Battle of Dettingen (part II)
|George II poses before joining in the fight!|
In January 1743 with the European situation worsening, George joined his army and loudly proclaimed his mission to uphold the Pragmatic Sanction. Shortly thereafter, the army wandered out of the Lowlands following the north bank of the Rhine. Bemoaned by the Dutch and harangued by the Austrians, the army dawdled further into Germany. Its movements were hamstrung between George's public intent to look the military hero riding to Maria Theresa's rescue, and his real intention of keeping the army handy to defend Hanover.
At Mainz the Rhine turns south and so the Pragmatic Army turns along the river River Main, the Rhine's most important tributary. This is the direct route through Frankfurt and into Northern Bavaria, from where a Franco-Bavarian army is operating against the Austrians in Bohemia.
Meanwhile, another French army, under the Duc de Noailles, is shadowing on the southern bank. Noailles, arch courtier and capable general, is waiting for an opportunity to pounce on the rudderless Allies. George, who openly favours his Hanoverian generals, has angered Lord Stair, who has retired to his carriage in a sulk. The Austrian generals despair of a proper plan and lack of supplies is eroding discipline amongst the rank and file.
On 27th June 1743, Noailles sees his chance and pushes a corp across the river at Aschaffenburg just to the east of Dettingen. Blocked ahead and flanked by wooded hills and a river, George is forced to accept ignominious retreat.
But can Noailles force the issue and bring on the collapse of the Pragmatic Army?