On Saturday 29th myself and seventeen others attended the New Buckenham Historical Wargamers to refight the Seven Years' War Battle of Minden, 1759. The game had been set up the previous evening and featured over two thousand 28mm figures. The rules used were Honuors of War by Osprey. A few pictures of the set up follow, with an AAR after.
von-Sporken's battalions view the massed French cavalry.
The massed battalions of the French left wing.
The fight for Malbergen.
Sackville's, unhistorical, appearance.
Imhoff's German troops, Hessians and some Brunswickers, advanced on Malbergen, took one half of the village as the French took the other and were then heavily engaged here for the rest of the battle. The supporting German cavalry of Holstein-Gottorf could do little to help against the massed French infantry.
The British and Hanoverians of von-Sporcken's famous battalions went straight forward and defeated the first and second lines of French cavalry. It seemed at this point that history might be repeated.
However the Saxon contingent now arrived, and after losing the 23rd foot and seeing his two flanking units retire, von-Sporcken decided to pull back on Kingsley's Brigade and refresh the line. This was achieved, but allowed the Saxons to clear the third line of French horse and form up, along with the French Battalions beside Hahlen.
As von-Sporcken realigned and awaited the support of Scheele's column, Prince Ferdinand brought up the Hessians and Hanoverians of Wutginau's Brigade. This fine looking body of men now made fine looking bodies of the remaining French cavalry that again attempted, and failed, to check this advance.
To the surprise of all, Sackville led on his two brigades of cavalry. These began to take fire from the formed French infantry at the same time as the allies decided to attack the French battalions holding the other end of Hahlen.
Sadly these last events unfolded as time called a halt. The umpire, noting the losses to Ferdinand's army around Malbergen, called it as a narrow win for the French army of Contandes.
More on my blog Jabba's Wargaming
looks at the new U.S.S. Constitution for Black Seas.
