Thw Action at Sagewerkdorf 1866

Austrian forces are advancing northwest with the intent of capturing the disputed border town of Sagewerkdorf and, if possible, pushing on to take the adjacent industrial complex.  To counter this move a Prussian and Allied force, consisting of three Prussian line regiments, a Jaeger regiment, a regiment of dragoons, a regiment of Hussars and a gun battery are deploying, with four allied regiments; from Lippe, Brunswick, Bremen and Waldeck under command.  The Austrians have a similar size force.

Here is the area of operations:

Those knowing their wargame history will note the close resemblance to Grant's Sawmill Village setting!

The Prussians appear in the northwest, quickly taking the high ground of Sandig Hugel, where they set up their command post and artillery:

One of the Prussian Regiments quickly occupies the Sagewerk complex and the Jaegers move into the woods:

The Austrians, meanwhile, advance towards Sagenwerkdorf and set up their artillery on the high ground above Sonnig Schlucht:

The Prussians decided to go on the offensive by ordering two allied units, the Brunswickers and Bremen Regiment, up their left flank to envelop the village:

And the Prussian Jaegers were to take the Taube farm complex, which by now has been occupied by Austrian light troops:

Underestimating the power of modern artillery the brunswickers were forced back, suffering heavy casualties. They eventually break and rout off the field; first blood to the Austrians:

 All the time the Austrian numbers increase and soon Sagerwerkdorf and its church are occupied by Austrian and Hungarian infantry:

The Prussian artillery on Sandig Hugel opens fire on the area of the church causing devastating casualties amongst an Austrian infantry regiment in the open:

 

Having seen off the Brunswickers, the Austrian artillery turns its attention towards the Bremen regiment, but the Prussians open fire with their artillery in counter battery fire, causing some Austrian casualties.  An exchange of fire between the artillery of both sides results in the Prussian guns being silenced:

Whilst this is going on an Austrian Light Horse regiment charges down the Bremen Regiment causing some casualties, but the infantry stand firm forcing the cavalry to retreat:

The cavalry rally and charge again, this time sweeping the Bremen regiment from the field.  The situation is not looking too good for the Prussians with the advance on the left having been beaten and having lost their artillery:

Things do not go well on the Prussian right either; the Jaegers fail to take the farm, which has been reinforced by a further Austrian regiment and fall back and leave the field:

The Prussian commander decides on one last push.  He moves up his regiment of Hussars and an infantry regiment on the left and they see off the Austrian light horse with combined rifle fire and sabre:

The Prussian command then orders two regiments to rush up the road in the centre, supported by the Hussars, who are to distract the Austrian artillery:

The Hussars achieve their aim and the Austrian guns withdraw, but are forced back by rifle fire and the presence of more Austrian cavalry.  Soon the Austrian gun is back in action and rifle fire with artillery stops the Prussian advance in the centre. The Prussians decide that further attacks would be futile and withdraw back onto the area around the industrial complex.  A couple of attacks by Austrian infantry are pushed back, but Prussian casualties continue to mount. The Prussians consolidate in the northwest corner:

However, without artillery they cannot respond to the Austrians who simply sit in the village and bombard the Prussians.  The retreating Prussian infantry on the road are destroyed and that tips the balance and the Prussians call it a day:

The final score is a 6-4 win to the Austrians.  I used modified Battlecry rules.  I gave the Prussian infantry (not allied) the advantage of Needle Guns, which far outclass Austrian rifled muskets.  On the other hand, Austrian artillery is superior to the Prussians, which gave them an advantage in the end.

All the wonderful figures, which are mostly Minifigs S Range conversions, are from the collection of the late Alan Cook and, as mentioned earlier, the scenario is based upon Sawmill Village in CS Grant's 'The wargame Companion'.