"Op Ewig Ungedeilt"
A Schleswig-Holstein saying in Plattdeutsch,(we shall never be divided again).on many a stone in many Hamlets up north.(Thanks Juergen Olk for the quote) We gathered at the Leighton Buzzard club and I get out my 1864 Danes and Prussians in winter garb, last seen in action during lockdown. All figures are from Pendraken 10mm ranges.
The scenario was simple. A Prussian division, supported by cavalry needed to break through to take the three roads the other side of Bierborstal (made up village, not a historical event, made up generals). Blocking their way was a division of Danes, with two Napoleonic era redoubts holding the road into the settlement and the Prussians could see one regiment on the hill behind ancient earthworks.
However, I never like to make things too simple, I let Mark, Ralph and Clive from Shrewsbury reprise their roles as von Modelmacher, von Marmalise and Brigadier Friedrich von Tegetthoff, write the orders for their brigades, which had been thoroughly mixed up due to the blizzard the previous night, and were going to get horribly confused very quickly (especially as they wrote them in the blind as to the other's intentions). Dave (von Marmalise), Nick (von Modelmacher) and Stephen (von Tegetthoff) took on the roles of the Prussian brigadiers with the other's orders. I was playing the Danes. There was no higher commander or cavalry commander for either side, as they were tucked up behind the lines, warm and safe from last night's blizzard. The Prussian artillery commander, von Marmalade, was nominally, under my control, but would try to achieve certain actions, mostly to keep with the previous narrative that he was feuding with on Marmalise who had criticised him for having a silly name. The artillery was tasked supporting the advance, but if they could block and annoy von Marmalise, so much the better, but were never actually needed for that.
Orders and ORBATS can be found here. All Prussians were command 8, while teh Danes were command 7.
The table - yes, it's winter, yes, it's our painting sheet. In front of the village is a large ridge. The left hand redoubt was also on small rise, while between the wood on the left and village was another rise. 
Prussian deployment, I added labels to all my units for ease of identification. The keen eyed among you will notice a Danish flag on teh Prussian side, I miscounted my Prussian units. Oops. New one in next month's order!
First and possibly the lowest point of the evening, Nick/von Modelmacher attempts to move an infantry unit. Except the 24th was not his unit to move, they were von Tegetthoff 's! Oh the insult! The artillery was von Modelmacher's, and in the way. David/von Marmalise attempted to move his infantry and to take control of the cavalry brigade too.
Stephen/von Tegetthoff 's 11th Infantry unit advanced towards the left-hand redoubt, as he also took control of the Hussars that were languishing nearby too. The cavalry were hit hard and disordered by the Danish artillery. von Modelmaker's infantry failed to move, but von Marmalade's artillery moves up on the left to fire at the redoubts. 
Nick/von Modelmacher's 60th infantry advance quickly on the Prussian right, while David/von Marmalise pushes the cavalry forward fast. On the Prussian far right/Danish left, a second cavalry brigade and von Marmalise's jagers are so far away from their commanders that orders do not get through and they do not move. Various central units also fail various movement rolls, eliciting various colourful language from frustrated brigadiers.
24th infantry overtake Modelmacher's guns, blocking them. von Marmalise encourages his infantry to follow the cavalry. The 13th Infantry threaten the right hand redoubt, and get shelled for their pleasure. 
The first Prussian assault by the 11th Infantry, led bravely by von Tegetthoff on the left redoubt goes in. Unfortunately, closing cannister fire disorders them,
Stephen removes the 11th infantry, who are beaten by the artillery crew and break (probably out of shame), nearly carrying von Tegetthoff off table. The 24th sits off and shoots teh right hand redoubt instead. Prussian generals mutter about weaken redoubts with shooting before attacking. Von Marmalade shrugs in agreement as he deploys his guns. 
That gets the artillery brigade to brought to bear, while Stephen nearly disappeared with the 11th and the hussars feel the weight of shot from teh redoubt, disordering them.
The Prussian cavalry under von Marmalise's control swings to threaten the redoubts rear, at which point the Danish cavalry made its presence felt by cresting the hill. 
A second Danish infantry unit is revealed by the Modelmacher's Prussian 60th infantry, between the wood and the village, also behind vintage earthworks. The hussars decide the safest thing to do is get out of artillery arc, and move beyond the redoubt. To the left of von Marmalade's artillery, von Tegetthoff's remaining infantry start to get mobile.
On the Danish right/Prussian left, the 4th Cuirassiers, supported by the 7th Dragoons crash into the Danish 4th Dragoons. The odds were slightly with the Prussians here!
And inevitably, the Danish dragoons are forced back into their own lines. 
The 3rd Danish Hussars who were supporting, did not like this, and decided that they needed to deal with the Prussian Dragoons sitting in the backfield, and charged them. Bit of a mistake by me.
Well, not a good turn for the Danes. The Leibguard who were supporting the dragoons leave in disgrace. (First time on table, newly painted, you know how it goes for us wargamers).
Then the dragoons joined them. One brigade effectively gone (in Black Powder, it should be gone, but due to command structure with no cavalry commander, they were attached to the infantry brigade. Basically, I need to paint more commanders, on both sides).
The cuirassiers and the dragoons were badly beaten up, but still a menace.The Danish 3rd Hussars also decided they did not want to be here. 
A second Danish infantry unit was revealed by this melee, as it was moving up to support the line, now it had to try and hold off the Prussian cavalry wing by itself. Not a happy place to be.
von Marmalise's infantry removes one Danish artillery from their redoubt. The other artillery has not been deployed yet.
On the left, the 60th Infantry tries to move through the woods, which brings the fourth Danish infantry unit into the game. Two Danish artillery batteries move up to support by the settlement of Bierborstal. The Jagers and cavalry on the left still haven't moved! The Danes on the right hand hill refuse to move, so their shooting arc was limited.
The 60th try to move through the wood...
But blunder! Off they go to their right...
von Marmalade's artillery breaks the second redoubt as von Marmalise's infantry occupy the right redoubt. Infantry and artillery in the backfield are various stages of not moving! Just out of shot on the left, von Tegetthoff's infantry join the hussars. 
The Danes shoot away the right hand Prussian cuirassiers, a small victory. The dragoons had retired after their fights, leaving von Marmalise standing on his own, looking a bit lonely. The Prussian 53rd Infantry is threatening though.
And still the Danes behind the earthworks won't react to the threat. A firefight breaks out between the 9th Danish and 53rd Prussians infantry units.
Cresting the hill, the Hussars and Stephen's infantry stop out of Danish musket range. One Danish gun has managed to get into line, while a second is moving up not-quite-as-fast! The jagers and cavalry still had not moved.
Von Marmalade refuses to move the artillery yet, much to everyone's ire!
On the Danish right, the dragoons look on as firefight continues. The Danes are disordered.
Prussians swarm over the redoubts, while Stephen/'von Tegetthoff's troops wait patiently for support.
The shooting match continues, the Danes save three hits! There was much swearing from von Marmalise.
Prussian infantry clear the redoubt, as Modelmacher's artillery gets into firing position to soften the fieldworks and his infantry move on.
A handy blunder forces von Marmalade's artillery out to the right, where it (eventually) sets up to bombard the infantry near Bierborstal. The last Danish battery makes it into line, and starts targeting the Prussian artillery brigade. Meanwhile, Prussian infantry comes down the road to threaten the Danes.
David (the other one) helps himself to a wine gum while watching the game as their game of Blucher had finished early.
The cavalry and jagers still haven't moved.
Stephen/von Tegetthoff''s infantry advance into range, but on Marmalise's and Modelmacher's foot on the road bring more pressure. The 24th foot snipe away the Danish right hand gun.
The left hand gun is also shot away! Both had protection from earthworks, but not enough.
With these two losses, and the rout of the right hand Danish infantry to a charge by the Prussain dragoons, the Danes were now well below half-strength and Bierborstal fell to Prussian hands. The Prussians were enveloping from both sides (and their other cavalry brigade FINALLY moved, but not the jagers), the Danish infantry knew it had to get out, and fast! Prussian generals stand and admire their conquest.
Great to get Black Powder out again, and a huge laugh. It was nice to get Nick down the club, and great fun watching them react to orders from afar.
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