tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post3482767633060447998..comments2024-03-26T10:09:09.149-07:00Comments on Obscure Battles: Blenheim 1704Jeff Berryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09188876209461291938noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-41265641534668118882021-11-05T12:38:41.255-07:002021-11-05T12:38:41.255-07:00"And a Marshal of France (the first ever in h...<br />"And a Marshal of France (the first ever in history) was a POW."<br /><br />François de Neufville, duc de Villeroy: Am i a joke for you?<br /><br />;)TheHabsburgMonarchyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17810332958107133514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-57409349926020579002021-05-12T08:55:01.941-07:002021-05-12T08:55:01.941-07:00Thank you so much. It means so much to hear such a...Thank you so much. It means so much to hear such appreciation from readers all over the world. You are right, I should get around to those other two Marlboroughian battles. They are on my list.Jeff Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188876209461291938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-34202663231153148892021-05-08T09:00:56.269-07:002021-05-08T09:00:56.269-07:00Awesome website! I was making the battle of Blenhe...Awesome website! I was making the battle of Blenheim scenario trying to find uniform and OOB info. You nailed it for me. Thanks.gsayhihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06727873852465576676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-43257100176407937232021-01-25T11:43:07.597-08:002021-01-25T11:43:07.597-08:00I would rally luke to se as well, the battle of Ou...I would rally luke to se as well, the battle of Oudenaarde un 1708 and Malplaquet 1709.<br /><br />This blog, un my opinión, is the best at time to representan the dispositivos and the ordre battle of any engaged I have never seen. <br /><br />Greetings from Spain 🇪🇸👍😁Borhammer99https://www.blogger.com/profile/17826931839658902991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-60495753803104037282020-09-09T10:51:39.090-07:002020-09-09T10:51:39.090-07:00Yes, though I did this article seven years ago, I ...Yes, though I did this article seven years ago, I do remember including battalion guns on both sides as part of the total artillery (as you can see on examination of the OOB for this article). That is my usual method in counting tubes in all of my OOBs, even the little guns. But as you too have found, there is a wide variance in different sources on this. And the older the battle, the more loosy-goosy the OOB estimates from secondary and even primary sources. I also found in this, and other battles I've researched, that the same errors are perpetuated as one tertiary source after another can be traced back to a common secondary source, itself suspect and often self-serving.<br /><br /><br />Bear in mind my default disclaimer that I am not a professional historian. While I try like hell to be meticulous and thorough in my research, I sometimes make assumptions and these numbers should not be cited for academic purposes; they are, after all, for a blog. But they're good enough for wargaming.Jeff Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188876209461291938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-29322392657719548582020-09-09T09:09:04.081-07:002020-09-09T09:09:04.081-07:00Jeff, thank you for the outstanding work on this. ...Jeff, thank you for the outstanding work on this. Excellent research, analysis, and maps! One question - do your OOB sources confirm the presence of the 3-pdr and 4-pdr battalion guns for each side? In my research it's hard to tell if the "standard" artillery count on each side (typically 66 and 90) includes the battalion guns, or leaves them out. It often seems the battalion guns are historically included in the Franco-Bavarian count but not the Allied side, which is what your OOB seems to suggest. Thanks!Navy87https://www.blogger.com/profile/12262554118972131983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-1703901617816428312019-01-28T10:02:33.142-08:002019-01-28T10:02:33.142-08:00Thanks so much, Bur. Even though I do these posts ...Thanks so much, Bur. Even though I do these posts to please myself, it is always gratifying that they please others too. <br /><br />And I also so enjoy building these maps using my Photoshop and InDesign skills from my career in advertising. I know neither of those tools were intended to be used this way, but I love it when new uses can be found for things. It's what Stephen Jay Gould termed a "spandrel" in biological evolution (e.g. a feather evolves from its use as an insulator to a flight enabler in dinosaurs). <br /><br />So thanks again for visiting and enjoying.<br /><br />JeffJeff Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188876209461291938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-54247215075279536012019-01-27T14:28:35.643-08:002019-01-27T14:28:35.643-08:00Dear Mr. Berry:
Slim Aaron's 1957 photo of Jo...Dear Mr. Berry:<br /><br />Slim Aaron's 1957 photo of John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough, and his wife, Mary, sitting together with the Palace of Blenheim in the background ("Slim Aaron's Women" (New York: Abrams, 2016)) led me inexorably ("Palace of Blenheim, what's that when it's at home?" > [multiple wikipedia articles later]) to your site. <br /><br />I am a software project manager with Adobe (living in Seattle by way of Oregon and the Bay Area) who enjoys a Blood-and-Guts-Ripping-Yarn from time to time (Cornwell springs to mind), so your passion for modeling historical battle reality using Adobe software touches and inspires me on multiple levels.<br /><br />Hats off,<br /><br />Bur Davis.burdavishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08134808337716971791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-83358304163841212772017-04-30T23:01:55.350-07:002017-04-30T23:01:55.350-07:00Not really sure of the specific nationality of the...Not really sure of the specific nationality of the division and brigade commanders if they were different from the nationalities I've listed for the commands themselves. I do know that Pr Eugene was, by birth, French but also had Italian connections (on his mother's side).<br /><br />Also, as you know, the European nobility (not to mention the royalty) were a peripatetic lot and their national affiliation was known to shift with the politics. There were, for instance, a number of ex-pat Irish and Scots Jacobite officers in the French Army, not just with Wild Geese regiments.<br /><br />Not only this, but the rank and file in most armies were mixed nationalities. I love how this was illustrated in Stanley Kubrick's 1975 movie(and Thackeray's picaresque novel), "Barry Lyndon".Jeff Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188876209461291938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-41878370859979049632017-04-30T13:09:42.655-07:002017-04-30T13:09:42.655-07:00Oh by the way is there any chance for the wars of ...Oh by the way is there any chance for the wars of Spanish succession battles, if you happen to know, can you give us a list of what nationality some of these divisional and brigade commanders were. It would be most helpful thanks so much.The Flayed Man (Ex-Kronos)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02888624122387681759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-22974636002658093572017-04-29T09:38:24.664-07:002017-04-29T09:38:24.664-07:00Hm. I should look again there. It's been awhil...Hm. I should look again there. It's been awhile since I made this map. Thanks for the question.<br /><br />During this period, typical deployments were not the tight 2ft per man formations of later in the century. This was an era before cadence marching so in maneuver, troops were more spread out so as to avoid bumping into each other, usually 3-4 feet per man. Also the British troops were already deploying in 3 ranks (vs the French and others in the traditional 5-6 ranks.<br /><br />But I'll look into that on my map to see if I've made a mistake. Thanks again.Jeff Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188876209461291938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-71706818412191535442017-04-29T06:22:47.579-07:002017-04-29T06:22:47.579-07:00Hi big fan of your site I've made several prai...Hi big fan of your site I've made several praising comments before. But am having a slight problem reconciling your Blemheim and unit frontages. Going by your map Rowe's is taking up nearly 1,200 yards of Frontage. This is nearly twice the distance these battalions would do historically. Was this brigade spread out in a more of a skirmish fashion or a thinner line that I'm aware of? By comparing this map to your Ramillies map, Meredith's Brigade there occupies 800 yards and it was 1400 men stronger than Rowes brigade. Help a wargamer out please<br />The Flayed Man (Ex-Kronos)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02888624122387681759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-82276127928173948032016-11-17T23:54:46.148-08:002016-11-17T23:54:46.148-08:00Hello, did someone know who uses 24pdr Mortar or b...Hello, did someone know who uses 24pdr Mortar or big Howitzer (24Pdr) in this Battle. And where in the Battlefield was they used. Greetings from Bavaria EdAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17937670125222137936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-6013878522633895552016-09-26T11:05:48.385-07:002016-09-26T11:05:48.385-07:00Great Battlefield , visit it 4 times, nothing has ...Great Battlefield , visit it 4 times, nothing has changed since 1704. Greetings from Bavaria Germany EdwardAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17937670125222137936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-59797788788813715732016-05-31T04:17:41.656-07:002016-05-31T04:17:41.656-07:00It is GOOD to be the Empereur!It is GOOD to be the Empereur!elcartohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13601182586583732765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-17789524638398430362016-05-31T04:16:50.072-07:002016-05-31T04:16:50.072-07:00Just reading this almost two years later, Jeff, an...Just reading this almost two years later, Jeff, and after having worked with you on Revolution's 'Stonewall's Sword.' Excellent summation of a battle that I knew only a little about, in spite of having the MIH game. I did the maps for the follow up set, featuring Oudenaarde and Malplaquet.elcartohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13601182586583732765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-27298338382925749122015-12-01T10:25:20.675-08:002015-12-01T10:25:20.675-08:00Thanks so much, Dave. Love making grognard's d...Thanks so much, Dave. Love making grognard's dream. I do have a list of requests, all good ones. Minden was an interesting battle and I may tackle it. There are almost an infinite number of obscure battles in history. <br /><br />Right now I'm working on Arcola 1796; maybe not so obscure to Napoleonophiles but there are things about how this battle has been traditionally narrated that are troubling to me. Bonaparte actually lost the battle, but that's not how it's been portrayed by the Napoleonic prop machine, which even got a bridge in Paris named after it.Jeff Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188876209461291938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-76703946132698934222015-12-01T07:58:39.252-08:002015-12-01T07:58:39.252-08:00Great site, Jeff - a grognard's dream. Do you...Great site, Jeff - a grognard's dream. Do you take requests? How about Minden (1759) - a battle full of exciting incidents and derring do!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />DaveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12968198654348375599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-36226605017892209812015-11-12T17:18:00.586-08:002015-11-12T17:18:00.586-08:00Your kind remarks and enthusiasm for my work on th...Your kind remarks and enthusiasm for my work on this is so uplifting. Of course, I do these to please myself, but it doubles my gratification when I hear how much people like you appreciate at it too. My audience is foremost in my thoughts as I make these.<br />Thank you, David.<br /><br />Jeff BerryJeff Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188876209461291938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-60824244672993404402015-11-12T14:59:23.351-08:002015-11-12T14:59:23.351-08:00Really enjoyed this account and the perspective yo...Really enjoyed this account and the perspective you have put on it. I was particularly impressed by your consideration for those who are never mentioned - the ordinary people. <br />Your knowledge and obvious passion for the subject makes this account a joy to read. I am very interested in this period and am a great admirer of Marlborough. <br />Truly excellent. Many, many thanks for creating this. <br />Very best wishes,<br />David Bagnall Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08632625481582605948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-76171321951621414992015-03-06T17:50:48.138-08:002015-03-06T17:50:48.138-08:00Thank you so much, Matthew. Do you have a source o...Thank you so much, Matthew. Do you have a source on that? That stands to reason given that Marlborough was trying to give his Dutch allies that he'd use German mercenaries. I was using Tyncey's OOBs, which describes them as Dutch regiments, and Falkner also describes them as native Dutch regiments. So if you have a more reliable source on the OOB, I would surely appreciate it. Jeff Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188876209461291938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-30387962859041302762015-03-05T17:15:51.050-08:002015-03-05T17:15:51.050-08:00Jeff - nicely done, a couple points on the OoB
The...Jeff - nicely done, a couple points on the OoB<br />There was no actual Dutch infantry at Blindheim. The three units you have listed as Dutch, Rechteren, Benheim, and Goor (actually Gohr, I think the similarity to the late Dutch General's name causes the confusion) were all units raised in Hanover and Luneburg for Dutch service, but entirely officered and manned by Germans. Some Dutch cavalry was at Blindheim, but they represented the only Dutch contribution at that battle.<br />Thanks again for the great read,<br />--M. Baumgartner mattlbaumgartner@aol.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01667170965931723531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-56050838259310562192014-07-04T18:47:41.711-07:002014-07-04T18:47:41.711-07:00Well, first, thanks so much, LP, for the kind word...Well, first, thanks so much, LP, for the kind words about my article. I do love this period, too. I avidly read all of Churchill's volumes on his ancestor, was a huge fan of that old Masterpiece Theater series, "The First Churchills," and came from a family who loved history. When I was a kid we lived in England and every weekend my parents would drag us to stately homes (including Blenheim Palace). So fond of that time in my life.<br /><br />And your Sild Hall site is hilarious. I think more people would read history if it were written tongue-in-cheek.Jeff Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188876209461291938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-45760915680731114092014-07-03T07:05:12.497-07:002014-07-03T07:05:12.497-07:00Ha ha ha! Only just spotted you've visited Sil...Ha ha ha! Only just spotted you've visited Sild Hall! Me and my husband were guides at Blenheim Palace for a few years and we created the spoof website as a reaction to the strange group of people we worked with. That then led on to the Duntisbourne Hall books but all my questions for you are because I'm writing a more serious historical novel set in 1704 and your account of the Battle of Blenheim is one of the best I've come across – you could get holiday a job guiding at Blenheim Palace! Early eighteenth century seems a much forgotten time in historical fiction at the moment, perhaps because of all those ludicrous wigs.Adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11563745877554150355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403809316122064334.post-82548465919422157382014-06-05T19:29:35.241-07:002014-06-05T19:29:35.241-07:00Incidentally, LP, visited your Sild Hall site and ...Incidentally, LP, visited your Sild Hall site and it's very funny. Reminds mr of The Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles. I especially like antique pudendum display tray collection and the dandelion collection. http://mjt.org/Jeff Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188876209461291938noreply@blogger.com