Of Pistols and Perriwigs, A Gentleman Wargamer's Blog: Redmond's Reasons, a blog series of my Seven Years War gaming. (Part I)

"It would require a great philosopher and historian to explain the causes of the great Seven Years War, in which Europe was engaged, and in which Barry's regiment was now on its way to take part. Let it suffice to say that Prussia and England were allies, and at war with the French, the Swedes, the Russians, and the Austrians." -Barry Lyndon (Narration)

In the tumultuous summer of 2017, amidst paint pots and brushes, tiny but valiant armies took shape which, in the course of wargaming, first shed blood and plastic on a small dining room table, late into the evening of May the 23rd. The combatants, while familiar to modern readers as the Prussians and British, and while accustomed to being allies in war, saw themselves opposed at a river crossing to take a great castle, which in former times once guarded the Rhine, now but a picturesque, yet still vitally strategic choke point for advancing armies in that part of Germany. The argument between Kings George II, and Frederick II that precipitated this conflict has been lost to history, but historians will point out that whatever the reason, it was merely a distraction from the coming conflagration that would sweep Europe, and the world, up into its flames.*

(*NOTE: As this post has many pictures in it, I've broken it up into several parts so that my woefully lacking phone may publish this batrep with considerably better ease.)

To the left bank lay a portion of the Black Forest, to the right, open fields and farmlands of this once formidable feudum.

King George II, whilst not a great tactician, saw the vital importance of taking and holding this fortress from the Prussians, and personally led the army which was to take it.

Fredrick II, by far a better more strategically brilliant general, equally saw the value in holding the Schloss von Frankenburg, as it would give him command of this part of Lower Saxony.

A great cacophony of gunshots and steel clad hooves opened the ball so to speak. British horse reached the castle first and clashed with Von Seydlitz' cavalry in a contest for the river crossing.

George rode ahead of the column with the light infantry to further drive off Von Seydlitz and get across the river.

Frederick urged his men at the double quick to reach the castle in force, relying on Von Seydlitz to hold the crossing.

First blood is drawn by the British horse as light infantry arrive to provide support. George adds a +1 to all die rolls to troops within 6" of him as per house rules I've added for commander units.