Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

“For the greater Glory of God”

As the Bohemian Campaign approaches its third phase, I would like to bring the reader’s attention from Western Europe to developments in Nuevo España. Two things inspired me to elevate an idea to a work in progress project. One, the movie the “Mission “with Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons and two, the book, the Liberators by Robert Harvey, Latin America’s struggle for independence. I enjoyed the movie and its war game applications; tropical forests, waterways, native Indians, Spanish garrisons, mercenaries and of course the Church that played their role in the development of Nuevo España.

The film is set in the 18th century setting, which fits well into the “Sojourn”. However, the Jesuits pursued another direction than what I needed for my scenario (“nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition”).

Add to the religious order, line troops (garrisons) some militia to bolster numbers and auxiliaries, the latter serving as scouts for the Spanish and we should be ready for a fight. The opposition, simply a lot of natives.

Returning to the book, the Liberators and the struggles for independence, I found Venezuela to offer the best possibilities for an interesting campaign; geography, demographics, and history. In the east, plains, waterways and swamps while moving further west we encounter tropical forests and still further west, mountainous regions. Demographically, the Spanish a minority were outnumbered by not only the native Indian population, but Africans as well. Historically, the campaigns for Independence took place in the early 19th century. Not a problem as we shall bring forward into our 18th century, a lot of events which took place nearly 70 years later.

Captaincy General

Audencia de Caracas (Frontier service)

San Juan de los Morros
2e bn. Corona 600
Artillery 10
Militia de los Morros 300

Garrisons along the Orinoco:
Angostura
2e bn. Zamora 600
Artillery 10
Militia de Angostura 600

San Juan de Payara
Militia de Payara 300

Independent formations
Los Llaneros 400

Total 2,820


Note: map is intended to show locations as our campaign will take place 100 years prior to those indicated above.

Campaign Bohemia 1757 – Phase Two

On the 6th of May 1757, a defeated Prince Charles fled behind the walls of Prague and much to Frederick’s surprise, with only a small number escaping to the south and surrounding countryside the majority of the Austrian army were pinned. Within days, Frederick knew Daun would be assembling a relief force and so measures were taken to begin the formal siege of Prague and more importantly, establish a screening force to delay Daun’s arrival. Bevern was given that task.

His first priority was to clear the Elbe region of Croats, who were known to be operating between Brandeis and Kolin and prohibit the scattered remnants of Charles’s defeated army from reassembling. Unknown to the Prussians, these numbers totaled nearly 16,000 men.

Of the modern sources, this is about all that is recorded of the period between Prague and Kolin. What is definite, Frederick moved from his siege of Prague to reinforce Bevern on the 12th of June. Six days later, the Bohemian campaign reached a climax on the hills to the west of Kolin.

Phase two of our Bohemian campaign opens with Bevern assembling his command and setting out to fulfill his first priority, to clear both banks of the Elbe of Croats located between Brandeis and Kolin. Setting out from Anwal, outside Prague Bevern marches to the Elbe.

First reports give the impression that the fugitives have truly scattered. After a short war council, Bevern divides his force into two columns and proceeds on the 12th to Nunbung and Bolin Brod.

Fugitives of Prague

Of the two objectives, dealing with the Croats was a higher priority. Their presence was more a nuisance value as they could easily disrupt the supply lines and tie down troops which were needed elsewhere. After the Battle of Prague, the light corps of Croats and Grenzer Hussars had scattered toward the east along the Elbe river offering suitable protection among the foothills and forest areas.

In six independent columns, their goal was to rendezvous with other fugitives and eventually make contact with any armies coming from Vienna. Among the senior officers of the various columns, they did agree to a common goal of creating as much mayhem in the rear and lead the Prussians on a merry chase away other fugitives of Charles’ original army also trying to escape.