Frederick the Great and Charles of Austria squared off recently in a battle using our regular Final Argument of Kings by Dean West and five players. The Prussians had twenty-one battalions, composed of four grenadier, eight musketeer, four fusilier and five Freikorps. Cavalry featured two cuirassier regiments, four dragoon, two hussar and a Freikorps unit. Six batteries (five medium and one heavy) rounded out the army. The opposition was largely Russian though the overall command was deferred to Austria. Sixteen Russian battalions were present. Four grenadier, three Pandour and nine musketeer. Five batteries (one heavy, three medium, one light) were arrayed in support. Two cuirassier regiments, two horse grenadiers and two hussar regiments were present. The Austrians fielded three grenadier, three musketeer, one jæger and one Croat battalion. Two fine cuirassier regiments, one of dragoons and one of hussars along with two medium batteries completed the allied army. So numbers were on the Austro-Russian side, with quality on the Prussian.
We tried the optional grand tactical rule, whereby 2d6 are rolled and the initiative rating of the commander is added (or subtracted). High score gets to make a double move unless they come within 18" of the enemy. If that criteria isn't met, you roll again. A substitute for a move could be a formation change, etc. Fire and charges are never allowed. Once one side comes within 18" of the opponent, a single reaction move is allowed. So guns may unlimber, formations changed, facings altered and so forth. This is to allow for the possibility of the flank march at Leuthen on the game table. But enough talk, on to the game.
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| Looking towards the Russian left |
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| Russian right and center |
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| Frederick huddles up with Seydlitz and von Kleist |
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| After grand tactical as the battle begins |
As the battle developed, the Prussians from left to right had the cuirassiers and dragoons behind the fusilier brigade, the Freikorps brigade, two musketeer brigades, the grenadier brigade and on the far right the light cavalry. The allied army had from left to right, an infantry brigade with two of the Pandour battalions, a line brigade, the heavy cavalry, two more brigades, the Austrian infantry and Austrian cavalry.
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| Prussians closing with enemy on their left |
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| The centers clash |
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| Freikorps vs. Austrians |
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| Losses taken, units shaken, stroke and counter stroke |
In the center the Russian cavalry found life difficult as three Prussian batteries were able to fire upon them. Given the choice of being slowly shot to pieces or charging, they gallantly charged but failed to close. This gave the Prussian infantry a free hand.
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| Control of a two level hill see-sawed back and forth |
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| The Austrians drive away the Freikorps, unmasking the cavalry |
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| Breakthrough in the center! |
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| Russian left advances as the Prussian lights relocate |
After defeating their opposite numbers, the Prussian cavalry on the Austro-Russian right charged disordered across the shallow river with predictable results. The Austrian musketeers, already weakened were swept away though the grenadiers stalled the advance. Until the relocating Prussian lights slammed into their flank. Everything began to collapse as the Russian left became the rear-guard for the retreating army. The Prussians were so battered that only a modest pursuit was probable.
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| Seeing off the Austrian cuirassiers |
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| Prussian dragoons stalled by grenadiers |
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| Left wing, now rear guard moves to cover |
We have had many interesting and hard-fought battles with Final Argument of Kings but this has to be once of the closest and fiercest. Both sides maneuvered effectively tactically to attack and counter attack. Each side had their charges and tactical coups so it ended with everyone satisfied and handshakes all around.
We played eight turns in the afternoon game with a decisive result and time to chat afterwards. Most satisfactory.
