Von Bredow's 'Death Ride' - Mars-La-Tour, 1870

Tonight we refought the famous "Todesritt" ("Death Ride") performed by two of the regiments from Von Bredow's cavalry brigade - The Magdeburg Cuirassier and the Altmark Uhlans - at the battle of Mars-La-Tour during the Franco Prussian War.

Von Bredow was given the order to charge the assembled French artillery batteries to ease the pressure on the outnumbered Prussian infantry. Upon receiving the order, Von Bredow calmly stated "Koste es, was es wolle" ("it will cost what it will").

In our approximated refight of this scenario, indeed, it cost Bredow his life! when his brigade came under Chassepot rifle and artillery fire. That said, the undulating terrain and the associated dead ground mostly shielded both the Cuirassier and Uhlan regiments throughout their advance. The Uhlans charged a battalion of Chasseurs a Pied but were forced to retire with horrendous casualties. The Cuirassiers, as ordered, charged the French gun line - which had already been weakened by some accurate Prussian Krupp shelling. The Magdeburgers overran the guns and proceeded to charge into a French infantry battalion, routing this in turn.

All in all this was a solid victory for the Prussians who also managed to strongly rebuff a French cavalry brigade of Cuirassiers and Chasseurs a Cheval.

Here is an excellent link to the '1866 and All That' wargames blog article on the subject:

1866 and all that: Von Bredow’s “Death Ride”

Franco-Prussian War - Une Retraite Française Héroïque

An Heroic French Retreat

In this entertaining scenario, the French were in retreat. They had hurriedly prepared defensive positions around a village and were trying to make their escape off table. They were hotly pursued by a brigade of Prussian infantry with attached artillery batteries. Meanwhile their escape route was to be blocked by a regiment of beautifully attired Bavarians. 

The French held the Prussians off admirably. A unit of Zouaves performed heroics in defence, being wiped out almost to the last man. A French line battalion made a well executed fighting retreat to the relative safety of a walled garden under heavy rifle and artillery fire. A regiment of Hussars 'demonstrated' in front of the advancing Prussians and, after losing one third of their number, decided to make a 'charge to the rear'.

Ultimately the Prussians - and their slightly less enthusiastic Bavarian allies - kept up the pressure and forced the Second Empire defensive ring further in on itself, winning the day for the pursuers. 

As a postscript, the shattered Hussars did manage to hurriedly escort the French commander off the board to avoid capture, which was, perhaps, a much less finale héroïque to the engagement than had been hoped for.

British Historical Games Society - Britcon2024 - Our Franco Prussian Demo

This event, held in the epicentre of the 'Lead Belt' in Nottingham City Centre (Nottingham Trent University), just gets bigger and better! Great competition games and scenery, superb trader stalls, interesting demo games, dedicated 'Perry' and 'Two Fat Lardies' rooms, a bring and buy stall etc etc.....what more could you want?!

We ran a Franco-Prussian demonstration game in which the Prussians eventually managed to eke out the narrowest of victories after suffering horrendous casualties.