A Different Roll of the Dice

[0100010]

While the Cat’s Away…

The 1758 campaigns had started up in other parts of Europe with the coming of spring and as summer approached, the fields of battle had changed again and were fresh with new blood.

In the west, the British navy and the Duke of Brunswick had secured the port of Emden in East Frisia which allowed a line of supply from England to the Prussian provinces via the western allied elector states of Hanover, Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, Hesse-Kassel, and Schamberg Lippe, and liberated Hanover from French occupation. He then continued to drive the French back across the Rhine.

Austrian forces in the meantime were now under the command of Count Leopold Joseph von Daun, who had replaced Prince Charles Alexander when he was asked to resign. Under Daun’s leadership, Austria had begun to retake parts of Silesia back from Prussian General Hans Joachim Von Zieten.

2nd Battle of Schweidnitz

The strategic fortress at Schweidnitz was no less important this year than it was the last for securing Austrian supply lines into an occupied Silesia. Therefore it yet again became a target as soon as word reached von Daun that Fredrick had taken his army northwards during the winter.

While Fredrick was preparing his siege on Stettin, Daun planned an attack to recapture Schweidnitz and then move on to Bresleu yet again. He took a recently reinforced army of 65,000 back into Silesia, and proceeded to attempt to gain control of strategic point while chasing Zietan’s reinforced 35,000 strong Prussian army.

On April 25th, Daun clashed with Zietan near Schweidnitz. Part of Daun’s forces were besieging the fortress while Zietan was attempting to relieve the siege. The two armies fought a more traditional battle, neither side gaining a dramatic advantage over the other despite attempts at maneuver. Zietan however, with a smaller number of troops than Daun, knew he could not win a battle of attrition against the Austrian forces. Failing in his objective to quickly relieve the siege he was forced to retreat back to Breslau, though he took heart in learning of Fredrick’s victory at thorn, and sent word back to Fredrick of the situation in Silesia. He only needed to hold out long enough for Fredrick’s army to arrive.

Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: 4000 dead and wounded; 1000 captured (from the Schweidnitz garrison)
Austrian Forces: 6000 dead and wounded.

Clear Austrian Victory. After 10 days of additional siege the fortress of Schweidnitz would yet again falls into Austrian hands, securing supply lines into Bohemia.


The Colonial Campaigns

Pitt’s policy against the French was use Britain naval supremacy to take as many French overseas holdings as he could, while only just holding on in the Germanies to keep Fredrick supported in the war. While he was lambasted for the abysmal failure of the first naval descent on Rochefort, it would not dissuade him from trying again. Osborne had kept the French fleet of Toulon in the Mediterranean, and it was unlikely they would be able to send many reinforcements, if any at all, across the Atlantic. While the planned invasion of New France was still underway, the campaigns in the Indian sub-continent and Africa were just beginning.

Battle of Cuddalore

In the Indian Ocean Vice-Admiral George and his fleet would encounter and face off against the French fleet led by Anne Antoine, comte d’Ache near Madras.

British Fleet:
HMS Yarmouth (64), Cumberland (66), Elizabeth (64), Newcastle (50), Salisbury (50), Tiger (60), Weymouth (60), the Frigate Queensborough (24) and the East-Indiaman Protector (44)

French Fleet:
Bien Aime (68), Venguer (64), Zodiaque (74), Duc d’Orleans (54), Le Saint Louis (54), Conde (50), Moras (60), Duc de Bourgogne (54), and the Frigate Sylphide (30)

Mistakes were made on both sides that resulting in an almost indecisive battle, save for the improper positioning of the Sylphide in the line, resulting in her being crippled, abandoned and captured by the British, while the French retreated. The British although attempting to chase at first, halted their pursuit because of damage sustained.

Battle Results:
British Fleet: 4 ships suffered light to medium damage
French Fleet: Capture of the Sylphide, 4 ships suffer medium to severe damage.

British Victory

After the battle, the French fleet would make it back to Pondicherry. The Bien Aime, assessed to be too damaged to travel the open sea was defensively anchored as a firing platform to protect the harbor from future British attack. (in OTL the Bien Aime was wrecked during the return trip)

Capture of Senegal

An American, Thomas Cummings had convinced the British, though without much difficulty, to send a force to West African to capture the French fort of Saint-Louis on the Senegal River. By April two warships and 200 troops arrived, while Cummings raised support from local African forces. The French garrison was surprised by the sudden appearance of the British, and surrendered on April 30th, without the loss of a single life. This tremendous success would lead to subsequent expeditions to conquer French West African trading stations later in the year.

 

[Sian]

But that would bring Denmark into conflict with both Sweden and Russia, which would look as extremely unwise from a Danish perspecitve I think, especially at a time where Russia and Denmark had actually some "disagreements" about Schleswig-Holstein. Also, could the Dutch afford to stay neutral if Denmark enters the game? (and which side are they more likely to join? I cannot see them looking kindly at either French control of the Low Countries and British dominance of the seas in conjunction with Denmark).

Wouldn't the Danish disargeements with Russia about Schleswig-Holstein actually be a good reason (and Casus Belli) to get into the war with (together with reconquest of Scania), to clear some old grievences, by hopefully getting Russia to give up their claims on the Duchies and the old Danish (and Norwegian for that sake with Bohuslän and Jamtland) lands back from Sweden. Denmark have ample reasons to want to go into war with Sweden and Russia, only question is if they consider if the timing is right.

Dutch would likely join up with Britain, Denmark and Prussia, as none of them have any interest in contesting control over the low countries, and British dominance of the seas is very close to happening no matter which side they join, and France aren't a trustworthy ally for the Dutch.

 

[Falecius]

Denmark have ample reasons to want to go into war with Sweden and Russia,

Sure, if they think they can win this one. Russia and Sweden together are quite a formidable enemy to face for Denmark, and they look like they are winning big time right now. OTOH, if the Dutch are on side, that could change things...

 

[0100010]

Blood and Mud

Fredrick had reunited with von Zeitan to lead a combined army of 57,000 in an attempt to reverse the slow re-conquest of Silesia by Austria. The Austrians led by von Daun had an army of 59,000 after taking and fortifying the fortress at Schweidnitz yet again, which after several battles, was in need of significant repair. The Austrians already had retaken upper and most of middle Silesia during the spring while Fredrick fought in the north so the goal here was to retake the city of Breslau yet again, from which to command control of lower Silesia.

The two armies knew they were operating in the same area, near Zobten in between Schweidnitz and Breslau. A series of late spring rainstorms had left the area a mire of mud, and on May 30th, dark skies and a very heavy downpour severely diminished visibility, resulting in two scouting groups running right into each other and firing on each other under the shadow of Mount Sleza.

Battle of Zobten

At the sounds of exchanging gunfire amidst the torrential rain both armies assumed they were being attacked by the other in force, and as quickly as the mud drench roads would allow, re-positioned themselves to make and receive an attack. The heavy rain played havoc though on the field, wetting powder, and causing horses and artillery to get stuck in the mud, and most critically interfering with their ability to see each other and their own forces, and command it properly.

By the time the downpour had slaked off the two forces were entangled in a mire of men, bodies, blood and mud. Severe hand to hand fighting had occurred in places where artillery could not be brought to bear and even dry powder was hard to find.

A disorganized brawl being no way to fight a battle, both Fredrick and von Daun rallied their forces to reorganize and disengage from the mire. Each had thought they had lost the battle, and by the time an orderly retreat had been achieved and they assessed their casualties it only reinforced this idea, until word finally came that the other side had also withdrawn from the field. Both Fredrick and von Daun then resent an observing force to the field to assess the enemy’s whereabouts. Though minus the rain this time (but not the mud) the observing forces ran into each other again, and engaged in a fierce skirmish before falling back once more. Both commanders felt their armies were too heavily damaged and exhausted to pursue. Daun retreated back to Shweidnitz and Fredrick retreated back to Breslau.

Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: 10,500 dead and wounded. 11 guns lost.
Austrian Forces: 11,800 dead and wounded. 17 guns lost.
(Both sides lost and captured some of the other sides guns, primarily from horses and wagons stuck in the mud)

The Battle of Zobten had become the bloodiest battle of the war so far, but it would only be the beginning. Fredrick did not obtain the decisive victory he needed to push Austria back out of Silesia, but neither did the Austrians, get what they needed to take final control of the province.

Assessments

When word got back to Vienna, the Austrians were in a quandary. Clearly the conquest of the Prussia and occupation of Silesia was not to be the easy task that they had originally hoped it would. Yet they were so close to its success. Austrian diplomatic officials made more requests to France of providing a larger amount of aid, though they had their own issues facing the British and Germans in the Rhineland.

Fredrick was finding himself very dependent on Great Britain to maintain their supplies through East Frisia and overland by keeping the French off his western flank. This would become even more import because before the end of the year, Russia would move to blockade his final ports in the Baltic. Fredrick would find himself running back and forth through Prussia and Poland to keep the Russians and Austrians in check, though they were just as weary as his own forces.

In Paris, many of Choisel’s army reforms were just beginning to get put in place though they were unlikely to reach or have any impact on the front during this year. As word also reached him of King Ferdinand IV of Spain’s, continual descent into depression over the loss of his wife, he began writing to the expected heir apparent, Charles III in order to foster a greater friendship and alliance on behalf of King Louis XVI.

Raid on St. Malo

Despite the great failure of the raid on Rochefort last year, Pitt refused to give up on the idea of descending on the French coasts to harass and force them to draw their forces away from the eastern theater.

The British were again beset by delays, but less so than for Rochefort. The French while at first thinking the British aimed for Flanders, soon realized that St Malo would be the target and hastily sent reinforcements and advance warning to the town.

On June 14th, 11,000 British troops, 18 ships of the line and 7 frigates would descend on St. Malo. Although they had desired to have an earlier start, like the last raid at Rochefort they had been hampered by delays. The British entry into the bay was swift and it was defended only by an onshore French Artillery battery, and French Privateers.

The battery put up a much greater fight than was expected before it was silenced by the British warships, where upon 20 privateers and over 50 smaller vessels were burned. The British however lost a frigate when it ran aground, and had suffered some moderate damage to four ships of the line from the French battery, and some of the Privateers who had put up a brief fight.

The British then landed and marched on St. Malo, but soon faced a sizeable French force who laid wait for them on the road. Keen British sentries had denied the French a chance to ambush and encircle the British, but it was still too late to avoid a fight. After a fierce battle the Duke of Marlborough, upon hearing the town was well fortified and would require a siege even in the unlikely event that they won this battle, sounded a fighting retreat.

The British warships kept the French from pursuit against the English as they disembarked back into their landing craft to return to the fleet. The fleet remained in the area for a few weeks seeking other targets, but bad weather and low supplies forced them to return home on July 3rd.

Battle Results:
British Forces: 3,200 dead, wounded or captured; loss of the HMS Venus (36) which ran aground and was burnt to avoid French capture. Damage to 20% of the Fleet.
French Forces: 800 dead or wounded; loss of 20 Privateers and over 50 small private vessels.

Despite the effective attack and destruction of over 70 French civilian vessels at St. Malo, several of Pitt’s opponents called the expedition a disastrous failure because of the losses sustained, the cost of repairs, and the failure to raid the city. Although Pitt admitted the cost was much higher than expected it was a position he did not agree with. The sentiment however, reinforced by the King who began to dislike Pitt's popularity, which suffered some after this expedition, would ultimately lead to a disapproval of any more descents against the French coast.

 

[Richter von Manthofen]

I slowly believe you are preparing for a long and bloody war.

 

[Yorel]

The fact that the raid on Saint Malo is seen as a failure will probably have consequences for the rest of the war I'm guessing.

I slowly believe you are preparing for a long and bloody war.

Well, the Seven Years War is a Nine Years War ITTL from what can be seen in the first posts.

 

[0100010]

Edited to add more clarity. Pitt and his supporters thought St. Malo was a success, albeit a costly one, which made him rethink the ideas. His opponents disagreed and called it a failure.

 

[0100010]

Campaign against New France

The long planned invasion of New France would begin with the Siege of Louisburg, though it did not get off to an easy start. Plagued by weather delays, the participating British fleet had not fully assembled to depart from Halifax until June 1st, and then arrived at Gaberus Bay on June 5th.

France too was also beset by weather and its own problems at home and was forced to send fleets as they became available to supply and reinforce Louisburg. Only Atlantic fleet ships were available to assist, since the Mediterranean fleet, having returned to Toulon for repairs after the battle of Malaga. By summer though they had sent enough food supplies to New France to eliminate the dangers of hunger that was facing the French settlers and fighting forces in North America. Though some in the court even said it was enough to risk food shortages in southwestern France.

Despite trying however, France could not maintain the pace of reinforcements that the British did, who had every intentions of matching and surpassing any French fleet build up, so as not to repeat the events of last year.

Siege of Louisburg

The late British arrival on June 5th, had given France a bit more time to prepare defenses, and the weather was still foul, prevented the British from moving more than a frigate into position to bombard the improvised defenses. It was enough however to blockade the 6 French ships f the line and 2 frigates that were now stuck in the harbor, trapped by the British fleet.

The French frigates Heroine and Friponne had evaded the British earlier in the spring and deliver much needed supplies to Louisburg before returning back to France. The Magnifique had also tried but was prevented by ice and went on to Quebec. The Raisonable had made it just prior to the British fleet’s arrival, and the Brilliant has just left a few days prior after delivering her goods and reinforcements before the British arrived. 12 other ships of the line that were intended to reinforce the French fleet arrived too late, and upon seeing the British fleet went around the isle to the north shore to deliver some men and supplies before continuing onwards to Quebec.

British Forces:
26,000 soldiers and sailors
27 ships of the line, 13 frigates
~150 transport vessels

HMS Namur (90), Royal William (84), Princess Amelia (80), Terrible (74), Dublin (74), Invincible (74), Vanguard (70), Northumberland (70), Prince Fredrick (70), Grafton (70), Orford (70), Somerset (70), Buford (68), Devonshire (66), Lancaster (66), Bedford (64), Captain (64), Nottingham (60), Pembrooke (60), Kingston (60), York (60), Prince of Orange (60), Defiance (58), Centurion (50), Sutherland (50), Norwich (50), Lichfield (50)

Frigates:

HMS Thetis (44), Rainbow (40), Juno (32), Adventure (32), Shannon (28), Boreas (28), Trent (28), Nightengale (24), Port Mahon (24), Winchelsea (24), Success (24), Scarborough (22), Squirrel (20)

French Forces:
7,500 soldiers and sailors
400 Acadian and Mi’kmaq militia
6 ships of the line, 2 Frigates

In Harbor:
Entreprenant (74), Prudent (74), Bienfaisant (64), Celebre (64), Capricieux (64), Raisonable (64)

Operating in the area during the siege:
Formidable (80), Magnifique (74), Algonquin (74), Heros (74), Illustre (64), Leopard (64), Bizarre (64), Belliqueux (64), Hardi (64), Sphynx (64), Dragon (64), Apollon (58), Aigle (50)

Frigates:

In Harbor:
Fidele (24), Topaze (24)

Operating in the area during the siege:
Friponne (24), Heroine (24)

The siege began with the HMS Rainbow (44) maneuvered through the rough seas to bombard some of the outer defense. Although the ship kept up fire for two days, this proved to be a mistake. Little damage was done and a rogue gust heaved the vessel into the rocks, where it became turned and lodged and its gun became less effective. While the sailors quickly sought to free their vessel by lightening the load, the French took advantage and moved cannon to pulverize the paralyzed vessel. After the death of over three dozen men, the British were forced to abandon the vessel, and watch helplessly as the French cannon took it apart.

Things would begin to change however as soon that the weather turned more agreeable a mere two days later. British Field Marshal Jeffrey Amherst ordered John Mordaunt to lead the attack, sending a flotilla of men on June 9th, to attack the French positions.

Mordaunt was still bitter over being the subject of an inquiry over the failed raid of Rochefort, despite being proved innocent and commended for action during the retreat that saved the lives of more men. Seeking glory to restore his reputation, he proved overzealous in his attack only to find that the French defenses held and the Mordaunt finally acquiesced when his half his force pulled back when subordinate officer James Wolfe ordered a retreat after a fierce battle. It became necessary for the British to seek other approaches to the fortress.

After two days, a protected inlet was discovered that allowed the British to make a beachhead, and forced the French shore defenders to withdraw back to the fortress. The rough terrain and very heavy seas however made the movement of men and siege equipment extraordinarily difficult.

Amherst ordered Mordaunt to seize Lighthouse point because it had a commanding view of the harbor, and he took a force of 1200 men to do so. His overzealousness again caused him to carelessly miss the French, Acadia and Mi’kmaq militias that waited in ambush. After Mordaunt was shot by musket fire and fell unconscious, Wolfe took command and forced the French to flee and seized their objective on June 16th.

By June 24th, British artillery was finally in place to rain down up the fortress and soon destroyed the walls and several buildings, then turned their fire on the ships in the harbor.

After a month of siege, the British were no closer to eliminating the French ship and the French made no surrender. Thin finally on July 25th, during heavy fog and under the cover of the dueling French and British artillery, Admiral Boscawan sent a cutting out party to attempt to destroy some of the French ships in the harbor. They succeeded in setting fire to the Prudent and the Celebre, but failed to capture the Bienfaisant before falling to French forces.

Unwilling to advance fully into the harbor to take on both the French ships and the fortress artillery the British continued shelling the French ships, and finally after 5 more days of attempts, hot shot finally caught the Capricieux and the Bienfaisant on fire.

With only 2 Ships of the line, and two 2 frigates in the harbor, and heavily battered French defenses, the British finally decided to enter the harbor. They did not want to draw out the siege for much longer in case the French would attempt to relieve it, and feared about their out supplies of shot and powder running low after so many days of bombardment.

The French, had one more surprise to play. In a last desperate attempt, they had converted the frigate Topaze into an improvised fire ship, in case the British sailed into the harbor in force, which they proceeded to do on August 1st. While the Entreprenant and Raisonable put up a valiant last fight against heavy odds, the Topaze alighted and sailed with the wind into a mass of British ships. Several smaller transport vessels did become engulfed, but for the most part, most of the British ships avoided this last desperate action. This was a little too well in fact for HMS Kingston, which was forced to run aground to evade the blazing Topaze. Miraculously, in the midst of the confusion, while the Entreprenant sank to British fire, and the Raisonable ran was run aground, and burnt by the French to avoid its capture, the Fidele slipped out of the harbor. Also during the confusion, the Acadia and Mi’kmaq militias escaped westwards, to the small boats that had arrived in to return home to the mainland.

The French land batteries got a few more licks in, pulverizing the immobile Kingston to the point it was no longer salvageable, and damaging some of the British fleet before the British guns silenced them.

The British made an assault against the next day fortress the August 2nd, but despite the loss of all ships, the French resisted the attack, holding on to the hope of the siege being lifted. Not wanting to risk more casualties the British switched back to bombarding the fortress, hoping to starve the French out. It would take another 15 days before the French ran out of supplies and finally surrendered on August 17th.

Battle Results:
British Fleet: Loss of Rainbow (40), Kingston (60), and 12 small transport vessels. Moderate, repairable damage to four ships. Prince Fredrick (70) condemned to a harbor hulk after damage assessment.
British Forces: 1280 killed and wounded.

French Fleet: Loss of Entreprenant (74), Prudent (74), Bienfaisant (64), Celebre (64), Capricieux (64), Raisonable (64), Topaze (24)
French Forces: 650 killed and wounded, 6,800 surrendered.

British Victory

Being far too late in the year, the British would be unable to pursue an attack on Quebec during the year of 1758, and would also have very limited time in which to pursue control over the rebellious Acadian and Mi’kmaq populations that had been plaguing British settlements with raids in the Maritimes prior to the arrival of winter.

Battle of Glace Bay

During the siege Louisburg, a British scouting squadron was patrolling around the island on the lookout for French attempts to reinforce or lift the siege, when they ran in to the French Squadron that had been aiming to do just that north of Louisburg. The French ships that could not reach Louisburg earlier and had moved on towards Quebec had resupplied there put to sea again, aiming to seek a way to relieve the siege or return to France.

On August 19th, 10 French ships of the line escorting some supply vessels bore down on the smaller British squadron of 2 ship of the line and 3 frigates and quickly formed up a line of battle against them.

French Forces:
Formidable (80), Magnifique (74), Algonquin (74), Leopard (64), Bizarre (64), Belliqueux (64), Hardi (64), Apollon (58), Aigle (50)

British Forces:
HMS Prince of Orange (60), Defiance (58), Juno (32), Adventure (32), Scarborough (22)

In a short battle the French were victorious against the British ships who had tried to flee, sinking the Juno and the Prince of Orange, and capturing the Defiance. However, the remaining two frigates of the British squadron were able to escape, quickly fleeing back to the larger fleet at Louisburg.

The lightly damaged French ships put in at the bay for minor repairs from the battle, to secure the captured ship and refresh their water from the village. There they received word of fall of Louisburg, and decided to continue on to France to bring word.

Battle Results:
British Fleet: Loss of Prince of Orange (60), Juno (32). Capture of Defiance (58)
French Fleet: Minor damage.

French Victory

 

[0100010]

Along the Rhine

The Duke of Brunswick and his brother Ferdinand led a coalition of British, Prussian and Hanoverian troops in numerous skirmishes in the German provinces along the Rhine as the pushed the French forces back toward the river.

The French forces were led by Louis, Count of Clermont who replaced the captured Prince of Soubise Charles de Rohan, who was awaiting a negotiated ransom via Swiss intermediaries. Clermont was assisted by the Marquis de Contades and Victor Francois, the 2nd Duc de Brogile.

Battle of Dusseldorf

The allied forces numbers over 32,000 against the French forces numbering just over 47,000. On June 18th, the two armies sighted each other near villages outside of Dusseldorf near the banks of the Rhine. The primary lines of infantry drew up amongst a series of farm fields. Brunswick had a portion of his forces out of sight among Orchards and hedgerows bordering the fields. Brunswick aimed to trap the French against the bank, which soon occurred as their right flank took numerous volleys and began to fall back against the water. The left and center however was an even fight as the two armies trampled the summer crops underfoot on the field. Comete de Gisors however had found a nearby ford over the River and commanded the French Cavalry to swing around an cross it to defend the right flank and force the Allied forces back into the hedgerows and orchards were the horses could not pursue them easily. This allowed the French time to retreat across the Rhine in good order, while French Artillery on the far bank set up and prevented any serious attempt for the allied forces to reenter the open ground in pursuit of the retreating French.

Battle Results:
Allied Forces: 2000 dead and wounded.
French Forces: 3300 dead and wounded.

Allied Victory.

As a result of this battle Clermont would resign and Contades would take command of French forces on the eastern frontier. Upon learning of the defeat in Paris late the summer, Choiseul would send some of the first waves of reformed regiments the following spring to the eastern theater in a renewed bid to retake Hanover. In the meantime, France maintained a defensive stance along the Rhine. The Duke of Brunswick also chose not to pursue further across the Rhine as Fredrick had recalled Prussian troops in the area back east in an effort to bolster his own forces against Austria and Russia.

 

[0100010]

Battle at Carrilon

On July 10th, James Abercrombie led 6000 British troops and 12,000 militia, rangers and Native American allies against the 4000 French troops, milita and their Native American allies who were defending Fort Carrilon (present-day Ticonderoga), led by Joseph de Montcalm.

In what would be the wars, most mistake ridden assault, which would earn the even greater enmity against Abercombie, and prove to time-stream historians, that even alt-timelines can’t always cure stupid.

After an initial skirmish with the French resulting in the death of General Howe, Abercrombie pursued a quick victory against the fort and ignored numerous tactical options to take on the French fieldworks without artillery support. The result was a slaughter of British troops and allies, and an uplifting of the French morale.

Whilst Abercrombie scrambled a disorganized retreat, Moncalm sent out sorties to harass the fleeing British. However, being fearful of a possible counter-attack he did not commit his full forces to that effect, which allowed the British to regroup after being scattered and retreat back to the remains of Fort William Henry, from which the attack originated, which had been destroyed by the French last year.

Battle Results:
British and Allied Forces: 3000 dead and wounded.
French and Allied Forces: 600 dead and wounded.

Decisive French Victory

The news of this failure shook the faith of several of Britain’s Native American Allies, and made future recruitment among them much more difficult. News of the loss reached London before News of the fall of Louisburg, and put a serious damper on spirits their and added more fuel to Pitts enemies regarding his policies. This combined with the perceived failures of the descents on Rochefort and St. Malo, meant plans for a descent at Cherbourg and other locations were cancelled, and forces were redirected to Frisia to aid the Duke of Brunswick against the French, given that Fredrick was pulling his own forces from that area to defend against the Austrians and Russians to the east.

Though after word of the success of taking Louisburg finally arrived in late fall, the anger was muted and replaced with joyful celebrations, it’s arrival was too late in the year to plan anymore major offensives, beyond already ordered attacks on New France forts, until the next spring.

 

[0100010]

The Mediterranean Campaign

The British Fleet had concentrated its efforts in blockading the Atlantic French ports, while much of the rest of the fleet was in North America supporting the siege of Louisburg and subsequently planned invasion of New France. This left the Mediterranean and Gibraltar fleets to blockade the French Mediterranean ports which Admiral Osborn was finding to be difficult to achieve. Many of the ships that had been damaged during the Battle of Malaga in January were still in need of repairs, and he did not feel he had enough strength to fully blockade Toulon. He concluded his best hope was to continue to keep the French trapped in the Mediterranean. He had made two attempts to blockade Toulon but was driven back, however his captains had at least been able to report some worrying news. The French were rebuilding old harbor hulk ships or building new ships in their Mediterranean dockyards. (some OTL ships and TTL Louis XVI’s rebuild requests)

La Clue had also been keeping well aware of British movements through the Mediterranean and adopted a new strategy given the conditions he was faced with, the destruction of British trade to the Levant and North Africa. He concluded that either Britain would sacrifice this trade, or they would pull ships off the Atlantic blockades to strengthen the Gibraltar fleet and confront him in the Mediterranean, or Osborn would try to protect the convoys and provide him an opportunity to attack the British in the open sea. La clue even convinced the Marine Royale to purchase the French East Indian company frigate the Chimere (30) at a discount since it was presently stuck in the Mediterranean and unlikely to reach India anytime soon.

During the spring and summer; numerous small British Levant company trade ships were captured or sunk, prompting London to order Osborn to do something about it. Yet Parliament was unwilling to divert forces from the Atlantic blockades or the North American campaigns. His hands tied, Osborn could only consolidate and strengthen the escorts of the Levant convoys, while still keeping the Gibraltar fleet strong to prevent any French attempt at escape through the straits.

Battle of Malta

On July 31st, La Clue found was he was looking for as a French fleet came across a British trade convoy recently scattered by a storm near the Island of Malta.

French Fleet: (12)
8 Ships of the Line: Foudroyant (80), Conquerant (74), Couronne (74), Redoubtable (74), Souverain (74), Orphee (64), Vailliant (64), Oriflamme (50)
4 Frigates: Pleiade (32), Chimere (30), Indiscret (24), Dolphin (24)

British Fleet: (8)
4 Ships of the Line: St. George (90), Culloden (74), St. Albans (60), Preston (50)
4 Frigates: Roebuck (44), Ambushcade (40), Emerald (28), Lyme (28)
12 Merchant ships.

Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol, led the British squadron in their escort, from the St. George. After the storm he regrouped with the Lyme and one third of the merchant ships.

La Clue, leading the French fleet came across the scattered British, finding the Culloden, St. Albans, Preston, Ambushcade, Emerald and half the merchant ships had regrouped, and moved into attack. Though they attempted to flee, with storm damage, and vastly outnumbered, the British soon found themselves in a volley.

In short order the French had disabled the Culloden and St. Albans, and nearly put the Preston under the waves, while the merchant ships tried to flee, but several were caught by the French frigates who also exchanged broadsides with the Ambushcade and Emerald. As Hervey approached upon finding the rest of the fleet it was too late. The Culloden and St. Albans had already struck their colors, and the battle among the frigates was faring just as badly. Hervey stayed long enough to fire long range shots at the French when they spotted him, making them pause long enough for a couple of Levant company merchant ships to make it to his small squadron before they all fled.

La Clue sent four of his ships of the line after the St. George, while the rest of his fleet gathered or chased down the numerous British prizes. Hervey would elude his French pursuers for several days, but lost the Lyme and a merchant ship off the North African coast in the process. The French finally gave up pursuit as their quarry neared Gibraltar.

The French fleet would later find two more Levant merchant ships as well as the Roebuck over the next seven days, and capture them.

Battle Results:
British Forces: Culloden, St. Albans, Roebuck, Ambushcade, Emerald to French Capture. Preston sunk due to damage during return to Toulon. 8 of the Levant company merchant ships presumed sunk or captured. Lyme foundered near Tunis. The St. George and 4 trade ships were the only ones to make it back to Gibraltar.

French Forces: Moderate Damage to 3 ships. Minimal damage to rest of fleet.

Decisive French Victory.

After the battle, La Clue negotiated with the Knights of Malta to make port and repair, unloading nearly a third of the Levant cargo in exchange. A rather informal treaty was made as well, regarding future sales of captured goods and denial of British trade ships to the island, before the French returned home to Toulon.

Paris was very pleased and the Navy’s morale was quite uplifted upon hearing news of the Victory. The Ambushcade and Emerald had originally been French ships as well, so their repatriation was seen as a good sign.

By the end of the year, British trade in the Mediterranean would come to a stand- still. This would also prompt a dissolving of the Levant Trading company, who had already been on the decline, the following year. France would also aim to supplant British trade to the Ottoman Empire and attempt to ease tensions between the Ottomans and Austria, as a new Treaty of Versailles was likely to come up toward the end of the year.

The capturing of the ships and the foreseen strengthening of the French Mediterranean fleet however left out one crucial factor. France was running low on trained sailors. To mitigate this, Paris would have to turn to recruitment of more as well as obtainment from other sources, including from their allies Austria and from Naples and Sicily via diplomacy between Choiseul and Charles III.

The Indian Theater:

Battle of Negapatam

In India, British forces and fleets continued to engage against French forces and fleet in a contest over control of influence in the Indian subcontinent. After having had time to repair and refit since the battle of Cuddalore, the British led by Vice Admiral George Pocock would face off again against Comte d’Ache and the French fleet of the Carnactic coast near Negapatam.

British Fleet: HMS Yarmouth (64), Cumberland (66), Tiger (60), Salisbury (50), theFrigates Mary Galley (44), Queensborough (24)
French Fleet: Zodiaque (74), Venguer (64), Duc d’Orleans (54), Le Saint Louis (54), Conde (50), the Frigates Philibert (40), Balaine (32)

The British fleet had caught the Philibert lagging behind and had moved to intercept and capture, crippling her in the process. However the French Fleet moved in to protect her and managed to fight off the British enough for Pocock to pull back. The Philibert though would not make it back to port and sank after all surviving hands had been evacuated. Aside from this loss, the battle was mostly indecisive, but Pocock marked it as a victory due to the sinking of a French ship.

Battle Results:
British Fleet: Moderate damage to 4 ships.
French Fleet: Loss of Philibert (40), moderate damage to 3 ships, light damage to 2 ships.

Minor British Victory

 

[Yorel]

Could you give us a little summary of what has changed ITTL compared to OTL in your last updates? Because it is very detailed and I don't know everything about the Seven Years' War, I'm a bit lost and don't really know if how big the changes currently are.

Aside from that, keep up the good work.

 

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There will be a summary after each year.

 

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Prussia vs Russia: Round 2

Although Fredrick won a precious victory that kept the Austrians at bay for the time being, he knew he would have to face the Russians again. Reports indicated the Swedish and Russian navies had blockade the Baltic coastal ports, particularly around Kolberg, and important fortress in eastern Pomerania, still held by Prussia. The Russian, still in control of East Prussia, were making a move to besiege the fortress and Fredrick did not want their forces in place before winter set in.

Toward this aim he had to set off northwards once again to face down the Russian threat and keep them from moving any further westwards during the year. In letters ot Berlin him expressed concern that moving back and forth with such frequency would be unsustainable in the long wrong by his weary troops. He expressed loathing at the thought of another winter campaign, fearing his weary and low-spirited troops might revolt if it occurred again, yet he may have to do just that to return south again should the Austrian advance further.

As reported, when Fredrick arrived in the area he found the Russian army had moved westwards through Eastern Pomerania to near the town of Koslin, not far from Kolberg their ultimate destination, and was scouting the routes from which to besiege the Fortress of Kolberg. Their ships, already in place would be able to supply the besieging army even if the land route of supply back to East Prussia was disrupted. Should Kolberg fall, it would be a short matter before the Russian link up with Sweden and moved on Berlin.


Battle of Koslin

The time to attack then was now, against the weaker, mostly conscript Russian observation that was to the main army’s southern side and left flank. In total the Russians forces numbers about 54,000. Fredrick had less than half that at 25,000. The rest needed to stay behind in lower Silesia to keep the Austrians in check.

On August 30th, utilizing rapid artillery deployment once again, Fredrick hoped to achieve a swift overwhelming assault, and if necessary pull away before the enemy had a chance to counter attack. Fredrick approached the enemy column which was stretched out down and road from the cover of adjoining forests to the south.

Fredrick’s army hammered onto the Russians left flank and the observation army took mass casualties yet did not retreat, because they could not. They were trapped against thick undergrowth along a lakeshore. Having nowhere to run, and because Fredrick did not having the luxury of taking on prisoners, the Russian fought furiously despite being mostly conscripts.

As the Russian lines reformed and moved south, and because despite heavy casualties the Russians did not retreat, Fredrick himself was forced to pull back, not wanting to risk too much of his shrinking forces.

Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: 1200 dead and wounded.
Russian Forces: 8500 dead and wounded, 25 guns captured. Field Marshal Peter Ivanovich Shuvalov was slain in battle.

Russian Tactical Victory; Prussian Strategic Victory

The Russians kept the field, and Fredrick retreated, yielding the battlefield after capturing a few curious guns later learned to be called ‘secret howitzers’ from the defeated observation corps. The damage though was significant enough for the Russians to retreat back to East Prussia, and wait for promised reinforcements, and postpone their plans to lay siege to Kolberg until the following year. The observation corps, having suffered over 75% casualties, as well as the loss of their commander, was disbanded and its survivors were folded into the rest of the regular Russian army. Aside from maintaining their blockades, as a result of this action, the Russians would pursue no more offensives during 1758.

 

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Los Reyes estan muertos

In early June, King Ferdinand IV of Spain had declared his brother Charles III as heir apparent, and left Madrid for his country estate. There he wallowed in his manic depression, eating less and less until he died on September 5th.

On that same day, on the other side of the peninsula, King Joseph I of Portugal was on his way back from visiting his mistress in an unmarked, unguarded carriage and was attacked by masked assassins. The King was shot in the abdomen and would die of his wounds late that evening. Princess Maria was up waiting to confront her father over his behavior, would see her father die at his bedside. Maria would fall into a state of shock, mourning and melancholia for several weeks after her father passed. The assassins were quickly captured and tortured. Prime Minister Sebastião José de Carvalho de Melo swiftly investigated the attack, and pinned the blame (rightly or wrongly) on the powerful Tavora family, and other nobles he saw as enemies complicit in the act.

The Marchioness Leonora of Távora, her husband the Count of Alvor, and all of their children and grandchildren were imprisoned, along with the Duke of Aviero, the Marquis of Aloma, the Count of Atouguia, and Gabriel Malagrida, the Jesuit confessor of Leonora of Távora, and Teresa of Tavora, the King’s mistress.

Before the young future Queen Maria I came out of her melancholia by November, Melo had tried and executed Leonora and her husband, the Duke of Aviero, the Marquis of Aloma, and the Count of Atouguia. The intention and sentence was to proceed with the execution of the rest of their families who remained imprisoned after Queen Maria I of Portugal had her formal coronation on November 3rd.

While much of the delay in the Queen’s coronation was due to her own emotional state, the Prime Minister was not entirely wrong about the risk of a contest of succession over the throne. The Tavora’s were not the only noble family that desired a male on the throne, and the rush to try and execute them and the leading candidate the Duke of Aviero was done to mitigate any potential plots or uprisings. This fear is what persuaded young Queen Maria to keep Melo in his position, despite her and her mother’s uncertainty over him; though his harsh stance would not be without consequences to come.

On November 16th, after the public executions of all the adult sons of the Tavora, Aviero, Aloma and Atouguia families, the court would see just the revolt and protest they had feared. Minor nobles, and dispossessed peasants (many still homeless from the 1755 earthquake) and Jesuits, after the crown had seized noble and Jesuit lands, along with rabble-rousers attracted to such events gathered in protest in Lisbon, and threatened to march on the Palace. This however was no armed rebellion, but Melo took no chances and sent the army to disperse the ‘rebellious rioters’, resulting in over 100 civilian deaths.

After this event, Queen Maria interceded, and put a stop to the executions of the surviving women and children of the accused families. Only Teresa, the King’s former mistress, and Gabriel Malagrida, the Jesuit Confessor, would still be executed by burning at the stake in December.

The new King of Spain, Charles III meanwhile would take his time and not arrive in Barcelona until late November. He would honor the Treaty of Vienna, and not join Spain, Naples and Sicily. However, Charles had also not ratified the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, and he desired to see his descendants maintain control over the regions. Charles Emmanuel III, King of Sardinia also had designs on Plaisence and threatened to occupy it, prompting Charles III to station troops on the border of the Papal states prior to his departure for Barcelona.

It would take a new treaty, between Austria, Spain and France and other parties at the end of the year to resolve differences and set things in motion for the next phase of the grand war.

 

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Britain and Austria, First Blood

Pitts planned descents on the French coasts at Cherbourg and Saint Cast were cancelled as a result of the perceived failure of the raid on St. Malo. Instead, half the landing forces that would have been part of the Saint Cast, 5,000 land troops, were sent to East Frisia to reinforce the Duke of Brunswick in direct response to Fredrick removal of Prussian forces from the western front. East Frisia had been chosen primarily, to help secure the British supply lines through there to Prussia and because there was not an actual formal declaration of war with Austria, which would have surely occurred had Flanders been invaded. As it would turn out though, their avoidance of this would mean little.

After landing in East Frisia in late August, British forces made their way south to unite with the Duke of Brunswick who had pulled back from the Rhine after defeating the French at Dusseldorf, when Prussia had withdrawn their forces from the area. Despite his victory over the French, without Prussian aid Brunswick did not want to leave himself in a vulnerable position in case the French decided to cross the Rhine again to counter-attack.

Austria meanwhile had dispatched a contingent of troops along with Bavarian allied forces westward to meet up with French forces prior to learning of their defeat at Dusseldorf. After learning of the defeat in July they because operating in the area of Hesse-Kassel to raid and disrupt the supply the German provinces were providing British and Prussian forces.

Battle of Marburg

On September 13th, The Duke of Brunswick British, Hanover and Hessian forces after reinforcing to the north with the new British troops, turned south to face this threat. Allied forces of 25,000 would face off against the smaller Austro-Bavarian force of 10,000.

A quick but bloody victory near the town of Marburg in Hesse-Kassel would see the Austro–Bavarian army defeated. The allies were unable to achieve a complete rout however, and well over half the Austro-Bavarian forces would escape and flee back toward the east.

Battle Results:
Allied Forces: 4000 dead and wounded.
Austrian-Bavarian Forces: 5000 dead, wounded, and captured. 15 guns captured.

Decisive Allied victory

The Battle of Marburg would mark the first time a large number of directly commanded British soldiers would fight directly against a large number of Austrian led soldiers. This battle plus when London learned that Austrian intelligence aided the French in their attacks on British trade in the Mediterranean, would cause some members of government on both sides to consider a formal declaration of war.

 

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Battle at Fort Duquesne

On September 15th, British and Colonial forces gathered for an assault on the French controlled Fort Duquesne. The attack was part of a larger British operation led by General John Forbes and 6,000 troops whose goal was to take control of the contested Ohio country from the French.

Forbes sent Major James Grant and 600 British troops and 200 colonial militia led by Colonel George Washington to scout out and take the fort if possible. Prior to approach Grant had divided his forces and ended up being ambushed by the French commander Marchand de Ligney troops and their native allies and taken prisoner.

Colonel Washington, reacting to the attack and gather the British forces that had escaped captured led an attack on the French forces before they had time to flee back to the safety of the fort’s walls. He succeeded in rescuing the prisoners and forcing the French to flee.

However with high casualties, Grant determined it would not be possible to take the Fort from the French, and rejoined the Forbes and the larger British force. Washington had hoped this action might earn him a commission as a British officer but he was to be disappointed in General Forbes and Grant’s general lack of gratitude. He would however continue to accompany the British in the Ohio campaign in hopes for a second chance.

Battle Results:
British Forces: 350 dead and wounded
French Forces: 20 dead and wounded

French Victory

The French continued to occupy the fort though to the end of November. Ligney however, knowing he could not defend against the larger British force who was bound to eventually attack, would burn Fort Duquesne before abandoning it during the night on November 28th. The British when they arrived would rebuilt the fort and name it Fort Pitt, the future site of city of Pittsburgh.

 

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Acadian Retreat

After the fall of Fort Louisburg, the British discovered that the Governor Chevalier de Drucour has died during one of the final bombardments and Jean Vauquelin had escaped on the Fidele. The highest ranking French officer that was captured was Beaussier de l'Isle, who repeatedly insisted that he did not have the authority to surrender Ile St. Jean or any territory beyond the ground upon which the Fortress Louisburg stood.

The British then proceeded to spend the fall months securing Ile Royale. Despite the lateness in the year, many French settlers on Ile Royale took the risk of escaping to Ile Saint Jean, Ile Madam or even further on to the mainland with the aid of Mi’kmaq and Acadian militia, who braved the icy waters ferrying people across in small boats. On more than one occasion British troops would find empty farmhouses or villages, stripped of provisions; the livestock they did not flee with, slaughtered and left to rot and freeze. The memory of previous year’s Acadian expulsion was fresh in the minds of the French, and if not, it was reminded to them by the fleeing Acadian militia. The inhabitants did not desire to encounter a similar fate. Overall, by the end of 1758 the British would round up nearly 1500 French souls from Ile Royale, and ship them off to New England despite the winter for relocation. During the course of the round up though, skirmishes and guerilla attacks between Acadian, Mi’kmaq, French settlers and British forces would result in 250 dead or wounded British soldiers and some 500 known dead French and Indian settlers. It is believe that about half the Islands residents, perhaps 2000 in total may have fled to other parts of Acadia and New France.

At first Amherst’s intention was to expel them to France, but decided that it was too late in the year to push for a northern trans-Atlantic journey. Similarly, the Campaign against the Ile Saint Jean and other areas in the Maritimes filled with Acadian rebels would have to wait until spring, as would the campaign to conquer New France.

Otherwise Major General Amherst had to judge the charges brought by General John Mordaunt, who had been injured during the siege and missed half the action, against Colonel James Wolfe of having previous disobeyed one of Mordaunt’s orders when Wolfe order a retreat from the French during Mordaunt’s attack. It was a reprimand Amherst negated and vacated the charges; given that Wolfe had later on taken lead after Mordaunt had been injured and fought admirably. His decision however seemed only to incense General Mordaunt.

 

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The Swedish Offensive

The Hats Party in Sweden was becoming aware that the money given them by the French for entering the war, was not going to last too far. While the successes they had thus far in securing Stettin and the Western portion of Prussian Pomerania had helped their cause, the expense of maintain the garrison and blockades with the Navy was mounting in what was obvious by now was going to be a long war after news of that yet again, the Russians would not meet up with Swedish land forces during the year. They needed a victory to bolster their image and quiet their detractors so order a Swedish offensive into Brandenburg in the hopes of an easy victory.

In the campaign thus far, Sweden had taken Usedom, Wollin, Anklam, Ueckern, Eggesin, Pasewalk, Politz and Stettin. Even Mecklenburg had recently decided to go beyond hiring out their army and took the Prussian enclave within its borders, risking drawing the ire of Fredrick, though they were still cautious of conflict with Hanover on their western border.

Since Count von Rosen was still perfectly content to sit in Stettin, the Hats party sent General Gustaf David Hamilton to lead troops in Pomerania, and organize an offensive against Berlin. Hamilton left Rosen in charge of defending Stettin, since he at least seemed to be doing that well, while he took a combined for of 12,000 Swedish and Mecklenburg forces southwest to enter Brandernburg from the north, aiming for Stranburg, Prenzlau and ultimately Berlin. Though Hamilton did not expect to hold Berlin, it was though that, given the numerous enemies he was facing Fredrick might be willing to make peace and give up Pomerania in exchange for the city.

Battle of Strasburg

On September 23rd, Swedish forces approached and besieged the Prussian garrison in Strasburg after fighting a brief skirmish outside the town. The much smaller Prussian garrison surrendered after just three days.

Battle Results:
Swedish-Mecklenburg Forces: 150 dead and wounded
Prussian Forces: 200 dead and wounded, 500 captured.

Clear Swedish Victory

Battle of Prenzlau

After leaving a small garrison in Strasburg the Swedish forces would continue on to Prenzlau in order to repeat the victory. Fredrick had no intention of letting the Swedes walk up to Berlin and as soon as he heard reports of Swedish reinforcements arriving by ship and gathering to march south, he had sent General Carl Heinrich von Wedel with a force of 6000 to attempt to stop the advance.

Von Wedel, after learning of the Swedish army’s progression, took advantage of the Swedes utter lack of light troops, striking them with hit and run cavalry skirmishes for three days before committing to a battle near Prenzlau. The Swedes had though the forces they were being attack with were much smaller, and continued to surround and besiege the town of Prenzlau even after being whittled down to 11,000.

On September 29th, after the Swedish forces spread out around the town and camped for the night, Wedel took his 5800 strong Prussian army and attacked the southern side of the besieging forces with speed, maneuvering and discipline. The Prussian forces did heavy damage to the Swedish forces, causing them to abandon the siege, and withdraw northwards again.

Battle Results:
Swedish-Mecklenburg Forces: 3,000 dead and wounded.
Prussian Forces: 550 dead and wounded.

Definitive Prussian Victory

After the battle Hamilton retreated back to Pomerania, and demanded the creation of light troops before pursuing further offensives. The Swedes at least managed to hold on to Strasburg for the time being for their trouble.

 

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Saxon Revolt

While Fredrick drew forces eastwards to bolster his slowly shrinking army, it unavoidable leave garrisons in other areas weaker than desired.

A reformed Saxon army, made up mostly of troops that deserted Prussia in mass for Austria during the Battle of Prague, coordinated with locals in occupied Saxony who were increasingly resisting the heavy taxing and conscription Fredrick was forced to implement in order to pay for his campaign.

With the assistance of Austrian leadership, they embarked on a campaign to liberate southern Saxony. On October 12th, An 8,000 strong Austro-Saxon army and 3,000 civilian Saxons took on a 2,000 strong Prussian garrison at Chemnitz, while campaigning to gain what sympathies and recruitment they could from southern Saxony.

Battle of Chemnitz:
Austro-Saxon & Civilian Forces: 1200 dead and wounded.
Prussian Forces: 300 dead and wounded. 1700 retreated.

Clear Saxon Victory

Despite a strong defense, which inflicted a heavy to on the fighting Saxon civilians and conscripts, the Prussians were in danger of getting surrounded. With the town becoming increasing hostile they elected to retreat from the city, falling back to Dresden.

The Saxon army after celebrating its victory would pursue the retreating forces and join with additional Austrian forces at Dresden in an attempt to retake the town as well, and recapture the imposing Königstein Fortress, still ceremoniously commanded by Saxon Lieutenant General Michael Lorenz von Pirch despite Prussian rule, and within it held the Saxon treasury.

A Commander’s Redemption:

Prussian however could not afford to let the taking of the Fortress, the city and the Saxon Treasury go so easily, and held a sizable garrison, further reinforced by some of those retreating from Chemnitz.

On October 25th, a combined Austro-Saxon army led by Major General Ernst Gideon von Laudon encircled the town of Dresden, fighting a brief battle with Prussian forces before settling into the siege. In a display of Propaganda, Laudon, who knew some surrendered Saxon from the beginning of the war still resided in the Prussian forces made sure, the Saxon contingent was visible and flying their colors in full view of the defensive forces. After seven days opportunity arose when fighting broke out between Prussian and Saxon defenders, where after the battle it was learned that von Pirch led his own men in a conflict against the Prussian occupiers, dying to a man to disable the guns at Königstein Fortress, and giving Loudon a chance to storm the fortress. With the fortress secured the city fell soon afterwards

Battle of Dresden:
Prussian Forces: 1500 dead and wounded, 1500 captured.
Astro-Saxon Forces: 1000 dead and wounded.

Austro-Saxon Victory

Michael Lorenz von Pirch would be celebrated long after in Saxony for his heroic sacrifice in the face of the Prussian occupation, and his tale would inspire and boost the morale of Saxon forces as they would begin a vigorous fight to retake their country in the following years.