The Battle of Klezow (or Klissow) 9th July 1702

This battle is a little trick as it is a small 'regimental' scale battle or a large 'battalion' level battle. I have therefore done the lists at both scales, you choose. All infantry stands are linear.

I am extremely grateful to the participants of the Lace Wars discussion group, and to Daniel Staberg in particular, for there help with this list. Without Daniel's help many errors and omissions would have occurred.

The Saxon Army

Notes: The regimental numbers refer to those given in the excellent article at The Saxon Army, followed by the number of men.

The strengths (STR) are for regimental / battalion scale, often units are broken down into 2 units in battalion scale. So for example STR 2 / 2 + 2 means the unit is strength 2 at 'regimental' and has two units at strengths 2 in 'battalion' scale.

C in C: His Majesty the King of Poland and Elector of Saxony.

Right Wing: Graf von Flemming Exhaustion: 5 / 11

  • Leib Dragoon Regt (1st Dragoon: 900): M5, Fire, may Dismount, Medium - STR 2 / 2 + 2

  • Goltz Dragoon Regt (4th Dragoon: 900): M4, Fire, may Dismount, Medium - STR 2 / 3 + 2

  • Garde du Corps Regt (1st Cavalry: 900): M6, Fire, Heavy - STR 2 / 3 + 2

  • Leib Cavalry Regt (3rd Cavalry: 685): M5, Fire, Heavy - STR 2 / 3

  • Kurprinz Cavalry Regt (4th Cavalry: 900): M5, Fire, Heavy - STR 2 / 3 + 2

  • Eichstadt Cavalry Regt (8th Cavalry: 900): M5, Fire, Heavy - STR 2 / 2 + 2

Centre: 1st Line General von der Schulenburg Exhaustion: 7 / 14

  • Polnische Garde Regt (1st Infantry: 1500 ?): M6, PT, EFD, BG - STR 3 / 4 + 3

  • Sachsische Garde Regt (2nd Infantry: 1500 ?): M6, PT, EFD, BG - STR 3 / 4 + 4

  • Kurprinz Regt (3rd Infantry: 1250): M5, PT, EFD, BG - STR 3 / 3 + 3 (NG)

  • Konigin Regt (4th Infantry: 1250): M5, PT, EFD, BG - STR 2 / 3 + 3 (NG)

  • Beichlingen Regt (13th Infantry: 1250): M4, PT, EFD, BG - STR 3 / 3 + 3 (NG)

Centre: 2nd Line General Wenediger Exhaustion: 4 / 8

  • Steinau Regt (6th Infantry: 1250): M5, PT, EFD, BG - STR 3 / 3 + 3 (NG)

  • Pistoris Regt (8th Infantry: 1250): M5, PT, EFD, BG - STR 2 / 3 + 3 (NG)

  • Gortz Regt (12th Infantry: 1250): M4, PT, EFD, BG - STR 3 / 3 + 3 (NG)

Left Wing: General von Trampe Exhaustion: 5 / 11

  • Jordan Cavalry Regt (5th Cavalry: 900): M5, Fire, Heavy - STR 2 / 3 + 2

  • Steinau Cavalry Regt (6th Cavalry: 900): M5, Fire, Heavy - STR 2 / 3 + 2

  • Konigin Cavalry Regt (7th Cavalry: 900): M5, Fire, Heavy - STR 2 / 2 + 2

  • Leib Cavalry Regt (3rd Cavalry: 685): M5, Fire, Heavy - STR 2 / 3

  • Kurprinz Dragoon Regt (2nd Dragoon: 900): M4, Fire, may Dismount, Medium - STR 2 / 3 + 2

  • Milkau Dragoon Regt (3rd Dragoon: 900): M4, Fire, may Dismount, Medium - STR 2 / 2 + 2

Artillery: probably attached to the centre infantry.

  • 24 3pdr Guns (the battalion guns with the infantry).

  • 22 12pdr Guns: - 2 units each M5, Hvy, PT - STR 2 / 3

Options:

'Missing' Units: Two other infantry units were also probably at the battle, but do not appear above. If desired they can be included and will help to balance the armies. They should probably be added to the Centre: 2nd line.

Addition to Centre: 2nd Line: Exhaustion 5 / 11

  • Zeitz Regt (18th Infantry: 650): M4, PT, EFD, BG - STR 2 / 3

  • Flemming Regt (21st Infantry: 650): M4, PT, EFD, BG - STR 0 / 4

Army Size: The Saxon army was also understrength at this battle, with Daniel quoting about 7000 cavalry and 9000 infantry being present on the day. He points out that the Beichlingen, Pistoris and Gortz regiments only had 1 battalion present, rather than the 2 indicated above. While perhaps about 500 men per battalion would be more realistic, as would 600 (450 for the Leib Cavalry) for the mounted troops. See the notes below.

Chevaux-de-fries: Daniel points out that the Saxon infantry carried chevaux-de-fries at this battle, that were capable of being moved. Therefore all Saxon infantry units may spend an entire turn, doing nothing else, to put these down or pick them up. While in place they will count as temporary fortifications to the units front. They are lost if the unit retreats or routs, also if the unit moves away from a position it has placed them and not spent the turn recovering them. The Saxons may start the game with them in place if desired.

The Polish Crown Army

The Polish Crown Army: In addition to the above the Polish army was also at this battle, they were 'bumoed into' during the Swedish advance. They are probably best activated as a flank march / late arriving formation or by the Swedes advancing to within a certain distance of a point.

Unfortunately I have no details of there composition, but fortunately Daniel Staberg has been able to supply some information. They were some 8000 strong with 2 guns and were all mounted. This breaks down into about 900 Hussars (9 companies), 3000 Pancerni (30 companies), 500 to 600 Dragoons and 3500 to 3600 Cossack and Wallachian light horse.

In 'Regimental' / 'Battalion' scale this gives:-

  • Hussars: M4, PT, Heavy, Shock - 1 unit of STR 2 / 1 unit of STR 3 & 1 of STR 2.

  • Pancerni: M4, Mil, Medium, Shock - 3 units of STR 2 / 5 units of STR 3

  • Dragoons: M4, Mil, may Dismount, Medium, Fire - 1 unit of STR1 or add to one of the Pancerni units / 1 unit of STR 3

  • Cossacks and Wallachians: M4, Mil, Light, Skirmish only - 7 units of STR 1 / 7 of STR 2 + 1 of STR 3

These should be organised into 2 commands of 8 / 20 strength points. Each command has an Exhaustion level of 3 / 7 (and yes I know this is less than the normal 40% rule, but these troops were really bad).

Dan Schorr has posted up some details on the organisation of the Polish army at Klezow / Klissow.

To view the organisation click on The Polish Crown Army 1702.

For the OOB at Klezow / Klissow click on The Poles at Klissow 1702

The Swedish Army

C in C: King Karl XII of Sweden

Right Wing: General Renshiold Exhaustion: 3 / 8

  • Livdragon Regt (300): - M6, Medium - STR 1 / 2

  • Drabantkaren (200): - M6, Heavy - with the Liv Regt till Hast

  • Liv Regt till Hast (1250): M6, Heavy - STR 3 / 3 + 2 + 2

  • Ostgota Cavalry Regt (1000): - M5, Heavy - STR 2 / 3 + 2

Centre: 1st Line General von Liewen Exhaustion: 8 / 20

  • Livgardet till Fot (1900) - M7, Shock, Pike, SFD - STR 4 / 5 + 5

  • Upplands Regt (1200) - M6, Shock, Pike, SFD - STR 3 / 3 + 3

  • Narke - Varmland Regt (1674) - M6, Shock, Pike, SFD - STR 3 / 4 + 4

  • Vastmanlands Regt (1200) - M6, Shock, Pike, SFD - STR 2 / 3 + 3

  • Dal Regt (1200) - M6, Shock, Pike, SFD - STR 3 / 3 + 3

Centre: 2nd Line General Posse Exhaustion: 4 / 11

  • Vasterbottens Regt (1056) - M6, Shock, Pike, SFD - STR 2 / 5 or 3 + 2

  • Sodermanlands och Ostgota Tremannings Regt (400) - M5, Shock, Pike, SFD - STR 0 / 2

  • Upplands Tremannings Regt (600) - M5, Shock, Pike, SFD - STR 2 / 3

  • Kalmar Regt (1200) - M6, Shock, Pike, SFD - STR 3 / 3 + 3

Left Wing: General Vellingk Exhaustion: 3 / 7

  • Sodra Skanska Cavalry Regt (1000) - M5, Heavy - STR 2 / 3 + 2

  • Smalands Cavalry Regt (1000) - M5, Heavy - STR 2 / 3 + 2

  • Liv Regt till Hast (250): M6, Heavy - STR 1 / 0

  • Livdragon Regt (300): - M6, Medium - STR 0 / 3

Reserve and Artillery

Livlandskt ( Albedyhl) Dragoon Regt (600) - M5, Medium - STR 1 / 3 (possible best to put this in with Centre 2nd Line)

4 3pdr Battalion Guns deployed as a battery. You therefore get a M6, Light - STR 1 / 1, which may be attached to any infantry command.

Notes: Daniel Staberg points out that the Swedish army, at the time of the battle, was suffering greatly from sickness and the effects of force marching. With about 2000 men being 'missing', leaving no more than 4000 cavalry and 8000 infantry. Above I have stuck with the 'official' size, but it would perhaps be more accurate to deduct 20% from the above numbers and recalculate the list. If the Saxons or Swedes are 'recalculated' then both should be done.

Map of the battle

Maps of the battlefield can be found on the Wikipedia page here