The Viereckstal Campaign. Chapter 4, part 2

 In which the assault is made...

With the troops deployed and some random disruption rolled for, the game commenced with General von Kurzerpilz bringing the cautious skirmishing to an end and ordering a more assertive assault on Flaschendorf and its bridge.

The Kodenchypz fusiliers charged the south-western corner of the town, defended by part of the Chasseurs d'Alsace, while the Lieb-grenadier company attacked the rest of the Chasseurs from the south-east.

Tattemberg hearts were in their mouths when the fusiliers were driven off in rout and it seemed the army might "do a von Trapp", but there was relief when the grenadiers were far more successful, destroying the chasseurs and gaining a foothold in the town.

This provided an opportunity for the Tattemberg leichtebattalion von Hahnchinabun to charge towards the bridge and its defenders; the first battalion of the Chatgues regiment. Obstructing this advance was the surviving company of chasseurs who had decided routing a regiment of fusiliers was enough honour for one day.

At bayonet point the chasseurs were driven off with very little drama, their morale cracking entirely and the unit evaporating. The did however leave the Hahnchinabuns facing a well-prepared Gallian battalion formed into line of battle. This was a not entirely comfortable place to be...

While these initial assaults had been delivered, other formations had not been idle. 

Vipernoir had advanced his second battalion up to the riverbank to cover the flank of the bridge defenders, where they came under fire from Falkensteyn's artillery section and jager company. 

Meanwhile, the dismounted dragoons of von Bittert's cavalry brigade, supported by a jager company engaged in a fierce firefight across the river with a battalion of the Clafoutis regiment and a section of field guns. The cover afforded by the town gave the Gallian forces a slight edge, but von Bittert persisted as this kept a critical proportion of the defenders occupied and unable to intervene elsewhere.

Kurzerpilz hoped that his plan would start to strangle the defence, but the light infantry on the bridge would now need good fortune to press their attack.

As turn three commenced, the turn of the cards would determine whether the men of Tattemberg would maintain the initiative, or whether Vipernoir's infantry would be able to deliver a close range volley first.

The first card activated no-one but with a value of 5 guaranteed units would gain an additional action this turn and that events may be particularly decisive. After a series of card turns, the first one to activate units emerged, a black ace. Due to the way initiative levels had been allocated this turn, the card resulted in activation of all units in the Tattemberg army except the light infantry who were now under the personal command of General Kurzerpilz who was wary of Falkensteyn's ability to control the flanking fire and the main assault. All three Tattemberg brigade commanders ordered their units to concentrate fire in support of the bridge assault. 

Both Chatgues battalions suffered from artillery and small-arms shooting, becoming disordered and starting to accumulate stamina losses. 

The opportunity for the light infantry was opening up but even a disordered battalion can deliver an effective volley if fortune favours them.

The next card was a black deuce, activating von Kurtzenpilz and with a mighty cheer the leichte battalion surged forwards.

The melee was fierce and the result close, but ultimately the dice rolled in favour of Tattemberg. The Chatgeuse battalion fled and were caught in rout by the pursuing light infantry, destroying them for now at least. The pursuit did leave the light infantry again exposed and the Gallians were now finally able to respond.

The Clafoutis second battalion who had been in reserve coolly formed into line at the north edge of the town and delivered a sharp volley into the light infantry, inflicting light casualties on the already disordered troops. 

On the Gallian east flank the Chatgues second battalion withdrew from the exposed position on the riverbank under the command of Vipernoir, who still elected to lead from the rear rather than actively involve himself in rallying the battalion's disorder.

On the other flank, Cheri pulled back the Clafoutis first battalion from their firefight with the dragoons, to build a coherent battle line facing south towards the main assault with their flank guarded by one section of artillery and the other section manhandling their guns out of the fieldworks before being overrun.

Further north, the Gallian hussars d'Etranger squadrons held position awaiting the opportunity to counterattack any incautious Tattembergers.

With three turns completed and lots of action seen, I've taken a brief pause in the game. The Gallian task is now to continue inflicting damage on the attacking forces while extracting themselves and retreating north towards Vierecksbrucke. The Tattembergers must consolidate their control of the town and bridge before driving away the defenders and opening up the route to the north. This will allow a concerted push once further troops have arrived.

Clearly, there are still matters to be resolved on this battlefield before the campaign continues. It is even possible that Gallian reinforcements may arrive to bolster the rearguard and frustrate the advance. Time (and the dice) will tell.