📜 1. Historical Context
On the morning of 1 October 1756, the opening major engagement of the Third Silesian War took place near the Bohemian village of Lobositz. Frederick the Great, seeking to prevent an Austrian relief force under Field Marshal Browne from reaching the trapped Saxon army at Pirna, led 28,000 Prussians into a dense autumn fog.
Frederick initially mistook the Austrian lines for a mere rearguard—a costly error. The battle devolved into a brutal, tactical slog through the vineyards of the Lobosch Hill and a desperate bayonet charge once Prussian ammunition ran low. This engagement proved to Frederick that the "new" Austrian army was a professional force of high calibre, far removed from the troops he faced at Mollwitz.
🗺️ 2. The Scenario: Table Setup
Following the cartography of Christopher Duffy, the tabletop is divided into three distinct tactical zones: the vineyards of the Lobosch, the marshy Morellen-Bach, and the stone-walled village of Lobositz.
Christopher Duffy Map Key
- 1. Prussians: Initial deployment on the Homolka Hill.
- 2. Austrians: Defensive positions behind the Morellen-Bach.
- 3. Lobosch Hill: Difficult terrain; vineyards providing cover to light troops.
- 4. Morellen-Bach: Marshy stream; hinders cavalry movement.
🛡️ 3. Orders of Battle
All regiments follow the project standard: 24-figure Infantry and 12-figure Cavalry using Baccus 6mm miniatures.
| Austrian Forces (FM Browne) | Prussian Forces (Frederick II) |
|---|---|
|
The Lobosch Hill Defence • Croat Pandours • IR 22 Lacy |
The Advance Guard • No. 13 Itzenplitz • No. 26 Meyerinck |
|
The Main Line (Lobositz) • IR 49 Browne • IR 29 Alt-Wolfenbüttel • Austrian Grenadiers |
The Prussian Centre • No. 3 Anhalt-Dessau • No. 6 Grenadier Garde • No. 1 Winterfeldt |
|
The Cavalry Reserve • CR 2 Lucchesi Cuirassiers • DR 3 Kollowrat Dragoons • HR 2 Baranyay Hussars |
The Cavalry Wing • CR 8 Rochow Cuirassiers • DR 5 Bayreuth Dragoons • HR 2 Zieten Hussars |
|
Artillery Support • Position Battery |
Artillery Support • Homolka Grand Battery |
📸 4. The Action
[Insert photos of Baccus 6mm regiments here]
The engagement began in the early morning mist. Prussian battalions attempted to clear the vineyards on the Lobosch Hill, but the Austrian Croats used the broken terrain to devastating effect, forcing Frederick to commit his infantry reserves earlier than intended.
📚 Sources & Credits
- Historical Research: The Army of Frederick the Great and The Army of Maria Theresa by Christopher Duffy.
- Map & OOB Data: Frederick the Great: A Military Life by Christopher Duffy.
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