Background
In August 1760, Frederick’s army opposed the Austro-Russian invasion of Silesia.
On August 14, a Russian army under the command of count Piotr Semionovitch Saltykov crossed the Oder and encamped at Grossbresa (unidentified location) on the road from Auras to Lissa. The same day, Frederick’s camp extended from the village of Schimmelwitz (unidentified location), fronting the Katzbach for about 3 km, north-eastward, to his headquarters in Liegnitz (actual Legnica) suburb. He was surrounded by Austrian corps. Field-marshal count Daun was on his right and rearward, now within 4 to 8 km. Field-marshal baron Loudon was to his left and frontward, 7 or 8 km away, the Katzbach separating Frederick and him. Field-marshal count Lacy lay from Goldberg (actual Złotoryja) north-eastward, to within 7 or 8 km rearward. Three Austrian armies totalling 90,000 men (not counting Tchernichev and his 24,000 Russians) watched a Prussian army of 30,000 men. Frederick decided to reach Glogau (actual Głogów). He rode with his generals through Liegnitz, across the Schwartzwasser, to the Pfaffendorf heights where he explained them his plan. They then returned to camp. At the end of the afternoon, an Austrian deserter warned the Prussians that an attack was planned for that night. From about 8:00 PM, Frederick’s army got on march in several columns while peasants, hussars and drummers were left behind to keep the Prussian camp alive. About the same time, Loudon was also leaving his camp at Jeschkendorf (actual Jaśkowice Legnickie) with orders to seize the heights of Pfaffendorf. He expected to intercept the Prussian baggage. It was about 11:00 PM when Daun’s grenzer light troop discovered that Frederick’s camp was now empty. The Austrians did not know where Frederick had repositioned his army. In fact, Frederick was on the march to Glogau to resupply his army.
On August 15, at about 1:00 A.M., the whole Prussian army was safely across the Schwartzwasser. Meanwhile, Lacy marched all night towards Waldau to attack the Prussian left wing, only to discover the camp empty.
At 2:30 A.M., the king was taking a nap by a bivouac fire in front of the Grenadier Battalion 1/23 Rathenow, when major Hund of a Hussar rgt came at full gallop, asking where the king was. Once he was brought in presence of Frederick, major Hund informed him that an important Austrian force was advancing from Bienowitz and Pohlschildern against the Prussian left wing. They were within 400 paces from his bivouac and had already driven back his outposts. In fact, it was Loudon with 35,000 horse and foot of the Reserve.
Indeed, Loudon had marched at sunset and passed the Katzbach in 3 columns near Pohlschildern, intending to attack the Prussian train and baggage at Topferberg. For this reason, Loudon had no vanguard. He was marching at the head of his corps when it stumbled upon the Prussian detachment of major Hund.
The losses according to Gaudi amounted to 6,000 men killed and wounded and 4,000 taken prisoners, along with 82 guns and 28 flags for the Austrian, and to 3264 killed and wounded and 342 taken prisoners, along with 10 flags for the Prussians. Tempelhof gives 1800 for the Prussian Killed and wounded. The Austrian relation recognizes 3791 killed and wounded, 2140 prisoniers, 68 guns and claims 10 guns and 6 flag taken. According to Duffy sources: Austrian 3767 killed and wounded, 4731 prisoniers and missing, Prussian 3172 killed and wounded, 250 missing and prisoniers, 10 colours and 1 standard.
The Prussians had engaged only their left wing. For his good conduct on the battlefield, the Anhalt-Bernburg Infantry was allowed to have its side-arms back.
http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=1760-08-15_-_Battle_of_Liegnitz
The Game
The battlefield was laid out roughly inline with the historical map. We had some limitations on terrain, so we had to adjust a little for what was available in the store’s game room. Forces were deployed as per their historical dispositions. The game began during a night turn that last for six turns, when it would be dawn and finally daylight.
The Austrians decided to hold off their attack with their forward column and await the follow up columns to come forward. Due to fear of getting bottle necked, one of the Austrian columns (the largest) decided to make a river crossing through and swing through the swamps on the left. This pretty much took them out of the game, as the movement turned out to be quite slow. The third Austrian column came up the middle at a cautionary pace. The Austrian Grenadiers in the front then decided to reposition themselves to the right and see if they could unhinge the Prussian positions. As it was night, there was not too much the Prussian could do but make some minor adjustments to their line based on the sounds to their front!
With daylight finally upon them, the Austrians started their attack. This was led by the Grenadiers on the right and an attempt to get the cavalry through the confining terrain on the left. Neither attack met with much success, as the Prussians were able to mass superior forces and firepower on both flanks. This resulted in the routing of the Austrian cavalry and heavy casualties on the Grenadiers. While this was going on, the Austrians brought forward all their artillery and covered the center with mass fire. The Prussian guns on the heights held out for a very long time before the causalities started to mount on the gunners. The Prussians then elected to pull back off the crest and await the Austrians infantry assault. However, The Grenadier attack was fully repulsed. The third column tried to take its place but with even worse results. With two of their infantry columns thrown back with heavy losses and their cavalry smashed, the Austrians decided to call off the attack ending the game with a historical Prussian victory!
– Manteuffel