More pictures from the Battle of Schwarzstepan

Initial positions

Melchestrian line

di Cigno's command

von Wehrwolf's Pappenheimers

Melchester-Katerheim Advance

Fording the stream

Melchestrian line stalls

The Reichsarmee waits patiently

The Cavalry lines prepare

First clash of the cavalry

Weight of numbers begins to tell

Katerheim infantry push to take the Reichsarmee cavalry in the flank

Half of the Melchestrian cavalry down

Melchestrian line advances once more

Pappenheimers chase down the Royal Dal Riadan Horse

Caught and driven from the field

Thanks to Grant for the extra pics and to Chris & Grant for the game.

Battle of Schwarzstepan

To their Imperial Majesties

It is with great pleasure that I can inform you of the overwhelming victory today near the village of Schwarzstepan.  The forces under my control encountered a force of Melchestrians & Katerheimers advancing into the empire.

I gave orders for our forces to form up with the cavalry of Major General di Cigno holding the left flank, then the heavy guns of the Duke of Pappenheim.  To their right the infantry of Alt-Braunbar then the command of Major General von Reindle's Witzboldfelders. then the Pappenheim infantry on the right of the line.  Holding the left flank was Major General von Wehrwolf and on the far right the command of Major General Graf von Krupp.

The enemy formed up with the Katerheim cavalry holding the right flank two brigades of horse and one of dragoons the Melchestians infantry formed the centre seven brigades in the front line and four in the second their left flank was held by three Katerheim brigades positioned around the village of Schwarzstepan with the Melchestrian Guard Horse, two brigades of Melchestrian dragoons and a brigade of Katerheim dragoons on the right flank.

von Krupp's command, Graff Tilly Chevau Leger in the foreground

von Wehrwolf's command, von Mercy's Cuirassier in the foreground

Pz Admiral Deuteronomy Enteburg Cuirassiers

view from the Reichsarmee left

Reichsarmee centre

My orders were for the cavalry on our right to engage the enemy cavalry those on the left where to hold until we could gain the measure of the forces arrayed against us.  It soon became apparent the Katerheim cavalry commander did not have the stomach for a fight and Major General di Cigno was sent forward. 

 The regiment of horse upon our right soon came to grips with the Melchestrians it was here that Major General Graf von Krupp was injured during the fighting and escorted from the field.  The Katerheim infantry came out in a vain attempt to rescue the overwhelmed Melchestrian cavalry managing to get several deadly volleys into von Mercy'c Cuirassiers as well as von Werth's Cuirassiers.  In the end it would avail them nought as the cavalry upon both flanks would be swept from the field.

Katerheim infantry about to fire upon the Pappenheim Horse

The last of the enemy cavalry is driven from the field

The Melchestrian commander the Duke of Camberland had sent his infantry slowly forward as the cavalry battle unfolded, it was not until it was almost nightfall that our infantry met.

The infantry lines meet

The firefight bout to begin

 The first volleys where telling your Majesties, the vaunted firepower of the Melchestrians availed them naught as our brave lads poured volley after volley into the lines of red coated infantry.  They stood bravely as the Melchestrians threw themselves at our lines and fought them back.  We continued to pour fire into them but it was Graff von Hovawort's regiment on the left of our line who destroyed the vaunted Melchestrain Guards with barely a loss to themselves.

Graf von Hovawort's Regiment after destroying the Melchestrian Guards

 In the end the only five brigades of Melchestrians and two of Katerheimers remained surrounded by our victoriuos cavalry and with no chance of escape the Duke of Camberland saw no option but to surrender his forces.  Thus was signed the treaty of  Schwarzstepan which will be forwarded to your Imperial Majesties.

Your Servant
Graf Graubarbar
General Commanding

Final result, Melchester Katerheim lost all seven mounted brigades, two guards infantry brigades plus four line infantry brigades.  The Reichsarmee lost one infantyr brigade.

Final positions

The surrounded Katerheimers

The battle of Dachsfluß-Brücke

Following the battle of Nieder-Wahdorf the ErbPrinz sheperded his battered forces back to the meet the rest of the Huhnerland army whist King Oskar followed closely on his heels.

The Elector of Huhnerland had raised the seige of Straslund and had found a strong defensive position to face the Vandenburgers. His right Flank rested upon the Dachsfluß-Brücke, two low hills formed the centre of his position and a small woods held his left flank. The fight that the ErbPrinz had put up had given him tome to strengthen it further, with a seres of fieldworks across the entire front.

view from Reichsarmee right flank

There was some disagreement between the ErbPrinz and the Elector about who should command the combined army, but the ErbPrinz with his Imperial Warrant of Command was able to persuade the Elector to allow him to command.

Reichsarmee left flank

The battered forces of the Reich took the right flank whilst the Huhnerlanders took the centre and left flank of the position.

Reichsarmee centre

Reichsarmee left flank

King Oskar placed a brigade of cavalry on each wing and his centre held his indomitable infantry he had given them orders to strike at the battered remnants of the Reichsarmee before taking on the Huhnerlanders.

Vandenburg infantry sweeps across the battlefield

As the Erbprinz watched on nervously the Vandenburgers came into artillery range and the Huhnerlanders opened fire, their three heavy batteries struck the ranks of the Vandenburgers to mixed effect.

Vandenburgers continue into the face of fierce artillery fire

Despite the best efforts of the Huhnerlund gunners, the Vandenburgers continued to surge forth and struck the line at the junction of the Huhnerland and Reichsarmee forces. The von Dillon brigade struck a brigade of Huhnerlanders and the gun battery beside them the guns fired like men possed and then pulled out as the von Dillon's and swept through, almost captuing the Elector of Huhnerlund in the process.

the Elector of Huhnerland stares down the regiment von Dillon

Seeing the desperate situation on the left flank it was at this moment the two Pappenheim brigades chose to charge the Vandenburg Grenadiers in front of them with predictable results...

Pappenheimers attack, the gun battery prepares to fire again

Having now cracked a whole three brigades wide in the position the Vandenburgers began to pour into the position. splitting the army in half. the commanders of the Reichsarmee cavalry gave the order to fall back across the river to defend the bridge, hundreds of broken troops had already proceeded them seeking safety as there was only one brigade of Reichsarmee infantry still holding.

the whole that was the left flank

the reichsarmee cavalry takes a new position

Having seen off the Reichs forces the Vandenburgers seemed content to push into the centre and drive the Huhnerlanders from their positions. As soon as that happened the commanders of the reichsarmee's cavalry forces brought them back across the river.

return of the reichsarmee cavalry

A series of cavalry engagements followed followed which ultimately saw the Vandenburg cavalry fought to a standstill. The as the final moment before nightfall the will to continue faded from the Imperial forces and a general retreat turned into a rout with the Vandenburg Hussars capturing a battery of Huhnerlund artillery.

The Reichsarmee forces having been seperated from the main force withdrew into Dachsdorf and have joined the forces of the Duke of Dachsdorf-Biberhof. The Huhnerlunders have withdrawn and are headed back into Huhnerland itself.

Battle of Nieder-Wahldorf

King Oskar the Great of Vandenburg-Brussia had not been idle since his defeat of Vorlund the previous year, he had rebuilt his cavalry introducing new drill to make them the match for Vorlunds cuirassiers and dragoons.

He had watched the Reichsarmee defeat his Ikeonian allies at the battle of Grosser-Feuerbach then chase them into Stralsund. He saw the Huhnerlanders move to join the forces of the Western Circle at the Emperors behest, Stalsund surrounded, the siege began, the Huhnerlanders sent their cavalry to join the Erbprinz Rupert who watched the Vandenburg border with the Reichsarmee.

Then in the final weeks of Autumn he acted, a two pronged assault into the Reich, he led the main force to relieve the Ikeaonians, he sent General Keith commanding a second force to seize Alt-Braunbar and protect his flank against attack.

Erbprinz Rupert was waiting with his battered forces, he knew he could not stop the Vandenburg main army but perhaps he could sting them. He chose to stand near the town of Nieder-Wahldorf a long ridge stood behind the town upon which he drew up his forces. If he could hold until nightfall then it would give the Huhnerlanders time to prepare.

Army of Western Circle centre

Army of Western Circle
Commander ErbPrinz Rupert of Pappenheim
Pappenheim Contingent
1 Guards Brigade
3 Musketeer Brigades
2 Cuirassier Brigades
1 Dragoon Brigade
Alt-Braunbar Contingent
3 Musketeer Brigades
1 Dragoon Brigade (subbed by Enteburgers)
Witzboldfeld Contingent (subbed by Enteburgers)
2 Musketeer Brigades
1 Dragoon Brigade
Huhnerlund Contingent (subbed by Enteburgers)
2 Cuirassier Brigades
1 Dragoon Brigade

This was the army that had fought at Grosser Feuerbach with reinforcements from the Elector of Huhnerlund. The Erbprinz occupied the heights behind Nieder-Wahldorf and awaited the Vandenburg assault.

Vandenburgers starting position (King Oskar looks on)

Army of Observation
Commander King Oskar the Great
3 Brigades of Grenadiers
5 Brigades of Musketeers
1 Brigade of Fusiliers
4 Brigades of Cuirassiers
2 Brigades of Dragoons
1 Brigade of Hussars
2 Heavy gun batteries

King Oskars army arrived mid morning and shook themselves out into a line of battle and rapidly moved forward. The Erbprinz had heard how the infantry of Vandenburg moved like horsemen but had scoffed at the reports, he saw now he was wrong. Indeed he turned to his aide and said "They move not like men but Automaton."

Vandenburg attack upon Nieder-Wahldorf

King Oskar had chosen a conventional attack, a cavalry force on each wing with his infantry in the centre. The Erbprinz had placed the Huhnerlund cavalry on his left, the infantry of Witzboldfeld and Alt-Braunbar formed the front line with the Pappenheimers behind them. The Pappenheim cavalry held the right flank with the Witzboldfeld and Alt-Braunbar cavalry behind them.

Vandenburg move to attack the Witzboldfeld forces (Enteburgers standing in)

Nieder-Wahldorf was the first point to feel the pressure, von Elche's brigade stood for several volleys from the Vandenburg grenadiers before being forced from the village. They where replaced by Reichsmarshall's Musketeers before the Vandenburgers could push forward.

View from Reichsarmee right of Vandenburg attack

Upon the Reichsarmee right the Huhnerland cavalry attacked the oncoming Vandenburgers charging down the hill into the oncoming Vandenburgers, the Elector Karl Friedrich Cuirassiers led by Prince Otto von Dachsbracke fell upon a cuirassier brigade and drove them from the field (he rolled a 1+7=8, I rolled a 6+7+3 for valour=16 unit destroyed!).

Karl Friedrich Cuirassiers after destroying a Vandenburg Cuirassier brigade

The Vandenburg cavalry soon suffered the loss of another brigade of cuirassiers upon that flank and only the timely intervention of the Vandenburg infantry stopped the destruction of a third brigade as the fell upon the flank of the Huhnelund dragoons and dispersing them with devastating volley of fire.

Pz Lothar's and von Rabe's brigades holding the line

In the centre the Vandenburgers rapidly destroyed the Witzboldfeld and Alt-Braunbar infantry of the first line leaving the Pappenheimers to hold the line. The ReichsMarshall's brigade doggedly held out in Nieder-Wahldorf as the Vandenburgers swept around the town.

Pappenheim Guards hold the left against the Vandenburg attack

Upon the Reichsarmee's right a swirling cavalry melee took place as both sides where relatively even in the end though the Vandenburgers broke one of the Pappenheim cuirassier brigades which would prove to much for the valiant Reichsarmee. The army broke shortly before nightfall however the large numbers of dragoons held off the Vandenburgers whilst the remainder of the army retreated before them.

Losses
Army of Western Circle

Pappenheim Contingent
1 Musketeer Brigades
1 Cuirassier Brigades
Alt-Braunbar Contingent
3 Musketeer Brigades
Witzboldfeld Contingent
2 Musketeer Brigades
Huhnerlund Contingent
1 Dragoon brigade

Army of Observation
2 Brigades of Cuirassiers

Though the Reichsarmee had lost, the Erbprinz took some consolation at the destruction of two of the Vandenburg cuirassier brigades. He fell back to rejoin the Huhnerlund force and await another round against King Oskar the great.

Grosser Feuerbach

Here is a copy of the letter written to Emperor Seigfreid after the battle of Grosser Feuerbach by the Erbprinz.

To his Imperial Highness, Emperor Siegfried,

I write to you my Emperor following the engagement that took part outside the town of Grosser Feuerbach. The forces of Ikeaonia under their Crown Prince Ferdinand engaged the forces of the western Circle of the Reich. I had chosen to deploy my forces between the town of Grosser Feuerbach and the Fuchsholz forest.

The first line of Infantry consisted of the forces of Pappenheim with the Foot Guards holding the left, the combined Grenadiers in the town of Grosser Feuerbach and my own ErbPrinz Musketeers on the right of the town, all under the command of Major General Albtraum. Next to them was placed a battery of heavy guns, then The ReichsMarshall Musketeers, then Prince Lothar’s Regiment and the von Rabe Musketeers taking the extreme right of our line. Major General von Rabe led these troops. Our second line consisted of Major General Graf von Reindl’s Witzboldfelder’s, the Archbishop’s Guards, von Reindl’s brigade and von Furcher’s brigade upon the left. To their right the forces of Alt Braunbar under the redoubtable Major General Graubarbar, von Affenpinscher’s Brigade, von Hovaworth’s Brigade and Von Elche’s brigade.

Upon the Left wing Major General Wehrwolf led von Werth’s Cuirassiers, von Mercy’s cuirassiers and von Tsaerclass’s ChevauxLeger, whilst upon the right behind the Fuchsholz I placed Major General von Krupp with the Reich’s dragoons of Graubarbar’s Brigade and von Krupp’s brigade.

Facing us stood the indomitable Prince Ferdinand’s forces with Major General Alderstrale’s column of four brigades of foot holding their left, Prince Sven the Bold with four brigades in the centre including the elite Life Guards and Von Trapp’s Helvetian brigade. Then the Crown prince placed his two batteries upon their right. Next came the flower of Ikeaonian horse, four brigades of cuirassiers under the valiant Major General Ehrensvard. Finally upon their right where three brigades of Dragoons under Major General Fersen.

Upon seeing the Ikeaonian disposition I commanded Major General von Krupp to move to support our centre and signalled for an advance. Whilst Major General Albtraum moved his troops forward with alacrity it seemed Major General von Rabe’s forces where less eager to come into the battle.

Crown Prince Ferdinand seemed determined to force the issue with his overwhelming cavalry force and much of the battle hinged upon the sweeping attack upon our left by the seven brigades of Ikeaonian cavalry.

I can say unreservedly that the forces under the command of Major General Wehrwolf fought without peer, the two brigades of cuirassier’s destroying Ehrensvard’s command with the support of the Archbishop’s Guards and our own Pappenheim Foot Guards. Indeed the Major General placed his life at risk in every instance and it was only through the grace of the divine or his own peerless swordsman ship that the general survived the battle. During this melee upon which the battle hinged the Archbishop’s Guards did sterling service until they were driven from the field by the savage attacks of the Ikeaonian cuirassiers.

A commendation should also be given to Major General von Krupp as he managed to capture both of the Ikeaonian's heavy batteries despite the threat of the Helvetian brigade.

Whilst a whirlwind cavalry battle ensued upon our left Prince Sven brought his brigade forward and managed to destroy the Pappenheim Grenadiers and my own regiment.

As the dark of night fell the forces of the Crown Prince withdrew leaving the Imperial forces masters of the battlefield.

Your Servant
Lt General, the ErbPrinz Rupert von Pappenheim