In the Franco-Dutch War, the War of the League of Augsburg, and the War of the Spanish Succession
it was common to try to deny the enemy passage through long stretches of countryside by
establishing "lines". Typically, these were simply siege lines writ large: redoubts and entrenchments
worked into the terrain which would run for miles, and offer patrolling troops a way to easily fend off
any incursion. Such lines were employed by both the French and their enemies at different points. The
most famous example of action along such lines was Marlborough's crossing of the lines of "Ne Plus
Ultra," but there were other examples in many theatres and in earlier wars.
Such lines were not the equal of proper fortifications along their entire length, and this scenario
depicts an Imperialist attempt to force a passage through a more weakly constructed point in such a
system of lines manned by the French.
I'm the French comander facing a hoard of Imperialist infanrty.
Movement is deliverate (turns are 20 seconds) troops only move 2 inces at a time (about 50 yards) I open up as they reach short range for my gun. Musketeers blow matches and check charges.
Firing errupts as the Imperialists close in.... on the right they stop a bit over two inches...
On the left they get in closer and shattering vollies are exchanged.
The hammering on both sides is brutal as is the willingness of the troops of both armies to take punishment.... at long last the center and left Imperial regiments break... only to have new ones march up. The French get no relief from the pounding.
At last the French artilery is out of amunition and stats rolling thier gun to the rear (the horses are kept well back in this period).
the Battering continues... finaly the Imperialsits break 4 of thier regiments retreet. My force held by its fingernails. The Two French regiment on the right are hovering just below exhaustion on the fatigue count and have lost about a hundred men each(of 500) the Swiss regiment on the left is shattered with almost 50% casulties only the profesionalism is keepin them together. I held but it coud easily have gone the othe way.
it was common to try to deny the enemy passage through long stretches of countryside by
establishing "lines". Typically, these were simply siege lines writ large: redoubts and entrenchments
worked into the terrain which would run for miles, and offer patrolling troops a way to easily fend off
any incursion. Such lines were employed by both the French and their enemies at different points. The
most famous example of action along such lines was Marlborough's crossing of the lines of "Ne Plus
Ultra," but there were other examples in many theatres and in earlier wars.
Such lines were not the equal of proper fortifications along their entire length, and this scenario
depicts an Imperialist attempt to force a passage through a more weakly constructed point in such a
system of lines manned by the French.
Imperialists
- Regiment Starhemberg: 4 battalions Average rank-firing infantry with battalion guns
- Regiment Bernstorff (Luneburg-Celle): 1 battalion Average platoon-firing infantry
- Regiment Erbprinz Wilhelm (Luneburg-Celle): 1 battalion Average platoon-firing infantry
- Savoyen Dragoons: 1 two-squadron unit of Averge pistol dragoons
- Imperial Artillery: 1 battery Average light field guns
French
- Regiment Perche: 2 battalions Average rank-firing infantry
- Regiment Bresse: 1 battalion Veteran rank-firing infantry
- Royal Artillery: 1 battery of Average light field guns
- Gendarmes de France: 1 two-squadron unit of Veteran pistol cavalry
