10mm Battle of Kissingen 1866 - Bavarians vs Prussians

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Nick came oer to Leighton Buzzard for a C19th game. I was wondering what to do, and thought are there any Prussian s Bavarian fights? I did a bit of research, and came across The Battle of Kissingen 10th July 1866
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kissingen

I defaulted to Black Powder, using my volley and Bayonet basing, but using the Wyre Forest Gamers scenario, orbat, timings and map (they always make good games), modified to Black Powder. I usually use my figures in regimental scale, but this is a divisional scale, and so each stand equates to a brigade today.
Victory is simple, if Prussian leaves the table to the East, it's a major victory. If they can take all the on-table villages, a minor one. If the Bavarian have no Prussian to the East of the river, a Major win. https://www.wfgamers.org.uk/war-of-1866-mbue/battle-of-kissingen

My take on the table. East is up. I left my bridges at home, but the right hand briges (small road to teh right) one is technically blown as the game begins (it actually isn't, but we didn't know that). I also finished the lower road before the game began too!


For Prussian von Kummel's brigade arrives and races for the bridge while crossing the Bavarian guns.


Three Prussian battalions gather near the bridge, trying to soften up a Bavarian battalion before charging in.


Prussian reinforcements under on Wrangel arrive, who will take over from on Kummel, whose brigade is pretty beaten up by now.


But the first Prussian battalion breaks under the weight of fire to the left of Kissingen


The Prussian attacks into Kissingen begin, and the first battalion breaks through, routing a Bavarian battalion and forcing a supporting unit back too.


It devolves to house-to-house fighting, as the Bavarians try to counter attack, and the Prussians try to push onwards.


Despite being flanked by a Bavarian counter attack, the Prussians push on (although by now von Kummen's brigade is spent and retiring)


Two other C19th games on tonight (you go months with out any, then three come along at once) a 28mm Franco Prussian game.


And an ACW using Wofun cutouts


By this point, the Bavarian brigae in Kissingen was retreating too, but 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division arrive to attempt to hold the village of Winkels.


Prussian hussars clear out an infnatry unit, before being shot away. On the right, a battalion of Prussian engages the Bavarians to stop them flanking our main attack.


A moment of still...


Before the Prussians launch and all -in assault on the Bavarian line.


It's too-and-fro fighting, both sides being pushed back but the Prussians are taking more hits and shaking their units.


Eventually, the assualt on Winkels fails, and the exhausted Prussains withdraw to Kissingen.


Victory to the Bavarians - turning the historical result around. A great game, with a nice twist that the Bavarian forces reinforcements mean it is not just a static defensive game for them, they actually have to committ to the counter attack to win. A  great game, great laughs, Nick is off to see if anyone has done this one for Bibg Bloody Battles too!

[Steve J]

Fine looking game and nice to see this conflict being gamed !

[Chris Pringle]

Great choice of battle and nice report!

The answer is yes, it has been done for BBB. Here's my report of our game of it:
https://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/2022/08/baptism-of-fire-new-players-fight.html

The scenario is freely available here:
https://groups.io/g/bloodybigbattles/files/1866%20Austro-Prussian%20War/Kissingen.pdf
(You have to join the group to access the files.)

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Brilliant, thanks Chris 

[sunjester]

Good game, Will. Kissengen is a really good fight for an evening's game. I played it a couple of times year back, when the Principles of War supplement for the Seven Weeks War came out, then again re-jigged for Black Powder.

[streetgang]

Beautiful looking game. I know I've said this before but I love your big bases and how dynamic you make the units look on them.

I'm painting up the 1859/66/70 Wars in 6mm but plan to use Field of Battle 3.

I just played in my first Black Powder game this past weekend and thought the mechanics were interesting and gave a decent game.

[fred.]

good looking figures there, Will!

I am completely lost as to what scale of game you are playing, you mention bases are brigades in the intro, then the write up seems to mainly mention battalions, and the setup of the terrain suggests even smaller units, with the setup of the village and the road, and an artillery 'battery' firing down it. Not that important, but it did rather confuse me

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Battalions Forbes.
All battalions. In two brigades each.
It was late when I wrote it. Sorry.

[fred.]

Cheers Will - I'm probably coming across as picky - but was just confused!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Not picky.
Just my ineptitude