The 3rd Bittburg-Saxe-Huack War Begins

Emboldened by his new veteran army and desiring to see a return of Bittburg lands captured by Saxe-Huack, Albert Brendel, General and Lord Protector of Bittburg invades southern Saxe-Huack with the aim of taking back the towns of Lentz & Freihauble both of which had been lost to Saxe-Huack just months prior to the outbreak of the SYW. General Brendel knew his army would be outnumbered but he would depend upon his armies experience and his leadership to win the day.

General Brendel and the core of the Protectorate Army.

Colonel Kleist and the Munchhausen Brigade.

Saxe-Huack Line Regiment with a Jaeger Bn and an attached Captain.

The Grenadier Guards Regiment with a Jaeger Bn and their own attached Captain.

Protectorate Cavalry with attached Captain.

Lord General Brendels Protectorate Army of Bittburg.

The Royal Munchhausen Brigade of Saxe-Huack.

Both sides deploy for battle.

Colonel Kleist despite having the initiative thanks to an early warning does not initially advance but decides to get the "ball" rolling with a cannon shot from the Royal Artillery Battery on the center hill. The shot decimated the lowly Bittburg militia in the woods. General Brendel held the Protectorate Army back waiting to see the first moves of his opponent.

Colonel Kleist orders a general advance and feeling most splendid decided to leave the baggage camp on its own. This was too much of an inviting target for the young Bittburg Hussar Captain so he moves his regiment on the extreme right flank at breakneck speed to capture the enemy baggage.

The Guard Captain pushes his regiment force marching them across the field as the regiment stoically faces cannon and mustket fire from the Bittburg lines.

The 2 main Saxe-Huack regiments advance but Colonel Kleist orders a battalion of Muskets to turn back and attack the advancing cavalry threat in their rear. This would prove too late.

The brave Bittburg militia open fire up on the Line regiment dispersing two units of jaegers.

The hardened Bittburg line of SYW veterans disperse a unit of Saxe-Huack jaegers.

Cannon fire inflicts more casualties on the poor jaeger battalion. But they served their purpose.

One unit of muskets attempts to target the fast moving cavalry but to no avail.

The Line Regiment opens fire and pours out death to a militia company.

The dreaded Saxe-Huack cannon rains more lead on the hapless militia unit on the left. This would prove too much for them as the survivors turned and ran from the field.

 

The Bittburg Protectorate Guard opens up a volley at the Grenadier Guards.

The lines engage as the 2 units protecting the Bittburg artillery leave it and advance to flank the enemy.

The last Jaeger unit boldly charges the last Bittburg Militia unit and chases them from the field.

The Grenadier Guard pushes back the Bittburg center line.

 

The Bittburg Hussars capture the baggage camp killing most of those within it.

The Line Regiment attempts to rush to the aid of the Grenadier Guards while the lone Line Musket Battalion led now by Colonel Kleist engages the Bittburg Hussars.

General Brendel sees an opportunity and jumps into the melee leading the Bittburg Guard in a ferocious assault on the Grenadier Guards.

The Bittburg Line Regiment takes heart and fights back savagely, the heretofore undefeated Grenadier Guard regiment is in trouble.

The Bittburg Hussars smash their enemy, Colonel Kleist is caught up in the fray.

In the melee Colonel Kleist was killed his head cut clean off by a sharp Hussar sword.

Having seen the Guard suffer great loss and now losing their commander, the Munchhausen Brigade leaves the field in defeat. The first military loss for Saxe-Huack.

Lord General Brendel arrived as a conquering hero to the people of Lentz and Freihauble personally going to the town square of each to hoist the Bittburg colors. Lord General Brendel is making a reputation for Caesar like force.

At Fortenbras Palace the Duke and the Royal General Staff learn of the defeat of their largest brigade and the unfortunate death of its commander with no small measure of bewilderment. However Marshal Prince Albrecht is quick to react and promotes Manfred Paulus to Colonel and gives him command of the newly formed, at least on paper if not in reality, Southern Brigade. Colonel Paulus is to round up the survivors of Colonel Kleists brigade and augment them with fresh troops and troops from other Royal Army units. Upon reaching full brigade strength he is ordered to march south and destroy the enemy.

I was as surprised as some of you may be as to the outcome of this battle. My new wargame rules are coming along nicely. No headaches from tedious small math done over and over. Clear mechanics and gameplay though things were a bit slow at first as this was my first BIG playtest.

Also I am so happy that I took the time to rebase my two forces. I love the look and the fact that it allows me more complete forces to field.  I have more troops coming for both sides, in fact after posting this I am going to go scrub them down to remove the old paint from them.

Rebased Both Imaginary Armies for New Wargame Rules.

I have finished rebasing my fictional armies for the new wargame rules I am developing based on my Brigadier General wargame. Unit base sizes are 1" square with the DSH baggage camp on an 1.5" square base. All these bases are pre-made wood pieces bought at Hobby Lobby in small bags. Each bag comes with 135 pieces for $2.99 retail but you can always slap their 40% coupon on that. As you can see the Bittburg Army is smaller but has enough to field a good game. I am in the process of cleaning up some old models to add to them. The models on the round bases are officers with the larger base holding the general and the smaller bases holding captains. The square bases with a single foot model are skirmishers. Units in my new game are thus far Army General, Captains, Muskets, Guard, Cavalry, Artillery, Militia, Baggage and Skirmishers. Nothing fancy and very abstract.

Army of Bittburg.

Royal Army of Saxe-Huack.

Old Enemies Die Hard...

With the Treaty of Hubertusburg signed those forces of Saxe-Huack and Bittburg involved in the Seven Years War returned home. The result on the homefront from the war for both these countries was pretty much the maintenance of the status quo. The only noticeable changes are that both states now have militaries with hardened veterans and that General Albert Brendel has become the de-facto ruler of Bittburg placed into power by his army with critical acclaim from the populace. The Bittburg Revolutionary Council had little choice than to declare him "Lord Protector of the Union of Bittburg." His first act was to dissolve the hated Revolutionary Council. The Lord Protector prefers his own advisors.

General Brendel proclaimed Lord Protector.

In Saxe-Huack there was some loss at the top with Generals von Bach and von Vorbeck being killed in the war along with Colonel von Brach formerly of the Grenadier Guards. Upon the armies return to home Duke Augustus makes his son Crown Prince Albrecht, the new rank of Marshal of Saxe-Huack and the new commander-in-chief of the Royal Army and Royal Navy as well as the head of the Royal General Staff. Duke Augustus has made all matters military the Princes responsibility. The first act of Marshal Prince Albrecht was to reestablish the Leib Grenadier Guards to protect the Royal Family and Fortenbras Palace.

I have my 15mm forces for both sides rebased from their former DBx basing to new 1" square bases based upon my new homegrown rules. The command elements for both sides have been shrunk and placed on skirmish size round bases as they can move about to enhance or rally their army.

Saxe-Huack now has 3 full regiments of infantry. 1st Huack Regiment (line troops) the Grenadier Guards and the Jaeger Regiment.  Cavalry models are in the process of being prepped for painting. I will post pictures of the forces once I've completed flocking their new bases. I believe these changes as well as the fictional changes will allow the grittier campaign feel I've been longing.

Colonel Kleist Captures the Town of Freihauble.

Colonel Franz von Kleist, Baron of Lentz

With his regiment in disarray following the battle of Lentz Major Haus rallied what troops he could and moved them south to join with the main army of the Freistadt.  This left Freihauble an open town.  The first Saxe-Huack elements to arrive were the Royal Grenadier Guards, whom found no resistance aside from hateful and fearful glares.  Colonel Kleist setup his HQ at the local tavern the Agile Rabbit.

Upon hearing the news of the Munchhausen Brigade's victory in Lentz and their continued advance in Northwest Bittburg, Duke Augustus discussed plans with his council to raise Colonel Kleist as Franz von Kleist, Baron of Lentz.  This is of course would be dependent upon the Royal Army's completion of a successful campaign and the secure addition of the Lentz territory to the Ducal Estate.

Further Colonel Kleist recorded in his letters to General Vorbeck that the conduct of the Grenadier Guards under Captain Werner Brach was excellent and courageous.  General Vorbeck passed this on to the Royal General Staff at Fortenbras Palace resulting in Captain Brach's name on the list for future regimental commanders.

Battle for Lentz

The day after capturing the village of Goetz the Royal Munchhausen Brigade set out on march towards the town of Lentz.  Upon entering the outskirts of town they were met by Major Haus's Freihauble Regiment supported by four companies of local militia.  The two sides deployed their forces as shown in the artist rendering below.

Initial deployment with the town of Lentz directly behind the Freihauble Regiment of the Union Army.

Major Haus advanced his cavalry and militia towards the wooded areas to secure them from enemy use ordering their officers to await there to ambush the royalist forces as they advance between the woods.  However the elite Royal Grenadier Guards of the Munchhausen Brigade were already entering the wood.  Colonel Kliest advances the brigade with the jaegers leading in front.  The far left jaegar company suffered a hit from the union artillery battery.  However the Royal Artillery Battery puts paid to a company of militia.

The royalist forces advance while the union line holds firm allowing the cavalry and militia to capture their objectives.

The Guards and the union cavalry fight it out in the bad going, with the Guards quickly overcoming their enemy.

During the advance both artillery batteries lob shells at the other sides forces.

Union infantry fire on the Guards only emboldening their resolve to bring the fight to the enemy.

The militia companies break out of the woods charging and shooting wildy at the jaegars whom with cold nerve turn to face their enemy.  Meanwhile the Grenadier Guards advance closer to the enemy line.  The Union Artillery Battery suffers great hits from the Royal Artillery and abandon the field.

Guards and union infantry enter melee, while another company of union infantry advance to flank the Royal Jaegars while they are fighting the militia.  Colonel Kliest directs his brigade from the center of the field, boldy staying atop mount despite the whizzing musket fire.

Close up of the militia and jaegars in combat while Colonel Kliest directs the battle.

Close up of the Royal Infantry shooting at the Union Infantry while the Grenadier Guards fight a desperate contest on the flank.

Final straw, the Royal Infantry hails lead down on the Union side destroying the resolve of  the enemy forcing them to abandon Lentz to Royal mercy.

Close up of Colonel Kliest and his staff.

Close up of the Royal Infantry firing upon the Union line.

Final disposition of troops as the enemy begins to break.  Major Haus  unable to rally his men orders a general retreat back to their barracks at Freihauble and dispatches an urgent message to General Brendel and the Union Assembly.

The unit's in the painting above distinguished themselves and the Royal Army in battle and have earned battle honors.

Orders Arrive at the Munchhausen Garrison

To Colonel Franz Kliest, 

Franz muster your brigade and ready your soldiers for deployment into the territory of the Free State of Bittburg.  Proceed from Munchhausen Garrison in 3 days, moving southwest.  Your brigade has been assigned to capture the towns of Goetz, Lentz, and Freihauble.  Upon completion of your operations you will setup camp in Freihauble and await my further orders.  I expect regular updates for each stage of your operation.  Forage what you can from the land and towns.  This will probably be a long and bloody campaign.  We do not expect to receive a friendly welcome from most of the southern folk so beware and use discernment when dealing with the populace.  I expect completion of your operations in 10 days.  I have already dispatched Captain Werner Brach with two companies of Guards to your brigade under your command.  They should arrive by mid-day tomorrow.

Romulus Paul von Vorbeck
Brigadier General
Royal Army

Grave Insult...

While travelling through Bittburg on his way to visit family in Bavaria, Captain Johann Baden, Royal Army was set upon by three dirty looking beggars of the Bittburg Militia.  They threatened the Captain at gunpoint, robbed him of his coin and horse, cut off his right ear and forced him to return to Saxe-Huack which took him several days without food or shelter.  Captain Baden, being a veteran of the Royal Army soldiered on and made it to the Royal Army Post in Munchhausen, where he is recovering from his ordeal.

Word has reached the Duke at Fortenbras Palace.  "An attack upon the Duke's officers is the same as an attack on the Duke himself." the Crown Prince was quoted as saying to the ministers and officers present.  It was agreed that unless the three militia bandits were turned over to suffer the Duke's justice then the Royal Army would march upon Bittburg once more, this time not stopping until the Ducal Standard was hoisted from the National Assembly.

Dispatches were quickly sent to Berlin, Munich and Bittburg.  In Bittburg the Prime Minister, his cabinet and General Brendel convened an emergency meeting.  The Prime Minister's cabinet urged that the 3 militia men should be caught and handed over.  General Brendel bristled at this and chastised them saying "If we are to betray our own soldiers then we all deserve neither liberty nor life." and he threatened to resign and return to the East India Company.  After private discussions with the Prime Minister and then the cabinet, the order was given for General Brendel to prepare the army for invasion.

After receiving word from Bittburg that they regrettably could not comply the Duke turned to his staff to prepare for the coming conflict.  After much discussion the Duke turned to Colonel Vorbeck, naming him Brigadier General and said "General Vorbeck, seek out and destroy the enemy."  General Vorbeck nodded, snapped to attention, and proceeded to leave the palace to carry out the Duke's wishes.

In Bittburg, General Brendel issued an order for the arrest of the three scoundrels that brought war upon their fledgling state yet again.  After they were caught, he had them summarily executed by firing squad.

I have almost finished the Bittburg Army and hope to have it field ready by Christmas.

Deep in the Duchy....

Deep in the duchy, in the village of Braums which lies in the Barony of Diekrich 5 miles southwest of the City of Diekirch a frightening event has occurred.  A local carpenter, Andulin Stromsietz, was out hunting boar alone in the Black Forest.  The day was growing dim as sunset was fast approaching.  Andulin decided to return home before dark and as he made his way through the wood on his return trip, he began to hear the snap of twigs and leaves not to far behind him.  He quickly lowered his musket and spun around and it's a good thing too.  For about 10 yards behind him he claimed stood a great wolf.  The largest wolf he had ever seen or heard of.  It's red eyes locked on his, but as a veteran of military service to the Duke; Andulin did not give in to fear.  This seemed to give the great wolf pause.  Andulin slowly raised his musket, took steady aim for those red eyes as he squeezed the trigger.  BOOM, the shot rang loud through the forest scaring birds to flight.  But after the smoke of the shot disappeared the wolf was gone.  Andulin quickly slung his musket and pulled out his sword.  His eyes strained searching for the beast but to no avail.  Andulin made due haste in returning to the village where he rang the market bell and called out the villagers to tell them of what he had seen.  Surely this is the villain behind the recent herd killings that have been plaguing the Barony.  Below is an artist sketch of Andulin and the Great Wolf of Braums.

Andulin Stromsietz encounters the Great Wolf of Braums in the Black Forest deep in the Barony of Diekirch.

I've painted up the first 4 models for my 18th Century horror side campaign set in the Duchy of Saxe-Huack.  Three Dire Wolves and a 1 peasant hunter so far.  More to come in the coming months.

Three Great Wolves, as named by the folk of Diekirch, left to right: One Eye, Lucifer and Stripe.