The Grand Duchy of the Blau, Kriegspiel Scenario Part 2

From “My Travels on the Continent,” by Sir William Bryson

The Grand Duchy of the Blau is one of the Elector states, and boasts one of the most inbred and mad Royal houses on the continent.  The Grand Duke has been confined to a remote schloss, in reality an “Asylum” under the care of Dr Sigmund Freund.  The Duchy is ruled by the Prince Regent, who has exiled his brothers, only to see them repeatedly seek foreign aid to invade the Duchy.  The High council of the Blau is called the High Vank, and comprises the nobility and important Officials of the realm.  The Council sits every three months.

Important Citizens of the Blau inclued the world famous Wolfgang Elton Amadeus, who often plays the harpsichord to entertain the Nobility.  Court life centres around the Regent’s Palace in Altmark, nicknamed “das rathaus,” where the Dowager Baroness seduces young Cavalry Officers. 

Sausage is the most important  national dish of the Blau, with the Royal Sausage as the ultimate in cuisine.

The Blau military is organised on Prussian lines, with the Prince Regent as Commander in Chief, and various nobles in command positions.  As such these inbred and peculiar Royal Gentlemen are rarely fit for command, and generally speaking "cock it up" all too often.

The fattest member of the Blau nobility is of course the Baron Pumphosen, an epicure who has been known to halt a campaign in the interests of finding a new sausage or pie.  His military skills have frequently been questioned, however his patriotism is such that he is seen as “loyal,” which recommends him to the High Vank.  Pumphosen has a terrible home life, with a new Baroness (and two ugly step daughters) causing him to neglect his only child, Cinderella Pumphosen, the true heir to the Pumpen-Schloss.

06.20

Your reconnaissance parties are underway: the Hussars passing beyond Golberger Feld and the Uhlans moving SW to Nennweiler Station.

You arrived at the head of the advance guard column to find an obviously inebriated Captain Phillips and a somewhat dishevelled smuggler's daughter. Naturally you demanded to see the offending melons, whereupon Captain Phillips exclaimed 'I say, ding dong!', before falling off his horse. With much cajoling and waving of the Pumpenschtick you eventually succeeded in getting the column moving again.

You are currently on the northern outskirts of Neu Goldberg, where the rear of the jager battalion is entering the town.

Your main body is waiting on the road SW of Neu Golberg and the artillery and baggage are still encamped on the heights around Villa Schonblick.

Phillips to be sent back to the rearguard to sober up.  I will deal with him tonight.

I shall steer my mare Esmerelda back to the Bridge leading the Jagers of the Advanced Guard and see them across.  I will leave my ADC at the Bridge and take myself up into Alt Goldberg to overlook the Goldberg Feld to the South and satisfy myself that I haven’t got Flatulenz coming on.

My intention is then to return to the Bridge to supervise. 

The Baron

The View South

Clear

I will send word back to Major Fahrtgasse to bring the main body on as ordered.  I will ride Esmerelda up to join my cavalry patrols on Pt136 (is it called “Aus dem Kipning?” On the Kipnings?  that would make these two hills the Kipnings.  Anyway I`m off up to the left nipple to see if I can spot any stiffening of the red further south.

Ahem...

Pumphosen

0630

Pickets are ordered South onto Die Wiesse Burg and Der Rothe Burg summits

My compliments to Oberst Von Trotha

His advanced Guard are to occupy the heights of Die Wiesse Berg (the white Mountain.)

The Jager will occupy the Rothe Burg overlooking Nennweiler to their West, Cavalry patrols to lead the way, and inspect Nennwieler.

I will return to my main body to bring it forward.  As ordered V regiment will march straight down the Nennwieler road following the Advanced guard.

I will divert the VI Regiment to take the Under construction railway line, taking the road west before the woods south of Alt Goldburg. (Shades of Mannassas Junction and 1st Bull Run here)  They will be following the cavalry Squadron already on this road.

I will also swap mounts with Farhrtgasse to rest Esmerelda.

1.  The Advance Guard Cavalry to occupy Der Wiesse Berg.  patrols forward into Nennweiler.

   The Ulhans who have fallen back onto the crossroads are ordered to advance on the road towards Sunderhof and then turn south towards Altstedten.

2.  The Jager battalion push forward across the stream into Nennwieler

3. Main Body

V regiment to continue to march south on the Nennweiler road as ordered.

VI regiment to turn onto the under construction railway line and march SW towards Station Nennwieler

Artillery should be following VI regiment

My intention will be to deploy VI to the right or West of the railway line and advance to clear Station Nennwieler.

My compliments to Colonel Von Trotha

Two squadrons to attack the Red cavalry on the Rothe Burg.  Charge them and see them off.

V regiment deploy into line  and advance onto Die Wiesse Burg

Jager to deploy in line between Die Wiesse Berg and the stream to the west.  They will be supported by my cavalry on De Wiese Burg.

For now I will remain with the cavalry on Die Weisse Burg

I will also ride around waving the Pumpenschtick.  If he sees me here he may not expect VI regiment to be on the other road.

Orders for VI regiment

The enemy are in Station Nennweiler to your SW.  Deploy into line on sighting them and outflank the position to the West.  Two battalions forward in line, one behind.

Orders for my Uhlans

The Enemy are at Station Nennwieler.

Progress south and work around to the rear of their position.

I don`t think I`ve ever seen cavalry holding the centre of a position before.  This may be all he has.  Still, his guns may be coming up from the rear.

Glory or a tomb in Altburg Abbey.

 

1.        Message to the Uhlan Squadron at Neu Sellhiem:  Redeem yourselves.  Forward to protect the right flank of IV regiment from Enemy Cavalry.

2.       The Hussars on the Wiesse Burg to charge the enemy Cavalry and drive them off to the Westward.  Pursue them beyond and behind the Nennwieler position.  The Baron Pumphosen will be charging with you.  Forward the Pumpenschtick.  Glory or a tomb in Altburg Abbey.

3.       Hussar squadron on Der Rothe Burg support the charge of the Hussars.  Your Baron will be leading them. (I`ve lost track of which of these squadrons are the Uhlans.) 

4.       Jager to support this charge and sent skirmishers down to the stream.  Pick off any Red Cavalry Officers.

5.       Uhlans on Der Rothe Burg.  Pursue the Red Dragoons just defeated.  Drive them as far south as Gross Hagen.

6.       Two leading Battalions of V Regiment.  Advance to the summit of Der Wiesse Burg.  Red has occupied Nennwieler, and the Chateau, but we will leave him there for now.  You will act as a Blocking Force.

7.       Remaining battalion of V regiment, once you cross the stream behind the Weisse Burg deploy in line and move South Westward towards Station Nennweiler.  If charged by Cavalry give them a volley to your front.

8    VI regiment, deploy into line and advance to flank Station Nennwieler to the West. Two battalions forward, one in support.

9.       To my personal Imperial Chef with the baggage.  Some Royal Blue Sausage tonight Herr Ramschtick, and plenty of that veal and port sauce.  I will finish off with a bottle of the red Neuberg 79 and a big slice of Apricot pie.

I place myself at the head of the Hussars, Pumpenschtick aloft shout, “Come on you Heroes of the Blau, let’s have these red Hundehaufen,” *  and ride at the enemy with some enthusiasm for working up an appetite.

*Turns out that the lads love a bit of swearing from the Baron.

 7.50

Unpacking your breakfast hamper you settle down to enjoy a quality Blue Sausage. You are soon joined by your ‘missing’ cavalry squadron who report that Altstedten is clear of enemy forces.

Your jager continue to harass the red infantry but they have now been joined by the 3rd battalion Vth regt. who are attacking Station Nennweiler.

 8.00
As you watch the progress of your jager and wipe the breakfast crumbs from your uniform (seems your aide packed an apricot tart after all) you see 3 squadrons of Red cavalry appearing on your flank on Alstedten hill.

What do you do?

What! I have to abandon breakfast?  And my morning Kaffé, interrupted?  I lay down my spoons and take up my family heirloom, the Pumpenschtick (the Fat Baron always uses two spoons at breakfast, simultaneously, in his trademark lightning shovel technique.)

I will direct the skirmishers on my left to move quickly into the rough ground to their front (looks like bushes to me) to threaten the enemy cavalry flanks, put skirmish fire into the enemy Cavalry from that position.

Following this my Cavalry will charge by squadrons around the rough ground, two Hussars followed by the third Hussar and the Uhlans.  At least I have rested these boys a little, as well as having had some breakfast.

In my champion Yodelling voice I order the charge westward, pointing the Pumpenschtick at my enemy, and calling them “Hundenhaufen”
It’s glory or that tomb in Altmark Abbey again.
 

It's all over bar the shouting. In the centre the Blue jager have been pushed back down the hill with heavy losses. Red 2nd battalion, no longer under threat from cavalry deployed back into line and sent out it's own skirmishers, this plus a hail of canister from the Red battery was too much for the Jager. On the flank the Red cavalry have been routed by their Blue counterparts; outnumbered and in awe of the Fat Baron leading the charge with a Pumpenschtick, it was only a matter of time really. The Red Jager in Station Nennweiler atttempted to contest the wood lining the road but were repulsed by Blue skirmishers.
As the Blue VIth regiment, in columns, with artillery support, close in on the Red left flank the latter are pretty much in an untenable position.
More importantly this may mean that the Blue Sausage is saved - surely a good thing!