The Treaty of Neu-Leuchtenberg

The defeated von Presser had met with Princeps Erhard Berthold at the fortress of Neu-Leuchtenberg to sign the peace treaty; a messenger with switched horses was sent to Rückelburg and another to General Hohenspitz with news of the armistice and following negotiations.

The Princeps reasoned, and Erik von Südflosse agreed, that they must not be heavy-handed about the conditions of the treaty, but they must set clear borders:

The Union will renounce all claims of the Störkburg Valley and consider it mandatory to rest its frontier on the Grühne. Any action by local nobility and outlaws against Principality settlements will be met with force on the Flossian side.

The Union, when called for, will provide materials for any Böhnstadter war effort up to a sum of 50,000 Thalers.

Karrotenbad and the neighboring region, up to the border, will be demilitarized.

In return, the Principality will march out of Union territory and will respect the Union's sovereignty over the territories described above.

The Principality, above the possible future 50,000 Thalers, will not ask for any further toll.

These terms were most generous in von Presser's eyes as well, so he signed the treaty with dignity, and the knowledge that, when the time will come, he will be more prepared for a fight instead of sending fresh recruits to the frontlines. But where could he gain a well-trained army? His thoughts were wandering again.

Armistice

On the northeast, the broken army of Elector von Presser left the field routing. The Elector chose to visit Princeps Erhard Berthold under a white flag and begin discussing the terms of surrender.

Bishop Michheim did not risk taking a second foothold on the left bank of the Flosse so he burned the second bridge down, united with the other, intact half of his brigade and marched back to reinforce Rückelburg, waiting for news on von Presser's enterprise.

Saving Rückelburg

Von Hohenspitz, winning under Skreptsdorf, came within five days' march of the Flossian capital. Bishop Michheim sent a messenger to Rückelburg in order to mobilize the garrison under Elector Könstrelle. Rallying all the available troops west of the River Flosse, he managed to procure nine conscript battalions - a sad sight indeed. Furthermore, another six companies were saved by him after the defeat. These were from a variety of units, a rag-tag band and their battlefield experiences did not help the bishop at all. Neither did the fact that there were not any eligible commanders to aid him in planning the defense of Rückelburg.

The city garrison consisted of a Grenzer and a Pioneer battalion. They also had a provisional dragoon squadron and a militia unit. Luckily enough, the training bands of the artillery regiment had five large bore cannon that would prove useful. Elector Könstrelle decided to mount the militia on horses to have at least a little cavalry. About a hundred men were somehow able to ride a horse. 

Michheim devised a plan. He intended to hold the Schlachthoff and Schwarzburg bridges for a while, then burn them down retreating. Would any of the two bridgeheads be attacked, in two or three hours' march the other could send aid, burning down their own. This wins them two or three more days, and in that time more reinforcements could flow in or, what's even more desirable, von Presser could overcome the other Böhnstadter army and at least enforce a stalemate with Hohenspitz.

The Battle of Skreptsdorf

On the following morning, Elector Michheim devised his battle plan.

His centre consisted of the large body of foot he had at his disposal. These were very low quality troops. 

The centre of the forward line was the large Losenburg battalion, behind it the similarly large Militia battalion that had no firearms. To their right stood one ragged Landwehr unit of two companies and the guns in the second line; West of these again two Landwehr units. The rest was equally distributed on the left centre. 

On the far left flank stood one Dragoon unit, on the right, below the walls, two.

Von Hohenspitz conducted a reconnaisance mission earlier with a Freelancer troop and decided to form a standard battle line, the 1st Prinzipalitär's five battalions in the first and the 2nd's three and the Eugen Jäger in the second. Two large amassed bodies of horse were sent on the flanks, the regulars (one unit of Leibdragoner and Annelise Cuirassiers on both flanks, plus the Garde on the left) were supported by the light Freelancers further outwards. The general wished to hold the two ends of the Flossian line in a pincer then deliver the fatal blow with his superior infantry.

The battle began with the cannon opening fire on each other. The Flossian guns' shot fell short and landed between the 1st Regiment's ranks. The first Böhnstadter battery returned fire towards the enemy cannon while the 2nd battered the first enemy line in the centre.

A little while later the Böhnstadter cavalry moved out and confronted the Flossian dragoons. The right flank gave way quickly but the left held out. Nonetheless, the two main lines became unbalanced. The Böhnstadter main attack swung to the right from its left end and rolled the Flossian defense up. At the first signs of disorder the green Union troops ran away, and in an hour the Landwehr brigade had been totally dispersed. Elector Michheim escaped, carried off by a fleeing dragoon company. Most of the troops ran away too as von Hohenspitz did not pursue. The bishop's delayment tactics seemed to work for a while, but now the Flossian hinterlands are in danger...

While a lot of men were wounded on the Böhnstadter side, most of those were minor and losses were thus minimal. The 1st regiment's Grenadier companies suffered a great deal.

Avoidance

Elector Michheim, after a successful screen by the Liliensbad dragoons, decided he would not stand battle against the enemy twice his numbers. He marched towards Skreptsdorf to the north, alerting the nearby militia battalion and the fort of Losenburg, which held 8 companies. All this force then reached Skreptsdorf in a tiresome forced march by midnight, barely escaping von Hohenspitz's avant-garde.

The bishop, with the crew of Skreptsdorf, now had four more battalions, making his army up to fourteen against Hohenspitz's 21. His men were tired: he extended the earthworks around Skreptsdorf Keep as much as he could, drew up the five small guns he took from the forts, and prepared to stand his ground.

Von Hohenspitz followed in a steady place, trying not to exhaust his men.

The defenders of Grübsheim left the fort, joining with Elector von Presser in the town of Rammsfeld, when the Böhnstadter brigade descended from the southern hills.

Neckersburg, fielding only three companies of irregulars, surrendered to Dietrich von Spülge.

With a daring move, von Hohenspitz marches against the strengthened Landwehr in Liliensbad. The truth is that his supply lines are growing too long and he still does not wish to plunder the Flossian populace. A chance is present to beat the main Flossian force and coerce the Union to a treaty.

The Princeps evades the Grühne fort of Geistwold and marches inside the Böhnstadter borders of the left bank of the river. Elector von Presser is still two days' march from Grübsheim while the Principality may strike at it the next day. The Flossian brigade is moving very slowly, but they have met the messenger sent from Grübsheim. The Elector sent him back to inform the defenders that, when threatened by the Böhnstadter, they should retreat westwards and join forces with him.

Dietrich von Spülge decided to take the third fort in the Karrotenbad area while waiting for reinforcements. Neckersburg is defended by a battalion of border guards so it would be an easy job to capture.

The Military of Schultze-Böhnstadt 2.: Standards and Guidons

These will be used with the 6mm figures and may be resized later.

Princeps Erhard Berthold musters his forming brigade after the capture of the two forts.

Escape

The Grühne river flew softly in the night near the prisoners' camp near Willecheny, north of the village of Spülge. A company of militia watched over the captured Klaußstadt Brigade's men. The Flossian officers were offered separate quarters, and only Major Schilswig refused; he had been, against the advice of Elector Strutzenheim, conspiring to break out of the camp. Most of his own regiment - or what had remained of them - would follow him without doubt; however, he needed more than them to make his plan work.

Von Strutzenheim's wound healed well, so Schilswig visited him again in a fresh attempt to convince him of a breakout. - 'We are in no state to do that, Major', the elector said, 'and we have no horses and no weapons. An officer's sword is hardly enough for three hundred men.'

'We could subdue the guards; we could take our arms back; avoid that cursed von Spülge and get home through the river', the Major insisted.

'Do whatever you want, I will not stop you; but I will not help you either. This conversation is over.'

It was near midnight when most of the camp, crawling like a centipede, became awake. Silent shades crept upon the Böhnstadter sentries. However, they were cavalrymen and not jäger; a corporal stepped upon a dry branch and the Böhnstadter were alert. 'To arms! To arms!', shouted Major Schilswig, hoping to break through by sheer force. Muzzle flashes crashed through the darkness as a well-organized provisional platoon drew up in a shallow line at the end of the camp. 

The clash was confusing. Men were running up and down inside the camp, and most of the guards seemed totally lost after the first five minutes. 'Follow me, sir!', a sergeant from his own regiment yelled into Schilswig's ear. They staggered past a troop of Böhnstadter pinned in hand-to-hand combat by club-wielding cavalrymen, then happened upon the riverbank sooner than the Major expected. 'We must swim or they'll notice us', the sergeant said. 'Any good swimmers that can lead the way?' - and soon they disappeared into the night. Forty dragoons made it to the Flossian bank, and with a huge circle around the Böhnstadter camp started on their way to Grübsheim.

Campaign Diary, 3-4 April

The small fort of Spürsburg yielded to von Hohenspitz without a fight. Its defenders, four companies of militia were sent back towards Störkburg, a troop of Freelancers escorting them.

Süderwaldhoffen, the fortress where Bishop Michheim stopped his brigade, produced two battalions that joined the brigade in an attempt to fill its ranks after the losses at Strutzenheim. The bishop decided that the 1st Landwehr battalion will be merged to the other five, bringing up their numbers to 120 and leaving one battalion with 83 men. Although he is a commander limited in abilities, he recognized that even with these six and a half battalions he could not stand against Hohenspitz, and neither could he wage asymmetrical warfare due to his troops being untrained. He could gather the forces of nearby forts and also plead to a neighboring militia battalion to boost his power but this would take a few days and in that time von Hohenspitz would continue wreaking havoc in the countryside. Although the old general was civil with the populace so far, Michheim feared too much this would end. He had sent another messenger to the capital, even overestimating the Böhnstadter strength a little bit. Another party was sent to the closest fortifications to help him out with cannon and troops. This was, on the other hand, Elector Strutzenheim's territory, so he could not recruit new units for the brigade.

Elector von Presser gathered his household troops and mustered them. He had three under-manned battalions of jäger, three regular fusilier battalions, and two dragoon squadrons led by his nephew. However, he had no idea where to intervene, now that the news of the loss of Strutzenheim reached the capital.

(At this point, the Flossian high command has no idea that the Princeps himself is partaking in the war as the crew of the two forts are all taken prisoner.)

Lady Ingetora reached the Varangian border and has been greeted by a screen of reiters that took over her escort from the Böhnstadter dragoons. She was aiming for the capital without stopping.

The Sieges of Völgstserne and Vierlingspitze

Erik von Südflosse and the Princeps, with their small army, first arrived at the town of Völgstserne, which was defended by four infantry companies. The fortress was very old school and was furthermore protected by two howitzers. It had two gates, one on the northwest and one on the south.
These fortresses, on both sides of the frontier, usually serve as sentry posts and shelters for border guard or light cavalry units, thus they more often are in a bad state than not, not prepared to withstand any kind of siege where the enemy musters a force larger than two battalions.

The outflanking maneuver of the four companies.

The Princeps, with his mostly inexperienced regiment of foot, drew a line that ran from the southwest to the southeast diagonally to the walls. Then the three battalions each thinned their ranks, procuring three independent companies, which, together with the dismounted dragoon troop, were sent to the northern gate to force it open under the smoke of the two artillery pieces that began their work on the southern entrance. 

As the battering began, the Flossian companies were drawn around the southern gate, expecting the attack from there; leaving the northern one without defense. The four companies attacking it found little difficulty in their task. As soon as the southern gate let loose (it didn't take much effort) the attack has been launched from both ends. A shot from a loaded howitzer killed seven of the dragoons, while the battalion attacking from the south lost fifty men (most of them wounded) to enemy musket fire and the shot from the other howitzer. The defenders, however, soon yielded. The Princeps and the Karrotenbad regiment captured a howitzer and a five-pounder gun (the second howitzer being spiked by the Flossians), which was mounted on the second howitzer's carriage. It looked odd, but did the job.

Vierlingspitze, the target of the next day was a more freshly built point of the Flossian border defense, but it had been neglected by a series of commanders that ended up in the position due to incompetence or lack of prowess. It had also been defended by four companies, of which one was a Jäger and one a training company without firearms. These were stationed in the outer palisades, while the two regular companies sheltered inside the stone fort with two howitzers. 

The companies that formed the attack group yesterday were set up in a formation resembling a crescent moon to hug the walls. They unleashed the full force of their musket fire on the palisades. As casualties began mounting, the two companies asked the commander to enter the stone fort, which he denied. 'You will fight for the last man', he added. But the jäger and the greens did not want to sacrifice their lives so they yielded. A company of foot then destroyed the gate on the palisade, and a howitzer was dragged in. The prisoners of war showed the Princeps a small elevation that allowed the cannon to shoot inside the fortress.

The defences of Vierlingspitze, the north-western palisade being partly broken down.

The howitzer's crew first took out the ordnance inside the keep, then the three cannon bombarded it for an hour. The space inside was very narrow so the two infantry companies lost thirty-odd men. The few civilians that were tasked with keeping the palisade and the walls in shape pleaded to the commander to yield, which he denied; but he said he allowed them to surrender themselves. The dozen people left the keep and did so.

Two more hours and the inside of the keep was full with the wounded and the dead. After multiple threats and pleadings from the Böhnstadter side, the captain still did not wish to surrender. To save the Flossians inside, finally the Princeps approached the walls and challenged the commander to a duel of first blood; if he wins, the commander surrenders, in the other case, he leaves the fortress under surveillance, but in Flossian hands.
The commander agreed and they have chosen a small clearing in the woods to the north. The Princeps was an average but experienced fencer; the Flossian captain has always been a footman and a third son of the Baron of Sliegelstadt, so he had little knowledge on the art of blades. Nonetheless he fought with bravery, losing only by an inch of his steel to a quick riposte by Erhard Berthold. When he learned his opponent's name, he stood in astonishment: 'But your Highness, I could have killed you and ended the war in an instant.' 'I said to him the same; he did not listen', Erik von Südflosse muttered, reprimanding his master for taking so much risk over saving the lives of a few dozen rank and file.

Happenings on the Map

Prince Erhard Berthold left the capital with Erik von Südflosse and a company of reserve Garde du Corps (the rest is campaigning with von Hohenspitz). They reached Karrotenbad in two days as the Princeps decided to cut the route towards Spülge on the nearer side of the Grühne river and capture the two closer forts with whatever troops are available to him. They raised eight ad hoc companies in Gleutring and Karrotenbad and took a ninth from the fort's defenses, along with a pair of small bore cannon. This totals a strong enough infantry force, along with two screens of Karrotenbad dragoons and the guard cuirassiers to accomplish the task.

Dietrich von Spülge estimated that, with the rain coming up from the south (the same that soaked von Hohenspitz's greatcoat under Mecklenheim), it will take about three more days until the ordnance from the nearby forts reaches him and he can launch the attack on the Flossians occupying Grübsheim.

The ragged Flossian Landwehr brigade marched north on a narrow road in the woods, hoping to either cut von Hohenspitz's march on the capital or shelter themselves in a nearby fort and cause enough delayment in the Böhnstadter general's plan that reinforcements could reach them.

Von Hohenspitz decided to march west instead of north or north-east and capture Spürsburg first, with the cavalry setting up a perimeter so an attack by the underestimated provisional brigade would not suprise them.

The Flossian recruitment troops are marching out to build up fresh units, especially cavalry as their cavalry brigade was lost at the second battle of Spülge.

Strutzenheim's Onslaught

 As there still are technical difficulties with Cossacks, your humble scribe will describe the battle that happened at the town of Strutzenheim by using the map of the area.
 Strutzenheim lies at a crossroads - the main Störkburger road runs east-west, and the northern road joins in at the town centre. There is a small mill and a church bar some dwellings of the locals, and the town hall at the crossroads. 

April Fools Day

'Ah, motherland', sighed Dietrich von Spülge, looking out to his family estate near the river. He was more than contended with himself: he had beaten the Flossians out of the town and was close to retake Grübsheim and, essentially, end the war while the old Hohenspitz got bogged down in the south.

'Any news of the 1st Brigade?', he asked his aide, but the man just shook his head. 'No, sir, and none from the Princeps.' 'All right. The staff meeting is due this afternoon, Franz, so please look after the dinner. You may find quality red wine in the cellar, had the scoundrels not sacked it.' 'As far as I know, sir, the Flossians respected the civil authority here and did not loot the houses.' 'At least that is what they say now that they are captured. How are their wounded, by the way?' 'The officers are fine, the rank and file not so much. We haven't got enough surgeons.' ''Tis true, my man. Well, send a second errand to the forts nearby and ask for help.' 

As von Spülge told this, the aide knew the Brigade won't be moving for quite a while. On the staff meeting, von Spülge will tell his officers that he wishes to wait: wait for the Flossians to reinforce and rebuild the walls of Grübsheim. 

Erik von Südflosse knocked on the door of the Princeps' main office room. 'Come in!' coughed the head of the state, then sipped some tea from his large mug. 'Blasted hay-fever. What are your intentions, Chancellor?'

'Your Highness. I have, by the reports of my... informators, come to the conclusion that General von Spülge will not be as effective on the North as is expected. Misunderstand me not, he is a great warrior, it seems, but not suitable for leading a brigade.'

'What led you to this conclusion?'

'After beating the Flossians out of his estate, he did not pursue nor march to retake our lost fief of Grübsheim. Grübsheim is strategically important, as it forms the bridgehead on the Grühne.'

'So he did win after all, but how are your subordinates so quick to tell you all this?'

'I have my means and so do you, Your Highness.'

'You wish to suggest something.'

'You know me too well, my Princeps. I propose either the relief of von Spülge as brigade commander or the setting up of a third brigade and joining forces with him.'

'Who would be eligible to lead a brigade?'

'We cannot take commanders from the 1st, Your Highness. Neither can we appoint the old Colonel Spilsske from the 2nd brigade, for he is only a Lieutenant Colonel, although highly trained and experienced. Colonel von Paulitz had died in the charge of his Hussars, so we have Oberst von Kahlen as a sole hope within the Brigade.'

'This implies you have thought of outsiders as well.'

'I have thought of you, Your Highness. It would certainly boost morale and the necessary actions shall be made under your direct control. While you take the lead, you can appoint von Spülge to raise a third brigade and judge him fit when he is done without doing his honor any major harm.'

'It will be so, then. Prepare a pair of my best horses and a dozen of my Guard for the journey.'

'As you wish, Your Highness. Leave the matters of the state for me while you are away.'

'Do you wish to come?'

'I judge myself more fit to fumble with documents and numbers.'

'And spies who are faster than wind. I'll need you there, prepare a horse for yourself too. We'll be done with this war in a month, for this is the most serious threat to the state at present.'

'As you command, my Princeps.'

'No! There will be no cavalry charge against the village!', cried General von Hohenspitz, facing two of his cavalry commanders, Colonels Schalwerden and von Petzger. 'This is a pitched battle, and so we will do everything by the book: may the foe be proven a fool on April Fools Day or not. They have known we would be here for a day; they knew which direction were we coming from; and I will not risk a single branch, especially not in favor of the others. What would the Jäger and the pioneers think? These are but odd jobs for the Brigade, judging by the report of your men, Petzger. So let each and every arm try its strength and believe itself useful for the sake of us all. Understood?'
'Sir', nodded the two cavalrymen. The General gave them the order of the battle.

Bishop Michheim was still considering his options. He could disengage and retreat to any of the three forts nearby. Going to Grübsburg on the North would be a risky move as von Hohenspitz could reach his marching armies. He could take a stand then retreat to Waldhoffen in the nearby woods.
The closest fortifications of Strutzenheim had only nine companies of infantry for defense. The Bishop was not sure to dare leave them to their fate.
'Orders, sir?', the commander of the 1st Landwehr regiment asked him. 'We take battle, but be very cautious and don't push too far. We're only here to delay them.'

Thus it dawned on the battle of Strutzenheim.

Dance of Giants

When we left the scene, the Flossians lost the second battle of Spülge at the East and von Hohenspitz captured the small border fortress of Mecklenheim. The few escapees of the Flossian cavalry brigade retreated towards Grübsheim, sending a messenger home. 

Why is this errand important? As the Flossian brigades are beaten and Grübsheim is in no state to be defended for a long time, the road to the capital is open for Dietrich von Spülge, with the hinterlands hastily gathering reinforcements for the fight. With a forced march von Spülge could reach Rückelburg in a week and lay siege to it, as the Flossian brigades cannot muster enough force now to relieve it in time. 

The left-over of the Union army in the East expects the errand to make the road to the capital or find patrols in three days, from whence the mobilization of what is available could take two more, and by the beginning of next week, in a forced march, they would be able to get to Grübsheim and strengthen it or cut von Spülge's way, resting flanks on some smaller fort in between.

Lazily joining up with the Freelancers, von Hohenspitz prepares the assault on Bishop Michheim's militia. The Flossian elector is still hesitating to stand battle or retreat.

Where to Now?

-At Mecklenheim, inside Flossian territory -

The Schultzdorf Brigade seemed to have rested enough after the siege of Mecklenheim. The roads, however, turned to a sea of mud after the rain, and this essentially cut off their way with the Freelancers posting as vanguard and Bishop Miccheim's Landwehr Brigade opposing them. 

Von Hohenspitz was seen walking around camp, glaring at the horizon deep in his thoughts. He could send a messenger to Colonel von Petzger with orders to mount an attack on the Flossian troops, harass them then retreat - just as they did at the beginning of the conflict. He wanted to wait with the weekly payment of the troops as well - the Freelancers would see doing this 'behind their back' as an insult and they are not men of a high morale and organization. Instead, the General decided to sack Mecklenheim's storages. The soldiers found some good bread and beer - that's enough for a while.

No news came from the hinterlands either. He did not know how well Dietrich von Spülge progressed, and this made him wary. If von Spülge is defeated - he was still insecure about his abilities as an army commander - there is nothing between the major Flossian force and the border; furthermore, the capital itself. An insurrection must be called and the Princeps Erhard Berthold must ride out himself to face the Union. Without his Garde du Corps, von Hohenspitz added.

First things first, though: a good sunny day would make the roads easier to use. Defeating the Landwehr would be a key to winning the actual campaign. And he will send someone back to Störkburg the next day, inquiring about any news of the North. 

-Beneath Spülge-

The 2nd Dreichholm Brigade was licking its wounds. Dietrich von Spülge knew a hard day was behind them, and the fragments of the Flossian brigade of foot at Grübsheim would make not a huge threat seeing how well the brigade - despite being smaller and not nearly as well prepared as the 1st - did against the enemy cavalry. 

'What are your orders, Sir?', asked his aide. Von Spülge remained silent, then said: 'Send errands to the nearby fortresses. Gather all the artillery they can, and bring all of it to me. Send their crews too. In three days we march on Grübsheim.'

-Somewhere in the Böhnstadter countryside-

Lady Ingetora Orstsdottir hated coaches. This one, taking her northwards to Varangia seemed to feel the same about her: it was shaking and giving unbearable noises as it travelled along the old country road. 'By the time we reach Gluteborg, the war will be won', said the ambassador to herself. 'I'll buy a horse at the next inn, it will make things faster.'

2nd Battle of Spülge

The good Dietrich von Spülge and his Dreichholm Brigade crossed the Grühne River the day before, and now they were mounting a full attack on the positions of the Flossian 5th Klaußstadt Cavalry Brigade. They knew little of the enemy besides the stories of the soldiers who managed to escape through the bridge when the Flossians attacked the town, so von Spülge decided the matter should be handled with care.

It's Raining Under Mecklenheim

Despite the ultimatum, the main gates of the little fortress Mecklenheim were still open on the morning which General von Hohenspitz decided to be best fit for the attack.

The garrison consisted of two fusilier battalions and three militia battalions; these latter had two companies only. The companies were separated and stationed around the outer perimeter guarded by wooden walls. The two regular battalions were divided to 10x24-men groups.

Von Hohenspitz woke up to his old bones aching. "Tis the damn rain!', he cried out. The aide-du-camp waiting outside his tent brought his greatcoat while the other one, with a lower rank, looked after his horse. He's usually been in a good mood so far, seeing how fast his campaign progresses, but the foul weather made him grumpy - and that was something his enemies wouldn't like on a battlefield. He has quickly written some orders and passed it down to the ADCs, then mounted his horse and rode off. The Brigade was already in marching order which the General accepted with a quick nod towards the group of regimental commanders. 

'I have exactly one day to finish this, so I do hope your troops did everything to keep their powder dry', he said, reaching them. The commanders greeted him properly, but it seemed they were as much affected by the spring rain as was their general. 'You received your orders? Good. Then let us begin.'

Ultimatum

At the Flossian border between Mecklenheim and Rotsdorf

The Freelancers sent forward intercepted the Landwehr Brigade stationed near the town of Strutzenheim. They rode back on the main road to Mecklenheim, then sent a company through the woods to the Brigade and von Hohenspitz to let them know about the possible threat. 

The General was pondering if he could just rush on Mecklenheim without a warning or let them know the war is official. Finally he decided to send orders back to the Freelance Companies with another courier: in which they were ordered to block the road between Strutzenheim and Mecklenheim as they were, but bring word of ultimatum under a white flag to the Flossian force stationed westwards. 

The next day, von Hohenspitz would take Mecklenheim, a first battle in a long row for the Principality. He decided to pay the soldiers before battle, increasing morale further more.

At the Grühne Bridge north of Spülge

Dietrich von Spülge's mind, perhaps inspired by the fear of loss of his estate, produced a brilliant idea. He knew too well that the crossing army would be bottlenecked by the Flossian cavalry occupying the left shore of the river, so he ordered his pioneers to destroy the bridge and marched along the shore to the other bridge between Flögesholm and Willecheny. The work would make the Flossians believe it still was a full force stationed at the Spülge bridge, however, it would still take a full day to blow that one up, and the choice of crossing, being narrower, to let the whole brigade pass. This also gave the advantage to von Spülge to march on the enemy in battle order. 

Arrivals and departments

The messenger reached the Störkburg brigade in the morning. Von Hohenspitz read the Princeps' letter, then questioned the Lieutenant handling it to him. Without any explanation, he gave the marching order. 'Either tell them what's coming and make them upset, or don't tell them and make them upset', he muttered. 'At least I can spare myself some riding.' Von Hohenspitz was known to be lazy at the beginning of long marches. This would mean bad for the soldiers' feet ... and the Flossians.
The brigade departed at noon and marched until late evening where they bivouacked themselves and had something to eat. A messenger was sent forward to inform the Freelancers they were free to go. Before midnight, the companies rode into the woods to cross the border west of the Flossian fortifications blocking the entrance of the valley.

Dietrich von Spülge and the 2nd Brigade met each other the same day and preparations began to cross the Grühne bridge on the next.

Lady Ingetora left Böhnstadt towards the north, hoping to reach the Court of Varangia in two weeks.