An unusually flustered Stammpot rushed into General Wurst’s room “Sir, a heavily armed barge has expectedly sailed up river and is requesting permission to land”
“Very well Stammpot, I assume that the militia are mustering, the guns have it covered and the red hot shot is being heated”
“Yes all that is in progress Sir”
“Well let’s go and see what’s happening”
The General escorted by Stammpot and a squad of the Stabskompanie made his way towards the docks and saw the barge coming to rest in the main dock. Two companies of militia were formed up along the wharf and smoke could be seen rising from the nearby gun towers.
A large ruddy faced man shouted out “Permission to come ashore?” and without waiting for a response swung himself down by a loose halyard and strolled over to the General.
“Jens Gobrad at your service. I heard that you were having some problems so I have recruited some assistance in Rotterdam on my way here”
“General Wurst, I am in command here and this is my aide Captain Stammpot. But how do you know of our problem and how do we know we can trust you?”
“Well General, it was in the last letter from my betrothed, Bettina Von Barner, she said a French invasion was imminent and I read that the French had crossed the river in the papers while I was in Rotterdam.”
“That’s good enough for me” “Stammpot stand the men down” “Now what have you brought me?”
“Well there’s a lot of out of work sailors in Rotterdam so I’ve raised a company of men capable of handling heavy artillery”
“Excellent now let’s get your men ashore and settled in.”
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Cavalry Action at Towench (6)
Colonel Letort watched with satisfaction the crushing of the Frundsberg cavalry, now where was the infantry? He was about to send in the Dragoons to finish off the enemy when Twyth rode up. “So where’s the infantry?”
“I’m sorry but despite our best intentions they are pillaging Welle, hopefully a Line battalion will arrive within an hour"
“An hour, I need them now, when we have them at our mercy”
“Agreed Colonel and that was the General‘s intention”
Suddenly a flurry of movement occurred, the Hussars had spotted the Frundsberg artillery retiring down the road and had immediately charged them. A ragged ineffectual volley from the village had no effect on the charge, but the gunners just calmly unlimbered and fired canister at point blank range shredding the ranks of the hussars and driving the remainder back.
“Now look at that Twyth, with just a few infantry we could have captured them, now they can just slink away to their next position”
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In the distance a bedragled man emerged from a wood and was amazed and pleased by the noise of battle. His comrades were obviously winning, but then all effort seemed to cease, despite the enemy retiring from the field. They were so near, but it was such a long stretch of open ground to cover and where the Frundsbergers had cavalry there could easily be Freishutze in hiding. Knowing it was just a matter of time before he could reach safety Lieutenant Blanc headed south through the woods intending to swing east back towards the French lines the next morning.
“I’m sorry but despite our best intentions they are pillaging Welle, hopefully a Line battalion will arrive within an hour"
“An hour, I need them now, when we have them at our mercy”
“Agreed Colonel and that was the General‘s intention”
Suddenly a flurry of movement occurred, the Hussars had spotted the Frundsberg artillery retiring down the road and had immediately charged them. A ragged ineffectual volley from the village had no effect on the charge, but the gunners just calmly unlimbered and fired canister at point blank range shredding the ranks of the hussars and driving the remainder back.
“Now look at that Twyth, with just a few infantry we could have captured them, now they can just slink away to their next position”
==================================================
In the distance a bedragled man emerged from a wood and was amazed and pleased by the noise of battle. His comrades were obviously winning, but then all effort seemed to cease, despite the enemy retiring from the field. They were so near, but it was such a long stretch of open ground to cover and where the Frundsbergers had cavalry there could easily be Freishutze in hiding. Knowing it was just a matter of time before he could reach safety Lieutenant Blanc headed south through the woods intending to swing east back towards the French lines the next morning.
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Cavalry Action at Towench (5)
The action had become general with troops attacking rallying then counter attacking in all directions with the French having fed in a squadron of hussars to replace some missing chasseurs. The beginning of the end occurred when the French Heavy Cavalry squadron advanced on a single troop of Frundsberg Light Dragoons, quite sensibly they fled from the position evading their malevolent intentions. The pressure mounted and Lieutenant Pilsner's troop was broken followed by the rest of the Light Dragoons.
As Friedrich led his men forward to stem the rout, his ranks were broken up by the fleeing dragoons and then the French Hussars were among them, after a brief struggle his men routed and Friedrich followed nursing a bad cut to his right leg.
Luckily one Light Dragoon troop had managed to reform to so it immediately charged some of the pursuing hussars. As the attack came from a flank it was immediately successful. Moments after this brief coup they came up against the French Heavy Cavalry and were routed.
However the brief pause allowed some more of the light dragoons to rally and the remaining hussars had fallen back, allowing the Fundsbergers some semblance of a managed withdraw.
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In the meantime all had not been quiet in the village of Towench. Now that the baggage was clear Major Liebnitz ordered the artillery to fall back. By this time more French Hussars were skirting around the village threatening to cut off their withdrawal.
As Friedrich led his men forward to stem the rout, his ranks were broken up by the fleeing dragoons and then the French Hussars were among them, after a brief struggle his men routed and Friedrich followed nursing a bad cut to his right leg.
Luckily one Light Dragoon troop had managed to reform to so it immediately charged some of the pursuing hussars. As the attack came from a flank it was immediately successful. Moments after this brief coup they came up against the French Heavy Cavalry and were routed.
However the brief pause allowed some more of the light dragoons to rally and the remaining hussars had fallen back, allowing the Fundsbergers some semblance of a managed withdraw.
=================================================================
In the meantime all had not been quiet in the village of Towench. Now that the baggage was clear Major Liebnitz ordered the artillery to fall back. By this time more French Hussars were skirting around the village threatening to cut off their withdrawal.
Monday, 5 April 2010
Cavalry Action at Towench (4)
Observing the French advance, Friedrich was unsurprised at the effect of the artillery fire on the French cavalry, but they seemed to be rallying quickly and there was still the main body behind them. The successive blasts of artillery fire reduced the impact of the French charge to a single troop, but this body carved it’s way through the light dragoons facing them causing a major breach in the line. Turning to Lieutenant Von Pilsner he called out, “Hans, charge those Frenchmen penetratating the line.”
At that same moment Major Kummel had signalled a general advance and the three remaining troops of light dragoons charged their French counterparts. Only one troop remained in reserve.
The attack had mixed results with the Frundsberg light dragoons victorious in the east and the French in the west. But the central troop and the Freihussaren were held with both themselves and the French rallying back. The victorious French troop also didn’t follow through but also rallied back to reform.
The French reinitiated the combat with the Frundsberg horse who counter charged back. This time the Freihussaren had the benefit of their better mounts and their momentum broke up the French chasseurs opposing them. The combat degenerated into a series of separate combats. Rhender Fhartz was in the thick of one and ducked just as a heavy sabre swept over his head. In response Render simply thumped his opponent with the back of his sword since he was badly positioned for anything else. He felt a satisfying blow and looked round to see a French officer tumbling off his horse. As the rest of the troop followed the fleeing Chasseurs, Render dismounted, flung the officer back over his horse and then returned to Major Von Wettin.
“Excellent work Hussar Fhartz” greeted his commander “a French Major no less, take him back to the Colonel with my complements”
At that same moment Major Kummel had signalled a general advance and the three remaining troops of light dragoons charged their French counterparts. Only one troop remained in reserve.
The attack had mixed results with the Frundsberg light dragoons victorious in the east and the French in the west. But the central troop and the Freihussaren were held with both themselves and the French rallying back. The victorious French troop also didn’t follow through but also rallied back to reform.
The French reinitiated the combat with the Frundsberg horse who counter charged back. This time the Freihussaren had the benefit of their better mounts and their momentum broke up the French chasseurs opposing them. The combat degenerated into a series of separate combats. Rhender Fhartz was in the thick of one and ducked just as a heavy sabre swept over his head. In response Render simply thumped his opponent with the back of his sword since he was badly positioned for anything else. He felt a satisfying blow and looked round to see a French officer tumbling off his horse. As the rest of the troop followed the fleeing Chasseurs, Render dismounted, flung the officer back over his horse and then returned to Major Von Wettin.
“Excellent work Hussar Fhartz” greeted his commander “a French Major no less, take him back to the Colonel with my complements”
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Cavalry Action at Towench (3)
The front squadrons of French Chasseurs advanced over the plain towards the Frundsberg cavalry. As they passed the village a sudden discharge of cannonballs from a couple of hidden guns ripped though the eastern most troop of Chasseurs causing them to falter. Major Absinthe called out his usual refrain “Heads up lads these are cannonballs not turds”
The Frundsbergers sat impassively as the Chasseurs continued towards them. They were obviously hoping that the artillery firing from Towench would even up the odds.
The Chasseurs hit by fire dropped back to reform, leaving three troops advancing, again they were hit by artillery fire on their eastern flanks.
Another troop paused to reform, but Absinthe demanded that the advance continues and personally joins the western most troop. Now in reach, the squadron charges toward the Frundsberg cavalry only to receive more artillery fire from more distant guns.
Only the troop led my the Major continued and was met by counter-charging Frundsbergers. However these were battle hardened cavalry and they smashed into the Frundsbergers and immediately routed them
Meanwhile the rest of the French cavalry awaited their commander’s decision on when the next wave would fall.
The Frundsbergers sat impassively as the Chasseurs continued towards them. They were obviously hoping that the artillery firing from Towench would even up the odds.
The Chasseurs hit by fire dropped back to reform, leaving three troops advancing, again they were hit by artillery fire on their eastern flanks.
Another troop paused to reform, but Absinthe demanded that the advance continues and personally joins the western most troop. Now in reach, the squadron charges toward the Frundsberg cavalry only to receive more artillery fire from more distant guns.
Only the troop led my the Major continued and was met by counter-charging Frundsbergers. However these were battle hardened cavalry and they smashed into the Frundsbergers and immediately routed them
Meanwhile the rest of the French cavalry awaited their commander’s decision on when the next wave would fall.
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Cavalry Action at Towench (2)
Friedrich looked out across the plain and the growing mass of French cavalry.
The wagons containing many of the valuables from Welle were only just at Towench and progressing along the road to Sonnenbad. Towench itself was occupied by the combined Fromel and Welle militia commanded by Major Liebnitz plus a half battery of horse artillery. About 500 paces to the north of Towench the road to Sonnenbad descended into a steep wooded valley and then rose up to the next plateau where the sole line battalion the other half battery and the Stockrad militia were drawn up.
The cavalry themselves were drawn up with the two squadrons of light dragoons in the front rank with the Freihussaren in the second acting as reserve. Major Kummel of the Light Dragoons had been quite sanguine about the situation. “We will lose quite a few men today, but we must ensure that we kill more Frenchmen so that they fear crossing swords with us when numbers are equal”
As much as Friedrich tried to raise the spirits of his men he had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.
The wagons containing many of the valuables from Welle were only just at Towench and progressing along the road to Sonnenbad. Towench itself was occupied by the combined Fromel and Welle militia commanded by Major Liebnitz plus a half battery of horse artillery. About 500 paces to the north of Towench the road to Sonnenbad descended into a steep wooded valley and then rose up to the next plateau where the sole line battalion the other half battery and the Stockrad militia were drawn up.
The cavalry themselves were drawn up with the two squadrons of light dragoons in the front rank with the Freihussaren in the second acting as reserve. Major Kummel of the Light Dragoons had been quite sanguine about the situation. “We will lose quite a few men today, but we must ensure that we kill more Frenchmen so that they fear crossing swords with us when numbers are equal”
As much as Friedrich tried to raise the spirits of his men he had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Friday, 2 April 2010
Cavalry Action at Towench (1)
As the Legere cleared the wood to either side of the main road Colonel Letort followed with his cavalry. He emerged onto an open plateau, excellent country for mounted combat. It was well drained and appeared to offer very good going. Although there were areas of rough ground to either flank the road to Pappenheim followed the open ground. To the east was the village of Towench on the Sonnenbad road and he could see the enemy withdrawing to the village covered by their cavalry, a meagre three squadrons. Within a short time he would have double that available.
The only problem was the lack of infantry to tackle the ground around Towench. What was Anjou up to? Their orders were quite clear and this was an ideal opportunity to strike a decisive blow at the enemy. Selecting an ADC he sent him back to Welle to summon all available reinforcements before nightfall.
In the first rank facing the Frundsberg cavalry are two chasseur squadrons under Major Absinthe, these are backed up by a squadron of hussars on the left and a squadron of dragoons in the centre. On the right is a hussar squadron left to observe Towench itself. At the rear are the heavy cavalry just arriving from Welle.
The only problem was the lack of infantry to tackle the ground around Towench. What was Anjou up to? Their orders were quite clear and this was an ideal opportunity to strike a decisive blow at the enemy. Selecting an ADC he sent him back to Welle to summon all available reinforcements before nightfall.
In the first rank facing the Frundsberg cavalry are two chasseur squadrons under Major Absinthe, these are backed up by a squadron of hussars on the left and a squadron of dragoons in the centre. On the right is a hussar squadron left to observe Towench itself. At the rear are the heavy cavalry just arriving from Welle.
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