From the diaries of Captain Hoehmann.
We have started our advance on Kinsale. Our order of march is: firstly a few officers, who have managed to find mounts out in front scouting the ground; followed by a company of the light battalion; after a gap there is the Jaegers and my company from the light battalion; behind us is the 1st Regiment led by Colonel Stummel, then a collection of wagons we have collected carrying some supplies and finally the 2nd regiment following up and covering the rear. The other two light companies are covering the flanks of the advance.
Our first night was spent close to the coast and we could still communicate with the French fleet by signalling to a frigate lying close to the shore. The next day our road led inland away from the coast so we made our final signals to the fleet. Hopefully Admiral Dorschner will turn up at Kinsale once we have captured it. According to General Hoehmann we have been given sealed instructions on what action to take if this eventuallity should come to pass.
Late afternoon on the second day our scouts returned reporting the redcoats are occupying a position a few leagues hence blocking the road to our destination. They also reprot that there is no obvious detour so we will have to fight our way through. They do not appear to be as strong as us, but they are occupying a defile behind a ford, and they have both cavalry and artillery support.
Given the distance still to travel General Hoehmann has decided to wait until first light before moving out and attacking the British so we will camp in our current position for the night.
I have posted the picquets and wait for what the morrow brings..........
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Friday, 18 January 2008
Change of plan
From the diaries of Captain Hoehmann.
We seem to have had a change of plan, the local harbour is too shallow to unload the majority of the ships of the expedition so only the Fundsbergers have been unloaded. Our objective is now to march eastward along the coast to take Kinsale, which has suitable harbour. This of course means that we have no artillery or cavalry to support us and our route will take us inland away from the support of the guns of the fleet.
I have discovered a bit more about our operation, apparently we should have directly attacked Kinsale, but the storm blew us to far to the west and it was thought that the British would have had warning of our approach and would be well prepared to defend Kinsale from any seaborne attack.
It's not too long a march, but we are sure the Omagh Fencibles will try and attack us, although all is quiet at the moment.
We seem to have had a change of plan, the local harbour is too shallow to unload the majority of the ships of the expedition so only the Fundsbergers have been unloaded. Our objective is now to march eastward along the coast to take Kinsale, which has suitable harbour. This of course means that we have no artillery or cavalry to support us and our route will take us inland away from the support of the guns of the fleet.
I have discovered a bit more about our operation, apparently we should have directly attacked Kinsale, but the storm blew us to far to the west and it was thought that the British would have had warning of our approach and would be well prepared to defend Kinsale from any seaborne attack.
It's not too long a march, but we are sure the Omagh Fencibles will try and attack us, although all is quiet at the moment.
Monday, 14 January 2008
But where are we?
From the diaries of Captain Hoehmann.
This evening Surgeon extracted the bullet from my leg, luckily nothing vital was hit, but I was told to spend at least a week without putting any weight on it. Also the bruising on my upper chest means I can only take liquid sustenance at the moment.
To return to earlier today
After the battle our forces rapidly occupied the redoubt and pursued the redcoats beyond the port. My company and the rifles were left on the cliff to hold the position and secure any wounded redcoats. We collected up quite a number of the redcoats and as the only officer available I tried to interrogate them. At first most seemed to talk some sort of gibberish, nothing like English or even French or German, eventually we found one who could speak English. He revealed that we were in Ireland and that our opponents were the local militia called the Omagh Fencibles. This was quite a revelation to us as they had fought like regulars. This unit is under the command of Lord Omagh and most of the regiment had been positioned near the main beach expecting us to land there rather than attack the cliff which is called Haugheys Point.
Looking at the carnage my estimates of the militia losses were that they had lost 15% killed, and 15% seriously wounded and left behind, probably plus another 30% lightly wounded. The rifles had suffered as severely and Major Lowes's and my company had lost 5% killed, 5% seriously wounded and 10% lightly wounded.
Finally late afternoon Sargeant Schmidt returned from the port and reported that it has been secured. Even better he has brought a dog cart, which will enable me to travel more comfortably. Also he brought some of the local schnapps for the wounded. The rest of the day was spent moving the wounded down to the port.
(Note I am using my AWI campaign rules to track the strength, etc of the forces, for the next stage of the campaign I will need to produce a model of Captain Hoehmann on his dog cart)
This evening Surgeon extracted the bullet from my leg, luckily nothing vital was hit, but I was told to spend at least a week without putting any weight on it. Also the bruising on my upper chest means I can only take liquid sustenance at the moment.
To return to earlier today
After the battle our forces rapidly occupied the redoubt and pursued the redcoats beyond the port. My company and the rifles were left on the cliff to hold the position and secure any wounded redcoats. We collected up quite a number of the redcoats and as the only officer available I tried to interrogate them. At first most seemed to talk some sort of gibberish, nothing like English or even French or German, eventually we found one who could speak English. He revealed that we were in Ireland and that our opponents were the local militia called the Omagh Fencibles. This was quite a revelation to us as they had fought like regulars. This unit is under the command of Lord Omagh and most of the regiment had been positioned near the main beach expecting us to land there rather than attack the cliff which is called Haugheys Point.
Looking at the carnage my estimates of the militia losses were that they had lost 15% killed, and 15% seriously wounded and left behind, probably plus another 30% lightly wounded. The rifles had suffered as severely and Major Lowes's and my company had lost 5% killed, 5% seriously wounded and 10% lightly wounded.
Finally late afternoon Sargeant Schmidt returned from the port and reported that it has been secured. Even better he has brought a dog cart, which will enable me to travel more comfortably. Also he brought some of the local schnapps for the wounded. The rest of the day was spent moving the wounded down to the port.
(Note I am using my AWI campaign rules to track the strength, etc of the forces, for the next stage of the campaign I will need to produce a model of Captain Hoehmann on his dog cart)
Saturday, 12 January 2008
Take the cliff battery!
From the diaries of Captain Hoehmann.
As I lie and recover, here are my memories of an eventful day based on my observations and those of my fellow officers.
The action started quietly at first light with the Captain Barner's Jaegers clambering down the ladders into the boats and then heading off to the beach. All was quiet as they landed and I was astonished at the speed that they climbed out of the cove. The enemy seemed unaware of our action with the exception of a continuing plume of smoke from the cliff top battery, according to the French sailors this was so they could fire red hot shot on us if we attempted to enter the harbour. The boats returned and collected Major Lowe's company who were much slower in boarding than the Jaegers and had difficulty climbing the path out of the cove. Shortly before this firing had started from the cliff though we were unable to see what was happening. Captain Schmidt's company was next and they seemed to take even longer boarding and I noticed that both they and Major Lowe's company had taken a slightly different track to that used by the Jaegers. I tried to memorise the route to take with my company and then called my men to attention and emphasised the importance of reaching the top of the cliff as quickly as possible to support our fellow Frundsbergers. My message was emphasised by the sound of cannon fire from the cliff. My troops literally jumped into the boats to the consternation of the sailors and as they rowed to shore assisted in rowing, which helped as the sailors were by now quite tired.
On landing the action above was still continuing so I led my men up the route I believed the Jaegers had followed and to my amazement we arrived on the clifftop just ahead of Captain Schmidt's company.
To recap on the action on the cliff this is a composite of Captain Barner's and Major Lowe's recollections.
On reaching the cliff top with the Jaegers, Captain Barner found all quiet and they headed towards the battery with all haste and felt they would be able to take it by surprise. However just as they were nearing it, three companies of red coats burst out of the woods charging towards them. The Jaegers took aim and felled a large number of the leading company. At this point the Jaegers reloaded with ball and patch rather than a quick load with a loose ball. In retrospect this was a bad decision as the redcoats keep on coming and delivered a volley felling a number of the Jaegers before they were reloaded. At this point the Jaegers were on their own, with no sign of support, so they fell back firing as they went with the redcoats pursuing them. Just in the nick of time, The 1st company arrived and took the leftmost redcoat company in flank with a heavy volley forcing them to recoil. At the same time the rightmost redcoat company had come to a standstill due to the sustained rifle fire. It then fell back to cheers from the Jaegers, however this elation was short lived as this retreat clear a line of fire and gun from the battery fired canister into the Jaegers. Captain Barner was hit, but luckily it was only a flesh wound and he rallied his remaining men.
Major Lowe's company was involved with the leftmost redcoats and an unscathed redcoat company was heading for the Jaegers as my company came up into line. I decided that the situation required an immediate attack on the centre redcoat company, before they overwhelmed the Jaegers, so I led my company forward without deploying. To my shock the redcoats performed a parade ground turn and delivered a crushing volley felling the men to either side of me and hitting me twice in the leg and chest, the latter luckily deflected by my gorget. The respire was all the Jaegers needed and they felled the redcoats at the same time my men delivered our volley. The redcoats then turned and ran.
On our right Major Lowe had charged the redcoats facing him and driven them from the field. The remaining redcoat company decided to retire with the others given its heavy losses and seeing Captain Schmidt's company arriving. Rather than directly assault the battery the remaining Jaegers started sniping at anyone who stuck their heads above the parapet and shortly after we saw the gunners running away from the battery.
Captain Schmidt's company took the battery and found that all the guns had been spiked and that the British had the equipment for firing red hot shot ready so our efforts were not in vain.
(Note this was a first test of some skirmish rules I am developing, in a similar way to some other rules, ordinary rank and file die after 1 wound, officers after 2 and personalities after 3, luckily for Captain Hoehmann he was deemed to be a personality before the battle started.
The move sequence was my card deck and the way the cards fell was that the redcoats never moved until all 3 of their companies had arrived and on the Frundsberg side they rolled very badly on the arrival dice. The net result was the Jaegers nearly had a home run on the redoubt)
As I lie and recover, here are my memories of an eventful day based on my observations and those of my fellow officers.
The action started quietly at first light with the Captain Barner's Jaegers clambering down the ladders into the boats and then heading off to the beach. All was quiet as they landed and I was astonished at the speed that they climbed out of the cove. The enemy seemed unaware of our action with the exception of a continuing plume of smoke from the cliff top battery, according to the French sailors this was so they could fire red hot shot on us if we attempted to enter the harbour. The boats returned and collected Major Lowe's company who were much slower in boarding than the Jaegers and had difficulty climbing the path out of the cove. Shortly before this firing had started from the cliff though we were unable to see what was happening. Captain Schmidt's company was next and they seemed to take even longer boarding and I noticed that both they and Major Lowe's company had taken a slightly different track to that used by the Jaegers. I tried to memorise the route to take with my company and then called my men to attention and emphasised the importance of reaching the top of the cliff as quickly as possible to support our fellow Frundsbergers. My message was emphasised by the sound of cannon fire from the cliff. My troops literally jumped into the boats to the consternation of the sailors and as they rowed to shore assisted in rowing, which helped as the sailors were by now quite tired.
On landing the action above was still continuing so I led my men up the route I believed the Jaegers had followed and to my amazement we arrived on the clifftop just ahead of Captain Schmidt's company.
To recap on the action on the cliff this is a composite of Captain Barner's and Major Lowe's recollections.
On reaching the cliff top with the Jaegers, Captain Barner found all quiet and they headed towards the battery with all haste and felt they would be able to take it by surprise. However just as they were nearing it, three companies of red coats burst out of the woods charging towards them. The Jaegers took aim and felled a large number of the leading company. At this point the Jaegers reloaded with ball and patch rather than a quick load with a loose ball. In retrospect this was a bad decision as the redcoats keep on coming and delivered a volley felling a number of the Jaegers before they were reloaded. At this point the Jaegers were on their own, with no sign of support, so they fell back firing as they went with the redcoats pursuing them. Just in the nick of time, The 1st company arrived and took the leftmost redcoat company in flank with a heavy volley forcing them to recoil. At the same time the rightmost redcoat company had come to a standstill due to the sustained rifle fire. It then fell back to cheers from the Jaegers, however this elation was short lived as this retreat clear a line of fire and gun from the battery fired canister into the Jaegers. Captain Barner was hit, but luckily it was only a flesh wound and he rallied his remaining men.
Major Lowe's company was involved with the leftmost redcoats and an unscathed redcoat company was heading for the Jaegers as my company came up into line. I decided that the situation required an immediate attack on the centre redcoat company, before they overwhelmed the Jaegers, so I led my company forward without deploying. To my shock the redcoats performed a parade ground turn and delivered a crushing volley felling the men to either side of me and hitting me twice in the leg and chest, the latter luckily deflected by my gorget. The respire was all the Jaegers needed and they felled the redcoats at the same time my men delivered our volley. The redcoats then turned and ran.
On our right Major Lowe had charged the redcoats facing him and driven them from the field. The remaining redcoat company decided to retire with the others given its heavy losses and seeing Captain Schmidt's company arriving. Rather than directly assault the battery the remaining Jaegers started sniping at anyone who stuck their heads above the parapet and shortly after we saw the gunners running away from the battery.
Captain Schmidt's company took the battery and found that all the guns had been spiked and that the British had the equipment for firing red hot shot ready so our efforts were not in vain.
(Note this was a first test of some skirmish rules I am developing, in a similar way to some other rules, ordinary rank and file die after 1 wound, officers after 2 and personalities after 3, luckily for Captain Hoehmann he was deemed to be a personality before the battle started.
The move sequence was my card deck and the way the cards fell was that the redcoats never moved until all 3 of their companies had arrived and on the Frundsberg side they rolled very badly on the arrival dice. The net result was the Jaegers nearly had a home run on the redoubt)
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Landfall
From the diaries of Captain Hoehmann.
Unless you have experienced the violence of a storm at sea can you imagine our relief as the storm subsided and the sun emerged from behind its veil of clouds. Everyone's spirits lifted, and I was amazed to find that most of the ships in the convoy were still present, although widely scattered.
The French crew of our ship still will not explain where we are, but the sight of land in the distance is a welcome sight and I understand that it may be our destination. However there are still strong winds and the coast looks quite formidable.
A message has just been passed to our ship and the light battalion together with the jaegers have been instructed to land at a small cove and capture a coastal battery covering a harbour where the main body will land.
The swell is quite substantial and the troops are quite terrified at the thought of boarding the boats. Luckily Major Bergstein has arranged for an issue of schnapps, which should calm the men's nerves.
(note for the reader Captain Hoehmann of the Jaegers is a son of General Hoehmann and commands a company of the light battalion)
Unless you have experienced the violence of a storm at sea can you imagine our relief as the storm subsided and the sun emerged from behind its veil of clouds. Everyone's spirits lifted, and I was amazed to find that most of the ships in the convoy were still present, although widely scattered.
The French crew of our ship still will not explain where we are, but the sight of land in the distance is a welcome sight and I understand that it may be our destination. However there are still strong winds and the coast looks quite formidable.
A message has just been passed to our ship and the light battalion together with the jaegers have been instructed to land at a small cove and capture a coastal battery covering a harbour where the main body will land.
The swell is quite substantial and the troops are quite terrified at the thought of boarding the boats. Luckily Major Bergstein has arranged for an issue of schnapps, which should calm the men's nerves.
(note for the reader Captain Hoehmann of the Jaegers is a son of General Hoehmann and commands a company of the light battalion)
En-voyage
From the diaries of Captain Hoehmann
Another day at sea in this wretched weather, my men lie totally exhausted on the lower decks, as this Atlantic storm vents its spleen upon us. To venture on the main deck is to risk being swept overboard, only the sailors dare work there now, and only if absolutely necessary.
Where are we headed? Only the devil knows! General le Comte Beaujolais revealed nothing before boarding the ships, except exclaiming that the expedition would strike a blow for France and cripple the British attempts at world domination.
To the best of my knowledge our force comprises four regiments of French line infantry, two regiments of our Frundsberg line infantry plus our battalion of light infantry and a company of jaegers. There are also some dimounted cavalry and artillery travelling in the convoy. However the convoy is now widely scattered as the storm shows how puny our ships are.
Another day at sea in this wretched weather, my men lie totally exhausted on the lower decks, as this Atlantic storm vents its spleen upon us. To venture on the main deck is to risk being swept overboard, only the sailors dare work there now, and only if absolutely necessary.
Where are we headed? Only the devil knows! General le Comte Beaujolais revealed nothing before boarding the ships, except exclaiming that the expedition would strike a blow for France and cripple the British attempts at world domination.
To the best of my knowledge our force comprises four regiments of French line infantry, two regiments of our Frundsberg line infantry plus our battalion of light infantry and a company of jaegers. There are also some dimounted cavalry and artillery travelling in the convoy. However the convoy is now widely scattered as the storm shows how puny our ships are.
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Napoleonic Frundsberg Frei Batalion
I mentioned previously that there were Frundsbergers as part of the Prussian army. Here they are on parade in front of another Prussian unit. They are formed as the III/10th Reserve Infantry Regiment, but they prefer to be called the Frundsberg Frei Battalion.
The figures are a complete mix, in the front rank are Revell Prussian line infantry, then behind in groups are (L to R) Hat Lutzows, Springwood Prussian line (version 1) and Hat Prussian reservists.
Will
The figures are a complete mix, in the front rank are Revell Prussian line infantry, then behind in groups are (L to R) Hat Lutzows, Springwood Prussian line (version 1) and Hat Prussian reservists.
Will
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