Kraxis
04-05-2009, 03:49
13th of June 1709
Rains... rains and mists. The weather was horrible in Prussia. What one wouldn't do to be back again in the south. This was exactly why Prince Eugene of Savoy preferred the southern wars so much more. Simple little things like the weather... and of course the women, though he had to admit the local womenfolk in these parts weren't too bad, but they were entirely too docile and simply dutiful, boring in other words. No a fiery mountainwoman of Tyrol, now that was quality. But no point in dwelling in the lost opportunities, or even just the imagined ones... Sometimes the imagination was even better than the real deal, so chasing women was in fact not his great pasttime like many other nobility. Instead he liked soldiering, well obviously not death and dying and bleeding, such things don't make for good style, but the rustic charm of a tough soldier would win his favour over some pampering court buffoon every time. Yes, the Prince loved his troops, even if his orders didn't exactly reflect this all the time.
Now here he was on the Prussian farmland of Lusatia. For three months he and his army have been ravaging the province in an effort to provoke the Prussian army into battle. The fool Friedrich I declared war two years ago, definately not prepared for it. He hoped to take advantage of the preoccupation with the Poles. A quick victory in Volhynia and a noble peace settled the deal long before the Prussian army was ready to sieze the initiative. And as such the Prince hurried north to take the war to Prussia.
Staring at the countryside the Prince had understood the value at once, this was an important breadbasket of Prussia. Constant harrying and pillaging would force them out before they were ready.
Behind the Prince a horse galloped closer and closer, a challenge, an answer and the horse trotted closer. Eugene turned to face the rider, a Hungarian Hussar. In strongly accented german he called out.
"My Prrinze, I hrave informazion about the Prruzzians. They arre movink out... In forze."
Eugene grabbed the letter from the commander of his Hussar scouts.
Indeed the Prussians were moving out, and not with some little militia force he had expected to have met by now. No, instead it seemed like their army was finally assembled, and it was surprisingly being led by the brave, dashing and intelligent Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau.
Eugene handed the letter to his aide and bodyguard, another Hungarian named Stephan. He quickly read it, then looked at the courier and Eugene.
"Are we going to fight them? I mean they might not have our numbers, but their army is 100% professional. They are first rate line troops."
"Yes my dear Stephan, we will face them down. That is the objective of this campaign. We are here to defeat them so we can get a favourable peace, which will in turn let us concentrate on the building threat from the Ottomans... God I hate those... people.
Eugene walked into his tent and spread out the maps, a quick estimate gave him only another day before the Prussians were on his position. Not enough time to prepare a proper defensive position, but just enough to call in all the billeted and scavenging units. Within a couple minute his tent was a beehive of activity, aides and servants and all kinds of important people going to and fro. Meanwhile the Prince pondered his position possibilities. In flat farmland with few roads and few villages of actual value there wasn't much to go on. But after half an hour he found what he was looking for, and within the next hour the army was moving there.
The next morning the rains had stopped. As soon as the sun even allowed the slightest rays of light to peer over the horizon Eugene set about positioning his troops.
"... and I want 15th Grenzers up on the hill in the woods alongside half the Pandours. We need to anchor our position well if we are to get the Prussians to go toe to toe with our heavier numbers."
The various commanders looked at the Prince, their faces showing deep concern. This was an untested army, low on light infantry and very low on cavalry. Aside from his own household bodyguard company he had but a mere single battalion of irregulars.
"Come on men, this is a good position, it has an open field of fire for our artillery, it has a solid right flank covered in a wood on a hill. Our left flank is easily defended by a regiment of Grenzers and some Pandours. We have a might line of solid Austrian troops waiting for the Prussians, and they have little option but to go face first into a hail of fire."
"Oh I have no doubt my Prince," answered one of the older brigadiers. "But even you must admit we are in trouble in regards to reserves. One regiment of Grenzers and those irregular cavalry. If the Prussians make even one unit along our line crumble, we are done for."
Eugene smiled at him. "No my dear Count. If they do, then they have invested too much power in one section and we will fold in on them. Yes a few regiments will get into our rear but we will rip their following regiments to shreds. They simply don't have the manpower to tie our troops down and launch a breakthrough. They have but one option, batter us into submission, and we hold the numbers there." Eugene wasn't as certain as his words, his Prussian counterpart was known for his dash and strength of will. If anyone was a threat as a commander, he was.
"If you say so my Prince. But I'm still not certain it is a good idea to position the artillery among my infantry."
"Ah, my little surprise for the Prussians. Don't worry it'll work fine. They will have to face them down directly, but we can't exactly leave the guns unprotected, can we now?"
"No, my Lord."
Eugene looked at the officers, looking for dissent. While none of them looked entirely happy, he found no disobedient faces. "Alright, carry out the orders."
As the troops deployed the Prussian army appeared. Larger, finer and much more impressive than Eugene had dared to hope for. Yes, today would be a fine test. He hated himself for looking forward to the slaughter, but once battle was joined the individual units became little more than chesspieces to him. And right now the enemy black pieces were lining up nicely. 22000 solid Prussian line troops stared ahead at the 30000 white Austrian soldiers. It was clear that the position was well chosen, the Prussian artillery fired a few rounds then stopped. They had been positioned too far back. Meanwhile the Prussians didn't extend their line towards the wood on the hill. Instead they began to pile a couple regiments up on the right flank, directly opposite the weak Grenzers. Behind them the Prussian cavalry, equally weak in numbers as their Austrian counterparts trotted around the rear of the right flank... then back again.
"See that Stephan? Leo is trying to confuse me. Where will the cavalry strike. I'm intended to send my reserves in first one direction, then another. But I think I will wait a little more."
"Well thought, my Lord." Said the large man with a beautiful bow from his saddle. His face impassive like a rock. A true testament to the qualities of the household cavalry.
"Aw, don't give me that crap Stephan. What's the problem? Well, speak up man."
"My Lord, it appears to me that Prince Leopold is in fact not trying to tie down your reserves, but in fact YOU. The feint is blatantly obvious from our position, and he knows it. He is masking the strengthening of his right flank pretty well."
Eugene looked at the Prussian line more carefully, the extra regiments had vanished despite him actually looking at them. Damn. Frustration crept into the Prince's voice as he called out.
"OPEN FIRE!"
As unusual as it was for a commanding officer to play gunmajor, Eugene was furious. The three hidden batteries opened up with a roar. But the results didn't even remotely match the impressive start. Several shots later and it looked like the Prussians would reach musketrange without suffering any interesting losses. Eugene shook his head. Untried crews firing from an elevated position, the natural tendency is to overshoot (interestingly the same is true for infantry on a lower position). He turned to a Hussar despatch. "Halt round shots and just wait for canister range."
The guns quickly fell silent as they awaited the Prussians to close up. The extent of their line was now visible. Almost perfectly matched up to the Austrian line. Regiment facing regiment. And there... there, hidden in the tangle on the Prussian right were three regiments stacked closely. No artillery at their end. Eugene was tempted at moving his reseves down there now, but premative moves have caused as many defeats as moves coming too late. He had to wait for the inevitable surprise of Leopold.
The cannons began booming again, canister time. Soon musketry would follow, perhaps followed by a charge. But this Eugene wasn't so entirely sure about. The Prussians were just as green as his own troops. Harder drilled to be sure, but each regiment was 20% smaller than his own. Also Eugene knew that Leopold was not fond of the French cold steel tactic. Instead he much preferred to have his men use superior drills and general abilities to force weaknesses that could then be exploited. A sort of academical approach compared to the more brutish French style.
A stacatto of flash-bangs interspersed the cannons' roar. Now was the truth of the hour, would the Prussians charge home or stand and fight? A reply of solid blocks of wooshes answered. They stood, and they had discipline superior to his own men. Worrisome in it's own right, but not an immediate concern. Instead Eugene could now look to the flanks. On his own right a couple regiments began to edge into the wood, hoping to outflank the Austrian position. The musket stacatto from in there gave the Prussians the answer they didn't want to find. Their flanking had been denied. So the right was secure for now.
On the left things were not good, but they were not dangeorus either. Behind the dense block of infantry the enemy cavalry was once more move out to the far right, this time they kept going. They were about to flank. Eugene turned to another of the Hussar despatches. "12th Grenzers to anchor on the line and pivot 90 degrees outwards, Pandours on their flanks."
But even as the Hussar raced like a madman towards the units it was obvious it wouldn't be enough. "18th Grenzers to support left flank at once."
The Austrian army was now effectively down to a batallion of irregular cavalry as a reserve.
Just then a hidden unit of Prussian line cavalry charged the center. They were met by a hail of musketry, but the ones that made it the line disrupted the formation and caused a temporary stop of the firing. The Prussian infantry made the most of it and rushed closer and gave off some devastating close range volleys.
From the looks of the holes in the Prussian lines, things were decidedly in Eugene's favour right now. Even the potentially dangeorus flanking of cavalry had been checked, if in an expensive way. The Pandours had been forced to go out in front of the Grenzers and had provoked a charge. Nearly annihilated to a man they had effectively locked down this dangerous force. The Grenzer had promtly countercharged and a firce melee was going on. With reinforcements on the way Eugene was certain the fight would be dicided in his favour. And when that was finished he would swing he now strong left flank around the enemy flank and roll him up. Oh yes, the plan was working out nicely.
A shout tore Eugene out from his little dream. "Look, they are charging!" Stephan was pointing at the Prussian lines... From the woods to the little fenced enclosure marking the far left flank the Prussian were charging. Eugene's heart sank. Leopold had seen that his troops were in trouble due to his flanking force being eliminated, and with his troops generally winning the central shootout, a general charge was his last gambit for victory.
While the Grenzers on the left flank were stuggling to more than just hold the cavalry, the linetroops were being mobbed by several regiments of Prussians. They managed to hold, but it was clear they would crumble, and soon. To his surprise the right flank was not engaged in melee.
"Come men, we have urgent business up there." He said and pointed into the wood. Then he yelled at the irregulars. "See those enemy cavalry down there? AT THEM!" The eager horsemen spurred their horses towards the struggle. No more reserves, all troops comitted. Eugene shivered, defeat was a destinct possibility for his army. As he passed the lines' rear he saw the artilleryment run to the rear. Sensible enough, but dangerous to the morale. Nothing he could do though.
Soon he was in the woods and could hear the ranged duel going on. The single regiment of line troops were holding the Prussians at bay. Time for the Pandours and Grenzers to enter the battle. A flurry of orders and suddenly the Prussians found themselves engaged on three sides. Furiously they refused to give in.
Eugene looked back along his line. At the other end he could see the Grenzers and irregulars were finally overcoming the enemy cavalry. He just hoped the commanders there had the sense to flank the Prussians. No order would arrive in time. In the center he could see things were going from poor to bad to worse in seconds. With his heart in the throat he watched as first one, then another regiment broke from the melee... the results were a rippling effect up and down the line. His army was shattered.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. "My Prince, I fear it is time to retreat to safety."
"Hell no Stephan. This was their last gasp. They are spent. We will stay for a few more minutes to see if we can salvage this mess."
"I'm sorry, in times like this I have the authority to pull you out if need be."
"Stephan! A few minutes! I order you to stay." Eugene was trying to stare the man down.
"No my Lord. We leave now!" With that he grabbed the reigns from Eugene. While he not a small weakling of an aristocrat, Stephan had been selected for his strength and determination as much as his loyalty and good manners. There was no way he could get the reigns back without drawing his weapons... Even so, he expected Stephan to be able to defend himself while keeping both reigns. As he began to lead the horses from the battle while yelling orders to the guardsmen, Eugene looked back at the now disintegrated line. And from that horrible mess he saw a glimmer of hope. The Prussians were chasing his troops, and they were woefully depleted.
"Stephan, look! Eugene pointed backwards. "There is a chance now. We just need to send this flank down the middle." Stephan looking back creased his brow furiously. A short bark of an order and they halted. "Hurry my Lord."
Eugene grabbed the reigns and sped off to the melee in the forest. As he reached it the Prussians were running. "Line up men, we are heading back down the hill towards our comrades." The Troops cheered at the dazzling general and began to form lines. It took them some minutes to reform but soon they were marching hard down the hill, driving unit after unit of Prussians before them. Suddenly they were confronted by a line of ready infantry. A weak line, but a line still. Their muskets rattled, and it looked as if the entire Austrian line shuddered. Confusion shook them and it looked as if the attempt was dead. The Prussians had won...
Prince Eugene of Savoy looked with dismay as his troops wavered, not even preparing to unload at the enemy. Then from behind him Stephan and the guards rode like devils through the shaken Austrians. Eugene attached himself to the charge and swung his sword over his head. He didn't look back, but he heard a deep cry as hundreds of men yelled.
This was not his first charge, not even the first that could decide a battle, but it was the first that had him this desperate. "FOR CROWN AND FATHERLAND!" The Prussian infantry ahead of him looked calm as they knelt and laid their muskets. A line of flashes and white smoke. Whistles of bullets flying past his head. The white smoke cleared enough to make out the Prussians. Far from calm their faces were now visible enoughto show clear signs on fear. The cavalrymen let out a warcry as they closed the last meters. Half the Prussians bolted out of the way, the rest presented weak obstacles. Eugene's horse knocked a man down as he tried to jump clear, his sword stuck another, not sure where, but the sounds from him were gurgling. Another tried to stab the obvious officer with his bayonet, but Eugene was faster and stabbed him as he twisted to avoid the horse's bulk. Then they were clear. Or perhaps not. A group of highly stylized cavalrymen trotted towards them. Then they broke into a canter. A head on engagement was brewing. Eugene had no time to observe what was happening behind him, or anywhere else. He was swept up in the second charge. A voice called for him as the guard barreled down on the Prussian cavalry. "My Prince, stay behind me, I will cover you, but you must not break way for anything you hear me." Stephan was calm, much clamer than his appearance indicated. His sword was red from hilt to tip with blood, he was spattered on all his right side and he had a gash on his right thigh gushing blood down to his boots. Eugene followed the order, he was out of his element here. This was what Stephan was there for, only stupidity would ignore his expertise now.
The thunder of the two formations rose as they neared. Both sides trying to spread out and make room for themselves. There were simply not enough for a complex formation. This was when Eugene saw how few men he had left. They were outnumbered at least two to one.
With clammy hands Eugene gripped his sword solidly and kept an eye out for enemies nearing. Stephan made for a gap and then the two units hit each other. The expected clash didn't happen, but there were screams and whinnying from the horses, then the riders were past and they turned to reengage. Stephan had correctly guaged the enemy and he and Eugene were now free. That was until a pistolball hit him in the back. The big man crumbled in his saddle, then turned his head to Eugene, his mouth forming words that never left his lungs, then he fell from the horse.
Alone Eugene was forced to turn to defend himself. And there, with a flashing sword drawn was the dazzling Leopold. His face a furious tangle of anger as he threw himself at the other general. Eugene slowed his horse and deflected the first blow. Leopold also slowed to the point that the two men were now circling each other.
"Mangy curr!" Leopold snarled as his swordtip flipped Eugene's hat off. His ferocity in such a close combat was astounding. And his speed was equally surprising. Eugene was now 45 years old, and he had never been a combatant, always a commander. His bravery was never in doubt, but he had generally used it to spur his troops on rather than play Alexander the Great. And while a good swordsman as any professional soldier and nobleman would be, it was clear that Prince Leopold overmatched him by a good deal. The only thing keeping him alive was the impetuous fury of the Prussian and his own deft handling of his horse to keep him at maximum range at all times. It felt like hours, defending, parrying, twisting, dodging. No time for any real counterattacks. He could feel his arm growing weary and his movements sluggish. Leopold didn't show any such limitations.
Finally the inevitable happened, Leopold counterthrusted after a badly timed thrust from Eugene, the strike hit in the forearm and sliced deep. Tendons were ripped and Eugene's sword fell from his useless hand as he howled in pain gripping the arm. But at least he had the sense to sidestep his horse and an otherwise fatal strike passed his throat by the slimmest margin. "Yield!" the furious Prussian yelled, and Eugene was about to answer when he heard a rippling musket volley. Wherefrom was not important, but what was important was that Leopold turned his head, then gripped his reigns and took off. Bewildered Eugene opened his eyes through the pain and watched a line of Grenzers advance. Then he fell from the horse uncontious...
At the end of the day Austria had broken the back of Prussia. Of the 22000 Prussians more than 13000 were casualties. The remaining units were disbanded and the survivors integrated in new units. Prince Leopold never returned. It isn't known what happened to him after he fled the battle. Maybe he was simply killed by highwaymen when he was alone.
Prince Eugene won the battle as the far left flank managed to move up and engage the troops that were savaging the far right flank in the rear. And combined the two flanks removed any remaining threat from the Prussian center.
While the Austrian losses were even higher than the Prussians, at a staggering 15000, enough of a force was prepared to march on Berlin. Prussia caved in to diplomatic pressure within days of the battle. Unfortunately Prince Eugene lost all handling of his right hand, and after the extremely bloody victory of Lusatia Heide, his troops nicknamed him Uncle Blood and Gore for his willingness to let them slug it out with such horrendous losses as a result. But at least he could return to fight the hated Ottomans again.
Rains... rains and mists. The weather was horrible in Prussia. What one wouldn't do to be back again in the south. This was exactly why Prince Eugene of Savoy preferred the southern wars so much more. Simple little things like the weather... and of course the women, though he had to admit the local womenfolk in these parts weren't too bad, but they were entirely too docile and simply dutiful, boring in other words. No a fiery mountainwoman of Tyrol, now that was quality. But no point in dwelling in the lost opportunities, or even just the imagined ones... Sometimes the imagination was even better than the real deal, so chasing women was in fact not his great pasttime like many other nobility. Instead he liked soldiering, well obviously not death and dying and bleeding, such things don't make for good style, but the rustic charm of a tough soldier would win his favour over some pampering court buffoon every time. Yes, the Prince loved his troops, even if his orders didn't exactly reflect this all the time.
Now here he was on the Prussian farmland of Lusatia. For three months he and his army have been ravaging the province in an effort to provoke the Prussian army into battle. The fool Friedrich I declared war two years ago, definately not prepared for it. He hoped to take advantage of the preoccupation with the Poles. A quick victory in Volhynia and a noble peace settled the deal long before the Prussian army was ready to sieze the initiative. And as such the Prince hurried north to take the war to Prussia.
Staring at the countryside the Prince had understood the value at once, this was an important breadbasket of Prussia. Constant harrying and pillaging would force them out before they were ready.
Behind the Prince a horse galloped closer and closer, a challenge, an answer and the horse trotted closer. Eugene turned to face the rider, a Hungarian Hussar. In strongly accented german he called out.
"My Prrinze, I hrave informazion about the Prruzzians. They arre movink out... In forze."
Eugene grabbed the letter from the commander of his Hussar scouts.
Indeed the Prussians were moving out, and not with some little militia force he had expected to have met by now. No, instead it seemed like their army was finally assembled, and it was surprisingly being led by the brave, dashing and intelligent Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau.
Eugene handed the letter to his aide and bodyguard, another Hungarian named Stephan. He quickly read it, then looked at the courier and Eugene.
"Are we going to fight them? I mean they might not have our numbers, but their army is 100% professional. They are first rate line troops."
"Yes my dear Stephan, we will face them down. That is the objective of this campaign. We are here to defeat them so we can get a favourable peace, which will in turn let us concentrate on the building threat from the Ottomans... God I hate those... people.
Eugene walked into his tent and spread out the maps, a quick estimate gave him only another day before the Prussians were on his position. Not enough time to prepare a proper defensive position, but just enough to call in all the billeted and scavenging units. Within a couple minute his tent was a beehive of activity, aides and servants and all kinds of important people going to and fro. Meanwhile the Prince pondered his position possibilities. In flat farmland with few roads and few villages of actual value there wasn't much to go on. But after half an hour he found what he was looking for, and within the next hour the army was moving there.
The next morning the rains had stopped. As soon as the sun even allowed the slightest rays of light to peer over the horizon Eugene set about positioning his troops.
"... and I want 15th Grenzers up on the hill in the woods alongside half the Pandours. We need to anchor our position well if we are to get the Prussians to go toe to toe with our heavier numbers."
The various commanders looked at the Prince, their faces showing deep concern. This was an untested army, low on light infantry and very low on cavalry. Aside from his own household bodyguard company he had but a mere single battalion of irregulars.
"Come on men, this is a good position, it has an open field of fire for our artillery, it has a solid right flank covered in a wood on a hill. Our left flank is easily defended by a regiment of Grenzers and some Pandours. We have a might line of solid Austrian troops waiting for the Prussians, and they have little option but to go face first into a hail of fire."
"Oh I have no doubt my Prince," answered one of the older brigadiers. "But even you must admit we are in trouble in regards to reserves. One regiment of Grenzers and those irregular cavalry. If the Prussians make even one unit along our line crumble, we are done for."
Eugene smiled at him. "No my dear Count. If they do, then they have invested too much power in one section and we will fold in on them. Yes a few regiments will get into our rear but we will rip their following regiments to shreds. They simply don't have the manpower to tie our troops down and launch a breakthrough. They have but one option, batter us into submission, and we hold the numbers there." Eugene wasn't as certain as his words, his Prussian counterpart was known for his dash and strength of will. If anyone was a threat as a commander, he was.
"If you say so my Prince. But I'm still not certain it is a good idea to position the artillery among my infantry."
"Ah, my little surprise for the Prussians. Don't worry it'll work fine. They will have to face them down directly, but we can't exactly leave the guns unprotected, can we now?"
"No, my Lord."
Eugene looked at the officers, looking for dissent. While none of them looked entirely happy, he found no disobedient faces. "Alright, carry out the orders."
As the troops deployed the Prussian army appeared. Larger, finer and much more impressive than Eugene had dared to hope for. Yes, today would be a fine test. He hated himself for looking forward to the slaughter, but once battle was joined the individual units became little more than chesspieces to him. And right now the enemy black pieces were lining up nicely. 22000 solid Prussian line troops stared ahead at the 30000 white Austrian soldiers. It was clear that the position was well chosen, the Prussian artillery fired a few rounds then stopped. They had been positioned too far back. Meanwhile the Prussians didn't extend their line towards the wood on the hill. Instead they began to pile a couple regiments up on the right flank, directly opposite the weak Grenzers. Behind them the Prussian cavalry, equally weak in numbers as their Austrian counterparts trotted around the rear of the right flank... then back again.
"See that Stephan? Leo is trying to confuse me. Where will the cavalry strike. I'm intended to send my reserves in first one direction, then another. But I think I will wait a little more."
"Well thought, my Lord." Said the large man with a beautiful bow from his saddle. His face impassive like a rock. A true testament to the qualities of the household cavalry.
"Aw, don't give me that crap Stephan. What's the problem? Well, speak up man."
"My Lord, it appears to me that Prince Leopold is in fact not trying to tie down your reserves, but in fact YOU. The feint is blatantly obvious from our position, and he knows it. He is masking the strengthening of his right flank pretty well."
Eugene looked at the Prussian line more carefully, the extra regiments had vanished despite him actually looking at them. Damn. Frustration crept into the Prince's voice as he called out.
"OPEN FIRE!"
As unusual as it was for a commanding officer to play gunmajor, Eugene was furious. The three hidden batteries opened up with a roar. But the results didn't even remotely match the impressive start. Several shots later and it looked like the Prussians would reach musketrange without suffering any interesting losses. Eugene shook his head. Untried crews firing from an elevated position, the natural tendency is to overshoot (interestingly the same is true for infantry on a lower position). He turned to a Hussar despatch. "Halt round shots and just wait for canister range."
The guns quickly fell silent as they awaited the Prussians to close up. The extent of their line was now visible. Almost perfectly matched up to the Austrian line. Regiment facing regiment. And there... there, hidden in the tangle on the Prussian right were three regiments stacked closely. No artillery at their end. Eugene was tempted at moving his reseves down there now, but premative moves have caused as many defeats as moves coming too late. He had to wait for the inevitable surprise of Leopold.
The cannons began booming again, canister time. Soon musketry would follow, perhaps followed by a charge. But this Eugene wasn't so entirely sure about. The Prussians were just as green as his own troops. Harder drilled to be sure, but each regiment was 20% smaller than his own. Also Eugene knew that Leopold was not fond of the French cold steel tactic. Instead he much preferred to have his men use superior drills and general abilities to force weaknesses that could then be exploited. A sort of academical approach compared to the more brutish French style.
A stacatto of flash-bangs interspersed the cannons' roar. Now was the truth of the hour, would the Prussians charge home or stand and fight? A reply of solid blocks of wooshes answered. They stood, and they had discipline superior to his own men. Worrisome in it's own right, but not an immediate concern. Instead Eugene could now look to the flanks. On his own right a couple regiments began to edge into the wood, hoping to outflank the Austrian position. The musket stacatto from in there gave the Prussians the answer they didn't want to find. Their flanking had been denied. So the right was secure for now.
On the left things were not good, but they were not dangeorus either. Behind the dense block of infantry the enemy cavalry was once more move out to the far right, this time they kept going. They were about to flank. Eugene turned to another of the Hussar despatches. "12th Grenzers to anchor on the line and pivot 90 degrees outwards, Pandours on their flanks."
But even as the Hussar raced like a madman towards the units it was obvious it wouldn't be enough. "18th Grenzers to support left flank at once."
The Austrian army was now effectively down to a batallion of irregular cavalry as a reserve.
Just then a hidden unit of Prussian line cavalry charged the center. They were met by a hail of musketry, but the ones that made it the line disrupted the formation and caused a temporary stop of the firing. The Prussian infantry made the most of it and rushed closer and gave off some devastating close range volleys.
From the looks of the holes in the Prussian lines, things were decidedly in Eugene's favour right now. Even the potentially dangeorus flanking of cavalry had been checked, if in an expensive way. The Pandours had been forced to go out in front of the Grenzers and had provoked a charge. Nearly annihilated to a man they had effectively locked down this dangerous force. The Grenzer had promtly countercharged and a firce melee was going on. With reinforcements on the way Eugene was certain the fight would be dicided in his favour. And when that was finished he would swing he now strong left flank around the enemy flank and roll him up. Oh yes, the plan was working out nicely.
A shout tore Eugene out from his little dream. "Look, they are charging!" Stephan was pointing at the Prussian lines... From the woods to the little fenced enclosure marking the far left flank the Prussian were charging. Eugene's heart sank. Leopold had seen that his troops were in trouble due to his flanking force being eliminated, and with his troops generally winning the central shootout, a general charge was his last gambit for victory.
While the Grenzers on the left flank were stuggling to more than just hold the cavalry, the linetroops were being mobbed by several regiments of Prussians. They managed to hold, but it was clear they would crumble, and soon. To his surprise the right flank was not engaged in melee.
"Come men, we have urgent business up there." He said and pointed into the wood. Then he yelled at the irregulars. "See those enemy cavalry down there? AT THEM!" The eager horsemen spurred their horses towards the struggle. No more reserves, all troops comitted. Eugene shivered, defeat was a destinct possibility for his army. As he passed the lines' rear he saw the artilleryment run to the rear. Sensible enough, but dangerous to the morale. Nothing he could do though.
Soon he was in the woods and could hear the ranged duel going on. The single regiment of line troops were holding the Prussians at bay. Time for the Pandours and Grenzers to enter the battle. A flurry of orders and suddenly the Prussians found themselves engaged on three sides. Furiously they refused to give in.
Eugene looked back along his line. At the other end he could see the Grenzers and irregulars were finally overcoming the enemy cavalry. He just hoped the commanders there had the sense to flank the Prussians. No order would arrive in time. In the center he could see things were going from poor to bad to worse in seconds. With his heart in the throat he watched as first one, then another regiment broke from the melee... the results were a rippling effect up and down the line. His army was shattered.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. "My Prince, I fear it is time to retreat to safety."
"Hell no Stephan. This was their last gasp. They are spent. We will stay for a few more minutes to see if we can salvage this mess."
"I'm sorry, in times like this I have the authority to pull you out if need be."
"Stephan! A few minutes! I order you to stay." Eugene was trying to stare the man down.
"No my Lord. We leave now!" With that he grabbed the reigns from Eugene. While he not a small weakling of an aristocrat, Stephan had been selected for his strength and determination as much as his loyalty and good manners. There was no way he could get the reigns back without drawing his weapons... Even so, he expected Stephan to be able to defend himself while keeping both reigns. As he began to lead the horses from the battle while yelling orders to the guardsmen, Eugene looked back at the now disintegrated line. And from that horrible mess he saw a glimmer of hope. The Prussians were chasing his troops, and they were woefully depleted.
"Stephan, look! Eugene pointed backwards. "There is a chance now. We just need to send this flank down the middle." Stephan looking back creased his brow furiously. A short bark of an order and they halted. "Hurry my Lord."
Eugene grabbed the reigns and sped off to the melee in the forest. As he reached it the Prussians were running. "Line up men, we are heading back down the hill towards our comrades." The Troops cheered at the dazzling general and began to form lines. It took them some minutes to reform but soon they were marching hard down the hill, driving unit after unit of Prussians before them. Suddenly they were confronted by a line of ready infantry. A weak line, but a line still. Their muskets rattled, and it looked as if the entire Austrian line shuddered. Confusion shook them and it looked as if the attempt was dead. The Prussians had won...
Prince Eugene of Savoy looked with dismay as his troops wavered, not even preparing to unload at the enemy. Then from behind him Stephan and the guards rode like devils through the shaken Austrians. Eugene attached himself to the charge and swung his sword over his head. He didn't look back, but he heard a deep cry as hundreds of men yelled.
This was not his first charge, not even the first that could decide a battle, but it was the first that had him this desperate. "FOR CROWN AND FATHERLAND!" The Prussian infantry ahead of him looked calm as they knelt and laid their muskets. A line of flashes and white smoke. Whistles of bullets flying past his head. The white smoke cleared enough to make out the Prussians. Far from calm their faces were now visible enoughto show clear signs on fear. The cavalrymen let out a warcry as they closed the last meters. Half the Prussians bolted out of the way, the rest presented weak obstacles. Eugene's horse knocked a man down as he tried to jump clear, his sword stuck another, not sure where, but the sounds from him were gurgling. Another tried to stab the obvious officer with his bayonet, but Eugene was faster and stabbed him as he twisted to avoid the horse's bulk. Then they were clear. Or perhaps not. A group of highly stylized cavalrymen trotted towards them. Then they broke into a canter. A head on engagement was brewing. Eugene had no time to observe what was happening behind him, or anywhere else. He was swept up in the second charge. A voice called for him as the guard barreled down on the Prussian cavalry. "My Prince, stay behind me, I will cover you, but you must not break way for anything you hear me." Stephan was calm, much clamer than his appearance indicated. His sword was red from hilt to tip with blood, he was spattered on all his right side and he had a gash on his right thigh gushing blood down to his boots. Eugene followed the order, he was out of his element here. This was what Stephan was there for, only stupidity would ignore his expertise now.
The thunder of the two formations rose as they neared. Both sides trying to spread out and make room for themselves. There were simply not enough for a complex formation. This was when Eugene saw how few men he had left. They were outnumbered at least two to one.
With clammy hands Eugene gripped his sword solidly and kept an eye out for enemies nearing. Stephan made for a gap and then the two units hit each other. The expected clash didn't happen, but there were screams and whinnying from the horses, then the riders were past and they turned to reengage. Stephan had correctly guaged the enemy and he and Eugene were now free. That was until a pistolball hit him in the back. The big man crumbled in his saddle, then turned his head to Eugene, his mouth forming words that never left his lungs, then he fell from the horse.
Alone Eugene was forced to turn to defend himself. And there, with a flashing sword drawn was the dazzling Leopold. His face a furious tangle of anger as he threw himself at the other general. Eugene slowed his horse and deflected the first blow. Leopold also slowed to the point that the two men were now circling each other.
"Mangy curr!" Leopold snarled as his swordtip flipped Eugene's hat off. His ferocity in such a close combat was astounding. And his speed was equally surprising. Eugene was now 45 years old, and he had never been a combatant, always a commander. His bravery was never in doubt, but he had generally used it to spur his troops on rather than play Alexander the Great. And while a good swordsman as any professional soldier and nobleman would be, it was clear that Prince Leopold overmatched him by a good deal. The only thing keeping him alive was the impetuous fury of the Prussian and his own deft handling of his horse to keep him at maximum range at all times. It felt like hours, defending, parrying, twisting, dodging. No time for any real counterattacks. He could feel his arm growing weary and his movements sluggish. Leopold didn't show any such limitations.
Finally the inevitable happened, Leopold counterthrusted after a badly timed thrust from Eugene, the strike hit in the forearm and sliced deep. Tendons were ripped and Eugene's sword fell from his useless hand as he howled in pain gripping the arm. But at least he had the sense to sidestep his horse and an otherwise fatal strike passed his throat by the slimmest margin. "Yield!" the furious Prussian yelled, and Eugene was about to answer when he heard a rippling musket volley. Wherefrom was not important, but what was important was that Leopold turned his head, then gripped his reigns and took off. Bewildered Eugene opened his eyes through the pain and watched a line of Grenzers advance. Then he fell from the horse uncontious...
At the end of the day Austria had broken the back of Prussia. Of the 22000 Prussians more than 13000 were casualties. The remaining units were disbanded and the survivors integrated in new units. Prince Leopold never returned. It isn't known what happened to him after he fled the battle. Maybe he was simply killed by highwaymen when he was alone.
Prince Eugene won the battle as the far left flank managed to move up and engage the troops that were savaging the far right flank in the rear. And combined the two flanks removed any remaining threat from the Prussian center.
While the Austrian losses were even higher than the Prussians, at a staggering 15000, enough of a force was prepared to march on Berlin. Prussia caved in to diplomatic pressure within days of the battle. Unfortunately Prince Eugene lost all handling of his right hand, and after the extremely bloody victory of Lusatia Heide, his troops nicknamed him Uncle Blood and Gore for his willingness to let them slug it out with such horrendous losses as a result. But at least he could return to fight the hated Ottomans again.