Europe is an ancient land. It has played host for many battles over its expansive history. Newest among the list of bloody engagements to occur upon Europe’s scoured ground is a battle between French and Prussian forces at Drenthe, a location within the Netherlands. While enormous armies fight fiercely, equally important events occur in secrecy.
February 8 – There was stiff wind blowing toward the east when I awoke. The cool air did much to wake me up quickly. When I had dressed and armed myself, I exited my tent to make a general inspection of the troops, who I found in a state of readiness for combat. At a fair distance to the south, I could perceive the faint glow of lights from a distant encampment. This sight provided evidence that a French army was still, as we had determined the previous night, close by.
During the night, the prospect of engaging a hostile force had frightened me to the point where my whole body shook fervently. At that moment in the morning, as I stood upon a hill and glared out at the slumbering enemy, I tried to seem calm. Though an unexplainable fear of defeat still lingered in my breast, I tried my best to swallow the anxiety, for it would have been a defacement of my rank to show weakness before the troops.
Conforming to the proper rules of engagement, I prepared to meet the French troops upon the battlefield at about noon, which is the hour when most civil battles begin. My effort to seem polite, however, had no effect upon the stormy French disposition. Charging forth from their starting positions like demons from the gates of hell upon a quest to destroy the purity of the world, the French made their first attack. That effort ultimately failed and acted as prelude to hours of battle. It is needless to say that there were losses of great magnitude on both sides in the fray.
The whole battle came to a head when I released my last contingent of cavalry, the others having already been swallowed up by the French. Curiously enough, that attack seemed to break the French resiliency, for a great portion of the army suddenly turned about in a hasty retreat. My forces being tired and weakened, I have not made an immediate attempt to pursue. In the morning I will follow their trail.
February 2 - I find myself within the company of a curiously secretive group of people. My guard, who has refused to disclose his name despite my urging, has barely spoken since our flight from the prison in which I was held. The owner of the house in which we reside (a man I am told fought in the army of father) has likewise remained stonily quiet. While the silence unnerves me, I have remained passive. My… rescuers... have told me that we are, for the moment, staying hidden, lest the radicals should concert a strong effort to put me back in bondage. This seems reasonable. However, I must be careful not to fall pray to any nefarious plots.
Chapter V
Diary of Graf [Count] Emmerich von Mises (General of Prussian Army)
Diary of Graf [Count] Emmerich von Mises (General of Prussian Army)
February 8 – There was stiff wind blowing toward the east when I awoke. The cool air did much to wake me up quickly. When I had dressed and armed myself, I exited my tent to make a general inspection of the troops, who I found in a state of readiness for combat. At a fair distance to the south, I could perceive the faint glow of lights from a distant encampment. This sight provided evidence that a French army was still, as we had determined the previous night, close by.
During the night, the prospect of engaging a hostile force had frightened me to the point where my whole body shook fervently. At that moment in the morning, as I stood upon a hill and glared out at the slumbering enemy, I tried to seem calm. Though an unexplainable fear of defeat still lingered in my breast, I tried my best to swallow the anxiety, for it would have been a defacement of my rank to show weakness before the troops.
Conforming to the proper rules of engagement, I prepared to meet the French troops upon the battlefield at about noon, which is the hour when most civil battles begin. My effort to seem polite, however, had no effect upon the stormy French disposition. Charging forth from their starting positions like demons from the gates of hell upon a quest to destroy the purity of the world, the French made their first attack. That effort ultimately failed and acted as prelude to hours of battle. It is needless to say that there were losses of great magnitude on both sides in the fray.
The whole battle came to a head when I released my last contingent of cavalry, the others having already been swallowed up by the French. Curiously enough, that attack seemed to break the French resiliency, for a great portion of the army suddenly turned about in a hasty retreat. My forces being tired and weakened, I have not made an immediate attempt to pursue. In the morning I will follow their trail.
Journal of Dauphin (the would-be Louis XVII of France)
February 2 - I find myself within the company of a curiously secretive group of people. My guard, who has refused to disclose his name despite my urging, has barely spoken since our flight from the prison in which I was held. The owner of the house in which we reside (a man I am told fought in the army of father) has likewise remained stonily quiet. While the silence unnerves me, I have remained passive. My… rescuers... have told me that we are, for the moment, staying hidden, lest the radicals should concert a strong effort to put me back in bondage. This seems reasonable. However, I must be careful not to fall pray to any nefarious plots.
