Fröhliche Weihnachten!

From the Duke & Duchess of Saxe-Huack,

A warm wish for a merry Christmas to all!

His Majesty's Ship The Diekirch

Introducing the Fregatte Diekirch, our exploration and commerce ship newly purchased in Amsterdam by Baron Siebrecht von Stueben upon order from the Duke. The ship is named after the Saxe-Huack city of Diekirch. Aboard ship you can see young Lieutenant Wilhelm Rommel of the Grenadier Guards, his platoon will serve aboard ship during it's maiden voyage of discovery as security, since Saxe-Huack does not have marines, yet!

A host of scientists and students from the Royal Academy, merchants throughout Saxe-Huack, and a few officers of the Royal General Staff are due to set sail from Amsterdam towards Africa, to forge a colony for overseas trade.

Baron Siebrecht von Stueben, Royal Mission

Duke Augustus has given his commission to one of his close friends, Baron Siebrecht von Stueben, and has empowered him with authority and funds to travel to Amsterdam in order to purchase the crown a sea vessel of suitable situation as to be able to accomodate, scientists, explorers, and merchants on missions of trade and exploration.


The Duke, Baron von Stueben, and Major General Wilhelm von Bach, along with some scientists from the Royal Academy study a huge globe that is near the window in the Duke's library, and in almost perfect unison they all said "Africa."

The Pledge Update

I finished painting all the elements of infantry for the 1st BN, Huack Regiment, formerly known as the First Infantry Regiment, the HQ Company and A Company for the 2nd BN and the HQ Company and A Company of the Grenadier Guards. So the Pledge 2009 stands at 24, which for the year I've had, is a good bit of painting. All my elements as shown in my pictures are 3 15mm figures per 40mm base.

In other news, the Duchess and I will celebrate our first wedding anniversary the first weekend in December in the lovely victorian village of Eureka Springs AR.

New Room, Table & Troops

We have had to move to a new home back in August, and thus a new wargame room. Just finished my new smaller wargame table (4x4) the 4x6 is in the garage and will be setup after sorting out the things in there. The new table stands only 32" tall, so I can sit at it for painting. My old paint table is in my garage as well. Below you will see pictures of 3 elements of infantry for Saxe-Huack. 2 Grenadiers and 1 element from the 1st Infantry. As I had mentioned before I am switching over to 15mm for all mass battle games. Happy Thanksgiving to all who can accept, and a Happy Harvest to those whom cannot.

Note the white pipping on the backside of the grenadier officer's headgear.

1st & 2nd Bns, Huack Regiment Uniform Template

The Royal General Staff has issued the following template as the new uniform for the 1st & 2nd Battalions of the Huack Regiment of the 1st Brigade, Royal Army. Thanks again goes to Not by Appointment for their wonderful uniform templates. I have finished painting my first two stands of troops for my new 15mm armies.

In other news I have posted pics of my wargame room at my general wargames blog. See the pics here http://wargamer1972.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-wargame-room.html

The Royal Academy of Arts & Science - The Royal Military Academy

Using some of his newly acquired wealth from the conquered lands in Bittburg, Duke Augustus ordered the construction of the Royal Academy of Arts & Science in our capital city of Huack to serve the scholarly and scientific interests of our nation.

Furthermore the construction of a cadets barracks and seperate military science college has been established on campus and together will serve as the Royal Military Academy. Cadets will learn art and science at the Royal Academy as well as military science at the RMA.

Orders from Berlin...

Prince Albrecht von Lettow, Crown Prince of Saxe-Huack, has been ordered to Berlin to serve as Adjutant to His Royal Highness Prinz Heinrich, senior General of Infantry to His Majesty Frederick II, King of Prussia.

Promotion Ceremony

Fortenbras Palace is pleased to announce the promotion of Wilhelm von Bach, Chief of the Royal General Staff to the illustrious rank of Major General. A ceremony and grand ball shall be held tonight at Fortenbras Palace. All Royal officers not serving in the field are required to attend.

A Proclamation....

After the fall of Munchhausen, the second largest city in the Union of Bittburg; many towns and villages have been stricken with panic and fear in those besieged lands. A group of wealthy men from Bittburg made their way in secret to Rome. Shortly thereafter a letter from the Holy See arrives at Fortenbras Palace. The letter acknowledges that any lands gained by our Lord Augustus will be recognized as his rightful property and estate except for those lands immediately surrounding the city of Bittburg itself. The letter was sealed with the papal signet. Seizing upon this the Royal General Staff issued the following proclamation.

From His Royal Majesty, Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Huack, Margrave of Bittburg and Rightful Prince of Ostenburg.

In the Name of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. So be it.

To all who shall see these presents, greetings.

Article 1. Be it known that a state of war exists between the Duchy of Saxe-Huack and the Union of Bittburg. That a Holy Crusade is made to free the Bishop of Bittburg and restore him to his throne.

Article 2. There shall be no truce or parlay given with the Revolutionary Council of the Union of Bittburg nor those whom work the council's wicked will.

Article 3. Be it known that those Christian parishes and cities that desire peace and heretofore renounce any and all allegiance and ties with the Union of Bittburg and wish to surrender themselves to the mercy of His Majesty's Royal Court shall have their parish annexed within our realm, their crimes against God and our sovereign pardoned, a transitional Royal Citizenship granted and their private property guaranteed.

Article 4. Be it known that all those whom shall ignore this proclamation and refuse it's mercy shall be regarded as rogues and subject their lives, property and fortunes as forfeit.

//signed//
Augustus von Lettow
Duke of Saxe-Huack, Margrave of Bittburg, Rightful Prince of Ostenburg.

New Uniform Design

The Royal General Staff is in council with Fortenbras Palace on the design of new uniforms for the Royal Army as part of keeping our soldiers supplied with the best equipment in Europe. Also a new breeding program has been started at the Royal Army Stables to supply horses for our planned Cavalry Regiment. Plans are also in the works for the establishment of the Royal Military Academy with advisors from Berlin.

Ducal Map following the Battle of Munchhausen

After his victory Colonel von Vorbeck received the magistrates and city elders of Munchhausen at the Frog & Duck Tavern where the Colonel had set up his temporary headquarters while the Royal Army resupplied for it's continued march south to free the Bishop of Bittburg from his captors.

The city father's formally surrendered and knelt before the Colonel swearing fealty to the Duke and the Duchy of Saxe-Huack. Colonel von Vorbeck graciously accepted their petition and oath; then reassured them that His Grace, Duke Augustus had always looked with favor upon the city and it's most wise fathers.

So yet another land is added to the ducal estate. The map below shows the acquisition of the city and it's surrounding parish.

RECRUITS Con

Just returned from RECRUITS! It was a lot of fun, met a lot of nice people, played some games and bought more loot than I should have. Hope to go back this fall or next spring.

The Pledge

I have added a text gadget for The Pledge. This will allow quick tracking of the models I paint & purchase.

The Battle of Munchhausen

The militia forces of Bittburg were in such a frantic race to cut off Saxe-Huack's army that their forces arrived piece meal with no greater cohesion than what company officers could muster. Colonel von Vorbeck ordered his army to halt upon sighting the enemy just north of the town. Our forces arrayed with the Artillery Battery in the center with Colonel von Vorbeck's HQ company. The 1st Regiment on the left with the Grenadier Guards Bn on the right.

The enemy commander Colonel Hans Plotzngras was not on the field, apparently suffering from a bad case of toe gout and was reclining in comfort with his staff at the Frog & Duck tavern in Munchhausen. Bittburg's forces all halted by company and awaited the advance of our army. Colonel von Vorbeck had other ideas so he ordered his artillery to open fire on the farthest company in range. The shots rang loud and true as the enemy company suffered massive losses. This emboldened more e'lean officers to order their companies to advance and as they did so our artillery helped improve their rate of march by thinning out their numbers.

By the time 4 Bittburg companies had managed to form a line against our forces 3 more of their number had been destroyed. These 4 enemy commanders exchanged rifle fire with our line and were decimated. Thanks be to God for our losses were small, roughly a platoon sized mix of regulars and grenadiers.

Col. Plotzengras was found hiding under the tavern bar in Munchhausen and was arrested. Colonel von Vorbeck's men were greeted as liberators and enjoyed a welcome night's repose in the town.

My wife deployed the Bittburg's militia's and my 12 year old step-daughter commanded them. Although she took more joy in delaying her dice rolls and watching my facial expressions as she hid the dice from view than she did playing the game.

I changed my rules for this battle and used a SYW mod I wrote for AD&D Battlesystem, which I greatly enjoyed.

Royal Army Advances

In a surprise move Colonel von Vorbeck ordered the army to move directly south from Edsenburg towards the large town of Munchhausen, enemy forces had expected our army to move more easterly towards the capital of Bittburg, our scouts report that the Revolutionary Army of Bittburg is in a great race to cut off von Vorbeck's advance and that their forces are under a forced march with little time afforded to rest. There is a great plain just north of the town and it is expected that is where the impending battle will be fought at least that is the hope of the Revolutionary Council. They've ordered their field commanders to stop Vorbeck from taking Munchhausen at all costs.

A lot has happened since I last posted. I have a new bride, a new home and an awesome wargame room that I immediately dedicated as a Temple of Mars. I'll post pics of my wargame room once I find my digital camera on my general wargames blog.