Footnotes and technicalities

1. I will need a more reliable way to administer unit strengths than hitting up older blog posts. By that, I mean an extensive excel table with unit strength, location, losses, commanders.

2. I will need to work out more crisp campaign rules regarding spendings and movement.

3. I should instate a campaign diary to keep track of dates and movements.

These are from experiences with running another tabletop campaign for a few sessions now, and while it increases the weight of 'bureaucracy' it makes it easier to track things.

I have changed hardware in the meantime and this beast runs on Win7. This, somehow, messes up all the screenshots I make, so until I find an alternative, I won't be able to publish the results on the battle of Strutzenheim.

I have placed my first order of Minden figures, Prussian staff on foot and a von Seydlitz figure who will be the venerable General Hohenspitz. The bulk will come in later.

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.

The Military of Schultze-Böhnstadt, Part I

Starting with the oldest regiments of the House of Jazygia, we present the uniforms and brief history of the military of Schultze-Böhnstadt.

 The 1st (Leib) Regiment of Foot was created during the Varangian wars, when the first regular regiments of the Principality were raised. It fought in almost every battle during that war, and although reduced to a fragment of its former strenght at the Pyrrhic victory at Schwalbersfeld, it prevailed and thus it is the oldest regiment in the Principality.

Military Orders reworked

 The Golden Order of the Principality, awarded to officers and men of note for exceptional gallantry and considerable achievements.

The Golden Star Order of the House of Jazygia, awarded to noblemen and members of other Houses for their service towards the Principality and her cause.

Dead end (?)

Haven't updated since May.

The main blog takes a lot of time (sad excuse), studies even more (sadder). Now what is going to happen is I'll still write the history of Schultze-Böhnstadt, partly using Cossacks, but also using miniatures. It hasn't been a long thought-out project or anything, just a spark of imagination we all used to have.

I'll build armies in 15mm using Essex figures and 28mm using Minden's SYW range. Both are quality products. I've got a lot of Ospreys to back me up, but honestly I've already read some and they weren't among the best - perhaps I've got all the wrong books as I believe there is more on the topic. So this is a time to research. Figured I love researching anyway. I have a membership in the Museum of Military History's Library in Budapest which I ought to renew soon anyway. The university's library has a lot of material but I believe it's still scarce.

In October, if my Deluge/TYW project and buying a new laptop allows, I'll start with the Minden figures, until then I plan a few batreps here. Stay tuned.

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.