A Different Roll of the Dice

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A Different Roll of the Dice

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In our study of multi-verse physics today, we will consider how the narrowing down to a single event causes a branching of the timelines into parallel universes of two different paths of; diverging at a single point of departure. While the quantum physicists will go on at length about specific particles blinking in and out of existing or spinning one way or another as the true PODs of a branching event, we time-stream observing historians prefer to narrow it down into a more concrete and tangible event.

Individual time-stream researchers often enjoy fixating on a particular event, such as the death or survival of a famous figure. Others come down to a far more mundane POD such as the thing that caused the death or survival of some person or another. These include things like a projectile landing in a different spot due to the chaotic component of wind pattern formuli, or simply some individual making a different choice, or even down to the example of a random coin toss landing a different way. Not so surprisingly these more random events tend to propagate a more random pathing from the POD, than ones based on one individual’s choice, which are theorized to be more bound. We are not sure why this is yet, hence our continued study of these time streams.

One such case study that I present for your perusal, has had its POD narrowed down to one such random event, though not a coin toss, but the outcome of a roll of dice, which had a drastic effect on the forthcoming branching time-stream paths.

Meet Gerard Lafontaine. He was a French gunner seaman assigned to a Ship of the Line in the port of Toulon. Time-stream observations against the original timeline has revealed he was robbed and murdered in an ally one night during May, 1756, after having won a fair amount of money on a game of craps and then getting rather drunk in celebration. The dice outcome of this game of craps is the determined POD.

So in this case-study of an alternate timeline, Gerard, in fact lost, which was actually a good thing for him. Without any winnings he did not get himself and his fellow sailor friends drunk and then get stabbed by a cut-purse in a back ally while relieving himself. This means no group of drunken French sailors returning from leave the following morning, and an intact, Gerard was among them.

Well if Gerard lost, then who won? Meet Pieter Zolensky, a Russian sailor crewed to a merchant ship which was also at anchor in the city. Pieter was a much larger, and more well-built man than Gerard, and didn’t have the drinking problem that Gerard did. A strong sober Russian merchant sailor, who didn’t wander drunkenly into a dark alley to relieve himself was deemed too risky of a target for our would-be cut-purse. Furthermore, Pieter opted to save his winnings rather that spend them on several round of drinks for it enabled him to have enough money to voyage back towards the Black Sea so he could return home. Time-stream observations on the original timeline, reveal that Pieter never made it home, but instead died of a fever about a six months later in an Egyptian port.

What of our would-be cut-purse? Meet Jean Lefeuvre. In our original timeline, he was caught and hanged for the murder of Gerard Lafontaine one month later. In this time-stream, it was determined that he stuck around Toulon for a few more months before he finally fled the city after committing some other crime and headed toward Paris.

Those none of these men were notable in the annals of history, the ripples produced from them on the eve of the Seven Years war, all set in motion from the outcome of a different roll of the dice, would have a dramatic impact on the outcome of a history to come. Join me as I trace these patterns and review a history that could have been.

May 20th, 1756.

The Battle of Minorca

In only a short time, the most dramatic change of events occurred regarding the forthcoming war. Gerard, a gunner aboard a French vessel involved in the conflict, was in fact, rather talented at his job, whose actions shined during the battle. The two fleets faced off in a line, 12 ships of the line and 5 frigates for the English led by Admiral John Byng and 12 ships of the line and 7 frigates for the French led by Marquis de la Galissonnière.

The fleets line up against each other much like in our own history. Though a combination of luck and skill, a well-placed shot by Gunner Gerard during the first few initial exchanges of volleys into the powder store resulted in the destruction of the HMS Buckingham and the deaths of all hands on board, including rear admiral Temple West. Debris from the Buckingham’s destruction, caused additional damage to the already damaged HMS Lancaster and HMS Captain.

Emboldened by this early stroke of luck the French pressed the attack harder, resulting in a heavier amount of damage inflicted, and by the end of the next set of volleys, nearly 3/4ths of the English ships were damaged, with one outright sunk, compared to less than 1/4th of the French fleet damaged. Admiral Byng, whose rear ships were still out of cannon range, and seeing no hope of relieving the Minorca garrison, began a retreat with the French in pursuit.

In an attempt to render aid to some of the crippled British ships, the HMS Dolphin herself became crippled from heavy French fire, though she bought some time that was needed for the rest of the English fleet to retreat. Too crippled to keep up with the retreating English ships and at risk of sinking, Admiral Byng was forced to abandon the rescue attempt of the HMS Dolphin as the French were closing in pursuit, despite several English souls still being on board or in the water, as to be testified to later by other British officers.

Other British captains noticed however that the French were in fact faltering in their pursuit. Perhaps this was out of a desire to not take on too much more damage, nor wishing to pursue the English all the way to Gibraltar. The French also knew they still had to lend support to the capture of Ft. St. Phillip on the island of Minorca, which finally fell on July 1st, 1756.

The Fate of the Dolphin thus became unknown to the retreating English fleet at the time. Its last reported sighting in Admiral Byng’s logs was that it was still afloat, but presumed sinking, with French ships in the vicinity. The actual fate of the HMS Dolphin was its capture by the French forces, where it was kept afloat long enough to be towed back to Toulon for repairs, destined to play another role later in the war.


Battle Results:

Fall of Minorca to the French.

British Fleet:
Loss of HMS Buckingham, and HMS Dolphin
Three-quarters of the fleet damaged.
875 killed, 333 wounded, 55 taken prisoner (from the Dolphin).
Notable deaths included, Rear Admiral Temple West, Commander Benjamin Marlow, and a young Arthur Phillip, all KIA.

French Fleet:
Capture of HMS Dolphin
Less than One-quarter of Fleet damaged.
98 killed, 232 wounded.

Siege of Fort Saint Philip and the 2nd Battle of Minorca

Repair of British ship at Gibraltar had delayed Sir Edward Hawke, who had replaced Admiral Byng, from departing for a second attempt to relieve Minorca. In haste however, Sir Edward too had left with ships that were serviceable, but still damaged from the previous battle. He arrived too late however as the fort had surrendered on July 1st. However the French fleet had not yet fully retreated to Toulon and he engaged the French in open waters, for the 2nd Battle of Minorca, on the morning of July 2nd, 1756.

The weather, while at first favoring neither side, began to disfavor the British fleet. The French, however did not want to be caught in another engagement, and had intended to retreat to Toulon, but could not do so before an exchange of fire was had between the fleets.

Sir Edward kept the ships that were still damaged from the previous battle toward the rear. The French too had kept their damaged ships protected, so the exchange occurred between fresher ships, the French however had more undamaged ships than the British.

Sir Edward took damage to two of his lead ships during the offensive exchange for only one of the French, when the weather began to turn against him. As a result of this Sir Edward adopted a more defensive stance. The French, rather than press their advantage, opted to retreat back to Toulon.

Sir Edward noted in his logs that there was no sign of the HMS Dolphin flying under a French flag. (Because the French had towed it to Toulon already) He turned his attentions toward Minorca, but upon arriving and being shot at by Fort Saint Phillips cannons, now under French control, he concluded he did not have enough troops available to retake the island. The additional damage suffered in the engagement with the French, and a desire to finish the incomplete repairs from the prior battle, caused Sir Edward to decide to turn back toward Gibraltar. He later gave evidence against Byng regarding Minorca, and was himself criticized himself for not blockading Minorca or Toulon.

Siege of Fort St. Phillip, Battle Results:
15,000 French troops besieged 2800 British troops.

French capture of the fort. 750 dead, 2600 wounded.

British surrender, 450 dead. Survivors allowed to be shipped home back to Britain.

2nd Battle of Minorca, Battle Results:
Indecisive

British Fleet:
Two ships damaged
47 dead, 75 wounded.

French Fleet:
One ship damaged
15 dead, 38 wounded.

Some Things Still Stay the Same

The ripples in time can be strange things. In many cases they tend to self-correct among agents of change (we humans) as we tend to stick to routines and often make the same decisions for the same reasons, when no strongly obvious parameters have been altered. While bumps and missteps might have the drastic effect on small nudges on things like sperm meeting egg, these are things that take years to notice as deviations from the original. In the near-term it is the presence or absence of persons in their paths of life where the greatest ripples can often be found.

So now, our three initial agents of change Gerard, Pieter, and Jean, produce ripples through out where they travel. Gerard’s presence has already had his first effect on the French Mediterranean Fleet and even up the command structures as battle reports make their way to Paris. Pieter’s presence and ripples through over the next few months are mostly confined to the merchant ship he is working on as it travels to the black sea, but makes small ripples at each port visited on the way. Jean’s presence for the next five months generates ripples all about southern France, more so once past the date of his original hanging had the dice roll not been different.

Invasion of Saxony

Despite several months having gone by, none of these major ripples however had yet made it to the place that in our timeline would become known as Germany, so one Fredrick II, King of Prussia, continues on with his plans for invading Saxony and kicks off the opening land battle of what we had called the Seven Years War, at the same time and place as we are familiar with.

Fredrick invaded Saxony on 29 August 1756, and besieged Pima, after fighting off Austrian forces at the Battle of Lobositz and preventing them from reinforcing Saxony resulting in the surrender of 18,000 troops and the capitulation of Saxony on October 14, 1756.

As the year of 1756 drew to a close, and the year 1757 began; the ripples had well permeated most of Southwestern and South Central Europe, the Mediterranean and was continuing to expand outward. Furthermore, larger ripples from our three initial agents of change were soon to make even larger impacts on the timeline.

Pieter had finally reaches the port of Azov, and was home before the winter. His specific role in this tale comes to an end. He lived the harsh life of a dockworker, if you cared to know. It is a better outcome than dying young from a fever. He did still die of a fever, but not until many years later after he married and fathered children. What is important though, later in this tale, is not him per-say, but the indirect ripples that began to permeate across Russia and the surrounding areas originating from Azov, from his continued existence.

Our agent of change, Jean, meanwhile had reached Paris by winter, bringing his ripples through time with him, for a dramatic change to the heart of the French court at the start of the new year.

TL Summary 1756:
January 16 – Treaty of Westminster signed between Great Britain and Prussia guaranteeing the neutrality of the German province of Hanover controlled by King George II of Great Britain. Despite British attempts to convince them otherwise, the Dutch Republic declares its neutrality.

March 11, Nine Years' War: HMS Warwick Captured by France

April 12 – Nine Years' War: The French invade Minorca, at this time under British control.

May 8, Nine Years' War – French and Indian War: Raid on Lunenburg
Sometime in Mid-May - A game of craps has a different outcome [POD]
May 18 – Nine Years' War: The Nine Years' War formally begins when Great Britain declares war on France.
May 20 – Nine Years' War – Battle of Minorca: The British fleet under John Byng is defeated by the French under Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière. HMS Buckingham is sunk with all hands, and HMS Dolphin is captured by the French.

June 12 – Nine Years’ War: British capture the French ship Arc-En-Ciel off Nova Scotia
June 20 – A garrison of the British Army in India is imprisoned in the Black Hole of Calcutta.
June 25 – The Marine Society is founded in London, the world's oldest seafarers' charity.

July 1st – Nine Years' War – Siege of Fort St Philip at Port Mahon: The British garrison in Minorca surrenders to the French after two months, 2 days' siege by Armand de Vignerot du Plessis.
July 2nd – Nine Years War – 2nd Battle of Minorca British Fleet under Sir Edward Hawke fights an indecisive battle with the French under Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière. The French Fleet flee to Toulon while the British fleet returns to Gibraltar. Minorca remains under French control.
July 30 – Bartolomeo Rastrelli presents the newly built Catherine Palace to Empress Elizabeth and her courtiers.

August 14 – Nine Years' War – French and Indian War: Fort Oswego falls to the French.
August 29 – Frederick II of Prussia invades Saxony, beginning the Nine Years' War on the continent.

October 1 – Nine Years' War – Battle of Lobositz: Frederick defeats an Austrian army under Marshal Maximilian Ulysses Count Browne.
October 14 – An Agreement of Friendship and Trade is signed by the Sultan Osman III and the King Frederick V. Denmark has appointed an extraordinary representative to the Ottoman Empire.

December – Nine Years' War – French and Indian War: Militias of the Royal Colony of North Carolina build a fort on the province's western frontier to protect it against natives allied with the French. The fort is named Fort Dobbs

Occurred mostly just like OTL
Occurred differently from OTL
Completely New Event for TTL

 

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The Year 1757:

Gerard Lafontaine continued his duties as a French sailor and gunner, still crewed to a French ship in the Mediterranean fleet. Various communiques among the French navy continued on as usual, a small bump here and there from these minor ripples resulted in some orders arriving sooner or later than usual. One such occurrence would bring the ripples of our point of departure clear across the Atlantic to Caribbean.

Leeward Islands Campaign

The greater success of Minorca swayed a few decisions regarding French naval deployments, which included dispatching a small Atlantic fleet, along with French troops to the French West Indies with orders for offensive and defensive actions. They were set to arrive at the end of the hurricane season in December of 1756, and by January were staged for an offensive against the British held islands. Antigua although desirable was deemed an improbable success due to its seat for the Royal Navy’s Caribbean fleet. The British fleet however would be drawn out in defense, when one portion of the French forces raided and sacked the island of Barbuda. When reports of the attack came in, the British fleet would arrive to discover the French had already departed from the island. In the meantime, the other portion of the French fleet attacked and captured the island of Nevis on New Year’s Day. Significant damage was done to Charlestown and Fort St. Charles surrendered quickly; its cannons and those from other forts on the island were taken and used in the subsequent Siege of Brimstone Hill on St. Kitts on January 4th.

The diversionary French forces that had raided Barbuda had rejoined the rest of the French fleet off of St. Kitts, and assisted in defending and supporting the French forces. By the time British Commodore Thomas Frankland had arrived with the British fleet, Brimstone Hill was well under siege, as he faced off against the well anchored French fleet, on January 11th.

At the Battle of St. Kitts, the French fleet contained the 74 gun ship the Prudent, as well as the Frigates, Atalante, Zephyr, the ex-British ship the Warwick, and several other frigates and ships of the line. Frankland, commanding the British fleet from the HMS Winchester, was ultimately unsuccessful in driving off the French fleet. However during the course of the battle he did succeed in doing enough damage to the Warwick to drive it aground. After the battle, the French assessed the wreck to be unrepairable, and ended up removing cannon from the Warwick and adding it to the ongoing Siege of Brimstone hill. The French then broke up the Warwick to use its timbers in repairing damage to the French fleet that was sustained in the battle, and burnt what remained.

Brimstone Hill finally fell to the French on January 31st, 1757 when the defenders surrendered with the honors of war and Commodore Frankland was forced to acknowledge French occupation of St. Kitts and Nevis. After the fall of Fort St. Charles on Nevis, and again following the capture of St. Kitts, many British subjects and families on the islands were allowed to evacuate if they desired. The majority of these persons ended up fleeing to the Bahamas while a few others took flight to Jamaica.

Oh.. and lest I forget… for the astute among you, what might that mean for a young adulterous woman ripe with child from Charlestown named Rachel Faucette and her lover, unexpectedly displaced from their homes by the fortunes of war? I’ll let you contemplate that before we come back to that important point in our future discussions.

Battle Results:

French Fleet:
Less than half the fleet damaged, Warwick ran aground and scuttled.
48 killed, 197 wounded.

British Fleet:
Nearly two-thirds of the fleet damaged
65 killed, 218 wounded.

French Victory: Fall of St. Kitts and Nevis to France.


Meanwhile, back in Europe…

Let us return to one of our agents of change, Jean Lefeuvre. It was on one cold January 5th afternoon of 1757 that he bumped into another individual while out walking. It was seemingly nothing spectacular; the bumped man merely dropped his pen knife in the dirty street, picked it back up and went on his way. Jean meanwhile, a mere few days later resumed his criminal tendencies and attempted to mug a civilian. This occurrence of thievery however did not turn out so well for him, as his intended victim got the better of him, and stabbed him with his own knife, and left poor Jean to bleed to death in an alley.

The Attack on King Louis the XV

Speaking of stabbing, the grumpy man that Jean bumped into a few days earlier before he died was one Robert-François Damiens. Later that very evening, on January 5th, 1757, at the Palace of Versailles, Damiens stabbed King Louis the XV with the same dirty pen knife which he had fished out of the street that afternoon. The wound was minor and decidedly non-fatal, but the king, worried of poison, called for a confessor. There was no poison on the blade, but within two days it soon became apparent that the wound was unclean as a large boil began to form. The festering infection continued, despite doctor’s unsuccessful attempts to drain it, and more boils appeared. The King got progressively more ill over the next few weeks. In the meantime Robert Damiens was tortured and imprisoned.

Despite her attempts, Madame de Pompadour calls for the dismissal of Jean-Baptiste de Machault d'Arnouville and Marc-Pierre de Voyer de Paulmy d'Argenson went unheeded. The King was too busy being ill and conversing privately with his son Louis, the Dauphin of France, in between periods in which he was attended to by his doctors. At the time, the doctors knew King Louis did not have consumption or pox. Some still thought the illness came from poison, while others dismissed that idea. Most thought it was not contagious and it wasn’t, but great precautions were taken anyway during the King and the Dauphin’s interactions. King Louis’ mind stayed sharp to the end before the infection finally took him on February 2nd, 1757. Robert Damiens was executed by dismemberment the following day.

The Dauphin was crowned as King Louis the XVI less than one month later on March 1st, 1757. Out of respect of his father’s wished, Madame de Pompadour was given a small quiet country estate far away from the court. Louis the XV’s other mistresses were evicted from the palace as well, though they got far less compensation.

The French Court under King Louis XVI

After his attack and prior to his death, King Louis the XV imparted as much advice and political knowledge as he could to his son before his passing. Louis XVI took much of this to heed, but still had his own ideas to implement.

Somewhere along the way, a rumor had started that the British were behind the assassination of King Louis the XV. Anyone with a modicum of sense would know that this notion was absurd. However, it rallied the people against the British during the war, and whatever aid it provided to the recruitment of soldiers and their morale was welcome to the new king, so he made no move to contest or suppress the rumors.

The new king himself had always been a fervent student of the military arts, and numerous other disciplines. He was studious, well-educated, conservative and devout. He had inherited not just the crown, but a war that would be important for the future of France, and a mess of a bureaucracy in Paris, and he took it all seriously. One of the first acts he did, was reign in the expenses of the French court, canceled all the extravagant parties and balls, and sold off frivolous and unnecessary assets, turning the running of the palace into a frugal affair.

Comte d'Arnouville continued to counsel against the alliance Austria as he had done so previously with Louis XV when his advice was ignored. Although his advice was not ignored, Louis XVI could see no feasible or prudent way of disentangling themselves with Austria, nor did he entirely agree with the matter. The issue was not helped by his wife, Maria Josepha of Saxony, (which had recently fallen to Prussia) and her familial ties to Austria through her mother who argued for continued or even strengthened ties to Austria, and the influence of the Devots who supported alliance with the catholic Habsburgs against protestant influences. Thus, the alliance with Austria remained in place. But as for his advice on matters of taxation, the Louis listened more closely, as Comte d’Arnouville would again attempt to bring about reform. Louis’s piety, and again, the influence of the Devots, defeated any attempt for this reform to emplace taxes upon the church, but in exchange for the retention of their privilege, the church supported the taxation against the nobles and a few other sources. However, the tax was not as high as Comte d’Arnouville desired. Alone it was not enough to completely offset the borrowing that had to be continued, but it was enough, combined with other revenue, to let France carry on in the financing of the war.

Other means of finance would still be required, and several plans were prepared ranging from capture of Hanover and selling or trading it back to Britain, capture of the profitable sugar islands of the West Indies, and even pursuit of new plantation income sources in North Africa and the Mediterranean.

Military conquests were not the only area of pursuit in trimming finances. Louis XVI himself has seen examples of the Army’s inefficiencies, its bloat of officers, whose pay drained coffers, its non-permanent nature, dualistic command structure were all impediments to be overcome, as was finding a minister skilled enough to take on the task while navigating the bureaucracy of Paris.

Despite her removal from the court, Madame Pompadour still had many friends there, with whom she continued to communicate. Several plans which had already been in motion, and continued through the use of letters, would have an impact on things to come during the year. One of such, which was also one of the last things King Louis XV approved before his passing, was the transfer of Étienne François, duc de Choiseul from Rome to Vienna.

Leeward Islands Campaign, Part II

By late March, London had received word of the French attack on St Kitts, Nevis, and Barbuda. As Commodore Thomas Frankland was already in disfavor among his superiors, it only added more reasons for them to replace him and sent Commodore John Moore out with a British Fleet to retake the lost islands.

However it would not be until early May that Commodore Moore and the new fleet would arrive in the West Indies.

In the meantime, the slightly larger French fleet had repaired most of their lesser damage and re-staged to attempt to take on the damaged British fleet at Antigua. On February 15th, the French Fleet was met by the British and Commodore Frankland off English Harbor.

Battle of Antigua

The two fleets formed the battle lines, and proceeding to duke it out rather heavily. However French attempts to land troops on the island were thwarted by a heavy barrage that left a troop and artillery ship badly listing. Through a combination of tenacity, luck and favorable weather, Commodore Frankland drove off the French assault. The battle took a fierce toll however on both sides, while no Ships of the Line were lost, the British lost 2 Frigates for 2 French Frigates plus two French support ships. The artillery ship was captured but beyond repair, and the British were able a save a few pieces to reinforce the defenses of Antigua. With the winds and tides against them and the loss of important support, the French abandon their invasion attempt and limped back to Guadalupe and Martinique to repair and refit.

Battle Results:

French Fleet:
3/4th of the Fleet damaged (including remaining prior damage)
2 Frigates and 2 support ships sunk or captured.
897 killed, 912 wounded.

British Fleet:
3/4th of the Fleet damaged (including remaining prior damage)
2 Frigates lost.
587 killed, 773 wounded.

British Victory: Repulsion of French invasion attempt

Execution of Admiral John Byng

The ripples from the altered battle of Minorca of course followed the British fleet back to Gibraltar, far more sailors had died or were captured than in the timeline we known. The ripples followed Admiral Byng home to England as well as he was called just as before to explain himself regarding the shocking loss of Fort St. Phillip and Minorca, and two British ships. The outrage was even more furious than what could have been, and this only served to accelerate the court-martial. The findings were the same though; Admiral Byng was acquitted of cowardice but convicted of ‘failing to do his utmost’ against the French. He was executed by firing squad on March 10th, 1757

Battle of Reichenberg

The ripples in time, major and minor had by this point fully encompassed all of continental Europe and the British Isles. They made themselves felt again during the Battle of Reichenberg.

On April 20th, near the city of Reichenberg in Bohemia; Prussian forces under the command of Marshal von Bevern clashed with Austrian forces led by Count Christian Moritz von Koenigsegg. 16,000 Prussian troops faced off against 10,500 Austrian soldiers, amidst fierce fighting however Marshal von Bevern is struck by shrapnel. Though grievously injured, he maintains his command and leads his forces to victory against the Austrians. He would succumb to his wounds three days later.

The Second Treaty of Versailles

On May 1st, France and Austria agreed to the Second Treaty of Versailles, which called for France’s assistance in the defeat of Prussia and Austria regaining Silesia in exchange for a French client state over the Austrian Netherlands. They also prepared agreements for the partition of Prussia between France, Austria, Saxony, Sweden and Russia, and financial subsidies from France to Austria continued.

French troops, immediately afterwards began sharing the garrison of the Austrian Netherlands with existing Austrian forces, thereby freeing up some of the Austrian garrisons to head eastwards to attack Prussia, and greatly alarming the British and Dutch.

Étienne François, duc de Choiseul, who was instrumental as one of the principal authors of the treaty, greatly impressed King Louis XVI with his service. His support of Austrian the alliance also gained him favor with the Devots, who continued to influence the King. Louis XVI, which careful consideration and advice, though that he may have found the proper minister able to handle both the bureaucracy of Paris, and institute additional military reforms, and invited him to return to Versailles. Choiseul obliged and on June 25th, 1757, replaced the aging Antoine Louis Rouillé as Foreign Minister of France.

Capitulation of the Canton of Neuchatel

In 1708 the mostly Protestant residents of Neuchatel ignored the claimants brought forward by the Catholic King Louis the XIV in favor of King Fredrick of Prussia, a Protestant who would leave them mostly to their own affairs. Now Neuchatel, considered a part of Prussia, with whom France was now at war, caught her ire. A sizeable force was raised to be able to take the Canton and was mustered at the border. However parley and diplomacy prevailed, upon the invitation of Swiss mediators. Overall Louis XVI and his Catholic supporters had little desire to absorb a province full of Protestants, but they also wanted to dismantle every part of Prussia no matter how small.

On April 27th, 1757, the Canton of Neuchatel capitulated without conflict in the face of superior French forces, in exchange for generous terms of self-governance and the promise of no persecution. France’s real goal however; was to offer the Canton up as collateral in exchange for securing Swiss loans and its transfer to Switzerland at the wars end should Prussia lose.

Battle and Siege of Prague

Fredrick II spent the winter planning his next campaign and soon took aim on Austria. On May 5th, 1757, he boldly attacked the Austrians near Prague in a goal to subsequently seize the city. 67,000 Prussia troops faced off against 60,000 Austrian soldiers. At the battle’s conclusion Fredrick was victorious but at precious cost to his men.

Battle Results:
Prussia: 15,000 killed or wounded.
Austria: 11,500 killed or wounded, 4000 captured.

Prussian tactical victory, Austrian strategic victory.

Without enough men to assault the walls of Prague, Fredrick settled into a siege of the city that would last for several weeks.

Leeward Islands Campaign, Part III

Commodore John Moore arrived with the British Fleet in Antigua on May 6th, 1757 on the HMS Cambridge along with 7 other ships of line, numerous frigates and support ships and a force of marines to retake the islands and capture other French Possessions. While Moore commended Frankland’s defense of Antigua a few months prior, the two men did not get along. The previous engagements between the British and French fleets had reduced the French strength advantage which had resulted in no further offensive attempts. Now with a reinforced fleet, British had the superior forces and began a re-conquest of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Second Battle of St. Kitts

On May 15th, The French now found themselves in a reversed position from earlier in the year. However having anticipated this, they had well stocked Brimstone Hill, repaired many of the breaches and reinforced against the same approach they had used to take the fort.

Nevis, like before, was recaptured quickly by the British a couple days before. The French had left the forts there in poor condition and the numerous removed cannons had not been replaced. Brimstone Hill however, despite its damage from the prior French attack, was more garrisoned, and more gunned and proved far more difficult to attack, so after a failed initial assault, the British forces settled into a long protracted siege. The French hold out for a little over three months hoping reinforcements would arrive before supplies were exhausted. When no relief came, they finally surrendered to the British on August 20th, 1757.

French Naval forces though, did not fare as well against the strengthened British Fleet. As the two fleets lined up and clashed off the coast of the island, the French were forced to retreat after the loss of two vessels and the capture of a third for only one British ship sunk.

Battle Results: 1st Assault on Brimstone Hill
British: 587 dead, 754 wounded.
French: 147 dead, 334 wounded.
French Victory: French forces repel British attempt to retake the fortress by force.

Battle Results: 2nd Battle of St. Kitts
British: Half the Fleet damaged, loss of the HMS Revenge (70 gun)
496 Killed, 670 wounded.
French: 2/3rd of the Fleet damaged, loss of the Zephyr (frigate) & Alcyon (50 gun), capture of the Lion (64 gun)
711 Killed, 840 wounded.

British Victory: French fleet driven off, Siege of St. Kitts maintained.

Battle Results: 2nd Siege of Brimstone Hill
British: 208 dead or wounded (disease and environment)
French: 124 dead or wounded (disease, hunger and environment)
British Victory: French surrendered with the honors of war.

Continued Conflict in the Maritimes

Very few ripples of significance had made it to the North American continent, though that would change as the British and the French rearrange their fleet deployments around the globe in the reaction to various world events.

For now the struggle between the French and their Native allies against the British and the Colonials continued much as we know them from our own history. The more militant French Acadians, (those not yet deported) maintained raids against British settlers and forts in the Maritimes in coordination with the Mi’kmaq and others in the Wabinaki conferderacy.

A Return to the Continent

The Treaty of Versailles brought a storm into the European continent more potent that before, and France, Austria, Russia, and soon Sweden start making their moves for conflict with Prussia. Austria and Prussia, already at blows enter round two over the control of Bohemia.

Battle of Kolin

Fredrick II was besieging Prague when he got word of the approach of an Austrian army under Leopold Josef, Count Von Daun between 44,000 to 65,000 strong. Von Daun knew Fredrick could not keep him away from Prague while besieging it at the same, time, so he expected an attack. Von Daun made his defenses among the hills around Kolin, awaiting the inevitable attack.

Fredrick obliged, attacking with a force of 30,000 soldiers, but things did not go quite as he desired. Under harassment from the enemy forces some elements attacked too early. While Fredrick spotted this and redeployed, it was too late to prevent much of the quagmire that followed. Von Daun noticed as well, took advantage and drove the Prussian forces into a hasty retreat. The Prussian retreat came close to a rout under Austrian pursuit; had not the Prussian heavy cavalry led by Wilhelm von Seyditz not forced an end to the Austrian pursuit.

By the battles end, with far too many casualties, Fredrick was forced to abandon the Siege of Prague and withdraw from Bohemia altogether.

Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: 15,000 dead or wounded
Austrian Forces: 8,500 dead or wounded.
Austrian Victory: Prussia forced to withdraw from Bohemia.

The War in India

Much like on the North American Continent by this time, very few time ripples of significance had managed to reach India. The goals of the British East India company remained the same as did the players and the forces available to them.

Colonel Robert Clive, seized the French fort at Chandernagar, as part of actions to remove the influence of the French East India company in favor of the British. Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal, who didn’t want the British extending their influence and fortification even further, met the British in battle near Plassey.

On June 23, the British won the day, and with, influence over the important province of Bengal. This would lead to even more British control over the Indian subcontinent, at the expenses of other foreign holdings such as the French and Dutch in other locations near to India. The small British force of just over 3000 defeated the larger India Force of 62,000.

Battle of Plassey
British forces: Less than 100 dead or wounded
Muhgal Empire forces: 500 dead or wounded
British Victory: French influence over Bengal replaced with British influence.

 

[0100010]

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

 

[0100010]

State of the British Navy 1/1/1758

British Fleet:

Ships of the Line

Launch Guns Name
1715 100 Royal Anne
1728 100 Royal Sovereign
1756 100 Royal George
1739 90 Duke
1740 90 St. George
1711 90 Princess Royal
1749 90 Ramillies
1750 90 Prince
1755 90 Namur
1756 90 Union
1757 90 Neptune
1757 84 Royal William
1757 80 Prince George
1757 80 Barfleur
1735 80 Russel
1747 80 Newark
1755 80 Cambridge
1757 80 Princess Amelia
1749 74 Torbay
1747 74 Culloden
1747 74 Invincible ( ex-french)
1747 74 Monarch (ex-french)
1747 74 Terrible (ex-french)
1748 74 Magnanime (ex-french)
1757 74 Dublin
1757 74 Norfolk
1737 70 Elizabeth
1739 70 Suffolk
1740 70 Essex
1740 70 Nassau
1740 70 Prince Fredrick
1742 70 Stirling Castle
1742 70 Monmouth
1748 70 Vanguard
1748 70 Somerset
1749 70 Orford
1750 70 Grafton
1750 70 Swiftsure
1750 70 Northumberland
1753 70 Chichester
1732 68 Marlborough
1757 68 Buford
1757 68 Dorsetshire
1748 66 Cumberland
1745 66 Devonshire
1749 66 Lancaster
1744 66 Hampton Court
1743 64 Captain
1743 64 Berwick
1744 64 Edinburgh
1745 64 Yarmouth
1747 64 Intrepid (ex-french)
1747 64 Fougueux (ex-french)
1747 64 Trident (ex-french)
1743 64 Alcide (ex-french)
1754 64 Duc d'Aquitaine (ex-french) captured 1757 just as in OTL
1751 64 Lion (ex-french) captured 1757 TTL
1741 64 Bedford
1734 60 Prince of Orange
1722 60 Plymouth
1735 60 Worchester
1736 60 Augusta
1736 60 Jersey
1738 60 Lyon
1740 60 Kingston
1742 60 Dreadnought
1742 60 Princess Mary
1745 60 Nottingham
1747 60 St Albans
1747 60 Anson
1747 60 Tiger
1752 60 Weymouth
1753 60 York
1755 60 Medway
1754 60 Dunkirk
1757 60 Achilles
1757 60 America
1757 60 Montagu
1757 60 Pembroke
1744 58 Princess Louisa
1744 58 Defiance
1745 58 Sunderland
1745 58 Eagle
1745 58 Windsor
1745 58 Vigilant (ex-french)
1745 52 Arc-En-Ciel (ex-french)
1732 50 Deptford
1727 50 Oxford
1732 50 Centurion
1740 50 Guernsey
1741 50 Hampshire
1741 50 Leopard
1741 50 Sutherland
1742 50 Antelope
1743 50 Chester
1743 50 Harwich
1744 50 Winchester
1744 50 Portland
1744 50 Falkland
1745 50 Salisbury
1745 50 Norwich
1746 50 Colchester
1746 50 Lichfield
1746 50 Bristol
1749 50 Rochester
1747 50 Assistance
1747 50 Tavistock
1752 50 Falmouth
1750 50 Newcastle
1747 50 Severn
1747 50 Isis (ex-french)
1757 50 Preston

Ships no longer in service
1703 100 Royal Anne broken up 1757 as OTL
1728 80 Princess Amelia broken up 1757 as OTL
1741 70 Royal Oak hulked 1757 as OTL
1742 70 Revenge sunk 1757 TTL
1751 70 Buckingham sunk 1756 TTL
1731 70 Ipswitch hulked 1757 as OTL
1736 60 Dragon sunk as a breakwater 1757 as OTL
1736 60 Superb broken up 1757 as OTL
1745 58 Tilbury sunk 1757 as OTL
1726 50 Romney sold 1757 as OTL
1747 50 Greenwich captued by French 1757 as OTL


Frigates of 30 guns or more
1741 44 Jason (ex-french)
1718 44 Enterprise
1743 44 Roebuck
1745 44 Chesterfield
1744 44 Ludlow Castle
1747 44 Thetis
1749 44 Woolwich
1746 44 Anglesea
1744 44 Glory (ex-french)
1744 44 Hector
1748 44 Humber
1712 44 Southsea Castle
1744 44 Mary Galley
1743 44 Torrington
1747 44 Penzance
1744 44 Poole
1747 40 Rainbow
1736 40 Eltham
1741 40 Dover
1741 40 Lynn
1741 40 Gosport
1741 40 Liverpool
1741 40 Kinsale
1741 40 Launceston
1746 40 Ambushcade (ex-french)
1757 36 Venus
1757 36 Pallas
1757 36 Brilliant
1741 32 Sapphire
1741 32 Adventure
1757 32 Southhampton
1757 32 Vestal
1757 32 Diana
1757 32 Richmond
1757 32 Juno
1744 30 Renown (ex-french)

Ships not in Service
1741 44 Diamond sold 1756 as OTL
1741 40 Hastings sunk 1757 TTL
1744 36 Melampe never captured TTL
1744 24 Eurus never captured TTL
1751 24 Dolphin captured by French 1756 TTL

Totals: 112 SOTL, 36 Frigates >= 30 guns, 51 frigates (20 - 29 guns)

I am not bothering to list frigates less than 30 guns. Obviously there are many more smaller ships of various types and roles, also not worth keeping track of. I probably forgot some SOTL or high gun frigates in the list, if you notice any let me know.
​

 

[0100010]

State of the French Navy 1/1/1758

French Fleet:

Ships of the Line

Launch Guns Name
1743 80 Tonnant
1749 80 Soleil Royal
1750 80 Foudroyant
1751 80 Formidable
1751 80 Duc de Bourgogne
1756 80 Ocean
1756 80 Orient (french east india company)
1720 74 Sceptre
1722 74 Duc d'Orleans
1723 74 Phenix
1723 74 Ferme
1725 74 Juste
1726 74 Saint-Esprit
1738 74 Superbe
1738 74 Dauphin-Royal
1746 74 Conquerant
1747 74 Intrepide
1747 74 Sceptre
1749 74 Magnifique
1749 74 Temeraire
1749 74 Couronne
1750 74 Florissant
1751 74 Entreprenant
1752 74 Redoubtable
1752 74 Palmier
1752 74 Heros
1753 74 Prudent
1753 74 Guerrier
1753 74 Courageux
1753 74 Algonquin
1753 74 Hermes
1754 74 Defenseur
1755 74 Hector
1756 74 Diademe
1756 74 Glorieux
1756 74 Zodiaque
1757 74 Centaure
1757 74 Minotaure
1757 74 Souverain
1705 70 Northumberland (ex-british)
1752 70 Centaure (french east india company)
1756 68 Comte-de-Provence (french east india company)
1756 68 Bien Aime (french east india company)
1750 64 Opinatre (sunk 1757 OTL, survived TTL)
1741 64 Saint Michael
1747 64 Triton
1747 64 Achille
1749 64 Orphee
1750 64 Hardi
1751 64 Bizarre
1751 64 Sage
1755 64 Vailliant
1753 64 Capricieux
1754 64 Bienfaisant (ex-british)
1756 64 Raisonnable
1757 64 Celebre
1756 64 Belliqueux
1755 64 Inflexible
1746 64 Dragon
1752 64 Actif
1751 64 Eveille
1755 64 Sphynx
1750 64 Illustre
1753 64 Duc-de-Bourgogne (french east india company)
1749 64 Hercule
1742 64 Leopard
1748 64 Protee
1745 60 Fier
1757 60 Venguer (french east india company)
1756 60 Sechelles (french east india company)
1756 60 Moras (french east india company)
1740 58 Apollon
1757 58 Fortune (french east india company)
1752 54 Saint-Louis (french east india company)
1754 54 Duc d'Orleans (french east india company)
1742 52 Anglesea (ex-british)
1744 50 Caribou
1744 50 Oriflamme
1749 50 Hippopotame
1749 50 Amphion
1750 50 Aigle
1747 50 Greenwich (ex-british) (sunk 1757 OTL, survived TTL)

Ships no longer in service
1751 64 Lion captured by the british, 1757 TTL
1754 64 Duc D'Aquitaine captured by british, 1757 as OTL
1733 62 Warwick ex-british captured 1756 as OTL, sunk 1757 TTL
1747 60 Content sunk, 1757 TTL
1726 50 Alcyon sunk, 1757 TTL
1746 64 Lys captured by british 1755 (prior to POD)
1741 64 Alcide captured by british 1755 (prior to POD)
1714 60 Toulouse condemned 1755 (prior to POD)
1722 64 Elisabeth condemned 1756 (prior to POD)
1730 60 Heureux hulked 1755 (prior to POD)
1722 64 Solide hulked 1756 (prior to POD)

Frigates >= 30 guns

Launch Guns Name
1757 46 Marechal de Belle Isle
1753 44 Conde (french east india company)
1744 44 Outarde (sunk 1757 OTL, survived TTL)
1748 44 Junon (lost 1757 OTL, survived TTL)
1755 44 Duc d'Berry (french east india company)
1733 42 Aquilon (lost 1757 OTL, survived TTL)
1757 40 Fortune
1756 30 Chimere
1756 36 Hebe
1756 36 Danae
1756 36 Sylphide (french east india company)
1750 30 Rose
1756 32 Felicite
1757 32 Bouffonne
1757 32 Malicieuse
1756 32 Vestale
1756 32 Aigrette
1755 32 Brune
1755 32 Blonde
1741 32 Atlante
1755 32 Pleiade
1757 32 Baleine (french east india company)
1756 30 Minerve
1757 30 Oiseau
1756 30 Sauvage
1757 30 Hermine
1757 30 Opale
1752 30 Comete
1754 30 Fleur de Lys
1744 30 Sirene
1754 30 Amethyste
1749 30 Pomone

Ships no longer in service
1755 30 Licorne sunk 1757 TTL
1747 38 Favorite hulked 1757 as OTL
1756 38 Abenaquise sunk 1757 TTL
1741 30 Zephyr sunk 1757 TTL

Totals: 82 SOTL, 32 frigates >= 30 guns, 18 frigates (20 - 29 guns)

I am not bothering to list frigates less than 30 guns. Obviously there are many more smaller ships of various types and roles, also not worth keeping track of. I probably forgot some SOTL or high gun frigates in the list, if you notice any let me know.
​

 

[0100010]

1758

The ripples of time had passed over the Iberian peninsula several times over by the arrival of New Year ’s Day of 1758 as small changes here and there beget large and larger ripples. Once again no specific agent was the cause of the next change at the Spanish court, only the indirect actions that would lead different persons to be at different places at different times. The Queen of Spain, the Infanta Barbara of Portugal, was one such occurrence. She took developed a chill in late December sometime after Christmas that produced a mighty cough. Her poor health and severe asthma exacerbated this as the combination of asthma and congestion in her chest did her in on the 1st of January. After his wife’s passing, King Ferdinand VI would fall into a fit of depression, withdraw from the court and public life, and let his ministers run the country as they would. Over the course of the year, this, along with directives from Versailles, and the souring of ties between Spain and Portugal (Britain’s frequent ally) due to the Queen’s death, would lead to gains by the French ambassadors in altering the Spanish policies away from neutrality back in favor toward France.

A Year for the Navies

Almost every state involved in the conflict would see action on the high seas at some point during the year. Both Great Britain and France would see several new ships being launched over the year, but they would also see several ships sunk and captured.

The French had already been undergoing a review of naval plans and financing planned ship construction and purchases began a few months after King Louis XVI was sworn in. During the year, the French would see (as per OTL) five new ships of the line were launched or purchased, the Fantasque (64), Solitaire (64), Robuste (64), Comte de Saint Florentine (60), and the purchase of the Brilliant (64) and four new frigates launched the Arethuse (36), Harmonie (34), Pelerine (32) and the Bellone (32). In addition the Marine Royale would also purchase the Comte d’Argenson (56) from the French East India Company prior to it even launching. Existing plans for French ships scheduled to be built in 1759 or 1760 were left largely intact, but a few new orders were made. The Duc d’Orleans (74), Saint Espirit (74), Phenix (74), Ferme (74) and the Caribou (50), prior to the war had been declared unfit and relegated to harbor service. They would were now slated for a rebuild. Additionally one new ship of the line was ordered and to be named after King Louis XVI’s wife and Queen, the Maria Josepha, Most of these new ship orders and rebuilds would take more than a year to complete.

The British had few changes to their planned orders during the year and would see (as per OTL) ten ships of the line come into service, the Lenox (74), Shrewsbury (74), Warspite (74), Resolution (74), Temple (70), Conqueror (68), Rippon (60), and Edgar (60). Additionally, five 32 gun frigates were launched, the Minerva, Thames, Stag, Alarm and Aeolus; and eight smaller 28 gun frigates were launched in 1758.

 

[0100010]

Battle of Malaga

The amount of repairs needed for Hawke’s Gibraltar fleet resulting from the two Minorca battles in 1756, and the length of time it took for the damaged ships to travel to England, complete repairs and return prevented the British from having the strength needed to keep a tight blockade on Toulon. The French too had pursued repairs in Toulon but there were less repairs needed and the distance was shorter.
Now both the British and the French Mediterranean fleets were at full strength again. The French having heard of the renewed British plan to take Louisburg desired to reinforce it again and sent a fleet out from Toulon to New France under Jean-François de La Clue. The British likewise did not want to let this happen and ordered Admiral Henry Osborn to make plans to intercept and prevent the Toulon fleet from leaving the Mediterranean.

The French fleet had weathered a storm in Categena last November, of which the British were aware, but Osborn was still awaiting the return of some of his fleet ships at the time. What resulted instead was a cat and mouse game over the Alboran Sea over the next month that cost Osborn the loss of one small frigate to French capture, as the fleets sought each other out.

Finally early in the morning on January 5th, just south of the Spanish city of Malaga the two large fleets met each other and formed up in a line of battle. The French has the sun at their backs and a slightly larger fleet, but the British had the favor of the wind.

French Fleet: (19)
13 Ships of the Line: Temeraine (74), Couronne (74), Redoubtable (74), Guerrier (74), Centaure (74), Triton (64), Sage (64), Fier (60), Hippopotamae (50), Ocean (80), Conquerant (74), Hector (74), Achille (64)
6 Frigates: Requin (24), Minerve (30), Oiseau (30), Gracieuse (24), Indiscret (24) and the Dolphin (24)

British Fleet: (14)
9 Ships of the Line: Monmouth (70), Royal Anne (100), Monarch (74), Berwick (64), Swiftsure (68), Hampton Court (66), Montagu (60), St. George (90), Guernsey (50)
5 Frigates: Ambushcade (40), Vestal (32), Unicorn (24), Lyme (28), Privateer Boscawan (30)

Although outnumbered, with adept maneuvering Osborn is able to put up a fierce assault against the French ships before La Clue is able to bring all of them to bear. The Triton and Achille become entangled and receive heavy damage. However the Royal Anne and the Berwick receive powerful return broadsides as the as each is forced to take on two French ships a piece.

The Boscawan, Ambuscade and Vestal attempt to capture the foundering Triton and Achille but at the last moment the two ships are separated and return heavy fire sending the Boscawan to the bottom, crippling the Ambushcade and forcing the Vestal to flee. Likewise the Requin goes down and the Hippopotamae and Minerve are forced to flee under fire after an aborted attempt to capture the demasted Berwick.

By late morning two-thirds of the British fleet had engaged half the French fleet, and half the fleet of each side was damaged. La Clue, realizing he would not be able to bring his fleet across the Atlantic in such condition began to disengage in an orderly fashion. Osborn, having accomplished his main objective of prevent the French fleet from leaving the Mediterranean, pulled away to tend to his ailing ships. He did not desire to pursue the French without obtaining more reinforcements from Gibraltar.

While this battle against superior forces was considered an important victory that helped restore the faith in the Navy, the French gave the British Mediterranean fleet a bloody nose that day, the extent of which would not be fully known until the damaged ships attempted to return to England for assessment.

Battle Results:
British Fleet:
Royal Anne condemned upon assessment of damage after return to England
Distressed Berwick sunk during attempt to return to England for repairs
Privateer Boscawan sunk in action.
Damaged Vestal captured by French Atlantic Fleet on attempt to return to England
One-Third of the surviving fleet damaged

French Fleet:
Triton sunk in action
Achille foundered during return to Toulon
Requin sunk in action
Hippopotamae condemned upon damage assessment after return to Toulon
Half the surviving fleet damaged

Bideford (20) captured by French prior to battle and sent back to Toulon

(Note 2/28/1758 OTL Battle of Cartegena does not occur)

 

[0100010]

To Russia with Love

The harsh 1757 – 1758 winter was felt even harder on Prussia troops. Fredrick had moved northwards after defeating the Austrians in Silesia late into the season, and started marching again early in the spring in order to confront the Russian and Swedish threat and prevent them joining forces. The cost of this partial winter march would be nearly 2000 men, dead from exposure or lost to desertion. He had to abandon his original plans to invade Moravia, and without doubt the Austrians would surely renew their advance into Silesia. To attempt to counter this he had to leave a portion of his forces behind with Von Zieten and instructions to raise as many new troops as possible. Fredrick feared it would only slow the Austrians not stop them so he needed a quick decisive victory against the Russians, followed up with one against the Swedes, and hope that the British keep the French busy so that he could bring the army south again.

He had words and promises that the British were pinning down the French troops in the western provinces, but Fredrick had made a desperate plea last fall for British naval aid in the Baltic. The Russian and Swedish Navies were already in the process of blockading the Prussian coast. Their response came just before Fredrick planned to start the spring campaign, that “the ships were needed elsewhere”

Parliament however, did understand of the pressing need for aid, but with demands for the planned attack on New France, descents on the French coasts, and blockades, they really couldn’t afford to divert significant naval assets to the Baltic. In closed backrooms however, an alternative was suggested and a small squadron of Privateers set sail for the Baltic, crewed by unofficial and unaffiliated adventurers of course.

The Russians, after taking Konigsburg had spent the rest of fall and early winter securing the Vistula all the way to Thorn where they had wintered, and other parts of East Prussia. General Lopukhin was actually becoming displeased at the slowness of progress and the relative hesitancy of some of the other generals. One thing he did agree with is the reversal of Apraksins harsh policies against the civilians which made obtaining supplies much easier. The overall plan was to head westwards in Spring to take the city of Bromberg and continue onwards to Stettin and aid the Swedish offensive south, if one ever materialized. Though Lopukhin had sent word back to Russia for the request of reinforcements, he believed that with Fredrick tied down in Silesia he would be able to unite with the Swedes and threaten Berlin or Frankfurt and still be in a position to aid the Austrians as well. However, Fredrick was not currently tied down.

Battle of Thorn

Lopukhin had a force of about 60,000 camped outside of Thorn when he heard reports of a Prussian army about half that size in the near vicinity. He quickly mustered his army in order to receive or an attack or move against them, though he did not know it was led by Fredrick himself.

Fredrick with 30,000 mostly veteran, but very war weary troops had lost the element of surprise he was hoping to achieve, but at least had managed to get his army across the Vistula before being noticed. He knew he had to face down the Russian army anyway.

The Russian generals maneuvered cautiously while Fredrick sent several probing and feint attacks, before both armies finally met in force on March 15th. Through discipline and yet another example of rapid artillery deployment, the Prussian’s drove the Russian army from the field. The victory was sorely needed by Fredrick, but was not nearly as decisive as he desired. The Russians fled in an orderly retreat. Later reports would confirm that they would stop at East Prussia, near Konigsburg again rather than flee all the way back to Russia.


Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: 4000 dead and wounded
Russian Forces: 5200 dead and wounded, 12 cannon captured.

Despite his victory, Fredrick declines to pursue the Russian army out of the need to both face Sweden, and be able to return south again toward Silesia as soon as possible.

 

[0100010]

Something Fishy Going On

Swedish merchant ships attempting to resupply the Swedish forces in Stettin and Pomerania had been harassed by private craft during the early spring. This resulted in 3 merchant ships captured. While Great Britain would dare not admit such the Swedish court suspected their involvement. These three craft and their cargo would remain a sticking point on future grievances. The privateers while desiring to sell their prizes in England knew no such sales would be made, just for the sake of avoiding appearances. The Netherlands when getting word of the attempt to sell such prizes at their docks disallowed the transactions. Denmark however was willing to look the other way or perhaps legitimately weren’t aware of the transactions that took place at their docks. A fourth, Russian merchant ship had also been captured, but the privateers had been unaware it was a Russian ship, or perhaps they were disregarding their instructions to only harass the Swedish. The fate of this ship became unknown to historians, but it was believed to have run aground and been burnt.

The Russian and to a lesser degree, the Swedish response to these attacks ultimately resulting in the sinking of 3 of the privateer vessels with all hands and the capture of a fourth by a Russian ship. The reaction of the Russian court when this was discovered was one of great anger. Again the Russians strongly suspected British involvement which they denied. Some hawkish members of court called for an official declaration of war against Great Britain, but cooler heads prevailed.

After this defeat; and the accusations being brought forth the following summer, no more ‘private adventurers’ harassed the fleets in the Baltic.

2nd Siege of Stettin and the Battle of Oder Lagoon

It took over a month for Fredrick to reorganize his forces to prepare to retake Stettin from the Swedes. He had discovered though that the Swedes had reinforced their garrison with additional men and artillery from their Navy and control of the islands north. What small hastily commandeered navy Prussia had would attempt to assist as Fredrick bombarded the fortress from land and laid siege to the city. Fredrick began the siege on April 18th, attempting to recapture the city with 26,000 regular troops and 4000 irregular and freshly recruited, largely untrained forces. The Swedish forces numbered 16,000 and about 2000 fresh arrivals and were led by Count von Rosen, who had recently replaced Ungern-Sternberg.

Fredrick had ordered the creation of a navy; if you could call it such, prior to setting off to meet the Russian’s in battle. It was really just many commandeered fishing vessels outfitted with light cannon or riverine vessels and barges from the Oder. By the time he was prepared to besiege the Swedes, he had about 22 small craft to patrol the Oder River and the lagoon.

Of course he wasn’t alone in the lagoon. Vessels from the Swedish navy were there as well, but Fredrick had waited for a fair portion of them to depart before commencing the siege and assault on Stettin.

When the siege and assault commenced; the Swedish vessels that had remained moved to engage the Prussian vessels as they exited the mouth of the Oder. The skirmishes on the lagoon were frequently one sided, but served to distract the Swedish vessels from proving full support for the fortress.

On the first day of the assault Fredrick’s forces took the area around the town of Stettin, gaining what supplies they could, but not the critically important fortress that the Swedes were quite secure in. A few days later, Fredrick had the misfortune of witnessing the arrival of a Russian ship of the line and several smaller supporting vessels. In short order what was left of the makeshift the Prussian navy was utterly destroyed. The Russian squadron had arrived expecting to meet and supply Russian forces that had met up with the Swedes, but apparent had set sail before learning of Fredrick’s victory at Thorn.

Despite trying for three weeks, Fredrick could not dislodge the Swedes from Stettin, and it was becoming ever more obvious the siege would be ineffective while the defenders could so easily be supplied by sea. When word finally reached him of events happening south in Silesia, he was forced to take the majority of his army to face the Austrians again. He left just enough behind with Lehwaldt to keep the Swedes hemmed in to prevent them from moving any further south. Count von Rosen was content to remain in Stettin, keeping control over what Sweden had gained without taking any further risks.

Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: 2000 dead and wounded, Prussian ‘navy’ destroyed.
Swedish Forces: 1400 dead and wounded

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

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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

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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

 

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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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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.