So here we were again. The game set up exactly as before. Surely this time the impetus would be balanced.
Römer, having maneuvered his cavalry out to the left of the Austrian line (see deployment map) launched his attack into the flank of the tardy Prussians. The charge was devastating. Before the Prussians could react Schulenburg’s command was in flight to the rear. Meanwhile, on the Austrian right, Berlichengen’s cavalry advanced to do combat with Posadowsky.
However, the Prussian infantry under Frederick and Schwerin were undaunted. Turning the rear units of their box they slowly, but deliberately, advanced towards the Austrian centre. Whilst the cavalry wings engaged in a one sided contest, with the Austrians always holding the upper hand, the infantry came to grips.
On the Prussian right Posadowsky attached himself to his dragoons. Here he hoped to turn the tide. He advanced his cavalry very aggressively, but it was to no avail, his troopers melting before the Austrians whilst he stood, captured by an Austrian dragoon, pistol to his head. The shame of it (D12 Vs D10, result 1 Vs 10).
At this point, with both flanks routed and the infantry alone, Schwerin whispered to his King “Sire it is time for you to leave.” He did so without a second thought.
Schwerin cast all doubts to the wind. It must be death or glory. His infantry steadfastly advanced firing volley after volley into the Austrian infantry, all the time taking care to secure his flanks against the encircling Austrian cavalry, which, as it happened, refused to close. The Austrian infantry was no match for the superbly trained Prussians; they began to melt away under the well timed Prussian volleys.
The Austrians launched their cavalry against the Prussian infantry in a desperate last ditch attempt to save their hard pressed foot. It was, as well as too late, fruitless. As evening loomed the Prussians broke their tight formation and, with a sweeping right hook, scattered what was left of the Austrian infantry. The last Austrians before Mollwitz withdrew in considerable disorder. The Prussians, without cavalry, were unable to press any pursuit. But they held the field and their infantry was intact.
