At Tantozi ... the next move ...

Von Hazant was pleased to see the column of troops coming up the road from Topdan, at last General Waldebeck and the main body of the army had arrived. Von Hazant rode out to greet the General ...

 After receiving a brief account of the days action, General Waldebeck called a staff meeting, spreading a map out on some barrels from the nearby Inn...

"The Begovians have taken the road by the river to Darkur, well gentlemen we will have to do our best to catch up with them.  I think they are heading for Minsonda, it is halfway from here to Darkur - the bridge there was washed out last winter, but if the river is low enough they could wade across where the old ford was".
 After a discussion they agreed on a course of action. Von Hazant's brigade with Count Boritzy's Uhlans and Hoflers Pandours would follow the route taken by the Begovians; while the rest of the army would go back down the road towards Topdan and turn east through the hills to Minsonda.

Tantozi ... the battle..

The Begovians drew up their army for the attack on Tantozi ....

 The attack commences, cavalry charge the infantry in the centre and infantry move in to the flanks ....the front Wittenberg infantry regiment fires a ragged ineffective volley but stands and holds the cavalry charge

 The Wittenberg jagers repulse one attack but then another wave charges in, the front infantry regiment is still holding the cavalry, and the men defending the churchyard come under attack ....

 meanwhile part of the Begovian rearguard approaches Tantozi, as they take up a position to protect the rear of the army - their commander searches out Osram Pasha...

 the commander of the rearguard reports to Osram Pasha - the main Wittenberg army is about half a days march behind them ....

 The first wave of cavalry attacking the Wittenberg infantry has broken off to re-group, the second wave of cavalry moves in - the defending infantry still hold their ground ....

 The Wittenberg jagers are pushed back .....

 the Land Militia in the churchyard lose ground too ...

 as the second wave of Begovian cavalry break off to re-group, von Hazant orders up the second fresh infantry regiment, meanwhile the jagers and Land militia have pushed back the Begovian attacks

 the infantry regiment halts and fires a withering volley at the Begovian cavalry who break up and fall back ...

their attack having faltered, the Begovians fall back ....

 The attempt to take Tantozi having failed and to avoid being caught at Tantozi between the defenders and the main body of the Wittenberg army Osram Pasha orders the Begovian army to withdraw, covered by a screen of cavalry on their flank ....

The Begovians have disengaged and are taking the back road south-west to Darkur .. a narrow route with forested hills on one side and river on the other - but they can turn and fight rearguard actions on a narrow front if needed...

Van Hazant's troops have fought well and are left holding the bridge - he has no cavalry and can't risk following the Begovians - he sends a courier to find General Waldebeck and let him know the route the Begovians are taking.....

The Begovians reach Tantozi ...

A couple of men somewhat familiar with explosives try to figure out the best place to put the powder and fuse on the river bridge…

Having received no word yet from General Waldebeck, Von Hazant checked the deployment of his troops; afterwards he thought he saw something in the distance - friendly troops perhaps.  After checking with his spy-glass, he could see they were not - it was the Begovians...

The Begovians come in sight of Tantozi..

Osram Pasha, dismayed by the presence of Wittenberg troops blocking his way - issues orders to deploy for battle ...

at Tantozi ....

Von Hazant's brigade, joined by some land militia and a detachment of jagers reached Tantozi without sighting the Begovians.  The troops were deployed to block the road into the town. Von Hazant took station in the churchyard with the land militia, the two infantry regiments were placed in the centre and the jagers on the other flank.

on the way to Tantozi....

back to the Begovian war ....

After the Wittenberg forces scattered the Begovian army at Sarfala, most of their cavalry and some of the infantry took to pillaging the opposition's camp and baggage. General Waldebeck checked his maps and decided to attempt to block the nearest route across the border with Begovia. Von Hazant's brigade had arrived after the battle and was ordered to march to Tantozi to hold the river crossing.  Once the rest of his troops were back under control he would follow up the Begovian army ...

 General Waldebeck gives his orders to Von Hazant

---oXo---

    The Begovians had fallen back towards Topdan, the remnants of some infantry units rallying to their standards.  The Begovians still had some cavalry in a good state and two of the best infantry units were intact.  Osram Pasha short on supplies decided to return to Begovian territory by the shortest route he could find; he discounted the Darkur river bridge to the east as he would have to force a passage past a fort and come under fire from the batteries defending the burgh town; his only option was to go north-east to Tantozi ...

Osram Pasha leads his army towards Tantozi....

40mm Sculpt & Cast - sorting out and finishing off..

 After finishing the hussar I've been working on my 40mm sculpts. I revisited the mounted figures - Dragoon, Kuirassier and generic mounted Officer. A couple of fixes needed.

the Uhlan's coat and face has been reworked

Musketeer Variant, Musketeer Original,  New Fusilier and New Grenadier (easier to cast as figures - had problems with separate heads)

4 new sculpts replace ones I wasn't satisfied with 

-  Officer, drummer, standard bearer, NCO (pole arm to be added)

At sometime all of these will go into moulds (better finish other projects first :) )

The King inspects the River Marines at Vanderhof ....

While a river marine patrol boat plies the waters of the river Oudear south of Vanderhof ...

King Leopold is on the outskirts of Vanderhof reviewing the river marine regiment..

Due to the potential threat from Begovian raiders coming up the river Oudear, the regiment has been brought up to full complement of 4 musketeer companies and a grenadier company, issued with new uniforms and new standards. After completing his inspection of the river marines and the defences round Vanderhof, he will be checking the progress of the building of the new river galleys.