The first act of war

In the fog of dawn, the 5th Klaußstadt Cavalry Brigade, which left the town of Geistwold during the last, starless night, gathered and took up formations at the outskirts of Spülge, on the left (western) bank of the River Grühne, and at first sunlight the first squadrons descended on the town.

Rolled 1d10 to see how many miltia battalions are quartered in Spülge = resulted in 4. 
Rolled 1d20 for commander's Training, -1 Militia Officer, = resulted in 18-1, Seasoned.

Von Strutzenheim and the two heavy cavalry regiments arrived from the northern road leading to Geistwold. His plan was relatively simple, but he hoped the spies' informations were correct and there was an ignorable force stationed in Spülge. 'It will be an easy ride, my fellows', he said, then continued on to explain the plan.

The light cavalry regiments, the III. Carabiniers and the IV. Hussars will circle round the town and attack from the southern road as a first wave.

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If the reconnaisance was not correct and it would require more force, or the first wave would fail, the II. Leib Dragoons who connect the heavy cavalry on the left and the light cavalry on the right flanks, would dismount and launch an attack on foot against Spülge. In case the second wave would still not succeed, it would come to the heavy troops to form a column and launch a massed attack down the road that leads near the river. 

Inside the town there were four militia battalions. Two consisted of three companies each, while the other two had two companies only, ten companies altogether. They were led by the veteran officer Herbert Schmidt. Schmidt knew the town was basically defenseless, but as a good soldier he decided to have at least one attempt to defend it. Spülge is a key town on the north-western border of the Principality and the was eager to put up a fight. 

The light cavalry made a mistake and made themselves visible too soon before starting their attack. Schmidt had the militia battalions lined up at the southern side of the town in a relatively open space near the parading grounds of the old barracks. The two companies on the right flank formed square while the centre had been set up in two firing lines.

The officer tried to convince the inhabitants to leave through the bridge on the Grühne before the battle starts, but most of them picked up their muskets and joined the militia in defending their homes. Schmidt told them to watch the northern road.

The remaining two companies took shelter in the cemetery near the church. The priest joined them too.

Still early in the morning, the Flossian hussars lost patience and rushed the Böhnstadter lines. They received two hasty volleys before cracking into the militia.

The battalion in the cemetery had been broken and slaughtered.

After a bloody melee the hussars lost most of their crew and retreated. There wasn't a single man who did not bear any wounds.

Herbert Schmidt was found dead between the first line of troops. His second-in-command decided not to let the Flossians decimate more of the militia and made it for the bridge with the remaining three intact companies.

The companies crossed the brigde and marched further into the swamp north of the river.

A few, however, remained, along with the volunteers. 'Let our sons have their fun!', exclaimed von Strutzenheim and launched the Garde du Corps with full force.

After slaughtering the remaining few, brave soldiers, the cavalry brigade took Spülge and spent the next night quartered in the empty homes of the townsfolk. Later that day, the declaration of war has been dropped on the table of Princeps Erhard Berthold. He was in rage, and just reached the limit when he heard the news of losing Spülge. 'Don't say a word to General Dietrich', he warned the messenger. He was afraid the general would make a bad decision when hearing the loss of his hometown.

A very uneven fight this was, which just means von Presser chose the right place to fight the first battle of this campaign. But what will the head of the Principality and von Hohenspitz do?

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Aftermath

Union forces
270 dead/wounded, rolled 1d270 for casualties = resulted in 41 deceased

Böhnstadt forces
280 dead/wounded, rolled 1d280 for casualties = resulted in 265 deceased, 15 captured