Background
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.
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 Prince would 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.
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.
The Allies lost 415 dead, 1,770 wounded, the French 500 dead and 1,300 wounded. Lieutenant-General von Dyherrn of the Saxon contingent was mortally wounded by a cannonball (he would die at Frankfurt/Main on April 24).
Ferdinand’s plan to drive the French out of Hesse had failed and he retired towards Minden.
http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=1759-04-13_-_Battle_of_Bergen
The Game
Forces:
French Commander Victor François, Duc de Broglie with 44 squadrons of Cavalry, 46 battalions (including Saxons)of Infantry and 45 field guns. French deployed on the table in roughly their historical locations. All units blocked by terrain were left off the board with markers showing their central position. Off board forces north of the playing area included two Saxon and French Infantry Brigades which can attempt to be activated on turn 6. The French have a line of Abatis in front of their Artillery line (behind the sunken road).
Allied Commander Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick with 40 squadrons of Cavalry, 27 battalions of Infantry and 21 field guns. Holstien Gottorp’s command arrives on the table on turn six. All other units deployed no closer than 16″ in front of the French in the town of Bergen and straight across the field from there.
Initial Moves: Allies move forward and begin their attack on Bergen, attempting to drive the French from the city walls with fire. To support and pin French reserves, another allied column moves to the front of the French artillery line. The French are quick to get their reserve brigades of infantry moving, sending one Brigade to support the guns and two others to cover the apple groves to the north of Bergen.
Mid Game: Allied forces slowly grind down the French defending the walls in Bergen and engage the French in the apple orchards around Bergen. The supporting column works against the north position of the French artillery by launching a number of cavalry charges against the medium battery. The first two waves are driven off by fire. However, the third wave which includes infantry finally overruns the battery, scattering it. the French start to maneuver one of their hidden reserve cavalry brigades to support the artillery.
End Game: The Allies fight their way into Bergen, clearing the apple orchards and the town itself of French resistance. The fighting in the center continues with the allies clearing the center French battery. This action triggers the remaining French cavalry reserve into action to counter the allied advance. The battered forward infantry and cavalry formations cannot stand against the fresh French cavalry. It is clear that the allies will not be able to hold against the French Cavalry, but the allied reserves are now in position to protect the flank of Bergen from French interference. The remaining French infantry begin their march from off board to the battlefield.
Final: With the loss of Bergen, infantry fighting around Bergen overrun and their artillery in shambles, the French decide to quit the field. The allies are battered, but left holding the ground. An unhistorical allied Victory!
– Manteuffel