Fontenoy refight - anniversary wargame

Since my son kept asking me when we could recreate the Battle of Fontenoy from May 11 1745 again, I finally did it. Loyal readers will remember a series about this battle [1]. I was really struggling with myself, as I actually wanted to conclude my blog series on the War of the Polish Succession with the Battle of Klausen. I've also been told that there will be an event on site this year to mark the anniversary. But unfortunately, I'm busy on that date.

A view on our "battlefield". The small Austrian contingent in the foreground never made it into the fighting as it happened historicaly. (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

 

This time, I've made an effort to ensure the battlefield is more topographically represented than last time. There are also a few new buildings I've recently acquired to admire. On top of that, I've now painted a Dutch cavalry regiment, which, of course, will also be used. Since I don't have any other Dutch mounted troops, I used Hessians [2] and Piedmontese horse instead.

I still used the same map as before. (map by A. Hanselmann)

I personally took over the Anglo-Dutch side, while my co-author here on the blog commanded the French. This battle presents a significant challenge for any player on the offensive side. The terrain between Antoing and Fontenoy is difficult to attack, as the Dutch not only face the well-entrenched French infantry in Antoing and Fontenoy, but also risk being under flanking fire the deeper they advance. Therefore, I decided from the outset to only hint at an attack here, but to have my best Dutch troops, as coordinated as possible with the Hanoverians, attack Fontenoy, which would be bombarded with massed artillery if possible.

Cronström refused to move and I knew that I had not much of time to take Fontenoy before de Saxe would have his Irish into the fighting. Therefore I ordered the Prince of Waldeck to advance nevertheless and I hoped to rely on my artillery. (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

On the Redcoats' side, I intended to advance as quickly as possible before de Saxe could bring his Irish forward. Experience, not only from the historical battle but also from our game [3], has shown that the French Guards cannot withstand British platoon fire. The cavalry seemed to me to be of no use except to parry any attempt by Richelieu and the French cavalry to encircle them. Ingolsby's troops were only supposed to pretend that I was advancing against the redoubts, so that the Irish Brigade would be diverted from this approach.

The view of his majesty the king of France (here at the Justice d'Antoing). You can see here how the French Maison du Roi-cavalry moved towards the British. (photo: C. Hanselmann 2025)

 

This time, the battle unfolded quite differently. Except for an advance by the French cavalry against Ligonier [4], which then stalled, they remained defensive. As hoped, Ingolsby attracted the attention of the Irish troops.

 

The Dutch are charging one of the French redoubts next to Fontenoy and the village itself. Some defenders are forced to retreat. But the attack is too week and I decided to not occupy the redoubt because the French had their strong Swiss units to recapture the position and I had no reserves to support Waldeck's battalions. The Gardes Voets are whipped out. You may notice that Ilten's Hanoverian foot is too far away to help Waldeck's forces. (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

Contrary to expectations, however, Cronström refused any advance. This left the Prince of Waldeck alone with his units, facing the defenders of Fontenoy and the troops under Montagne. The British cavalry took far too long to make way for the Hanoverians, who under Ilten would support the Dutch attack. Even the heavy artillery fire of the Hanoverians and Dutch was not enough to completely drive away the defenders of Fontenoy. An initial wave was repulsed. A further, weaker wave succeeded in driving a French battalion out of Fontenoy, but also routed the Dutch foot guards. Vauguyon had thus held Fontenoy to a certain extent.

Another perspective on the fighting at Fontenoy. One of Waldeck's units had to rally near Bourgeon after suffering under heavy French fire. The British infantry was advancing too slowly even with Ligonier as a Dashing general in command - that was my greatest problem as I hoped to overrun the proud French guards and led them flee into the ranks of the line infantry behind them. (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

At the same time, Ingolsby managed to deliver a devastating defeat to Grassin's arquebusiers. But, faced with the overwhelming odds that awaited him, he remained at the edge of the Bois de Barry forest. The advance of my British infantry under Ligonier was halted by the skillful replacement of the front line of the Gardes Francaises with rested battalions. Meanwhile, a final assault on Fontenoy was launched from two sides by the remaining battalions under the Prince of Waldeck-Pyrmont and Ilten's Hanoverians. Even though I had previously succeeded in eliminating two French batteries around Fontenoy, the French skillfully retaliated against my attempt, which completely collapsed as a result.

 

After my Dutch were repulsed I tried to weaken the defenders of Fontenoy. But the French could replace some losses. At least two batteries were left in their positions... (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

Now I had most of my infantry in position to fire. Ingolsby was slowly advancing trough the Bois de Barry. (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

The Arquebusiers were overrun by the highlanders using bayonets and swords! (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

Thus, the battle ended somewhat unhistorically, with greater losses on my side than the French. The Prince of Waldeck had lost half of the infantry directly commanded by the Prince. A further advance by Cronström was hopeless anyway, and Ligonier had also been held up between Fontenoy and the Bois de Barry. Thus, after six rounds, the battle ended in defeat for our Allies, as they had not achieved any of their objectives.

La Marck's defenders just stayed in Antoing and Montagne had to defend the line. He ordered some Swiss to occupy the redoubt which was stormed by my Dutch infantry before. (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

 

Here you can see the routed Arquebusiers de Grassin. Richelieu still tried to move his cavalry through the wood. (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

 French OOB

CinC. Maréchal de Saxe (Dash.)
Louis XV (Dash.) - stationary, units can rally off the hits near him

1) La Marck (Dep.)
2xLineinfantry (Royal la Marine) - Standard, inf. for shooting
- at Antoing
2) Montagne (Dep.)
2xDragoons on foot
2xSwiss infantry (Diesbach/Bettens) superior, stand. for shooting
1xLineinfantry
1xmedium Artillery
3) Vauguyon (Dep.) Brigade Dauphin
2xLineinfantry - in Fontenoy
1xlight artillery
4) Lt.Gen. d’Estrées (Dep.)
4xLineinfantry
1xlight artillery
5) Lt.Gen.Grammont (Dith.) killed on a 8-12
2xGardes Francaise - large superior, stand. for shooting
6) Grassin (Dep.)
1x light infantry (Arquebusiers de Grassin) inferior light inf.
1 x light cavalry
7) Hérouville (Dep.)
3x Cav. Légère - inferior, stand. for charging
8) Clermont-Tonerre (Dep.)
4 x Maison du Roi - Standard, small
9) Lutteaux (Dash.)/Thomond(Dash.):
4 xirish. Inf.  - superior, standard for shooting
1 x light artillery
10) independent
1 x Heavy artillery (only shooting long range)

Reserve:
11) Richelieu (Dash.)
3 x Cav. Légère  - arrival in turn 2
1 x Dragons - large inferior

Breaking point: 16/14 

My final attempt to take Fontenoy. Unfortunately Montagne and Vauguyon had a lot of luck defeating Waldeck's infantry. The Swiss from the Bettens-regiment charged into the flank of one of my supporting units [5]

Waldeck's German mercenaries are routed and there is not much left to try again. As you may see at the left Cronström had finally moved forward but too late to keep Montagne from helping Vauguyon's defenders of Fontenoy. (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

Allied OOB
(if one of the Major allied collapse, the other gets one hit on every unit)
CinC Waldeck (Dep.) Dutch
I) Wilhelm v. Hessen-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (Dith.)
4xCavalry - inferior
II) Cronström (Dith.) - Can be replaced in turn 3 by Waldeck personaly -> Schaumburg (Dep.)
3 x line infantry - inferior, stand. for shooting
1 x Grenadiers - superior
III) Waldeck (Dep.) MOVE FORWARD FIRST TURN
1 x lineinfantry
1 x german inf. - inferior
2x elite infantry (Gardes voets + Swiss) - superior
1xmedium artillery, 1 x howitzers

Breaking Point: 6

IV Moltke (Dith.)
Austrians
1xDragoons (Ligne) standard
1xHussars standard
1xlight infantry (Nederlands jagers) standard light infantry

Breaking Point: 1

CinC Cumberland (Dep.) / replaced by Königsegg (Dep. 8-12) if wounded
British and Hanoverians
Not move until turn 2

V) Ligonier (Dash.)
5xlineinfantry - stand., sup. for shooting
1xelite infantry (Guards) superior
1xlight artillery
VI) Ilten (Dep.)
2xhan. lineinfantry - standard, large
1x han. light artillery
VII)Ingoldsby (Dith.) 8-12 / replaced if wounded by Zastrow (Dash.)
1xhighlanderinf. superior
1xhan. lineinfantry large
1xmed. artillery
VIII) Campbell (Dep.) - killed on a 8-12 /Rothes(Dep.)
3xhorse or dragoons  - superior
IX) Montigny (Dep.)
2xhan. horse - standard

Breaking Point: 8

Fontenoy & Antoing heavy cover
All redoubts and Bourgeon light cover
Scheldt river not fordable

One of our final views on the battlefield. The Dutch cavalry had to move only to prevent the French from shooting at Cronström's battalions. (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

 

The duc de Grammont was killed in our battle and replaced by a better commander. The French second line had stepped forward and therefore the French guards in our game survived the battle very well after suffering under British fire. (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

The fighting at the redoubts behind the Bois the Barry came to a halt. The Irish had occupied two redoubts and they were too many and fought too well to be defeated by Ingolsby's troops. Richelieu's reinforcements stayed in their position. They had little chance against Montigny's and Campbell's horse which were waiting behind the wood. (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

 

My British infantry under Ligonier were too slowly and suffered significant losses by the French artillery. In the final turn they didn't made much of progress and I had no doubt that they would have lost too many if they would have continued their advance. You may notice some repulsed Hanoverian and British infantry in the foreground. My wife had won the battle with great talent and skills. Cheers! (photo: C. Hanselmann, 2025)

 

Text: André Hanselmann

Photos: Cecilia Hanselmann

 

 Notes:

1) https://wackershofenannodomini.blogspot.com/2020/05/fontenoy-11-may-1745-fontenoy-11-mai.html 

2) From the "König" dragoon regiment.

3) Here: https://wackershofenannodomini.blogspot.com/2020/05/fontenoy-11-may-1745-fontenoy-11-mai_11.html 

4) No surprise: that was my son who is always playing aggressively.

5) You can see the Schwarzburg-regiment, which arrived later in the Netherlands and never took part in a major encounter.