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.

Bittburg Raises Militia Companies

Major Godfred Haus, Freihauble Regiment, Union Army

General Brendel ordered elements of the Union Army to report to Major Godfred Haus Commander of the Freihauble Regiment with a message authorizing the Major to raise 4 companies of militia.   The Major sent out word to his officers to begin drawing volunteers from the local towns and villages in the area.  The militia were ordered to elect from among themselves their officers and to report at once with whatever arms they may have to Major Haus in Freihauble.

"Major,
As you know our enemies have captured the town of Goetz, you must muster your regiment and save the town of Lintz.  You are all that stands between the enemy and the fall of Northwest Bittburg...."

The Grand Army of the Frei Stadt of Bittburg

Mustered and ready to march forth to defend the Frei Stadt is my General Brendel's Army of Bittburg.  The army is 3 points shy of the full 25 I want it to have to field against Saxe-Huack.  Not sure where I want to spend those points.  Probably 1 more regular infantry and 1 militia.

Army of Bittburg: Volunteer Militia Companies

Below are 4 companies of volunteer militia from the various villages and hamlets of Bittburg.  They are ready to serve when the Republic calls.

Army of Bittburg: 1st Republic Infantry Regiment

Comprising 2 battalions, one of 2 companies the other of 3.  Uniformed, drilled and disciplined troops to help preserve the Frei Stadt!

Army of Bittburg: 1st Republic Artillery

An artillery battery painted in the national color of blue.  One of the crew members is out of uniform.  Charges will undoubtedly be filed.

Army of Bittburg: General Albert Brendel

Brigadier General Albert Brendel and staff.

Here he is, in his new Union Army uniform astride his gray mount.

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.