"A Dettingen mystery" Topic

I am planning to expand my Jacobite Rebellion set-up into the War of Austrian Succession later this year. I also give talks on Military History and have a half prepared one on the Battle of Dettingen. As a result I have been reading quite a lot about Dettingen.

I have got several sources giving the Dettingen Orbats, including books by Michael Orr, Michael McNally and Charles Grant, plus the Nafziger Orbat. All show similar Orbats apart from a few minor variations, mainly in unit titles (mostly resolved by reconciling titles such as Royal Horse Guards with Somerset's Regiment).

However I have come across a major mystery. There is a map in the Royal Collection showing the Orbat of the Pragmatic Army on at Aschaffenberg on 26th June 1743, the day before Dettingen. A link to this map is here:

link

All of the British, Hanoverian and Austrian units shown on the other Dettingen Orbats are on this map. The major mystery is that this Orbat shows six additional Hanoverian battalions, not shown on the other Orbats plus six Hessian infantry battalions and four Hessian cavalry regiments. All are named on the Orbat. No other Orbats show any Hessian units at Dettingen.

The Pragmatic Army did leave a rearguard at Aschaffenberg on 27th June as they marched north to break through the French at Dettingen. All of the other accounts show this rearguard as comprising the three British Regiments of Foot Guards, two battalions of Hanoverian Guards, two other Hanoverian battalions and the Royal North British Dragoons (Scots Greys).

This Orbat of 26th June suggests that the rearguard was much bigger than all other accounts state.

I would be interested in any views on this.

Rod

G'day, Rod.

Most of my books are in storage, sorry, so I'm working off memory. Browning's The War of the Austrian Succession describes the battle, but I don't think in the detail you require.

12 battalions and four regiments is unusually large, but is it possible that the extra troops were acting as the right flank guard, either on or beyond the Spessart Hills? The rear guard always gets mentioned, but I can't remember any reference to flank guards. The river would have protected the left, but SOP of the time would have had some form of flank guard on the right.

The other, more likely, possibility is that they were detached to march via another route, further to the right (via Johannesberg, perhaps) to reduce congestion along the river road or to confuse the French over the army's intentions?

Just some thoughts. Also link may be worth a look, if for nothing else than an excuse to visit the battle site.

Another of the maps in the Royal Collection does, according to the key, appear to show Hessians in the battle line at Dettingen.
link

Another mystery which I find intriguing is the tradition of the 22nd (later Cheshire) Regiment that the oak leaf emblem which would later feature in their uniform and appointments related to their role protecting the sovereign at his post under an oak tree at Dettingen.

My understanding is that O'Farrel's regiment did not feature in the order of battle at Dettingen but in 1743 was stationed in Minorca where it had been since 1726, lucky dogs.

Hi Dai,

Yes I have Browning's "The War of Austrian Succession", but as you say it is not detailed enough to resolve this mystery.

Rod

Dear Flanker – I wouldn't put much store in regimental 'traditions'- most of them were made up by bored officers after 1880. Most regiments have at least one that is cobblers…

A quick search via Wikipedia shows the regiment as being stationed on Minorca from 1726 to 1748, but adds that a detachment was present at Dettingen.

There is no explanation offered as to why such a detachment should be there. However, given the regiment's long tenure in Minorca, it's reasonable to suppose that detachments of new recruits were sent out regularly and it's possible that such a party of recruits might be diverted into guard and other duties with the main army before they could be sent off.

Hi Rod,

I think the mystery can be solved. The source available to me is the pre WWI edit of the Austrian generalstaff "Der Östereichische Erbfolgekireg" vol 5, Vienna 1901.
Its Dettingen Orbat does not show Hessians. It says the Hessian contingent was among the reinforcement due to arrive in Hanau June 27. A total of 6 Bats & 8 Esc horse – ie, the entire contingent plus 8 Hannoverian Bats (each 1 Klinkowström, Bloch, Druchtleben, Bothmer, Alt-Sporcken, Krueg, Maidel, & Maider) All these not present at the battle.
The neat RC orbat of June 26 Aschaffenburg does have them listed but forgott to mark them as "arrival being awaited"

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Christian
crogges7ywarmies.blogspot.com

I think the explanation may be even simpler, and relates to the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The date we now ascribe to the battle of Dettingen- 27th June- was actually the 16th of June in 1743- at least as far as British people until 1752 were concerned. The Hessians and more Hanoverians joined a few days after the battle, as Christian says, so their presence on the (Julian or OS) 26th June is quite reasonable.
I notice the text of the map posted by BillyNM states the date of the battle as 16th June, so it is evidently giving Julian dates. That document actually covers not only the battle itself but the movements after it. The OoB posted by Rod would therefore be ten days after the battle.
That does leave one small mystery, as the site of the OoB is quotes as Aschaffenberg- wheras most accounts indicate the army moved a little further North to Hanau after the battle. There may have been some further local movements South perhaps.
But I think the calendars are the main issue here.

PS- I don't think the Greys were with the rearguard- they were in the 2nd line of the main body. They captured a standard from the Chevaux-Legers of the Red Household towards the close of the battle.