Bohemia 1757, 22 – 28 April

On the evening of the 21st, Bevern’s Prussians were clearing the battlefield and setting up camp. Reports during the evening mentioned the Austrians were not encamped, but seen marching in the direction of Liebenau. Bevern would pursue the following morning, but did not want to spring the trap devised by Schwerin. According to plan, Konigseck, the old hare, would be caught near Tornau.


22 April, with the recall of O’Donnell’s brigade of Dragoons to Liebenau, the Austrians, under Konigseck, were now complete. With no serious opposition, other than Hussar patrols, Konigseck marched the army during the night. On the hills and woods above Liebenau, screen of Grenzers and Hussars would stoke the campfires giving an impression of Austrian presence.

Warned of a Prussian invasion, the local merchants of Tornau were busy moving the magazines to Jung Bunzlau and further to Prague, by boat or wagon. One day was allotted for this as the roads would be shared with the military train. Remaining supplies would be burned.

On the morning of the 23rd, with the main army marching on to Tornau, the rear guard destroyed remaining supplies and set fire to the bridges over the Iser.


Bevern, having been alerted by Malachowsky, galloped ahead to assess the situation at Liebenau. Even the chief of Engineers said it would impossible to repair the bridges. There were no boats. Marching through a narrow front from Friedland to Liebenau, the pontoon train was a day’s march away. Another day to bridge and cross the Iser, Bevern would miss the proposed meeting with Schwerin.

At Jung Bunzlau, Konigseck smiled as he had gained a day. The 24th was a day of rest for the army and a day’s labour for the contractors to moved supplies to Prague. Jung Bunzlau boasted a fine defensive position, orders from Prince Charles had dispelled any such ideas. All commands along the frontier were to assemble at Prague.

At Tornau later that morning, a perplexed Schwerin asked, “Where is Bevern”? Scouts had reported columns of smoke above Liebenau, but no Austrians. Schwerin could only chuckle. Orders were given to encamp and wait.

Schwerin receives news of delay

On the 25th, with no sign of the enemy other than their scouts, Konigseck rested a further day and issued orders for the following morning to abandon Jung Bunzlau. The bridges over the Elbe would be spared. A resourceful Konigseck informed his chief of Engineers’ to save the powder for Prague as the bridges were mostly built from stone, however, all supplies not moved would be collected on the bridges and burned in the morning.

Later that afternoon, scouts reported the Prussians were a half days march from Jung Bunzlau. Konigseck was ready.

Bevern had anticipated crossing the Elbe at Jung Bunzlau might pose a problem, so with Schwerin’s concurrence he sent a reinforced column under Malachowsky to seize the bridges at Melnik further down river.

End of Phase One – an assessment.

This was a great start to our three part campaign. Movement each day specified a march, an encampment and a rest phase. The only limitation set, after three march phases we were obligated to rest a complete day. Whether your marched three days consecutively, or forced marched (counted as two march phases or even marched during the night was entirely up to the each player. This flexibility helped the Austrians escape a possible encirclement by Schwerin’s column.

With twice the strength opposing Konigseck, there was not much that could be done to stop the tidal wave of Prussian blue. Malachowsky capturing the crossings at Melnik effectively negated the temporary closure of the Elbe crossings at Jung Bunzlau.

At Reichenberg, the Austrians did well, but could not remain on the field. Delaying the two Prussian columns from meeting on the 24th helped save needed supplies which were transferred to Prague; a plus for Konigseck. Nonetheless, Bevern and Schwerin were able to recapture lost time and approach the environs of Prague one day ahead of schedule; a plus for Bevern and Schwerin.

Next week, we begin phase two of our campaign, which covers the six week period between the Battles of Prague and Kolin.

Cheers,