On the far left wing of the Williamite army two Danish brigades with supporting English cavalry were tasked with tackling the French element of the Jacobite army ensconced in a large village.
The senior Danish brigade under the Duke of Wurtemburg was to tackle a formidable revetted earthwork covering one side of the village. With no advantage of infantry numbers, conventional wisdom would be that an attack on a defended settlement was bound to fail. The dogged professionalism of the Danes would have to overcome convention...
Gun batteries were deployed to soften up the French position but still the leading Danish regiment (Funen) took heavy casualties approaching close enough to assault earthworks.
The view from behind the strongly held French line. At the height of the engagement the raw French defenders decided that there was an opportunity to loot the nearby houses of the village and evacuated the position allowing the remnants of Funen's to take possession of the main redoubt.
The Danish brigade before the town although only a demonstration had to advance purposefully into the sharpshooting cannons and crippling volleys to convince the defenders of their intent.
Only one regiment of von Tettau's brigade could be held in reserve in case of the arrival of roving Jacobite cavalry.
Whilst the decimated Funen Regiment fought to maintain the hold on the earthwork against desperate French counter-attacks the rest of the Danish move up in support.
The second Danish brigade held their position in front of the dug in French taking huge casualties from the more numerous defenders. Their commander stood tall under the enemy cannonfire for three turns to inspire the troops!
Funen's Regiment pay a terrible price for their dogged stand but it allows their supports to take over the redoubt just before the French can reclaim it. On the right the Danish Garde are thrown into the fray with decisive results - French regiments in their path are reduced to bloody ruin!
The French are bludgeoned out of their position and the way is now open for the unused cavalry to exploit the hole in the enemy lines. Alas events on the remainder of the battlefield mean that it is too late. The sacrifices of the noble Danes have not won the day for their paymasters but they can retire from the field with colours proudly flying and the undoubted respect of their opponents.
An excellent weekend. New friends and exposure to a new period and rules set and I don't think I disgraced myself on any front!
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