The Viereckstal Campaign. Chapter 7 (Part 2)

 // Turn 4 //

I wasn't planning to blog so soon about the continuation of the battle, but turn 4 provided quite a lot of action in a short space of time, so it seemed worth reporting by itself.

Photos are a bit less polished than last time and taken from a little higher up so that I can capture the events more than the miniature artistry.

The turn of the first card turned up another "4". I promise I have shuffled these well! We were again in for a turn with additional actions for units that managed to activate successfully. On the western side of the battlefield the two light infantry battalions each opted to rally off disorder rather than take too many risks. The Tattembergers in particular were hopeful of more light infantry arriving with Sir Timothy's reinforcements either this turn or next whereas the Chasseurs de Poulet were still outnumbered and exposed; remaining disordered was really not an options as they's be very vulnerable to being charged.

Over to the east, Major Verbockt and Dragoon squadron A charged into the adjacent and disordered squadron of the Dragoons d'Baguette with the advantage of troop quality and their attached commander. This did not go as well as they had hoped, in fact it was pretty disastrous with Verockt and his men losing the melee 4:2 and routing away from their own table edge. This also left the remaining Tattemberg cavalry squadrons relying on orders from Von Trapp himself who was just about close enough to influence them but lacking command points to add any extra orders and certainly in no position to lead anyone from the front.

Verbockt is swept away with his dragoons after the failed melee

The cavalry flank viewed from the Tattemberg side (apolgies for the rogue tape measure!)

It was however in the centre where the main action took place. Sir Timothy arrived with reinforcements for Von Trapp. The veteran Salzundpfeffer musketeer regiment formed line to the right of Von Trapp's musketeers while the Trinketstade light infantry moved up the hill, passing their rear. The small squadron of Ducal light cavalry accompanied Sir Timothy as he joined Von Trapp himself on the crest of the hill. All was looking good as the Tattemberg forces presented a solid line of muskets toward the enemy. The new infantry arrivals had deployed quickly though, not leaving spare actions to engage the elements of the Sechshugel regiment with additional musketry.

Facing the potential of an embarrasing defeat and with Pommefritte ready to seize command, Major Mantelwenden ordered his three battalions to fire a ragged volley and charge, supported by the field gun section. This was something of a last throw of the dice to avoid being overwhelmed.

The centre of the battlefield. The Von Trapp muketeers on the hill find themselves assaulted from two directions while the newly arrived Salzundpfeffer musketeers are hit by cannister and then charged by infantry

A closer view of the Von Trapp position as they receive the charge

and a view to show the position of the Trinketstade light battalion

The Sechshugel 1st battalion and the flank companies both charged uphill into the Von Trapp musketeers, who had refused their right flank to prevent being rolled-up. The musketry was sufficient to disorder the defenders and after a fierce melee Von Trapp's men came off the worst. The resulting morale check saw them rout from the top of the hill, heading south and sweeping away the newly arriving Trinketstade light infantry whose morale collapsed entirely as they were in loose order and unable to be rallied. To the right the Salzundpfeffer were first hit by cannister from the field guns before the 2nd battalion of Sechshugel crashed into them. Again the fighting was desperate. In this case the Gallians came off worst, but only just and they did pass the resulting morale test with flying colours forcing the Salzundpfeffer to test their own resolve...

The rout of the Von Trapp musketeers and the flight of the light infantry

...which they did, standing firm and bouncing the attackers backwards and just about keeping Von Trapp's hopes alive.

The Salzundpfeffer veterans hold firm

The centre at the end of turn 4, with the elements of the Sechshugel Regiment looking in a stronger position than they might have expected.

There we go! Just one turn and nothing is resolved, but everything has been thrown up in the air. When Sir Tmothy arrived it really did look to be all-up for Pommefrite and Mantelwenden. Von Trapp still has the edge in cavalry numbers but does look like he may have thrown away a clear advantage - or had it stolen from him by Gallian audacity.