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Holowczyn (1708): Swedes vs. Russians in Poland-Lithuania

Updated: Jul 21


Swedish King Charles XII and Tsar Peter the Great had been slugging it out for seven years already on the battleground of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, when Charles decided to invade Russia.


Last night's game was a refight of the Battle of Holowczyn - fought in Lithuania, east of Minsk and west of Mohylew on 14 July 1708 - and now in Belarus, during Charles's march on Moscow. We used my 15mm figures and my Warmonger rules.



Phil and I were the Russians (28,000 men), our army separated into three discrete commands, with 17 infantry units, 11 cavalry units, and six guns. Facing us were Richard and Patrick's Swedes (12,500 men) - nine infantry, six cavalry, and four guns.



While smaller, the Swedish army was of higher quality with excellent commanders. The Russians deployed first with one brigade from each command initially off table.



Both sides had to inflict more casualties to win, the Russians defending the River Vabich, and the Swedes having to cross it. Only the Swedes knew the location of the ford, however, which added a frisson of uncertainty (despite me being a Russian (player)!)


King Charles XII's infantry moves up to the Ford


Rehnskiold's cavalry deploys on the Swedish right


Richard commanded two of the three infantry brigades and the bulk of the cavalry, with two guns. He focused on getting the infantry in place to cross the ford, which was located in the centre between Holowczyn and Novo Selo village.



Patrick's infantry, sole cavalry unit of Polish 'Vallacks', and two guns, screened the Swedish left, pinning Phil's Russian right.



Historically, the three Russian commands did not coordinate. The Russians also blundered by exposing their incomplete central redoubt's right flank to Swedish attack and by not reconnoitering the ford. All three errors were exploited by King Charles who directed an assault in precisely this area.



My large cavalry command (Goltz) sat immobile for much of the game on the Russian left with little space to deploy anywhere usefully (emphatically, I was not being biased to engineer a Russian defeat)...



...while my infantry in the centre (Repnin) failed to activate for much of the battle (again, I emphatically declare my impartiality)...



Even so, I used my strong artillery to good effect with long-range fire on the Swedish foot and guns.



Holding the right (Shermetev), Phil had a third-class infantry brigade behind earthworks, and a first-class brigade closer to the ford. Another, second-class infantry brigade arrived later but made little headway owing to poor activation rolls.



Patrick and Richard duly began to cross over, and managed to get a foothold on the far bank.



However, a unit of Phil's Russian first-class infantry occupied a wood near the river, and proved quite an obstacle to the Swedes.



After crossing, one Swedish unit risked a close combat with the Russians in the woods but lost and was thrown back across the river.



More Swedish infantry crossed over. However the Russians managed to win the initiative on several occasions and took pains to rain down artillery and infantry fire on them.



Along Patrick's front, the Swedish and Russian infantry were exchanging volleys near the river. The Russians were steadily eroded, but had the benefit of cover, and one Swedish infantry unit was destroyed.



Meanwhile, on the Swedish right, Richard's artillery on a small hillock managed to rout one of my light cavalry units.



I did however get to destroy one of Richard's guns, and inflicted some casualties on his infantry as they moved up to the ford.



Patrick eventually expelled the Russians from the wood, and at one point there were four Swedish units across the river. The game had swung toward the Swedes and the Russian centre looked shaky.



Nevertheless, the Swedes failed to push on and attack the Russian main redoubt as they did manage during the real battle. Phil also moved another unit up to the ford...



While the Swedes looked to have failed to make much headway, and taken more casualties, on the last turn they managed to rout two Russian third-class units, and destroyed another one - shattering the Russian front line on the right.



The game thus ended with a Swedish victory - having suffered 21 casualties, they inflicted 26 on the Russians. Hearty commiserations to the Russians, of course...



The Great Northern War (1700-1721) has been described at Marlburians on steroids. With a much bigger campaign theatre, many different factions, colourful armies, and less siege warfare, it is indeed a great period in which to game. Overall a successful evening's gaming. Thanks to all the players, and to Phil for my lift home!


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