sqns)

light troops

Chasseurs de Monet  (6 coys)

Main French army

first line (29 bns 16 sqns)

infantry right flank

Diesbach  (2 bns)

Boccard  (2 bns)

infantry centre

Picardie  (4 bns)

Tournaisis  (1 bn)

Chastelux ? (4 bns)

Touraine  (2 bns)

Provence  (2 bns)

Du Roi  (4 bns)

Champagne  (4 bns)

infantry left flank (soon join Stainville's corps)

Waldner Infanterie  (2 bns)

Eptingen Infanterie  (2 bns)

cavalry

Colonel Général  (4 sqns)

Royal-Normandie  (4 sqns)

Dauphin  (4 sqns)

Cuirassiers du Roy  (4 sqns)

second line (18 bns, 16 sqns)

infantry centre

Navarre  (4 bns)

Lyonnais  (2 bns)

Bretagne  (2 bns)

Nassau Prince Louis  (3 bns)

La Marck  (3 bns)

Bourbonnais  (4 bns)

cavalry

Royal-Cravate  (4 sqns)

Artois  (4 sqns)

Bourbon  (4 sqns)

Royal-Roussillon  (4 sqns)

Corps des Carabiniers under the Marquis de Poyanne

Carabiniers  (10 sqns)

light troops

Bercheny Hussards  (3 sqns) 3 other squadrons detached towards Halberstadt

Volontaires d'Austrasie

Volontaires de Flandre

Volontaires de Wurmser

Volontaires de Saint-Victor

Artillery

Corps Royal de l'Artillerie  (3 bns)

Corps du Génie (5 bns)

unidentified militia units

References

This article incorporates texts from the following book which are now in the public domain:

Carlyle T.; History of Friedrich II of Prussia vol. 20

Fortescue J. W.; A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899, pp. 549-552

Jomini, Henri; Traité des grandes opérations militaires, 2ème édition, 4ème partie, Magimel,

Paris: 1811, pp. 165-170

Mauvillon, I.; Geschichte Ferdinands Herzogs von Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Part 2, Leipzig:

1794, pp. 227-235

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. V, Paris, 1891, pp. 352-357

Sichart, L. v.: Geschichte der Koniglich Hannoverschen Armee, Hanover, l870

Other sources

Kessel, Eberhard: Das Ende des Siebenjährigen Krieges 1760-1763, Paderborn: Schöningh,

2007, pp. 837-842, 999-1002

Nafziger Collection of Orders of Battle

1762-07-23 - Combat of Lutterberg (2nd)

Allied victory

Introduction

During the campaign of 1762 in West Germany, after their defeat at the battle of

Wilhelmsthal on June 24, the French generals Soubise and d'Estrées retired behind the Fulda

the following night. They left a single division to occupy the entrenched camp of Kratzenberg in

front of Kassel.

The two French generals then adopted a defensive stance. For his part, Ferdinand of

Brunswick hesitated to exploit his recent success by extending his operations to the Main.

Indeed, his communications with his left wing was seriously threatened by the French

occupation of Göttingen. He then resolved to closely followed the French army of the Upper

Rhine and to take advantage of any of its mistake to attack it. Soubise and d'Estrées, for their

part. now relied on the eventual success of the operations of the Prince de Condé against

the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick on the Lower Rhine. Meanwhile, they recalled Prince

Xavier who joined them at Lutterberg with the Saxon contingent to guard the passage of the

Fulda.

On July 21, observing that the corps of Prince Xavier was over extended between Lutterberg

and Münden, Ferdinand resolved to attack it.

In the night of July 22 to, Ferdinand detached Zastrow's, Gilsa's, Bock's divisions along with

Waldhausen's corps to execute this project. In the evening, the various Allied corps assigned to

the attack on Prince Xavier's corps assembled at Wilhelmsthal. At 9:00 PM, they departed from

this town to reach, during the night, the places where they were supposed to passed the Fulda.

Allied plan of attack

The Allied divisions detached from the main army would pass the Fulda at various locations to

converge on Lutterberg:

Gilsa at Speele

Bock at Spiegelhütte

Zastrow at Wilhelmshausen

Waldhausen at Bonaforth.

Meanwhile, Colonel Schlieffen, who had marched from Uslar with another column, would pass

by Hedemünden on the Werra to fall on the rear of the Saxon contingent.

Map

DigAM proposes the following map of the combat of Lutterberg:

DigAM - document 5330

Prince Xavier had his headquarters at Lutterberg. Two Saxon infantry brigades were deployed

behind Landwehrhagen. The Saxon cavalry was in camp at Lutterberg and the the six heavy

artillery pieces attached to the contingent were at Sandershausen, 9 km south-westwards. The

third Saxon infantry brigade manned the entrenchments protecting the fords over the Fulda.

Most of these entrenchments were located on the steep banks of the river in wooded areas.

Half of the Prinz Gotha Infantry manned the entrenchments in front of Speele, the second half

being kept in support along with the Leibgrenadiergarde and the II./Feld-Grenadier. The I./Feld-

Grenadier occupied the village of Speele. Furthermore,Kurprinzessin Infantry was posted on the

heights between Speele and Wilhelmshausen with outposts along the Fulda.

The ford at Bonaforth was only guarded by picquets.

The only available French cavalry brigade (Royal-Roussillon) had taken position at

Landwehrhagen but it had received orders to march to Sandershausen.

Finally, there were 4 French grenadier battalions posted at Münden under the command of M.

de Rochechouart, and Chabot's corps was at Witzenhausen on the Werra. 

Description of Events

On July 23 at 2:00 AM, Schlieffen passed the Werra at Hedemünden, meeting only minor

resistance. However, he was intercepted on his march by Chabot's corps who forced him to

retire temporarily. This seriously impeded Schlieffen's advance.

At 3:00 AM, the other Allied divisions started to pass the Fulda at their assigned positions.

General Gilsa remained at Wahnhausen on the right bank of the Fulda with part of his division

to cover an eventual retreat.

Entrenchments built in front of the fords of the Fulda were guarded by Saxons grenadiers who,

for two hours, opposed with great courage the passage of the river. Despite a heavy artillery fire

directed against these entrenchments, Gilsa's Division was unable to drive the Saxons out of

their position at Speele.

Meanwhile, Walthausen was more successful at the ford of Bonaforth where he was opposed

by only 100 Saxon grenadiers. He first sent 100 grenadiers and 30 hussars across the river and

closely supported them with Schlemme converged grenadiers battalion. The Saxon detachment

was soon driven out of its entrenchments but was able to retire unmolested.

Finally, Bischhausen Infantry managed to pass the Fulda at Wahnhausen. Prince Xavier,

realizing that Walthausen was now threatening his right flank and that Gilsa had gained a

bridgehead, resolved to retire his advanced brigade towards the heights behind Landwehrhagen

where his two other brigades stood.

Meanwhile, Zastrow's division had passed the Fulda at Wilhelmshausen under cover of two

battalion guns, Schele Infantry in the lead. After its passage, this battalion climbed the heights

and drove back the Saxon grenadiers defending this sector. The other battalions of Zastrow's

division immediately passed the river. Despite a stubborn resistance of the Saxons, they were

gradually driven back and forced to take refuge in the woods. Zastrow then advanced on

Lutterberg. His battalion guns had been left behind on the Spiegelhütte.

Bock's divisions had also met strong resistance until the arrival of Zastrow's on the flank of the

defenders who immediately retired, allowing Bock to make himself master of the entrenchments

and to capture 5 guns.

General Walthausen left 3 grenadier battalions at Bonaforth with instruction to advance against

Münden to prevent the intervention of the French brigade posted there. He then marched with

Schlemme converged grenadiers battalion and all his cavalry against the heights of Lutterberg.

All Allied divisions facing the Fulda had by then passed the river and were converging on

Lutterberg, traversing the formed Saxon camp on their way and making several prisoners.

Walthausen's division was the first to reach Lutterberg where it engaged the Saxon Leibwache

zu Pferde. Walthausen deployed the Schlemme converged grenadiers along the outskirts of the

woods and then hurled his cavalry (8 sqns) against the Saxon cavalry (4 sqns). The Saxon

resisted the two first charges but were broken on the third one, routing towards Landwehrhagen.

At this moment, after much delays, Schlieffen's force finally arrived on the field in the rear of the

Saxon cavalry, making several prisoners.

The Allies then redirected their march towards Landwehrhagen but Prinz Xaver Infantrybravely

covered the retreat of the Saxon grenadiers to the heights behind Landwehrhagen where they

rejoined the main body of the Saxon contingent.

The engagement ended around 7:30 AM.

By then French reinforcements were pouring from Münden, Kratzenberg, and Crumbach. M. de

Rochechouart advancing from Münden with his grenadiers even recaptured Bonaforth.

The Allies repassed the Fulda at Spiegelhütte while Zastrow with Goldacker Infantry,Sachsen-

Gotha Infantry and Plessen Infantry covered the retreat.

During the entire engagement, Prince Friedrich of Brunswick at the head of 5,800 men had

made demonstrations against the French entrenched camp of Kratzenberg near Kassel to

prevent any intervention of this French force.

Outcome

In this action, the Saxon contingent lost 13 guns, 5 colours, 3 standards and 1,344 men:

5 officers and 181 soldiers killed

15 officers and 193 soldiers wounded

41 officers and 911 men taken prisoners

124 horses killed

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Lieutenant-general von Gilsa

Summary: 11,500 men

Lieutenant-general von Gilsa's Division (assisted by Ferdinand's adjutant, Colonel von

Bauer)

Major-general von Wilcke's Brigade (2,360 men)

Hessian Bischhausen (2 bns)

Hessian Prinz von Anhalt (2 bns)

Hessian Wutginau (2 bns)

Hanoverian Artillery

3 x 12-pdr guns

3 x 6-pdr guns

4 x howitzers

Lieutenant-general von Bock's Brigade (2,628 foot, 272 horse)

Hanoverian Goldacker (1 bn)

Hessian Prinz Carl (2 bns)

Hessian Erbprinz (2 bns)

Hanoverian Hodenberg Cavalry (1 sqn)

Hanoverian Alt Behr Cavalry (1 sqns)

Lieutenant-general von Zastrow's Brigade (1,998 men)

Hanoverian Sachsen-Gotha (1 bn)

Hanoverian Plessen (1 bn)

Hanoverian Schele (1 bn)

Major-general von Walthausen's Division (1,800 foot, 1,000 horse)

Colonel von Plessen's Brigade

Hanoverian Schlepegrell converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Hanoverian Kauffman converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Hanoverian Mutio converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Hanoverian Schlemme converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Lieutenant-colonel von Winnigerode

Hanoverian Veltheim Dragoons (3 sqns)

Hanoverian Walthausen Dragoons (3 sqns)

Hanoverian Luckner's Hussars (2 sqns)

Cavalry protecting the flank at Winterbühren

Hanoverian Bock Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hanoverian Hodenberg Cavalry (1 sqn)

Hanoverian Alt Behr Cavalry (1 sqn)

Schlieffen's Brigade (800 foot, 650 horse)

Hanoverian Greven converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Hanoverian Bock converged grenadiers (1 bn)

Hessian Husaren Corps (4 sqns)

Hanoverian Veltheim Dragoons (1 sqn)

Hanoverian Walthausen Dragoons (1 sqn)

Lieutenant-colonel Rauen's detachment

Brunswicker Volontaires auxiliaires

Brunswicker Hoym Jägers

French Order of Battle

Commanders-in-chief: Prince Xavier

Saxon contingent (15 bns) since the reorganisation of 1761, each regiment counted a single

battalion)

Leibgrenadiergarde  (1 bn)

Feld-Grenadier (2 bn) Converged grenadier battalions

Kurprinzessin  (1 bn)

Prinz Friedrich August  (1 bn)

Prinz Xaver  (1 bn)

Garde  (1 bn)

Prinz Maximilian  (1 bn)

Prinz Joseph  (1 bn)

Prinz Anton  (1 bn)

Vacant   Rochow  (1 bn)

Prinz Clemenz  (1 bn)

Graf Brühl  (1 bn)

Fürst Lubomirsky  (1 bn)

Prinz Sachsen-Gotha  (1 bn)

Leibwache zu Pferde (4 sqns totalling 304 men) aka Schlieben Carabiniers added to the

contingent in 1761

French cavalry (4 sqns) at Landwehrhagen

Royal-Roussillon  (4 sqns)

French brigade at Münden under the command of M. de Rochechouart

unidentified grenadier units (4 bns)

Chabot's corps at Witzenhausen

Autichamp Dragons  (4 sqns)

Volontaires de Flandre

Volontaires du Hainaut

References

This article incorporates texts from the following book which are now in the public domain:

Jomini, Henri; Traité des grandes opérations militaires, 2ème édition, 4ème partie, Magimel,

Paris: 1811, pp. 173-174

Mauvillon, I.; Geschichte Ferdinands Herzogs von Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Part 2, Leipzig:

1794, pp. 238-240

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. V, Paris, 1891, pp. 375, 389-392

Sichart, L. v.: Geschichte der Koniglich Hannoverschen Armee, Hanover, l870 (reproduced

in the Nafziger collection: order of battles 762GAA)

Other sources

Kessel, Eberhard: Das Ende des Siebenjährigen Krieges 1760-1763, Paderborn: Schöningh,

2007, pp. 857-863

Nafziger Collection of Orders of Battle

1762-08-30 - Combat of Nauheim

French victory

Introduction

During the campaign of 1762 in West Germany, after their defeat at the battle of

Wilhelmsthal on June 24, the French generals Soubise and d'Estrées retired behind the Fulda

the following night, leaving a single division to occupy the entrenched camp of Kratzenberg in

front of Kassel. The two French generals then adopted a defensive stance.

In the second half of August, the French generals resolved to recall the Prince de Condé from

the Lower Rhine with the greatest part of his army. After the junction of the two armies, Soubise

and d'Estrées planned to advance once more in Hesse. During the last weeks of

August, Ferdinand of Brunswick tried to prevent this junction. On August 29, this junction was

almost completed. Ferdinand marched to Nidda with the main Allied army to make a junction

with the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick, still hoping to prevent the junction of the two French

armies. The same day, judging his position on the Johannisberg too isolated, Condé had retired

to the heights of Bommersheim (unidentified location) near Homburg (present-day Bad

Homburg).

Plan of attack

The two French armies were trying to complete their junctions. To do so, Soubise and d'Estrées

planned to advance on Friedberg and to encamp there, thus threatening the Allied right flank.

They also instructed Condé to return to his former camp on the Johannisberg.

Ferdinand's goal was to drive a wedge between these two armies to prevent their junction. The

French having abandoned the Johannisberg, he wanted to occupy these heights which were

ideally located for his purpose.

Map

DigAM proposes the following map of the combat of Nauheim:- document 5370 (3 different sketches illustrating the various phase of the

engagement)

Stainville was screening the French Army of the Upper Rhine with his vanguard along the Nidda

from Staden to Assenheim. Guerchy was not far behind with a strong corps (18 bns, 6 sqns,

the Carabiniers and 2 brigades of artillery).

A watchtower dominated the Johannisberg whose northern and north-eastern slopes were quite

steep and south-western slope gently sloping.

Description of Events

On August 30 in the morning, Condé left Bommersheim as ordered to encamp at Ober-Rosbach

(more probably Rosbach vor der Höhe) with his vanguard on the Johannisberg.

At 5:00 AM, Luckner marched from Bingenheim towards Dorheim with his corps. He planned to

pass the Wetter there and to advance on Friedberg.

At about 6:30 AM, Condé's vanguard under M. de Lévis reached the Johannisberg. He

deployed his infantry on the heights, facing east with woods protecting his two flanks, supported

by his dragoons, and sent his light troops towards Nauheim and Friedberg.

Condé, closely following his vanguard, soon reached Ober-Rosbach and deployed behind the

Strassbach stream.

At 8:00 AM, the Hereditary Prince marched out of his camp at Wölfersheim in 3 columns,

advancing on Assenheim. The rightmost column, under Hardenberg, marched by Melbach and

Beienheim; the center column, under Schele, by Weckesheim; the left most column, under

Oheimb, towards Dorn-Assenheim. Meanwhile, Lieutenant-colonel Jeanneret was detached

towards Wickstadt with 5 hussar squadrons to threaten Assenheim.

Allied troops could be seen advancing along the Wetter. Soubise and d'Estrées ordered

Stainville to speed up his advance and to place himself under the command of the Prince de

Condé whose main body was still too distant from Lévis' vanguard to support it effectively.

Meanwhile, the Hereditary Prince personally visited Luckner and observed his manoeuvres.

Luckner's vanguard had already came to contact with French light troops near Dorheim.

Realising that Luckner could not drive back the superior force facing him, the Hereditary Prince

changed his plan and redirected his rightmost column (Hardenberg's), who had already reached

Beienheim, to support Luckner at Dorheim.

This reorganisation of his lines were under way when the Hereditary Prince was informed that a

French force had occupied the Johannisberg, thus increasing the menace against his right flank.

Leaving 4 battalions (Hessian Leib Regiment and Prinz Carl) to Luckner at Dorheim, the

Hereditary Prince immediately marched towards Wisselsheim at the head of Hardenberg's

column and of the heavy artillery under Schele. Baggage were left at Weckesheim and the rest

of Schele's column (6 Hessian grenadier battalions), under command of Major-general von

Dittfurt, resumed its march towards Assenheim to support Jeanneret's detachment. Finally, the

Hereditary Prince instructed Lieutenant-general Oheimb to immediately send Müller

Dragoons as reinforcements to Luckner; to detach a further 8 squadrons (including the Leib-

Dragonerand Jung Bremer Cavalry) to reinforce Jeanneret; and to support Luckner's attack on

Dorheim with the rest of his corps.

Around 9:00 AM, despite the fact that the French had already broken the bridges on the

Wetter, Luckner's Hussars managed to pass the river at Dorheim. They came to contact with

advanced elements of Lévis' vanguard, mainly detachments of the Dragons Chasseurs de

Conflans, and drove them back as they advanced on Friedberg. However, other light troops

belonging to Lévis' vanguard (Volontaires du Dauphiné, Dragons de Wurmser) were occupying

Friedberg and they firmly received the attack of Luckner's Hussars and repulsed them.

During these skirmishes around Friedberg, Luckner and Oheimb had passed the Wetter and

taken positions on the heights between Dorheim and Friedberg. Meanwhile, the Hereditary

Prince had reached Wisselsheim and planted his heavy artillery on a height between the Wetter

and the Usa. His artillery then opened on the Johannisberg, covering the passage of the Wetter

by the Allied troops.

Around 11:00 AM, the Hereditary Prince personally led the Hanoverian infantry

(Kielmannsegg, Estorff, Craushaar, Meding and Linsingen) across the river while Schele did the

same on his left at the head of Block Infantry, Prinz Karl von Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Infantry and Erbprinz Infantry.

By 11:00 AM, the Prince de Condé had been informed of the movement of the Hereditary

Prince. He immediately marched to support his vanguard.

After the crossing, Block Infantry launched two assaults on Nauheim (present-day Bad

Nauheim) before finally dislodging the defending French troops. The regiment then rejoined the

other Allied battalions preparing for an attack against the Johannisberg.

The Allied infantry then started to climb the steep slope of the Johannisberg. During this time,

Luckner's corps (including the recent reinforcements) had marched from the heights near

Friedberg to Niedermörlen on Lévis' left flank.

Lévis' grenadiers (Grenadiers Royaux de Cambis, Grenadiers Royaux d'Ally) stubbornly

defended their positions. Meanwhile, Luckner with 7 squadrons also attacked Chapt

Dragons and Flamarens Dragons. After a lively combat lasting two hours, where MM. de

Wurmser, de Conflans and de Viomesnil distinguished themselves, the Johannisberg was taken

by the Allies.

Around 12:30 PM, while marching towards the Johannisberg, Condé was reinforced by 5

grenadier battalions who were part of Stainville's vanguard of the Army of the Upper Rhine.

The heads of Condé's columns debouched on the Johannisberg as Lévis' vanguard was

evacuating its positions and the Hereditary Prince was forming his troops in his newly

conquered positions. The Allies had just enough time to bring up a single regimental gun on the

hill.

Condé advanced with the head of his own column against the right wing of the Allied army

which was under the command of Luckner. Meanwhile, Stainville advanced through the woods

against the Allied left wing with his own grenadiers. During the ensuing combat, the French

were continuously reinforced. Soubise personally joined the corps under the command of the

Prince de Condé and d'Estrées, after occupying Friedberg, personally joined Stainville's

grenadiers.

The Boisgelin infantry brigade, under the command of M. de la Guiche but personally led on this

occasion by Soubise, along with the Grenadiers Royaux de Narbonne, theGrenadiers Royaux

de le Camus, the Grenadiers Royaux du Plessis d'Argentré, theGrenadiers Royaux de la

Roche-Lambert, the Grenadiers Royaux de l'Espinasse, theGrenadiers Royaux d'Ally, and

the Grenadiers Royaux de Cambis to their right all advanced against the Allied line without firing

a shot, closely supported by theGrenadiers de France.

Condé used his mounted troops to extend his left wing. During this time, Choiseul

Dragons, Nicolaï Dragons and Schomberg Dragons had reached the heights of the

Johannisberg and soon reinforced the French left wing. Now, a total of 20 dragoon squadrons

were facing Luckner who could oppose them only 7 squadrons. Furthermore, Condé's heavy

cavalry (Gendarmerie and Berry Cavalerie) was deployed in the second line behind the French

dragoons. Thus, the French mounted units gradually outflanked the right wing of the Allies.

The Allies were driven out of the woods that they occupied and routed. The Hereditary Prince

was lightly wounded while trying to rally Meding Infantry. Despite the efforts of the Hereditary

Prince, his infantry retired precipitously towards the plain where Luckner's 7 squadrons had

already redeployed near Niedermörlen.

The Prince de Condé launched his cavalry against the routing Allied infantry, threatening to

decimate it. Oheimb, leaving the Brunswick Carabiniers to guard the artillery, joined Luckner's

squadrons with 3 squadrons of Müller Dragoons and, together, they came to the rescue of Allied

infantry but were driven back. The Allied cavalry rallied behind a ravine and rapidly advanced

again. Condé's cavalry (Berry cavalry brigade and the Gendarmerie) then launched a second

charge and, after an obstinate combat, drove back the Allied cavalry. The Dragons Chasseurs

de Conflans captured a standard of a Hanoverian cavalry regiment.

This cavalry engagement allowed the Allied infantry to retire to the ravine formed by the Wetter.

While reforming his infantry, the Hereditary Prince was wounded my a musket ball.

Finally, the Hereditary Prince was forced to retire and to repass the Wetter. Dittfurt and

Jeanneret also stopped their advance on Assenheim and retired.

By 2:00 PM, the engagement was finished.

Outcome

The Hereditary Prince was repulsed with considerable loss (70 soldiers and 2 officers killed, 347

soldiers and 19 officers wounded, 926 soldiers and 30 officers taken prisoners, 2 standards and

10 guns). The French lost about 750 men killed or wounded.

In the evening, as soon as Ferdinand was informed of this setback, he detached his second line

on Bingenheim and Staden to prevent the French from exploiting their success.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Luckner's Corps

Commander-in-chief: Lieutenant-general Luckner

Hanoverian Luckner's Hussars (4 sqns)

British 15th Eliot's Light Horse (3 sqns)

Hanoverian Alt Bremer Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hanoverian Estorff Cavalry (2 sqns)

unidentified jäger units (4 bns)

Hereditary Prince's Corps

Commander-in-chief: Hereditary Prince of Brunswick

Lieutenant-general von Hardenberg's column (13 bns)

Hanoverian Block (l bn)

Hanoverian Kielmannsegg (l bn)

Hanoverian Prinz Karl von Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1 bn)

Hanoverian Estorff (l bn)

Hanoverian Craushaar (l bn)

Hanoverian Meding (l bn)

Hanoverian Linsingen (l bn)

Hessian Leib Regiment (2 bns)

Hessian Erbprinz (2 bns)

Hessian Prinz Carl (2 bns)

Lieutenant-general von Schele's column (6 bns)

Major-general von Dittfurt's grenadier brigade

Hessian 10/12 Gosen Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Hessian 2/4 Knoblauch Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Hessian 5/8 Schmidt Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Hessian 1/6 Biesenroth Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Hessian 7/11 Bose Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

Hessian 3/6 Lossberg Converged Grenadier Battalion (1 bn)

unidentified heavy artillery units

baggage

Lieutenant-general Oheimb's column (17 sqns)

Hanoverian Müller Dragoons (4 sqns)

Hessian Leib-Dragoner (4 sqns)

Hanoverian Jung Bremer Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hessian Wolff Cavalry (2 sqns)

Hessian Gens d'Armes (2 sqns)

Brunswicker Carabiniers (3 sqns)

Lieutenant-colonel Jeanneret's detachment (5 sqns)

Prussian Ruesch Hussars (3 sqns)

Prussian Malachowski Hussars (2 sqns)

French Order of Battle

Reserve of the Lower Rhine

Commanders-in-chief: Prince de Condé

Avant Garde under Lieutenant-general de Lévis

Grenadiers Royaux d'Ally

Grenadiers Royaux de Cambis

Dragons Chasseurs de Conflans

Volontaires du Dauphiné

Volontaires de Wurmser

Chapt Dragons

Flamarens Dragons

Main body (only the leading elements are listed because they were the only ones involved)

Boisgelin  (4 bns)

Gendarmerie de France  (8 sqns)

Berry Cavalerie  (4 sqns)

Stainville's vanguard

N.B.: this vanguard was the only part of the Army of the Upper Rhine involved in the

engagement

Commander-in-chief: Stainville

Grenadiers Royaux de Narbonne  (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de le Camus  (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux du Plessis d'Argentré  (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de la Roche-Lambert  (2 bns)

Grenadiers Royaux de l'Espinasse (2 bns)

Grenadiers de France  (4 bns)

Choiseul Dragons  (4 sqns)

Nicolaï Dragons  (4 sqns)

Schomberg Dragons  (4 sqns)

References

This article incorporates texts from the following book which are now in the public domain:

Jomini, Henri; Traité des grandes opérations militaires, 2ème édition, 4ème partie, Magimel,

Paris: 1811, pp. 182-183

Mauvillon, I.; Geschichte Ferdinands Herzogs von Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Part 2, Leipzig:

1794, pp. 245-249

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. V, Paris, 1891, pp. 421-426

Other sources

Kessel, Eberhard: Das Ende des Siebenjährigen Krieges 1760-1763, Paderborn: Schöningh,

2007, pp. 886-891

1762-09-21 - Combat of Amöneburg

Draw

Prelude to the Battle

During the campaign of 1762 in West Germany, The French army lost Hesse at the end of June

after their defeat at Wilhelmsthal. In the last days of August, Soubise's army finally made a

junction with Condé. The united French armies now vastly outnumbered the Allied army

of Ferdinand of Brunswick. In September, the Allied and French armies both marched towards

Kassel. Ferdinand trying to stop the French advance because he planned to besiege and

recapture Kassel.

Picture of the Brücker Mühle as seen from the east (Allied side). The wall in the foreground is a later addition. On

the left in the distance we also see the town and castle of Amöneburg on top of a hill.

Source: Picture taken by jws during a visit of the battlefield in 2011

Ferdinand finally managed to stop the French, taking position on the eastern (right) bank of the

Ohm and securing every pass of it. Amöneburg was located at the extreme left of Ferdinand's

positions who had neglected to solidly occupy the bridge leading to Amöneburg and the mill (the

Brücker Mühle) besides this bridge. The castle of Amöneburg, though isolated on the western

(left) bank, was a very strong defensive position. The garrison of the castle of Amöneburg

consisted of a single battalion of irregulars. There had been some attempt to secure the bridge

itself, and an old redoubt built the year before had been occupied on Ferdinand's side of the

river for its defence but the breastwork was not above one meter high and one meter thick, so

that it could be commanded by an enemy's fire, and the more easily since the western or

French bank of the river was the higher. An outpost in the court of the mill was occupied by only

13 men. The fortress of Amöneburg was an advanced post over against the French left wing

and on the enemy's side of the river and the possession of the bridge was of vital importance to

the Allies. This bridge not only ensured communication with that advanced post but barred the

advance of the French across the Ohm and secured to Ferdinand the means of taking the

offensive. The carelessness which allowed these points to remain so slenderly guarded is

therefore almost inexplicable.

The French commanders, judging that the positions of their right wing of the left bank of the

Ohm would be threatened as long as the Allies occupied the castle of Amöneburg, resolved to

capture this castle.

Map

Map of the Combat of Amöneburg - Source: picture taken by jws at the museum of the battlefield

Black symbols indicate Allied units, hollowed symbols French units

M : Brücker Mühle

W : Brücker Tavern

Z : Brick shed

1 : Allied redoubt to the north-east of the bridge

2 : 2 Hessian howitzers which were cannonnaded by the French batteries

3 : 6 Hessian 12-pdrs arriving from the camp of Stausebach near Kirchhain around 8:00 AM

4 : 6 Bückeburger 6-pdrs which were reinforced by 6 Hanoverian 12-pdrs around 5:00 PM

5 : 6 Hessian 12-pdrs planted there around 3:00 PM

6 : Allied infantry units

7 : Allied cavalry units

8 : Allied garrison of the castle of Amöneburg

 

A : French entrenchments

a : French infantry who attacked the Allied redoubt and were reinforced from time to time

B : French batteries who bombarded the castle of Amöneburg

C : French batteries on the eastern side of Amöneburg

D : Positions of the French army

d: Positions of the French units supporting the troops attacking the Allied redoubt

Furthermore DigAM proposes the following maps of the combat of Amöneburg:

DigAM - document 5374

DigAM - document 5375

DigAM - document 5376

The valley of the Ohm, south-eastward from Kirchhain, is about 1 km broad, rising gradually on

the east bank of the river to a height called the Galgenberg, and on the western bank to a steep

basaltic hill crowned by the castle of Amöneburg. The Ohm itself between these hills is from 6 to

9 meters wide and from 1,5 to 2 meters deep, flowing between steep banks. Just to the south of

Amöneburg was a stone bridge by which stood a water-mill (the Brücker Mühle), consisting of a

massive court with a group of houses. The steep sides of the hill on which stood Amöneburg

frown close to it on the northern hand. To westward the ground rises in a gentle slope, through

which a hollow road, covered by an old redoubt, ran down to the mill. The town and castle of

Amöneburg itself was surrounded with a wall and towers strong enough, on the south and

south-western sides, to defy all but heavy artillery.

Picture of the Brücker Mühle as seen from the west (French side). The left and right buildings were later addition.

On the left we also see the bridge.

Source: Picture taken by jws during a visit of the battlefield in 2011

Picture of the bridge as seen from the west (French side). Metal rails and transformation tower are modern

additions.

Source: Picture taken by jws during a visit of the battlefield in 2011

Picture of the bridge as seen from the east (Allied side). Metal rails and buildings in the background are modern

additions.

Source: Picture taken by jws during a visit of the battlefield in 2011

Description of Events

On the night of September 20, the French invested the castle of the Amöneburg so closely that

not a man of the garrison could pass through their lines. Two batteries of heavy artillery were

planted on the south side of the castle. Meanwhile M. de Castries, at the head of light troops,

drove back the 13 men defending the Brücker Mühle and occupied the court of the mill. This

done, thinking that the Allies would surely make an attempt to relieve the garrison of

Amöneburg, Castries prepared to block their advance.

On September 21 at 6:00 AM, under cover of a dense mist, the French opened a heavy fire on

the castle as well as on the bridge and redoubt. The men in that redoubt, 200 Hanoverians,

resisted stoutly, in order to gain time for their supports to come up and for their artillery on the

Galgenberg to answer the French batteries. The corps in occupation of the ground immediately

before the Brücker Mühle was Lieutenant-general Zastrow's of 7 battalions, 11 squadrons and 6

guns; while Wangenheim's corps of about the same strength lay on his left, and Granby's (3

battalions of British Guards, 3 battalions of British grenadiers, 2 of Highlanders, the Blues,

and 1st Dragoon Guards) on the heights of Kirchhain to his right.

By 8:00 AM, the French had brought forward more guns behind the veil of the mist; and 30

pieces of cannon were now playing furiously upon the redoubt, while small parties of infantry

under cover of the fire renewed their attack on the bridge. Zastrow continued to feed the redoubt

with fresh troops, and so held his ground. Meanwhile, the Volontaires du Hainaut, under the

command of M. de Grandmaison, maintained their positions at the western entry of the bridge.

At about the same time, Ferdinand, who was still at Schönstadt, was informed of the French

attack by Adjutant Schlieffen.

At 8:30 AM, Ferdinand informed Schlieffen that half of Granby's reserve, along with all his 12-

pdrs and howitzers, had been ordered to march to Zastrow's support; and that he was

personally coming to the scene of the engagement. Thinking that the French were attempting to

cross the Ohm at the Brücker Mühle, Ferdinand also ordered to Zastrow to hold his position at

all cost.

At 8:45 AM from Schönstadt, Ferdinand issued the following orders:

half the Hanoverian artillery park would pass the Wohra and support Granby

Prince Anhalt, with Bischhausen's brigade, Chevallerie's brigade, Riedesel Cavalry,

Erbprinz Cavalry, under General Wolf, and Hessian 6-pdrs would march from Wissenbach

to Stausebach where he would pass the Wohra and support Granby

General Rhetz would replace Prince Anhalt at Wissenbach where he would relay Pool's

brigade

half the British artillery park would then march with Pool's brigade

British 1st Royal Dragoons aka Conway (2 sqns), 10th Mordaunt's Dragoons (2 sqns)

and 6th Inniskilling Dragoons (2 sqns) under Colonel Johnson would take position on the

heights behind Kirchhain and await further orders

troops posted on the heights between the Wetter and Rosphe rivers (Sandford's brigade (4

bns), 3rd Dragoon Guards (2 sqns), 2nd Regiment of Horse (2 sqns), 3rd Horse aka

Carabiniers (2 sqns), 4th Horse (2 sqns), along with half the British heavy artillery and 12 6-

pdrs, would march in line

By 10:00 AM, Allied commanders finally realised the full significance of the attack when the mist

rolled away. It was now clear, observing the French dispositions that they were bent upon

carrying the bridge at any cost. Then at last Ferdinand ordered up Granby's corps from

Kirchhain to Zastrow's assistance. Meanwhile the fight waxed hotter. The battalions of

grenadiers and chasseurs of Alsace Infanterie, Waldner Infanterie,d'Arbonnier

Infanterie, Lochmann Infanterie under M. de Schwengsfeld; and the entire brigade

of Vaubécourt Infanterie led by Castries; came to the assistance of theVolontaires du Hainaut to

prevent the passage of the bridge.

By noon, the superiority of the French in artillery had made itself felt: 9 out of 12 of Zastrow's

guns were dismounted and the rest were silent for want of ammunition.

From 2:00 PM, the intensity of the French artillery fire diminished and 5 French battalions tried

to storm the breached western wall of the castle of Amöneburg but the two initial assaults were

repulsed.

At length at 4:00 PM, the British Guards and the Highlanders arrived in the area of the Brücker

Mühle, and 12 German field-pieces attached to Granby's corps came also into action. The

French likewise brought up reinforcements and the combat became livelier than ever. So far the

hourly reliefs for the garrison in the redoubt had marched down in regular order, but the fire of

the French artillery was now so terrible that the men were ordered to creep down singly and

dispersed, as best they could. British Guards replaced Hanoverians, and Hessians replaced

British Guards; regiment after regiment taking its turn to send men to certain destruction.

Surprisingly, during this artillery duel, the French made no massive attempt to cross the bridge.

The artillery duel wore on till the dusk lowered down and the flashes of the guns turned from

yellow to orange and from orange to red. The Hessians piled up the corpses of the dead into a

rampart and fired on, for the redoubt though untenable must be held at any cost.

At 7:00 PM, the French by a desperate effort carried the passage of the bridge and fought their

way close up to the redoubt, but they were met by the same dogged resistance and repulsed.

At 8:00 PM, after 14 hours of severe fighting, the French finally abandoned their attempt at

gaining a bridgehead on the right bank of the Ohm. Zastrow's and Granby’s corps bivouacked

about the bridge, and Ferdinand took up his quarters in the Brücker Mühle.

The French then returned their attention to the castle of Amöneburg where a 40 m. wide breach

had been made in the wall. At 11:00 PM, a third attack was launched. Combat lasted till 1:00

AM on September 22 when the defenders of the castle finally surrendered because of lack of

ammunition. The Allied garrison lost 25 killed and 17 wounded and was allowed, in the morning,

to leave the castle with the honours of war and to rejoin the Allied army.

Outcome

Curiously this action is usually considered as an Allied victory. However, the French plan was to

capture the castle of Amöneburg which they successfully accomplished. The artillery duel at the

bridge and the deployment of French troops on the western bank of the Ohm was intended to

cover the attack on Amöneburg and to prevent the crossing of an Allied relief force. This

explains why the French never launched any massive attack against the bridge but contented

themselves to cannonade the Allied positions at the Brücker Mühle.

In fact, each army expected its opponent to force the passage of the Ohm by the bridge of the

Brücker Mühle. Therefore, each of them claimed victory: the French because they had captured

the castle of Amöneburg and prevented the Allies to cross the Ohm; the latter because they

thought that they had defeated a French attempt to cross the same river...

For these reasons, it could be argued that this combat was a draw.

The loss of the Allies in this action was 12 officeds killed, 22 others wounded; 8 NCOs killed, 32

others wounded; 150 men killed, 502 others wounded and another 19 missing; for a total of 745

killed and wounded, more than a third of whom were British; the 3rd Scots Regiment of Foot

Guards suffering more heavily than any corps of the troops engaged. They also lost 19 horses

and 4 guns. The loss of the French rose to 8 officers killed, 77 officers wounded, 350 soldiers

killed and 730 soldiers wounded. MM. de Castries and de Guerchy were both wounded in this

action.

To give an idea of the intensity of the firefight, we give the consumption of the Allied corps

involved in this 14 hours combat:

the 8 30-pdr howitzers shot 40 bombs and 15 burning (glowing) rounds

the 12 12-pdr guns shot 680 rounds and 106 "kartäschen" (grapeshot?)

the 12 6-pdr guns shot 307 rounds and 150 "kartätschen"

the 12 6-pdr guns under Captain Fischer shot 305 rounds and 110 "kartätschen"

the 12 6-pdr guns of the reserve train manned by the Bückeburgers shot 280 rounds and 15

"kartätschen"

the regimental 3-pdr guns (unknown number) shot 456 rounds and 128 "kartätschen"

Altogether 2592 rounds of all kind, some accounts talk about the fiercest cannonade of the

Seven Years' War.

Beside this, 3 tons of musket-gunpowder were consumed along with:

173,289 infantry musket-cartridges

20,550 cavalry-carbine-cartridges

9,737 musket flint stones

With the French relief armies stopped on the Ohm, Ferdinand could redirect his attention to the

siege and recapture the city of Kassel who surrendered on November 1.

Order of Battle

Allied Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: general Ferdinand of Brunswick

Granby's corps forming the right wing on the heights of Kirchhain

Pierson's brigade

II./1st Regiment of Foot Guards  (1 bn)

II./2nd Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards  (1 bn)

II./3rd Scots Regiment of Foot Guards  (1 bn)

British converged grenadiers of the Guards (1 bn)

Beckwith's brigade

British Maxwell's converged grenadiers (1 bn)

British Eustace's converged grenadiers (1 bn)

87th Keith's Highlanders

88th Campbell's Highlanders

Harvey's brigade

Royal Horse Guards  (3 sqns) aka the Blues

1st Dragoon Guards  (3 sqns)

Garrison of the castle of Amöneburg under Captain Kruse

Légion Britannique (1 bn of 400 men)

Volunteers taken from various infantry regiments (200 men)

Zastrow's corps occupying the ground immediately before the Brücker Mühle (Zastrow

commanded in the absence of Lieutenant-general Hardenberg)

Estorff Infantry  (200 men) under Lieutenant-colonel Wense occupying the redoubt near the

Ohm River

Zastrow's brigade

Block Infantry  (1 bn)

Kielmannsegg Infantry  (1 bn)

Prinz Carl Infantry  (1 bn)

Estorff Infantry  (rest of the bn)

Craushaar Infantry  (1 bn)

Meding Infantry  (1 bn)

Linsingen Infantry  (1 bn)

Cavalry

Bock Dragoons  (4 sqns)

Müller Dragoons  (4 sqns)

Brunswick Carabiniers  (3 sqns)

Artillery (6 guns)

4 x 12-pdr guns

Wangenheim's corps forming the left wing

Haller's brigade

Füsilier-Regiment von Gilsa  (2 bns)

von der Malsburg Infantry  (2 bns)

French Order of Battle

Commander-in-chief: Prince de Soubise assisted by the Comte d'Estrées

Castries' corps

Volontaires du Hainaut  at the bridge under M. de Grandmaison

battalions of grenadiers and chasseurs under M. de Schwengsfeld, taken from

Alsace Infanterie

Waldner Infanterie

d'Arbonnier Infanterie

Lochmann Infanterie

Vaubécourt brigade

Vaubécourt Infanterie  (2 bns)

unidentified regiment (2 bns) probably Vastan Infanterie

Eptingen Infanterie

Artillery (30 pieces)

Corps assaulting the castle of Amöneburg

unidentified units (5 bns)

References

This article incorporates texts from the following book which are now in the public domain:

Carlyle T.; History of Friedrich II of Prussia vol. 20

Fortescue J. W.; A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899

Jomini, Henri; Traité des grandes opérations militaires, 2ème édition, 4ème partie, Magimel,

Paris: 1811, pp. 186-187

Mauvillon, I.; Geschichte Ferdinands Herzogs von Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Part 2, Leipzig:

1794, pp. 251-255

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. V, Paris, 1891, pp. 439-440

Grosser Generalstab, Geschichte des siebenjährigen Krieges: In einer Reihe von

Vorlesungen, mit..., Vol. 6, Berlin, 1824-1847, pp. 355-388

Renouard, Carl: "Geschichte des Krieges in Hannover, Hessen und Westfalen von 1757 bis

1763", 3 Bände, Cassel, 1863-64 , pp. 784-796

Other sources

Digitales Archiv Marburg

Nafziger Collection of Orders of Battle

Savory R.; His Britannic Majesty’s Army in Germany during the Seven Years War, Oxford 1966,

pp. 416-421

Acknowledgements

jws for providing the map and pictures of the battlefield.