Background
When Frederick II of Prussia suddenly launched the invasion of Saxony at the end of August 1756, Austria was totally unprepared to oppose him. While the remaining of the Saxon Army were blockaded in the Pirna Country, Field-Marshal Browne hurriedly assembled a relief army at Prague. By the end of September, he had begun his advance upon Saxony with an army of some 60,000 men.
Meanwhile Frederick, leaving sufficient troops to blockade Pirna, hastily reinforced Keith’s Corps on the Bohemian frontier and actively sought battle against the Austrian relief army. On September 30, Frederick spotted Browne’s camp down by Lobositz (present-day Lovosice) some 16 km away. The Prussian army immediately advanced towards Lobositz. It progressively reached Lobositz, several battalions arriving late at night and bivouacking as they could in the pass between the Lobosch and Homolka Hills. Cavalry horses remained saddled, ready for action.
Around 7:00 a.m. as day broke, a thick mist lay over the plain, extending up to the hill-tops and reducing the field of vision to a mere 100 m. On the Prussian left wing, Grenzers light troops (1 bn of Karlstädter-Lykaner Grenzer under Loudon and 1 bn of Karlstädter-Oguliner Grenzer) could be noticed in the vineyards. They were solidly positioned behind the low stone walls (some 1 m high) parting these vineyards. Austrian horse squadrons could also be seen near Lobositz. That was about all the information that Frederick could glimpse.
In fact, Browne had deployed his left wing behind the Morellenbach, a small brook dammed up to form a series of fish ponds, reservoirs, and morasses. Two narrow bridges, well defended with guns, allowed to cross this brook. Browne’s centre extended along a sunken road running from the Morellenbach to the village of Lobositz and defended by Grenzers light troops with large redoubts and batteries. The heavy artillery was placed immediately to the right of the centre. The Austrian cavalry that should have formed the right wing deployed instead in the centre in front of this sunken road, with Cordova Cuirassiers and Stampach Cuirassiers kept in reserve behind the road. The Austrian right wing consisted mainly of infantry and extended from Lobositz to Welhotta (present-day Lhotka nad Labem, part of the city of Lovosice) on the bank of the Elbe.
http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=1756-10-01_-_Battle_of_Lobositz
The Game
Scenario Special Rules:
- Austrians set up on board on defense or support orders.
- Prussians enter the board with attack or maneuver orders.
- All low level ground is covered in fog reducing visibility to 12 inches. Starting on turn 3, on a roll of 5-6 fog clears.
- First army to break looses.
Forces:
- Austrian Army with 34 Infantry battalions, 8 Grenadier battalions, 14 Cavalry regiments and 4 Artillery batteries.
- Prussian Army with 22 Infantry battalions, 4 Grenadier battalions, 13 Cavalry regiments and 4 Artillery batteries.
Prussian Army enters the board and sees Austrian Advanced Guard to their front. Heavy fog masks rest of army.
Prussian Cavalry sweeps forward to engage Austrian Cavalry Screen.
Prussian Cavalry charges and pushes back Austrian right flank cavalry screen.
Fog Clears! Main Austrian army is spotted deployed across the Elbe River. Austrian Right flank cavalry sorties across the Elbe to pin Prussians and break up their attack.
Austrian Cavalry charges and engages Prussian right flank.
Prussian left sweeps forward past the Lobosch and engages the Austrian Advanced Guard holding the right flank across the Elbe.
Prussian engage and start to overwhelm the Austrian right flank.
Austrian right flank falls back behind the Elbe under the protection of the main army, now in position to hold off the Prussians.
Outcome:
The Prussian Army was able to clear the value up to the Elbe River. However, the Lobosch Heights remained occupied by the Grenzers on their flank. Splitting their forces ensured that the Austrians were able to sortie across the Lobositz with their cavalry and pin a large portion of the Prussians, giving the main Austrian army time to contest the entire Elbe River line. Bogged down, the Prussian attack failed, resulting and a counter factual Austrian Victory!