"Battle of Kissingen (1866) Order of Battle?" Topic

I am looking for actual unit strengths for the forces engaged at the Battle of Kissingen (Austro-Prussian War). I have the Continental Wars Society booklet link on the Bavarian Army during this conflict, and am aware of the Wyre Forest Games Club scenario, but the booklet does not give unti strenghts, and the Wyre Forest site gives strengths based on full unit organizations (I believe), and not what numbers were actually present.

link

So, any further info regarding unit strengths (down to the battalion/regiment) would be most helpful!

An interesting question – do the 1866 Rules link have these details.

You could assume troops to be an average level less than actual strength to give a good enough re-fight. I'll watch this link …
link This is worth a look, provides orbats but not actual strengths.

I have just gone through the section on Kissingen in my copy of "The Campaign of 1866 in Germany" translated by von Wright and Hozier from the Prussian Staff history, and although it gives a detailed order of battle for the troops of Manteuffel's corps that were involved in the actions of 10th July that included Kissingen (I imagine the Wyre Forest club used the same source), there are no unit strengths. Details of the Bavarian forces are even more limited – as most or all of the units had commenced the campaign whilst still trying to get up to campaign strength.
Your best bet for Prussian units is to take the notional strength (basically 250 men per company, with 4 companies making up a battalion) and then make an allowance for casualties from other battles and other reductions from the strength (say 10-15%?). The Appendix in my book does identify where complete battalions or companies were detached from their parent units, so you should be able to get pretty close. I would use the same basis for the Bavarians, but take a much higher percentage out – say 30%.
If you would like scanned copies of the pages on the battle and the Appendix, just drop me a mail:
ian.dury@hotmail.co.uk
PS – are you a Continental Wars Society member already? If not, you should be if you are interested in this period!!
Ian M Dury

Ian – Thanks for the offer, email sent for the scanned copies! And no, I am not a member of the CWS, so I have asked for details in my email.

Royal – I have the 1866 rules on the way, just being impatient I guess! Perhaps the rules will have Kissingen as one of the battles (since five of the scenarios are set in Germany, would would have to think (or at least hope) that Kissingen would be included).

Think it's in the Principles of War 7 Weeks War Sourcebook?

" do the 1866 Rules link have these details. "

No, they just have the OBs and maps etc. As the individual stands are battalions it probably doesn't matter that much if the headcounts are down 10-20%.

Cheers
Martin

In his book on the organisation of the German State Armies Stuart Sutherland gives the following Bavarian strengths on mobilisation:

6th Rifles 567 men
11th Regt – 1st Btn 834 men
2nd Btn 863 men
3rd Btn 838 men
15th Regt – 1st Btn 873 men
2nd Btn 836 men
3rd Btn 828 men
3rd Lancers – 400 men
5th Chevauleger – 498 men
Schuster battery – 133 men

Hope this helps.

Chad

Chad – Thanks for the additional info, that indeed will help! Looks like I am going to have to break down and buy My. Sutherland's book. I have seen it on the Helion website, with a couple of other titles I thought might be useful. Smith, in Armies of 1866, mentions the cavalry at around 500 men per regiment, but by what you have listed it is apparent that 500 men definitely wasn't the norm. He also mentions Jager battalions at 670 men, but the 6th doesn't seem to be that large.

Thanks all!

Glad it was of help. Sutherland's book is well worth buying.

Chad