THE BATTLE OF BYSJÖN, 22 DECEMBER 1644 THEME HANNIBAL DEFEATS THE SWEDES The Torstenson War of 1643–1645, which was named after the renowned Swedish field marshal and commander-in-chief Len- nart Torstensson, was fought over control of the Øresund (the strait of water between the countries of Sweden and Denmark). By Michael Leck he war was mainly fought in mainly into the Swedish regions of three theatres: the main army Dalsland and Värmland. This theatre, under the command of Field known as the Hannibalsfejden (Feud Swedish troops had been able to arrive Marshal Torstensson would of Hannibal), is the focus of this article. in the Värmland and Dalsland regions. advance from Germany in the The Danes continued their campaign TDanish province of Jutland at the same focusing on the Dalsland region for a HANNIBALSFEJDEN time as Field Marshal Gustav Horn The Hannibalsfejden was initiated further two months until Hannibal Se- advanced with his army from south- by the Danish Steward of Norway hested ordered his army to retreat back ern Sweden into Scania, at the time a Hannibal Sehested in January 1644 to Norway; after all, he had failed to Danish region. The third theatre was to ease the Swedish pressure on the impact the fighting further south and not part of the Swedish plan but was Danish army in Scania. During the the Swedes had pushed the Danes in a counter-offensive performed spring and summer of 1644, the Nor- Scania back over the sound. by the Danish/Norwe- wegian troops attacked and recon- “I myself have had the honor, of gians from south- quered the previous Danish/Norwe- receiving from the soldiers of Olof ern Norway, gian region of Jämtland. During the Stake for New Year, two bullets autumn of 1644, Hannibal Sehested through the cap on my head, al- managed to conscript more troops though without injury.” from the Norwegians and planned a – Hannibal Sehested after the campaign against the Swedish regions Battle of Bysjön of Dalsland and Värmland, which was initiated in November 1644. Despite newly built fortifications, the Swedes BATTLE OF BYSJÖN 1664 were pushed back and both Åmål and The battle on the ice at Bysjön took Vänersborg were sacked and burnt. place on 22 December 1644 in the Värmland region of Sweden. The win- Part of the Danish/Norwegian army ter route to the largest city in the area, advanced north toward the largest Karlstad, was to cross Lake Bysjön. The city in the Värmland region, Karlstad. Swedish defenders, some 500 cavalry The Swedes sent what troops they had and 2000 infantry, were under the left in the region to stop the enemy command of Captain Lorentz Hansson advance at Lake Bysjön; the Danish/ from the Närke-Värmlands regiment. Norwegians were victorious, but their The plan was to stop the advancing advance had been delayed, so fresh Danes/Norwegians in the open on the lake by cutting a long hole in the ice across the lake, like a moat, using the ice blocks as material for a defensive The 1644 naval battle of Fehmarn (shown here x in a painting by Jan Van der Velde) was an Wargames, soldiers & strategy 113 important engagement in the Torstenson War; 1 The Swedish fleet won a decisive victory that paved the way for peace negotiations © The Swedish Maritime Museum The combined army storms across the gaps in the ice of Lake Bysjön. The Swedish defenders manage to hold off the attackers, but will their ammunition last? wall as an improvised fortification. hausted that they were unable to pur- ORDER OF BATTLE The western edge of the ice wall was sue the Swedes, who had lost some Sweden, under the command of covered by a dense forest and the east- 30–50 men; the Danish/Norwegians Captain Lorentz Hansson ern edge by a tree barricade and then had around 100 dead. After the battle, (defender – 22 points) some steep cliffs. Hannibal Sehested pointed out that the road to Karlstad and further to the un- Blue 1 The Danish/Norwegian force was com- defended Swedish capital Stockholm 1 unit of dragoons @ 4 points – 500 posed of 1000 cavalry, 4000 infantry, now lay open, but that it would put men and leader and six guns, under direct command of them at too great a risk of being cut off the Danish Steward of Norway, Han- in enemy territory if pursued. Blue 2 nibal Sehested. During the day of 19 3 units of shot @ 4 points each – December 1644, sporadic fighting oc- Inspired by the Battle at Bysjön, I have 1500 men curred on the ice of Lake Bysjön as the put together a small scenario that is Danish/Norwegian forces tried to find written for The Pikeman’s Lament. It Blue 3 a way around the ice barricade, but would not be hard to transfer the sce- 1 unit of veteran shot @ 6 points – at nightfall they had to retreat. During nario to other wargaming rules. 500 men the next days they constructed ladders, Espin © Rocío planks, rafts, etc to be used in a frontal assault across the long hole in the ice and to storm the ice barricade. At first light on Sunday 22 December 1644, the Danish/Norwegian force lined up on the ice and started the ad- vance against the Swedish defenders, who managed to hold the attackers at bay for the duration of the day. After several hours of fighting, the Swedish defenders started to run low on am- munition – it’s even told that the men cut the tin buttons off their jackets and used them as bul- lets – and a general Swedish retreat started. The attackers were so ex- Wargames, soldiers & strategy 113 2 Ending the scenario Play until the attacker has at least one non-wavering unit south of the ice barricade, or until the attacker has lost at least half of his company’s points. At the end of this turn, the game ends. Victory conditions The attacker gains 4 honour if he has at least one non-wavering unit on the defender’s side of the ice barricade at the end of the game. The attacker gains 2 extra honour if he has at least one non-wavering unit on the de- fender’s side of either the tree barricade or the forest on the west side of the lake The last load of ammunition arrives from Karlstad for the Swedish defenders of Lake Bysjön. This will have to last. at the end of the game. The defender Norway, under the command of • The tree barricade is a linear gains 6 honour if he manages to stop Hannibal Sehested obstacle and provides cover. the attacker from having any units on (attacker – 44 points) • The ice barricade is a linear ob- the south side of the ice barricade at Red 1 stacle and provides heavy cover; the end of the game. Both players gain/ 2 units of shot @ 4 points each – it increases the target’s stamina by lose honour for special orders. 1000 men 2 against attacking and shooting rather than the usual 1 point. CONCLUSION Red 2 • The long hole in the ice counts as After two major defeats of their fleet 4 units of shot @ 4 points each – a linear obstacle. An infantry unit in 1644, the Danes were forced to 2000 men can move up to the edge of the leave the Scanian region. In the 2 units of pike @ 4 points each – hole, and on its next activation it peace treaty of Brömsebro in 1645, 1000 men and leader can either move in contact with Denmark gained the regions of Hal- 1 unit of regimental gun @ 4 points the ice barricade or, if that part land, Jämtland, Härjedalen, and is defended, the unit can charge. Gotland, but had to give control of Red 3 Historically the Danish/Norwe- Scania back to Sweden. The Swedes 2 units of gallopers @ 4 points each gian troops brought long boards, also gained control over the lower – 1000 men boats, and rafts to use to cross Øresund Sound. WS&S the hole in the ice, so we assume Set-up that all units have brought what Minis and terrain by Jesper Ohlsson The table is 180 x 120 cm. Terrain as is needed in terms of planks etc. and author. map. Red 1–3 are the Danish/Norwe- gian deployment zones; all minis need to be set up within 6" of the northern board edge. Blue 1–3 are the Swedish deployment zones. For Blue 1, all min- is need to be set up within 12" of the southern board edge. For Blue 2 and 3, all minis need to be set up within 6" of the ice or tree barricades but not in contact with them. Special rules These rules apply to the scenario: • The forest is difficult ground and provides cover. • The steep cliff at the eastern board edge is impossible ground. The Danish/Norwegian forces try to find a way around the ice, but the woods are too easily defended. 3 Wargames, soldiers & strategy 113.