Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Oct 3, 2016 21:06:32 GMT
Armée de Pacte de Famille, commanded by the Duc de Vendome: Stationed in Elsass
37,000 Line Infantry
1,000 Pike infantry
9,000 Grenadiers
3,000 Engineers
5,500 Dragoons
4,000 Cuirassiers
4,000 Musketeers of the Guard
500 Yeomanry Cavalry
450 Field Guns
100 Howitzers
The Royal Prussian Army, commanded by Alexander zu Dohna-Schlobitten: Stationed in Baden (on loan from Prussia)
3,000 Line Infantry
1,000 Grenadiers
1,000 Engineers
1,000 Dragoons
50 Field Guns
The Imperial Coalition army, commanded by the Margrave of Baden: Attached to the Army of Baden
20,000 Line Infantry
2,000 Grenadiers
1,000 Engineers
500 Cuirassiers
100 Field Guns
Vendome and his Franco-Spanish force were making good time. By the time the sun began to set, they were already within an half an hour from Freudenstadt, as the men were getting tired this would be a great place to stop for the night. As Vendome listened merrily to the singing of his troops, a great blast deafened him. Only 50 yards ahead he saw a number of his men fall, then more, all around him. It took him a few moments to gather his senses. “Ambush!” He cried, his call echoed by his officers down the ranks.
Infantry suddenly pushed forward from the treeline. As the French and Spaniards formed into battle lines, not a difficult manoeuvre for they were already marching in formation, they were being pelted by muskets. Vendome ordered his dragoons to head around the back, to enter the tree line on the left-flank. Vendome did not know the numbers in the trees, though he was certain there couldn’t be a huge amount else they would have noticed their presence. His assailant’s guns continued to roar, but Vendome continued to ride up and down the line barking orders, regardless of his own safety. This act greatly raised the morale of his men.
Vendome’s grenadiers started to make some ground, their grenades hitting the mark perfectly, thinning the tree line. Only one mistake was made, when one of the Spaniards threw his grenade at a tree from which it dutifully bounced, exploding in his own lines. Cries rang out among a Spanish unit of line further down the line from Vendome, as dragoons funnelled out of the trees in groups of around 20 men, hitting the lines in the back. It wasn’t long before the French lines were also hit by this wave. This was the first chance Vendome had to see their uniforms clearly, Prussians!
“Right Flank, watch the Right Flank!” Officers started shouting as another force, larger and better organised marched around the bend in the road from Freudenstadt. Too large a force for a straight ambush, they must have been alerted by the artillery fire. The only good news was that the enemy combatants involved in the ambush were beginning to break away, fire was becoming sporadic from the tree line as the French dragoons swamped through the trees and dominated the chaotic melee.
The new force, clearly clad in the Austrian white, stood out in the darkness. Still, they were able to cause some damage to the front of the French line which struggled to deal with the ambush and the flank attack. Both forces tried to spread their lines out, but in the cramped environment, the Austrians made their inferior numbers count. The battle raged on until morning, and Vendome still saw no sign of it stopping.
In the light of the dawn, The Franco-Spanish force were able to get their bearings, though their tiredness from a day of marching and a night of fighting was becoming an issue. Vendome led the men in song, which was largely drowned out by the gunfire, to keep them keen. In the midst of the music, Vendome decided enough was enough. The Grenadiers advanced into the Austrian gunfire. Many fell, but their grenades thinned the Austrian lines. The grenadiers, signalled that the Austrian centre on the road was buckling, they broke their own lines as Vendome made his own signal. 4,000 Cuirassiers erupted through the lines and down the road. The Austrians, who were reloading having believed that the Grenadiers had fled, fell apart. Infantry was thrown into the gap, but Vendome seized his chance and ordered all lines to advance, using his greater numbers, he was able to envelop the Austrian force. Still, though, they clung to their lives with great conviction. Engaged in close-quarters combat, the battle lasted another 17 hours before the Austrians finally gave up and surrendered.
An incredible loss of life had been incurred:
France:
11,100 Line Infantry
1,150 Grenadiers
700 Dragoons
2,000 Cuirassiers
200 Grenadiers (Spanish)
3,500 (Spanish)
Prussia:
3,000 Line Infantry
1,000 Grenadiers
1,000 Engineers
1,000 Dragoons
50 Field Guns (captured)
Coalition Forces:
15,000 Line Infantry
5,000 Line Infantry (PoW)
2,000 Grenadiers
1,000 Engineers
500 Cuirassiers (PoW)
75 Field Guns
25 (Captured)
Vendome won a great victory despite heavy losses. The Margrave of Baden-Baden, the great Turkenlouis, is captured. Though Alexander zu Dohna-Schlobitten managed to evade capture. Despite the victory, the men will need time to rest should they avoid death from exhaustion, combined with the costly battle, Prince Eugene is now hot on Vendome's tail.
37,000 Line Infantry
1,000 Pike infantry
9,000 Grenadiers
3,000 Engineers
5,500 Dragoons
4,000 Cuirassiers
4,000 Musketeers of the Guard
500 Yeomanry Cavalry
450 Field Guns
100 Howitzers
The Royal Prussian Army, commanded by Alexander zu Dohna-Schlobitten: Stationed in Baden (on loan from Prussia)
3,000 Line Infantry
1,000 Grenadiers
1,000 Engineers
1,000 Dragoons
50 Field Guns
The Imperial Coalition army, commanded by the Margrave of Baden: Attached to the Army of Baden
20,000 Line Infantry
2,000 Grenadiers
1,000 Engineers
500 Cuirassiers
100 Field Guns
Vendome and his Franco-Spanish force were making good time. By the time the sun began to set, they were already within an half an hour from Freudenstadt, as the men were getting tired this would be a great place to stop for the night. As Vendome listened merrily to the singing of his troops, a great blast deafened him. Only 50 yards ahead he saw a number of his men fall, then more, all around him. It took him a few moments to gather his senses. “Ambush!” He cried, his call echoed by his officers down the ranks.
Infantry suddenly pushed forward from the treeline. As the French and Spaniards formed into battle lines, not a difficult manoeuvre for they were already marching in formation, they were being pelted by muskets. Vendome ordered his dragoons to head around the back, to enter the tree line on the left-flank. Vendome did not know the numbers in the trees, though he was certain there couldn’t be a huge amount else they would have noticed their presence. His assailant’s guns continued to roar, but Vendome continued to ride up and down the line barking orders, regardless of his own safety. This act greatly raised the morale of his men.
Vendome’s grenadiers started to make some ground, their grenades hitting the mark perfectly, thinning the tree line. Only one mistake was made, when one of the Spaniards threw his grenade at a tree from which it dutifully bounced, exploding in his own lines. Cries rang out among a Spanish unit of line further down the line from Vendome, as dragoons funnelled out of the trees in groups of around 20 men, hitting the lines in the back. It wasn’t long before the French lines were also hit by this wave. This was the first chance Vendome had to see their uniforms clearly, Prussians!
“Right Flank, watch the Right Flank!” Officers started shouting as another force, larger and better organised marched around the bend in the road from Freudenstadt. Too large a force for a straight ambush, they must have been alerted by the artillery fire. The only good news was that the enemy combatants involved in the ambush were beginning to break away, fire was becoming sporadic from the tree line as the French dragoons swamped through the trees and dominated the chaotic melee.
The new force, clearly clad in the Austrian white, stood out in the darkness. Still, they were able to cause some damage to the front of the French line which struggled to deal with the ambush and the flank attack. Both forces tried to spread their lines out, but in the cramped environment, the Austrians made their inferior numbers count. The battle raged on until morning, and Vendome still saw no sign of it stopping.
In the light of the dawn, The Franco-Spanish force were able to get their bearings, though their tiredness from a day of marching and a night of fighting was becoming an issue. Vendome led the men in song, which was largely drowned out by the gunfire, to keep them keen. In the midst of the music, Vendome decided enough was enough. The Grenadiers advanced into the Austrian gunfire. Many fell, but their grenades thinned the Austrian lines. The grenadiers, signalled that the Austrian centre on the road was buckling, they broke their own lines as Vendome made his own signal. 4,000 Cuirassiers erupted through the lines and down the road. The Austrians, who were reloading having believed that the Grenadiers had fled, fell apart. Infantry was thrown into the gap, but Vendome seized his chance and ordered all lines to advance, using his greater numbers, he was able to envelop the Austrian force. Still, though, they clung to their lives with great conviction. Engaged in close-quarters combat, the battle lasted another 17 hours before the Austrians finally gave up and surrendered.
An incredible loss of life had been incurred:
France:
11,100 Line Infantry
1,150 Grenadiers
700 Dragoons
2,000 Cuirassiers
200 Grenadiers (Spanish)
3,500 (Spanish)
Prussia:
3,000 Line Infantry
1,000 Grenadiers
1,000 Engineers
1,000 Dragoons
50 Field Guns (captured)
Coalition Forces:
15,000 Line Infantry
5,000 Line Infantry (PoW)
2,000 Grenadiers
1,000 Engineers
500 Cuirassiers (PoW)
75 Field Guns
25 (Captured)
Vendome won a great victory despite heavy losses. The Margrave of Baden-Baden, the great Turkenlouis, is captured. Though Alexander zu Dohna-Schlobitten managed to evade capture. Despite the victory, the men will need time to rest should they avoid death from exhaustion, combined with the costly battle, Prince Eugene is now hot on Vendome's tail.
