Accident at Heidelheim (?)

While tidying up my modelling desk I found the uncompleted breach section of my fort hiding at the back of the desk, so I thought I better finish it off ...

The citizens of HeidelHeim in Upper Belgavia were woken early in the morning by a thunderous noise - a gunpowder store in the fortifications had exploded. The store was built into the main wall. Patrols on the walls have been doubled and the garrison put on alert.


The garrison commander and the officer of engineers inspect the damage and see how the engineers are progressing with repairs.

The explosion is suspicious. It is rumoured that the remains of the perpetrator were found, a tattered black cloak and a rather burnt pair of boots containing his feet.

New Standards for the Wittenberg Army

King Leoplod IV has decreed that each of the cavalry and infantry regiments is to receive new standards. So the designers and flag makers have been busy, samples have been provided and approved by the King.

Sample watercolours provided by the designers, at the top a cavalry guidon, below infantry leib and regimental colours.

The King has requested them to be made ready for presentation to the regiments at the review of the Boldovian army corps, which is to be held once the remaining infantry regiment has completed its muster.

Flags are based on those of Saxony, I felt since the uniforms of my Wittenberg army was based on Saxony it ought to have flags of a similar origin.

1740 - The 2nd Battle of Verlendt (3rd Belgravian Wars) ...

further extracts from the History of Wittenberg by Brother James of Alt-Wittendorf ...

Scenario

The Monvrovians ...

On his return from Schnotwitz, Count Pottensdorf met with the Monrovian commander General Stricknein at Ottenheim. The potential arrival of extra troops to re-inforce the Wittenberg forces under General Waldebeck was of great concern to General Stricknein. After heated debate they agreed the following plan.

1. Count Pottensdorf would defend the fieldworks at the Wortvod Gap, with the Saxe-Jarlsberg
Regiment, Hesse-Limburger Regiment and Munkasse Fusiliers.

2. General Stricknein would take all of the Monrovian troops and his newly arrived re-inforcements (which included some heavy cavalry) and move to take Hausdorff (via Verlendt and Schnotwitz).

---oXo---

The Wittenbergers ....

The landslip that had blocked the road through the hills to Hausdorf from the north was now
clear, thanks to the strenuous efforts of the engineers and a whole battalion of infantry. The
advance guard of the Boldovian corps had moved through and was being followed by the rest of the army corps with the King and his guards. The advance guard reached Hausdorf and the Wittenland Fusiliers moved onto Schnotwitz to re-inforce General Waldebeck.

General Waldebeck received orders to advance from Schnotwitz and take Verlendt to secure the
route forward for the army.

Battle Report

Verlendt, it's inhabitants unaware of the troops converging on their small town ..

The advance guard of the Monrovian army approaches from the east of the town, avoiding the obvious route along the road ..

The Wittenberg troops arrive and take different routes to the town; the militia to the north, jagers through the woods and the fusiliers round the woods towards the road into the town.

Both sides arrive at Velendt, the militia hold the north of the town, with jagers from each side moving forward....

The militia repell an impetuous charge from the Monrovians infantry with a thunderous volley ...

While the militia hold the north of the town the jagers from both sides start to occupy the town, to the south the opposing infantry regiments form line to give fire ....

A long and portacted melee starts in the town as the Wittenberg jagers try to force Monrovian jagers from the town ...

To the north of the town the Monrovians have rallied and advanced to exchange vollies with militia....

The disclipined fire of the regular Monrovian infantry is too much for the militia who turn tail and run .....

The militia rally and try and hold back the Monrovian advance. Meanwhile in the town the Wittenberg jagers have fallen back to re-group and lick their wounds after losing the battle for the houses - they have one company left in the town....

General Waldebeck receives a report from a Uhlan scout that the main body of the Monrovian army is about 2 hours march away down the road to Verlendt. The general knowing that he cannot hold against such odds orders a withdrawal back to Schnotwitz. The Wittenland forces start their withdrawal leaving the Monrovians in control of the town ...

Xmas Greetings

A Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to all ,

from the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Wittenberg

----0X0----

My last post before Xmas. Not much time to get any painting done over the Xmas period, but I have some time off work afterwards so I can indulge myself. I've also got to post another battle report from the 3rd Belgravian wars, still sorting out the piccies for this.

Have a great Xmas and best wishes for the New Year.

-- Allan

Wittenberg - Mysterious Documents (2)

King Leopold IV and Count Hermann of Munster are taking a stroll in the palace gardens and discussing a few things including the documents recently found ...

King: Where is the best place to station them ?
Count: I think we should station the river marines and their gun boats at a number of places along the river Oudear, Gugenstadt would be a prime candidate; I'll identify some more places and we'll finalise the details later.
King: Any progress with those documents we looked at last week ?
Count: Brother James has confirmed the symbol on the first page is that of a Pheonix arising from the fire and identified it as being used by the Sect of the Phoenix; Brother Anselm is assisting him looking through the abbey library for more information about this group.
King: Have we decoded the text yet ?
Count: Cantor and his friends from the Royal Society have made an initial analysis of them - from the structure of the documents the first page is a some sort of introductory notice and each subsequent page a seperate item. The problem is to find the language they were written in before being passed thorugh the cipher; they are still working on this.
King: Count tell me more about the incident with the Lama which is causing much talk here at the court.
Count: Well, hmmm that is still under investigation. It would seem that ....

[backdrop: Gardens at Audley End , Suffolk]

Duchy of Fenwick continues recruitment

A draft of troops surplus to the requirements of the Bishopric of Uber Gruntshuffen arrived in the Duchy of Fenwick to join their army. Along with them came Reitter Karl von Ottenberg who had served with the dragoons and hoped that he might find adventure and advancement in the Duchy of Fenwick's army.

Reitter Karl was lucky, he submitted his credentials and was interviewed by the officer recruitment board which included the Duke himself. After a long discussion the board informed him that he would command either a regiment of infantry or dragoons in the Wittenberg Legion, his orders were to proceed to the muster camp, initially take charge of the artillery and await further orders.

Here we can see the Reitter mounted on his favourite horse (on the right of the picture) supervising an artillery drill.

Wittenberg - Mysterious Documents found

Brother James arrived at the palace. He wondered why the King wanted to see him, he thought to himself perhaps there is a glass or sherry going ? After passing the guards and going through the main doors he entered the main hall and was greeted by Donutz the king's butler.

Donutz said - You are Expected Brother James, please follow me. The King is in the library. They passed through the long gallery ....

The butler walked quite fast and Brother James had difficulty keeping up with him, he was a little out of breath as he arrived at the library ...

King Leopold: Donutz, pour Brother James a sherry.

Donutz : Yes majesty

King Leopold : Welcome Brother James; nice of you to come and see us; Count Hermann and I have some documents we would like you to look at.

Count Hermann: A gentleman was found shot dead in a carriage on the road out of Wittenberg yesterday, the local authorities found some documents which were sent to me as they were rather unusual, would you take a look at them ?

Bother James: Yes of course (after taking a swig of sherry)

King Leopold : The first document is strange; the emblem at the top of the page looks like an eagle in a nest, followed by some nonsense text - after that there are more pages all in the same vein. For example under the eagle its says ...

Nothrat gingle swipdich ob dergy swaonlge damp netrts flaff bongle quabnoch ...

Count Hermann: I think its all in code, but I have no idea how to go about deciphering it - I've tried all the obvious ciphers.

Brother James: Ah .. hmmm. Yes. .. I think I have seen the emblem before. It is not an eagle in a nest but a Phoenix arising from a fire. Most interesting; your are right Count Hermann it is in code; the layout of the text reminds me of the works of John Dee.

King Leopold: can you decipher it ?

Brother James: On no your majesty - it is obviously quite a complex cipher. I think Cantor and his mathemetician colleagues of the Royal Society may be able to help.

King Leopold: Count Hermann arrange for the Royal Society to examine the documents, however do it here just in case they contain any sensitive information.

Count Hermann: Yes your majesty

King Leopold: Brother James would you like to stay for dinner ?

Brother James: Yes please you majesty ..

All three left the libary, Brother James finishing off his sherry before he left ...

[Note: the backdrops are from a book on Titanias Palace - a large dollhouse]

Wittenberg - The Militia have Mustered

His Majesty's Loyal Belgravian Legion has mustered and is now in the process of firing a few practice rounds.


A closeup of the firing line ...


doesn't look like effective volley fire is in progress - they'll need more practice !

[25/28mm figs: bulk of unit is Front Rank from their SYW and AWI ranges; battalion gun crew plus a few militiamen are from Redoubt FIW range]