Invasion of Hanover
These next few months would be an important time on the continent as the battles of what we once called the Seven Years War, raged. Choisel acted quickly, but only had so much time to give noticed of the requested military reforms before actions took place, such things would take far longer than a month to bear fruit.
On July 27th, Louis d'Estrées leads a force of French against the British aligned Hanover and meets the Anglo-Hanoverian army led by the Duke of Cumberland near Hastenbeck.
Battle of Hastenbeck
62,000 French troops would fight against 35,000 British and Hanover soldiers. The French attacked on multiple fronts and after an initial stalemate, the Hanover guns were overrun. Reserve Hanover infantry attempted to repulse the French advance, but failed and the Duke of Cumberland began to retreat. Louis d’Estrees, aware of his victory, pursued and managed to cut off a portion of the Hanoverian army forcing it to surrender.
Battle Results:
French Forces: 1300 killed or wounded.
Anglo-Hanover Forces: 1200 killed or wounded, 2000 captured.
Decisive French Victory
As a result of this defeat, the Duke of Cumberland was forced to sign the Convention of Klosterzeven, which stipulated Hanover’s full occupation by the French and the Electorate’s removal from the war. The Duke of Cumberland was disgraced upon his return to England over the signing, and it was the end of his military career.
A Change in Parliament
The British were facing numerous setbacks during the war so far; they suffered the loss of Minorca, numerous defeats in North America, and the invasion of Hanover. If not for word of the recapture of St. Kitts and Nevis, an even worse pall would have beset the members of parliament. In the wake of this though; William Pitt, who recently attained the position of Leader of the House of Commons on June 27th, formed a coalition with former adversary, the Prime Minister of Britain, Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke ofNewcastle. Together they devised a strategy of navel descents upon the French coasts and other possessions which would begin with an attack on Rochefort and an expedition against Louisberg in French controlled Nova Scotia.
Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf
On August 30, a Russian army of over 100,000 led by Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin had invaded East Prussia. Though by the time they faced off against the Prussians his army had been reduced to just over 75,000 from the outbreak of a smallpox epidemic. Field-Marshal Hans von Lehwaldt of the Prussian army took 25,500 men to face off against this threat near Gross-Jägersdorf in one of the bloodiest battles of the war.
The cautious Apraksin was caught by surprise during his attempts to cross the Pregal river, and came close to losing his life on the banks before generals Vasily Lopukhin and Pyotr Rumyantsev responded in time to push the Prussians back in fierce fighting through dense thickets.
While the Prussians made an orderly retreat, the Russians executed a fierce counter attack, pushing them back even further. The Cossock cavalry, in a bold move, cut off one avenue of escape; forcing the Prussians to retreat directly through heavy artillery fire. Miscommunication and over-eager charges however saw several Russian troops pursue the fleeing Prussians into their own Artillery fire. This friendly fire barrage forced an end to the pursuit, which allowed the surviving East Prussian army to escape from the battlefield.
Battle Results:
Russian Forces: 7500 dead and wounded.
Prussian Forces: 5500 dead and wounded, 28 cannon captured.
Decisive Russian victory
After the battle, the Russians had a wide open path to overrun all of East Prussia, and were soon on the march to do so as they headed for Konigsburg to secure its capture.
If you recall, I mentioned that the ripples thought time originating from Azov would have a future impact of importance. Well, it was these ripples, from the arrival of our agent of Change Pieter to his home, which had a dramatic impact on the aftermath of this battle. A bump here and there as merchants who interacted with our agent took slightly different steps one or two seconds off from normal at first, then grew larger, and the small changes aggregated into bigger changes, until they changes in the time stream swept over the Russian Palace. It was nothing noticeable, just little things. Little things like a few bacterium or viruses being present or not present in the vicinity of Empress Elizabeth at a critical moment. In this case, they did not cross her path, and thus she did not encounter a severe relapse to her health. Because she did not take a turn for the worse, no reports of her illness were sent west, and thus the commander of the Russian armies during the war, Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin, had one less argument in favor of his retreat from East Prussian rather than remaining to conquer the province. Thusly, when he made his decision to stay or return home, he chose to stay and continue the campaign.
Battle of Gorlitz
On September 6th, near the town of Gorlitz, a 26,000 strong Austrian army came upon a Prussian army of 13,000 camped outside the town. In a swift surprise attack the Prussian army and garrison surrendered to the superior Austrian forces.
Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: 1300 dead or wounded, remainder captured.
Austrian Forces: 1500 dead or wounded.
Decisive Austrian Victory (equivalent to OTL Battle of Moys)
Siege of Konigsburg
On September 7th, after having won at Gross-Jägersdorf, Apraksin finally got his forces in order to besiege Konigsburg, who was being defended by Hans von Lehwaldt who had reinforced the garrison with the surviving Prussian army that they had previously fought.
The overly cautious and by some accounts, cowardly Apraksin, was disinclined to assault the walls despite the superior Russian forces, and the risk that another outbreak of smallpox might befall the army. He was also still nursing wounds he had received at the prior battle. This resulted in great displeasure of several of his subordinate officers and generals; who sent immediate word back to Russia. They believed if they did not attack soon, Fredrick might send a force to relieve the siege. Furthermore the harsh policies Apraksin had set in place against the Prussian civilians were creating enough resentment to make scouting, foraging and trading for supplies much more difficult.
After nearly two weeks of their commander not acting, a letter from Apraksin’s friend and mentor Chancellor Aleksey Bestuzhev to Apraksin was intercepted by the other generals. Within was instruction by Bestuzhev to recall the Russian army home and expressions of worry over enemies at court plotting his downfall. Withdrawing the army in the face of victory, ignoble on its own, was also counter to what they understood was the desires of Empress Elizabeth.
Generals Vasily Lopukhin, Pyotr Rumyantsev, and William Fermor, along with several senior officers, took the drastic step of relieving Apraksin of command, and commencing the assault on Konigsburg. On Septermber 20th, 72,000 strong Russians army faced off against 29,000 Prussian defenders and civilian militia.
The city fell, but it was a far harder fight than the Russians expected. The strong Prussian discipline and skill showed itself again, which even resulted in a surprise sortie that broke through the Russian siege lines allowing a fair portion of the Prussian army to escape surrender. Beyond expectations, the fight was more bloody than the one at Gross-Jägersdorf, with much close quarters fighting going on from house to house. The harsh treatment of the civilians by Apraksin’s directly affected the resistance of the civilians and their aid to the Prussian army.
Battle Results:
Russian Forces: 7500 dead or wounded,
Prussian Forces: 5000 dead or wounded, 10000 captured/surrendered. 14,000, including Prussian commander Hans von Lehwaldt escaped.
Civilian Losses: over 7,000 dead or wounded
Clear Russian Victory: Fall of East Prussia to the Russians.
Over the rest of the year, Hans von Lehwaldt would continue to harass the Russian army with his small force of 14,000 in a series of bloody skirmishes throughout East Prussia and the Western Poland, but with no direct battle confrontations. These actions would eventual cause the Russian forces in East Prussia to dwindle to 60,000 by years end (a loss of 4500 dead and wounded) In comparison, Lehwaldt’s army would only shrink to 12,000, for a loss 2000 dead and wounded as they significantly harried the Russian’s westward march.
Reaction of the Russian Court
When word arrived of the fall of Konigsburg, Empress Elizabeth was both pleased and concerned. She accepted the explanation of the generals and made Vasily Lopukhin’s de facto command of the Russian Army official, and recalled Apraksin. The orders granting Lopukhin official command of the Russian forces also included a note from the Empress herself, roughly translated as “Get on with it.”
As for Chancellor Aleksey Bestuzhev, when the questionable nature of the letter to Apraksin came to light, he found himself banished despite his denials as to its authenticity. Apraksin shared a similar fate upon his return home to the capital.
Now then we could of course view the time-streams to see exactly what was going on here, but that would be cheating wouldn’t it? I will say this, in our timeline, the reasons for the Russians retreat were varied, unknown and debatable. This is the same case here, except regarding the reasons for them not retreating. To the ancient historians of this timeline, just like ours at the time, they could only guess. So I ask, what is your guess? A smallpox epidemic befell the Russian army in the timeline as it did in our own, though numbers and timing where not the same, it did sap 25% of their original strength. In this timeline’s case the Russians didn’t retreat. In our timeline there was speculation that Apraksin was recalled to support the heir Peter III due to Empress Elizabeth’s illness, or that it was Bestuzhev recalling his friend due to threats from his own enemies. Well in this timeline no illness befell the Empress, though I am sure enemies and nemesis abounded in all the courts of that day and age. Was the letter’s authenticity as Bestuzhev claimed suspect? If so, it was certainly convenient that the letter was intercepted; and by the right peoples no less. Perhaps our counterpart time-stream historians examining their own histories and its alternates themselves wonder what would have been had the letter been received by Apraksin and the Russians retreated. Perhaps they too have even contemplated the outcome of a different roll of dice. Though before we lose ourselves in debate over the meta of the meta, let us resume our study of the timeline we have chosen.
Expedition to Capture Louisberg
The Earl of Loudon had been in command of British North American forces since his arrival in July of the prior year. Pitt’s new instructions regarding offensives finally reached Loudon in March, when planning was put in motion for an expedition to capture the French fortress of Louisberg. French intelligence however became aware of the plan and sent fleets to reinforce their holdings. Dubois de la Motte and Joseph de Bauffremont of Sainte Dominque and Joseph-François de Noble Du Revest together brought 16 ships of the line and 5 frigates to counter the British fleet.
Admiral Holborne of the British fleet knew the French had been reinforced, but it couldn’t be helped because of numerous delays, so the expedition was not ready.
Battle of Salmon Rock
On Septermber 24th, during temperamental weather, the British Fleet came upon the French fleet as it was on its way into the harbor at Louisberg to take shelter from the storm.
Not wanting to lose an opportunity, Admiral Holborne formed up a line to attack and attempt to cut off access to the harbor from the French. Unfavorable winds and heavy rain hindered his attempt, and he was unable to prevent the majority of the French fleet from slipping by him, though the British Fleet did delay them enough for a few volleys of shots to be exchanged.
In the high winds and seas, the exchange of cannon did little damage to the two fleets. The storm however would do far worse, and it cared not whose flag was being flown. As the ships fired on each other near shoals called Salmon Rock, a fierce gale came up that forced an immediate disengagement as the two sides attempted to retreat from each other. Mother Nature had different ideas and sent two British and two French ships into the rocks. A second French frigate was also blown aground into the shallows, though it would later be salvaged and freed by the high tide.
Battle Results:
French Forces: Loss of the Content (60 gun SOTL) and Licorne (30 gun frigate)
419 dead
British Forces: Loss of HMS Tilbury (58 gun SOTL) and Hastings (40 gun frigate).
213 dead, 437 captured (washed up on Ile Royale/Cape Breton
Winner: Mother Nature
The storm scattered the British fleet, but the French were unable to pursue as the reason for their retreat to the harbor (other than the storm) was an outbreak of illness among the sailors.
Raid on Rochefort
After numerous delays the plan to raid Rochefort finally got underway. This first stage, the capture of the Ilse of Aix was completed after HMS Magnamine and Barfluer destroyed the batteries of the fort defending the island. Shallow water, poor weather and trepidations of Sir John Morduant, commander of the land forces, continually delayed any landing attempts. Finally on September 29th, a landing force disembarked. Morduants fear of French forces hiding behinds the dunes and hills, and that surprise had long since been lost, proved correct. As the first wave of British troops came ashore, cannon and lines of French troops crested the hilltop and opened fire on the masses of British soldiers. The British fleet fired back immediately, but the French artillery, somewhere behind the hills were not directly visible, and thus proved too elusive to silence. A wave of reinforcements was attempted but tide and weather had begun to turn against them as the Royal Navy watched a slaughter occur on the beach, and called for a retreat. Before departing back for England, the only success they had to report upon return to London on October 7th, was the destruction of the fortifications on the Ilse of Aix.
Battle Results:
French Forces: 504 dead and wounded.
British Forces: 2357 dead and wounded. 1817 captured.
Clear French Victory: British descent on Rochefort repelled.
Berlin Raid
After his defeat at Kolin, Fredirck inadvertently left the approach to Berlin unprotected, which the Austrians took note of. They sent a cavalry force of 5000 led by Count András Hadik to the city. Upon arrival at the lightly garrisoned city on October 16th and attacking, Hadik demanded and received a ransom of nearly 250,000 Thalers. After receiving the sum however the force quickly fled upon learning of the approach of a larger Prussia force that was on its way in an attempt to intercept them.
A Four Front War
By mid-October, Fredrick was in dire straits and needed decisive victories to turn the tide. He was facing a four front war. The Austrians were attacking from the south, the Russians from the east, the French from the west and the Swedes from the North. The Swedish were rolling through Pomerania nearly unopposed because forces were needed to stop the Russian westward advance.
In the south, Hans Joachim von Zieten had taken the place of the deceased von Bevern and was tasked with holding off the Austrians who were steadily progressing through Silesia.
What reinforcements were possible were on their way to Field-Marshal Hans von Lehwaldt who was presently keeping the Russians in check while also rebuilding his army. Fredrick himself turned his attention to French forces to his west to try and push them back, and gather other German states to his cause.
Pomeranian Campaign
The 22,000 strong Swedish forces entered the war very much unprepared. This was the main reason for the slow progress and what ultimately saved Brandenberg from an invasion in late 1757. The Swedish troops coming out of Swedish Pomerania had poor steel, poor rifles and poor training. The Swedes had no reconnaissance troops, in they had fact no light troops at all. Mathias Alexander von Ungern-Sternberg, took command of the Swedish forces in Pomerania on October 10th. However for all their faults, they did well on their march through Prussian Pomerania, but only because Prussia was too busy fighting the other powers to put forth sufficient resistance.
Prior to October, while led by Count Hamilton, the Swedes had taken town of Anklim and Dennim, the islands of Walin and Usedom, and were preparing to besiege the important city of Stettin after being joined by 6000 troops sent by the Duke of Mecklenburg.
Battle and Siege of Stettin
27,000 Swedish and Mecklenburg Forces faced off against the Prussian garrison of Stettin at the mouth of the Oder River, accompanied by a small Swedish Naval squadron. The Prussians had just fewer than 10,000 troops, mostly fresh militia, recruited from Brandenburg, Prussian Pomerania, Magdeburg and Halberstadt. These forces were not part of the regular Prussian army, and several of these troops had already fought losing skirmishes against the Swedes early in the year as they made their advance. The Prussian forces were supported by a small flotilla of gun boats patrolling the River Oder. On October 20th, Ungern-Sternberg having arrived to take command of the Swedish Siege a week prior, assaulted Stettin after it had suffered two weeks of Siege and bombardment.
Battle Results:
Swedish Forces: 3,500 dead and wounded.
Prussian Forces: 2,000 dead and wounded. 3,000 surrendered. 5,000 retreated.
Clear Swedish Victory. Stettin falls to Swedish forces.
Battle of Rossbach
After pushing Hanover out of the war, the French forces united with Austrian forces to attempt to liberate Saxony from Prussian occupation. The 42,000 strong allied forces were led by Charles de Rohan, prince de Soubise, and Austrian Joseph Maria Frederick Wilhelm, duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The 22,000 strong Prussian forces were led by their King, Fredrick II.
On November 4th, in a series of brilliant maneuvers, and rapidly deployed artillery, the French and Austrian forces were soundly defeated, of which many were captured, including the French commander Charles de Rohan.
The great victory however came at a cost, as the King’s brother Prince Henry of Prussia, was felled by a musket ball.
Battle Results:
Allied Forces: 5500 dead and wounded, 4500 captured.
Prussian Forces: 600 dead and wounded
Overwhelming Prussian Victory
As a result of this battle the French and Austrian forces were forced to retreat from Saxony. It was one of the decisive victories that Fredrick needed; now he only needed to repeat it.
Additionally, when news of the victory reached London, King George II was finally convinced to disregard the treaty that had pushed Hanover out of the war. Pressure from Fredrick II and William Pitt caused the convention to be revoked. New British forces were sent to Germany under Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick to engage French forces across the Rhine and re-enter Hanover into the war.
Battle on the Oder
After hearing of the march on Stettin by Swedish forces and justly fearing it would fall, Prussian General Lehwalt, who was continuously skirmishing with Russian forces in an attempt to slow their westward advance sent 2,000 veteran troops westwards. He rightly assumed that the Swedes would attempt to join up with the Russian forces to his east and his army would be caught in the middle.
The Prussian forces arrived too late to stop the fall of Stettin but with careful reconnaissance, kept up with the Swedish troop movements. After joining with 2500 of the irregular Pomeranian troops that had fled the battle (the rest of those that had retreated deserted) the Prussian General Kanitz had only 4500 troops to stop some 20,000 Swedes from proceeding further to the east. The Prussians had mostly cavalry, light foot, and only light artillery, but also had surprise and the fact that the poorly trained and equipped Swedes had yet to face off against the regular Prussian army.
After leaving a garrison behind in Stettin, on November 8th, Ungern-Sternberg attempted to take 20,000 of his forces across the Oder only to discover how badly his bridging equipment or lack thereof was as the progress was slow and unwieldy. After half his forces were on the other bank, the Prussians attacked, catching the regiments on their side of the river off guard. Sternberg quickly attempted to get the rest of his army across only for the small boats he had commandeered for the task to start getting hit by Prussian artillery. Fearing that a far larger Prussian force awaited him on the other side, Sternberg sounded the retreat, and fell back to Stettin.
Battle Results:
Swedish Forces: 4,500 dead and wounded.
Prussian Forces: 400 dead and wounded.
Clear Prussian victory. Swedish forces eastward advance halted.
After Sternberg’s retreat, the Swedes caught on the other side of the river attempted to surrender; possibly up to 2000 men. However, with such a small force and a probably need to turn around and head back to the Russian front at a moment’s notice, they could ill afford to accept any prisoners. This resulted in one of the fell marks of the war, as the surrendering men were slaughtered.
A few days later, word arrived of the Prussian victory at Rossbach. Sternberg was now disinclined to follow the orders of his government or the French and march on Berlin or even reattempt to link up with Russia forces. However nor did he wish to give up the gains he had made thus far. Instead he sent word to the Russian forces in hopes that they would come to him. While he chose to have his armies wait out the winter holding Stettin.
Battle of Breslau
Von Zieten was tasked with holding Silesia off from Austrian occupation which was proving a significant challenge with only 30,000 soldiers. The Austrians though, led by Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine and Count Leopold Joseph von Daun numbered over 84,000 once reinforced by Franz Leopold Nádasdy.
The Austrians wanted to take Breslau to deny it as a place for the Prussian army to winter in Silesia. In fierce village to village battle of exchanging artillery fire, the Austrian finally came upon the fortress of Breslau, while Nádasdy’s forces took the fortress of Schweidnitz. On November 23rd, after a day of battle the Prussians retreated back to Glogau.
Battle Results:
Austrian Forces: 6500 dead and wounded
Prussian Forces: 5250 dead and wounded
Austrian Victory
Prussia’s retreat back to Glogau was not easy amidst the more Austrian favoring residents of Breslau and the morale of the army was at an all-time low. Of the over 4000 Prussian garrison soldiers at the fortresses, who surrendered 3 days later, only about 600 went back to Glogua, while the rest deserted in mass.
After receiving word of this defeat, Fredrick knew he had to take on the Austrian army in Silesia to maintain control over the important province, or his ability to continue to war would be in serious jeopardy.
The winter of 1757 - 1758
A harsh winter was beginning to roll in for the end of 1757 and the start of 1758. Fredrick had pushed back the French, and against all odds, Lehwalt was holding off the Russians. Even the Swedes were currently content to sit on their laurels and wait for spring. All were preparing for the coming winter. Fredrick not so much, he still had more Austrians soldiers to kill.
Battle of Schweidnitz
One cold, foggy, winter’s afternoon, on December 8th, 1757, King Fredrick II, reunited his forces with Hans Joachim von Zieten and would bring his forces to bear against the Austrians led by Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine.
In a lightning attack meant to draw the Austrians back from Breslau, Fredrick stormed the Fortress of Schweidnitz taken by the Austrians less than one month prior. The fortress was essential to maintain supplies to the Austrian army from Bohemia to Silesia, so Alexander was forced to turn back to reclaim it before it got even later into winter.
The Gothic Church of St. Stanislav and Vaclav from the 14th century had the highest tower in Silesia, standing 103 meters tall. Fredrick personally stood from its top spyglass in hand and watched the Austrians approach the city and make camp for the coming early winter night. The city and his own forces were obscured by the afternoon fog, while the Austrian’s less so, and their fires could still be seen as orange specks in the low grey cloud.
From this vantage Fredrick issued orders to maneuvers his forces for attack; and as the sun set behind him to his west he ordered the attack against the weary un-rested Austrians.
The combined armies of Fredrick and von Zieten numbered 40,000 against Alexander's 80,000. The attack was swift and brutal as the Austrians were caught unawares in the middle of making camp. Surprise was not perfect however, many sentries sounded the alarm on the left flank, but the fog and setting sun were in the Prussian’s favor. Before the last of the sun’s rays had disappeared over the horizon, the battle was over, Fredrick was victorious and the Austrians were retreating.
Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: 7000 dead and wounded
Austrian Forces: 10000 dead and wounded, 10000 captured, 110 cannon lost.
Decisive Prussian Victory, Austrians forced to flee back to Bohemia.
Upon hearing the news of the defeat, Empress Maria Theresa demanded the resignation of Prince Charles Alexander.
TL Summary 1757:
January 1st – The Nine Years War: French Forces raids Barbuda
January 2nd – The Nine Years War: Robert Clive recaptures Calcutta for Britain.
January 2nd – The Nine Years War: French Forces capture the island of Nevis
January 4th – The Nine Years War: French Forces begin siege of Brimstone Hill on St. Kitts.
January 5th – Robert-François Damiens makes an “unsuccessful” assassination attempt on Louis XV of France. On February 3rd, Damiens is publicly executed by dismemberment.
January 11th – Nine Years War: Battle of St. Kitts. French naval forces fight off British attempt to relieve siege of St. Kitts.
January 31st – Nine Years War: Brimstone Hill surrenders and St. Kitts falls to French forces.
February 2nd – King Louis XV dies to an infection.
February 15th – Nine Years War: Battle of Antigua. British naval forces drive off French attempt to destroy British fleet and invade Antigua.
March 1st – The Dauphin of France is crowned as King Louis XVI
March 10th – Nine Years' War: British Admiral Sir John Byng is executed by firing squad aboard HMS Monarch for breach of the Articles of War in failing to "do his utmost" at the Battle of Minorca (1756).
March 18th – Nine Years War: HMS Greenwich is captured by the French off San Domingo
April 20st – Nine Years War: Battle of Reichenberg. Prussian forces defeat the Austrians, but Marshal von Beven is mortally wounded and dies of his injuries 3 days later.
April 27th – Nine Years War: The Prussian aligned Canton of Neuchatel capitulates to France without conflict.
May 1st – 2nd Treaty of Versailles is signed between France and Austria
May 5th – Nine Years' War – Battle of Prague (1757): Frederick II defeats an Austrian army and begins to besiege the city.
May 15th – Nine Years War – 2nd Battle of St. Kitts: British chase off French Fleet, and after a failed initial assault, begin the 2nd Siege of Brimstone Hill.
May 30th – Nine Years War – British capture the 64 gun French ship Duc D’Aquitaine
June, British settlers have been completely withdrawn from Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia due to the frequency of Mik’maq raids.
June 18th – Nine Years' War – Battle of Kolin: Frederick is defeated by an Austrian army under Marshal Daun, forcing him to evacuate Bohemia.
June 23rd – Nine Years’ War - Battle of Plassey: 3,000 troops serving with the British East India Company under Robert Clive defeat a 50,000 strong Indian army under Siraj ud-Daulah at Plassey in India.
June 25th - Étienne François, duc de Choiseul is made Foreign minister of France
July 26 – Nine Years' War – Battle of Hastenbeck: An Anglo-Hanoverian army under the Duke of Cumberland is defeated by the French under Louis d'Estrées and forced out of Hanover.
August 3rd – August 9th – Nine Years' War: French and Indian War: A French army under Louis-Joseph de Montcalm forces the English to surrender Fort William Henry. The French army's Indian allies slaughter the survivors for unclear reasons.
August 20th – Nine Years War – French Garrison at Brimstone Hill surrenders. St Kitts and Nevis recapture by the British.
August 30th – Nine Years' War – Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf: A Prussian army under Hans von Lehwald is defeated by the Russian army of Marshal Stepan Apraksin.
September 6th – Nine Years War – Battle of Gorlitz (OTL Battle of Moys). 26000 Austrian troops defeats 13000 Prussian soldiers.
September 7th to 20th – Nine Years War – Siege of Konigsburg: Russian army under Stepan Apraksin lays siege to the East Prussian capital. It falls on September 20th after Apraksin was relieved of command by his subordinate generals.
September 21st - Nine Years' War: HMS Southampton captures the 28 gun French ship Emeraude. It is taken into service as HMS Emerald
September 24th – Nine Years War – Battle of Salmon Rock, British attempt to capture Louisberg fails as a storm sweeps both British and French ships into rocks and scatters the British fleet. (OTL 1757 Louisberg Expedition)
September 29th – Nine Years War: Raid on Rochefort. The British landing force is severely defeated by the French.
October 16th – Nine Years' War – Raid on Berlin: A Hungarian cavalry force extracts a ransom from the city of Berlin.
October 20th – Nine Years War: Battle of Stettin, Swedish forces capture the town of Stettin, and with it all of Western Prussian Pomerania.
October 21st – Unlike OTL Battle of Cap-Français, DOES NOT occur. French convoy and escort ships carry on without delay, meaning that Opiniatre, Greenwich and Outarde never wreck in a storm near France as in OTL.
October 30th – Unlike OTL, Osman III DOES NOT die. (Supposedly, he died from a staph infection in some cut or other injury. This injury did not occur in this TL.)
November 1st - Unlike OTL HMS Tartar never captures the French ship Melampe in this TL
November 4th – Nine Years' War – Battle of Rossbach: Frederick defeats the French imperial army under the Duc de Soubise and Prince Joseph of Saxe Hildburghausen, forcing the French to withdraw from Saxony. The Duc de Soubise is captured.
November 4th – Prince Henry of Prussia dies in battle.
November 8th – Nine Years War – Battle on the Oder. Swedish attempts to cross the Oder to join Russian forces are repulsed by the Prussians.
November 23rd – Nine Years' War – Battle of Breslau: An Austrian army under Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine defeats the Prussian army of Hans Joachim von Zieten and forces the Prussians behind the Oder.
December – Unlike OTL the Blockade of Stralsund in Swedish Pomerania DOES NOT occur because the Russian forces never retreated from East Prussia.
December 4th - Unlike OTL the British never capture the 24 gun French ship Eurus in this TL
December 8th – Nine Years' War – Battle of Schweidnitz: Frederick defeats Prince Charles's Austrian army in one of his greatest tactical victories.
December 14th – Battle of Khresili: King Solomon I of Imereti defeats the Ottoman army and an allied faction of nobles in what is now western Georgia.
December 20th – Anna Petrovna, daughter of Catherine II and Peter III is born (conception occurred prior to the arrival of any time ripples)
Occurred mostly just like OTL
Occurred differently from OTL
Completely New Event for TTL
). Please keep it up!