// The Battle of Vierecksbrucke //
// Turn 3 //
Just the one turn completed today, but the situation across the Ecksfeld and around the town's defences is developing in some interesting ways.
As with the previous turn, the point of major jeopardy was the melee in the defence lines. The grenadiers and Hahnchinabun light infantry were able to act before their opponents. The light infantry shook off some of their disorder and delivered a musket volley into the Chatgeuse fusiliers to their front, while the grenadiers charged the same battalion in its flank. The two Tattemberg units successfully coordinated, with the shooting maximising Gallian disruption, stacking the odds in favour of the grenadiers.
The grenadiers, led in person by Von Trapp, rolled well for their impetus, gaining a total +6 modifier and going into melee resolution with any rolls of 1-9 on the d12s being sucvesses and only 10+ being fails. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, this obviously. The grenadiers lost the melee 3:4 and the Gallians breathed a sigh of relief. Fortune didn't desert the grenadiers entirely though and their resulting morale test only saw them falling back outside of the defences, but nothing worse. Both sides had however now accrued meaningful losses.
The remainder of the armies conducted movements and shooting, with Pommefrite on the Gallian left deciding to advance the Sechshugel regiment out of the defences to try and seek a local advantage in numbers on the Tattemberg right. This is of course the same regiment that met with disaster at Sagwersdorf when advancing too eagerly...
Here is how things look at the end of turn 3:
Starting in the west, the two cavalry brigades continue to take few risks. The Tattemberg cavalry are compelled to creep forward to protect the flank of Kodenchypz's infantry brigade. Someone is going to give into their urges soon.
(Above and below) Moving towards the centre we see the four regiments under Kodenchypz are making progress with his right wing about to engage the defences while the 4-pounders have opened up with cannister against the dug-in Gallian 12-pounder sections. Nevertheless, disruption and damage is building up on the Tattemberg troops.
A closer view of Kodenchypz's right wing, led by the Fleischkuchen grenadiers with the Falkensteyn musketeers in support
Moving further east, Von Trapp continues to hold the Salzenpfeffer musketeers in reserve as an insurance policy for the right wing.
The dismounted Weispferd dragoons are now heavily engaged in a firefight with part of the Chatgeuse regiment. In the distance we can see the Sechshugel regiment beginning to advance out of the defence-line. In the foreground we can see a jager company rushing to reinforce the right wing
A look at the centre as viewed from the east
(Above and below) the extreme eastern end of the battlefield. The advance of ther Sechshugel has forced the Trinketstadte light infantry to form up, making them a better target for the muskets of the Chasseurs Du Poulet. The woodsmen anxiously look over their shoulders in the hope of jager support.
Exciting stuff and very much in the balance. Will Pommefrite's aggressive advance unsettle Von Trapp and force him to reduce the pressure elsewhere, or will the Tattembergers take their medicine and focus on pushing through in the centre? What will happen between the cavalry brigades...any attack would be a coin toss but one with the potential of battle-winning glory...
oOo
Finely balanced with both sides needing to take risks to gain the upper hand. Just the sort of thing to make the game enjoyable to play and read.
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