The year is 1758. Fighting continues on all fronts. Saxony is now under the control of Prussia, who are fighting to hold back Austrian raids on the territory. The capital Dresden, Pirna and Konigstein castle are all occupied by Prussian soldiers.. Forces are under the command of Prince Frederick Henry Louis of Prussia, brother of Frederick the Great. He has based his army around the town of Pirna, strategically placed on the banks of the river Elbe.
.jpeg)
Pirna 1758 (Canaletto)
Prince Henry has received reports from a detachments of the von Zieten Hussars who had interrogated Saxon farmers and received reports that an Austrian force had arrived at Krietzschwitz, some miles south of Pirna.
Prince Henry decides to send out a small force from Pirna to investigate the area, and to possibly drive out the Austrians,if the rumours were found to be true.
The task is given to Major General Peter von Meinicke (3rd Dragoons). His second in command is Major General von Lindstedt (IR27). Despite it still being summer, and it still being the main campaigning season, the weather in early August has been unseasonably bad, with heavy rain turning roads into bog lands. Von Meinicke decided to split his force and use both of the roads which lead south to Krietzschwitz. He would lead his cavalry, taking the longer northern route which ran parallel with the Elbe. This would be lead by two squadrons of von Zieten's hussars scouting ahead, followed by a full regiment of the von Meinicke (3rd) dragoons.
Von Lindstedt with the infantry would take the shorter southern route by way of Postmaster's Vinyard. This consisted of a battalion of experienced IR10 von Knobloch in the vanguard, followed by IR35 Fusiliers (Prinz Heinrich) and a battalion of garrison regiment von Sydow, bringing up the rear.
The regiments depart Pirna:
.jpeg)
1st Battalion IR10 von Knobloch
.jpeg)
3rd Dragoons (von Meinicke)
Two squadrons 2nd Zieten Hussars
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Excellent selection of wonderfully painted SYW figures, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWillz.