Your account of the battle is super! And you say the Prussians won this battle?? Hard to believe, but it must be that the climax will make everything clear. Go Seydlitz!
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Re: OOC Stuff
De Montségur will strike back!!!
I think I'll write a few posts to describe his regiments's participation to the battle (based of your last three posts)
BTW: without a good director an actor is nothing. Hat off to you Haiji!
Originally posted by Hajji Giray I
Only now are we approaching the climax. The last update marks beginning of my favorite part. We are approaching some real fighting now, but that's all I'll tell you.
Eochaid, are you thinking about contributing again, or can I start to wrap this up tomorrow? Because you are most welcome to continue
De Montségur will strike back!!!
I think I'll write a few posts to describe his regiments's participation to the battle (based of your last three posts)
BTW: without a good director an actor is nothing. Hat off to you Haiji!
I just read through all this and i am very impressed it has kept me on the edge of my seat. Must be one hell of a climax if you will win this battle.
July the 24th
The men were waiting. The main column under de Broglie came down on the Prussian army like thunder on a dead stump. The Prussians fell back, regrouped and fought again, only to flee again when the French closed in.
De Montségur, his eye glued to his spyglass, was intently watching the fight. Beside him were his two captains, de Louzac and de Poiteval.
"- Splendid My Lord! The enemy is routed and Rastatt is almost in our hands. commented de Louzac with a triumphant note in his young voice.
- I don't like this Poiteval... Something is wrong. The Prussians are not fighting, and we haven't seen their cavalry today. Von Seydlitz must be up to something.
- I bet he just fled before the might of our army disdainfuly smirked de Louzac
- Doubtful Louzac, doubtful... Alas. sighed de Poiteval I would say that they are falling back on pre-organised position where our number will be of no use. And their cavalry must be making sure that we don't flank them.
De Montségur looked at de Poiteval. The Captain's calm face showed no emotion whatsoever: emotion was not something this grizzled veteran indulged himself in. His slightly tarnished blue eyes, the wrinkles on the corner of his mouth, his ill-shaved cheeks, his missing left ear (a souvenir from a Dutch musket a long time ago.)
The Colonel knew he could count on de Poiteval. It was de Louzac he was worried about.
His other Captain was the youngest son of one of King Louis' courtisans, and had been promoted to this post by his father. Although he was indeed a competent young lad, de Montségur feared that he lacked the experience needed to lead some many men into battle. His perruque was too white, his dentelle too fluffy, and his cheeks to well shaved: war was just an entertainment to him, and he seemed thrilled by the thought of winning this game and parading in the streets of Paris afterwards
- You are right Poiteval... as always. smiled the Colonel I am afraid that Maréchal de Broglie is over-confident. I'll send him a messenger right now. De Louzac, tell my aide-de-camp to bring me a quill and some paper.
- Yes Sir" muttered de Louzac, visibly disappointed to be sent on such an errand.
De Montségur went back to searching the battle fieldwith his spyglass. Still no evidence of where the Prussians were."
"- Colonel de Montségur?
- Yes? He turned around to face the voice, and came face to face with a dragoon.
- Here are some orders from Maréchal de Broglie.
He snatched it from the dragoon's hands and read it in a glimpse. His lips moved without making a sound, although de Poiteval could have sworn his commanding officer had just silently spoken the words stupid fool! The dragoon turned his horse around and galloped away.
- De Broglie wants us to lauch a full-flegded attack."
The men were waiting. The main column under de Broglie came down on the Prussian army like thunder on a dead stump. The Prussians fell back, regrouped and fought again, only to flee again when the French closed in.
De Montségur, his eye glued to his spyglass, was intently watching the fight. Beside him were his two captains, de Louzac and de Poiteval.
"- Splendid My Lord! The enemy is routed and Rastatt is almost in our hands. commented de Louzac with a triumphant note in his young voice.
- I don't like this Poiteval... Something is wrong. The Prussians are not fighting, and we haven't seen their cavalry today. Von Seydlitz must be up to something.
- I bet he just fled before the might of our army disdainfuly smirked de Louzac
- Doubtful Louzac, doubtful... Alas. sighed de Poiteval I would say that they are falling back on pre-organised position where our number will be of no use. And their cavalry must be making sure that we don't flank them.
De Montségur looked at de Poiteval. The Captain's calm face showed no emotion whatsoever: emotion was not something this grizzled veteran indulged himself in. His slightly tarnished blue eyes, the wrinkles on the corner of his mouth, his ill-shaved cheeks, his missing left ear (a souvenir from a Dutch musket a long time ago.)
The Colonel knew he could count on de Poiteval. It was de Louzac he was worried about.
His other Captain was the youngest son of one of King Louis' courtisans, and had been promoted to this post by his father. Although he was indeed a competent young lad, de Montségur feared that he lacked the experience needed to lead some many men into battle. His perruque was too white, his dentelle too fluffy, and his cheeks to well shaved: war was just an entertainment to him, and he seemed thrilled by the thought of winning this game and parading in the streets of Paris afterwards
- You are right Poiteval... as always. smiled the Colonel I am afraid that Maréchal de Broglie is over-confident. I'll send him a messenger right now. De Louzac, tell my aide-de-camp to bring me a quill and some paper.
- Yes Sir" muttered de Louzac, visibly disappointed to be sent on such an errand.
De Montségur went back to searching the battle fieldwith his spyglass. Still no evidence of where the Prussians were."
"- Colonel de Montségur?
- Yes? He turned around to face the voice, and came face to face with a dragoon.
- Here are some orders from Maréchal de Broglie.
He snatched it from the dragoon's hands and read it in a glimpse. His lips moved without making a sound, although de Poiteval could have sworn his commanding officer had just silently spoken the words stupid fool! The dragoon turned his horse around and galloped away.
- De Broglie wants us to lauch a full-flegded attack."
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Having called the other commanding officers, de Montségur quickly issued his orders
"- I want Béarn to the right, Auvergne in the middle and Toulouse on the left. We will follow them from two hundred yards behind, with a squadron of cavalry on each side.
- Aye Sir! wearily agreed the gathered officers before hastily riding to join their men
- PIERROT!
- Yes Sir?
- Combat cadence, Regiment's quick march. Wait for my signal.
- Aye Sir!
- Louzac, Poiteval?
- Yes Sir?
- I want four squads, 50 by 25 each.
- Pierrot!"
And the drums roared.
The first three regiments emerged from the woods, their standards flying high in the sky. The impeccable order of the regiments walking downhill was impressive. They seemed unstoppable.
To the centre the Regiments of Bretagne and Picardie were charging the enemy in the woods... and the army kept advancing, nailing Prussians in the back as the main corps penetrated deeper and deeper into the forest.
When suddenly an usually large salve of musketry was heard, quickly followed by artillery. By the sound of it they were using short-range lead charges instead of cannon balls.
De Montségur told the cuirassiers to attack down the main road, for they would be of no use in the forest and ordered the buggle to announce the charge.
"POUR DIEU ET MON ROI" Yelled the Colonel, immediatly joined by his whole Regiment.
The drummers stopped walking to allow the soldiers to run by them and accelerated the cadence of the music. Yelling at the top of their voice, the four regiments ran to help their comrads ambushed in the woods.
The fight was grim amidst the dark trees of Germany, and many a good soldier died without knowing where the mortal blow came from. Soldiers were pinned to the trees, other were barely wounded by a bullet and trampled by their own. The cuirassiers valiantly fought their way to the middle of the clearing, only to find that everybody had been slaughtered by the Prussians, who'd executed their prisonners when they'd realised that they wouldn't be able to convoy them to the backlines.
After over an hour the Prussians were repelled from the woods, and despite heavy losses, the right wing reformed. The less well trained regiments of Auvergne and Toulouse were still rounding up a few pockets of Prussians, and Béarn The first two squads of the Gascogne Regiment, under de Poiteval, finally came out of the woods first.
They came face to face with the formed remnants of a Prussian Regiment von Seydlitz had ordered to slow the enmy down. By the time de Louzac was their, the first two squadrons were ligned up in a three-rows formation. Still in his saddle behind the centre of his two squadrons, de Poiteval was leading his men as if this was a parade.
"- First row forward... FIRE! Kneel...
Second row forward... FIRE! Kneel...
Third row forward... FIRE! Kneel...
First row forward... FIRE! Kneel..."
Prussians were dying by the dozen, courageous yet out of ammo after so many hours of combat. Their supply line was breached here and they knew it. Poiteval knew it to, and that's why he'd allowed his men to fire despite still having their bayonets locked on. When finally they got at twenty yards from the Prussians, they charged.
By the end of the day the French had won the woods, but their losses had been heavy. De Montségur didn't allow his aide-de-camp to unfold his tent, and just slept rolled into a blanket. The next day would certainly be far worse and he knew it
"- I want Béarn to the right, Auvergne in the middle and Toulouse on the left. We will follow them from two hundred yards behind, with a squadron of cavalry on each side.
- Aye Sir! wearily agreed the gathered officers before hastily riding to join their men
- PIERROT!
- Yes Sir?
- Combat cadence, Regiment's quick march. Wait for my signal.
- Aye Sir!
- Louzac, Poiteval?
- Yes Sir?
- I want four squads, 50 by 25 each.
- Pierrot!"
And the drums roared.
The first three regiments emerged from the woods, their standards flying high in the sky. The impeccable order of the regiments walking downhill was impressive. They seemed unstoppable.
To the centre the Regiments of Bretagne and Picardie were charging the enemy in the woods... and the army kept advancing, nailing Prussians in the back as the main corps penetrated deeper and deeper into the forest.
When suddenly an usually large salve of musketry was heard, quickly followed by artillery. By the sound of it they were using short-range lead charges instead of cannon balls.
De Montségur told the cuirassiers to attack down the main road, for they would be of no use in the forest and ordered the buggle to announce the charge.
"POUR DIEU ET MON ROI" Yelled the Colonel, immediatly joined by his whole Regiment.
The drummers stopped walking to allow the soldiers to run by them and accelerated the cadence of the music. Yelling at the top of their voice, the four regiments ran to help their comrads ambushed in the woods.
The fight was grim amidst the dark trees of Germany, and many a good soldier died without knowing where the mortal blow came from. Soldiers were pinned to the trees, other were barely wounded by a bullet and trampled by their own. The cuirassiers valiantly fought their way to the middle of the clearing, only to find that everybody had been slaughtered by the Prussians, who'd executed their prisonners when they'd realised that they wouldn't be able to convoy them to the backlines.
After over an hour the Prussians were repelled from the woods, and despite heavy losses, the right wing reformed. The less well trained regiments of Auvergne and Toulouse were still rounding up a few pockets of Prussians, and Béarn The first two squads of the Gascogne Regiment, under de Poiteval, finally came out of the woods first.
They came face to face with the formed remnants of a Prussian Regiment von Seydlitz had ordered to slow the enmy down. By the time de Louzac was their, the first two squadrons were ligned up in a three-rows formation. Still in his saddle behind the centre of his two squadrons, de Poiteval was leading his men as if this was a parade.
"- First row forward... FIRE! Kneel...
Second row forward... FIRE! Kneel...
Third row forward... FIRE! Kneel...
First row forward... FIRE! Kneel..."
Prussians were dying by the dozen, courageous yet out of ammo after so many hours of combat. Their supply line was breached here and they knew it. Poiteval knew it to, and that's why he'd allowed his men to fire despite still having their bayonets locked on. When finally they got at twenty yards from the Prussians, they charged.
By the end of the day the French had won the woods, but their losses had been heavy. De Montségur didn't allow his aide-de-camp to unfold his tent, and just slept rolled into a blanket. The next day would certainly be far worse and he knew it
@Haiji: how's that? When do you intend to next update this AAR? I'd like to write some more about your last three posts but am running out of time tonight. So just let me know so I can write accordingly!
When do you intend to next update this AAR? I'd like to write some more about your last three posts but am running out of time tonight. So just let me know so I can write accordingly! 
Well, I was figuring on posting this afternoon, but it seems I won't have the time. So really whenever I have time...which could be today, tomorrow, or next week. But I don't want to interrupt your creative processes, your contributions have been sooooo good!
EDIT: Realizes this is his first post on page 4. Wow!
EDIT: Realizes this is his first post on page 4. Wow!
Correction, Eochaid, I have two more installments (including the climax!) ready and can cut-and-paste them into the thread at any time. So you can go ahead and post July 25-26 whenever your schedule allows, and then we'll let the games begin...
There really oughta be a sinister smiley face.
There really oughta be a sinister smiley face.
But of course! Field of Honour: Tales of Blood and Glory or maybe it's "Fields"? Or "Field of Glory: Tales of Blood and Honour"? Who knows!
Seems your time's run out, Eochaid because here comes the big daddy of all updates...
Bwahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahhaha!
Seems your time's run out, Eochaid
because here comes the big daddy of all updates...Bwahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahhaha!
XXI- Morning
July 27: Day 32
General von Seydlitz was not too terribly happy when he saw his situation the next morning. There wasn’t a gap a foot wide anywhere in the ring of Frenchmen. He could not hold for long; it would end only in surrender. His men would fight to the death.
Or they would attack.
Crazy as it sounds, it was sound strategy (in the General’s opinion) to limber up the artillery and make a mad charge with his entire army at a single point on the circle. If they could break through, the army would escape the ring of death and live to fight another day. If they failed, at least the Prussian men would go down fighting.
His men formed for an assault on the northernmost part of the circle. At 6 A.M., a bugle called. The men charged.
The French were scared out of their wits, but managed to put up a good fight. They called for the men on the south side of the hill to come over the hill, capturing the Prussian artillery, and charge straight down, encircling the enemy once more. It worked. Soon General von Seydlitz was in the middle of a frenzied mob hacking its way through a French crowd.
It was almost noon when they broke through. All morning had been nothing but hand-to-hand fighting, vicious war, clubbing men over the head with muskets, slashing with sabers, even firing point-blank. It was a dizzying whirlwind of horrible death. But the Prussians got out. General von Seydlitz himself left behind a good deal of his blood, taken by a man with a bayonet.
The French army surged after them. The Prussians turned and attempted to form a line. They managed it only seconds before the French hit. Marshal de Broglie was atop the hill now, watching the battle come to a close. He rode to the side as a regiment of cuirassiers rode down the hill and straight into the battle. Bugles called, and General von Seydlitz shouted to fall back. Soon it was an all-out retreat.
As they fled towards another hill just outside Rastatt, new bugle calls sounded through the sky. The trumpets blared, again and again. They were coming from Rastatt.
The General cursed. “The French cavalry is in the town! They have circled us again!” He took a regiment of infantry. “Follow me. Fix bayonets, we will deal with the cavalry.
The cavalry rode over the hill, coming in from the north. There were literally thousands of them. Among them were two standard-bearers, waving flags proudly above their heads.
They were not French flags.
Frederick the Great had arrived.
July 27: Day 32
General von Seydlitz was not too terribly happy when he saw his situation the next morning. There wasn’t a gap a foot wide anywhere in the ring of Frenchmen. He could not hold for long; it would end only in surrender. His men would fight to the death.
Or they would attack.
Crazy as it sounds, it was sound strategy (in the General’s opinion) to limber up the artillery and make a mad charge with his entire army at a single point on the circle. If they could break through, the army would escape the ring of death and live to fight another day. If they failed, at least the Prussian men would go down fighting.
His men formed for an assault on the northernmost part of the circle. At 6 A.M., a bugle called. The men charged.
The French were scared out of their wits, but managed to put up a good fight. They called for the men on the south side of the hill to come over the hill, capturing the Prussian artillery, and charge straight down, encircling the enemy once more. It worked. Soon General von Seydlitz was in the middle of a frenzied mob hacking its way through a French crowd.
It was almost noon when they broke through. All morning had been nothing but hand-to-hand fighting, vicious war, clubbing men over the head with muskets, slashing with sabers, even firing point-blank. It was a dizzying whirlwind of horrible death. But the Prussians got out. General von Seydlitz himself left behind a good deal of his blood, taken by a man with a bayonet.
The French army surged after them. The Prussians turned and attempted to form a line. They managed it only seconds before the French hit. Marshal de Broglie was atop the hill now, watching the battle come to a close. He rode to the side as a regiment of cuirassiers rode down the hill and straight into the battle. Bugles called, and General von Seydlitz shouted to fall back. Soon it was an all-out retreat.
As they fled towards another hill just outside Rastatt, new bugle calls sounded through the sky. The trumpets blared, again and again. They were coming from Rastatt.
The General cursed. “The French cavalry is in the town! They have circled us again!” He took a regiment of infantry. “Follow me. Fix bayonets, we will deal with the cavalry.
The cavalry rode over the hill, coming in from the north. There were literally thousands of them. Among them were two standard-bearers, waving flags proudly above their heads.
They were not French flags.
Frederick the Great had arrived.
XXII- Noon
Frederick the Great, known in German as Friedrich der Große, was perhaps the greatest military mind of his time. Many German scholars argued that his greatness was only matched in history by Caesar himself. For the most part it was true.
So far in his career, he had sealed Prussia’s fate. His conquests made his country the largest (except Russia and the Ottoman Empire) and most feared in the world. He was sole master of northern Germany, ruler of most of Poland, and conqueror of the lands of Bohemia and Ostmarch. His military record was unparalleled: only very rarely was he defeated by anyone. In battle after battle he dashed the odds and clutched victory, no matter what events contrived against him.
He was perhaps the only person in the world who could take the Prussian situation on July 27, 1767, and turn it into a decisive victory. But could he?
On this battlefield he would earn the title Friedrich der Große. On this battlefield he would establish his position as one of the greatest generals of all time.
Frederick the Great, known in German as Friedrich der Große, was perhaps the greatest military mind of his time. Many German scholars argued that his greatness was only matched in history by Caesar himself. For the most part it was true.
So far in his career, he had sealed Prussia’s fate. His conquests made his country the largest (except Russia and the Ottoman Empire) and most feared in the world. He was sole master of northern Germany, ruler of most of Poland, and conqueror of the lands of Bohemia and Ostmarch. His military record was unparalleled: only very rarely was he defeated by anyone. In battle after battle he dashed the odds and clutched victory, no matter what events contrived against him.
He was perhaps the only person in the world who could take the Prussian situation on July 27, 1767, and turn it into a decisive victory. But could he?
On this battlefield he would earn the title Friedrich der Große. On this battlefield he would establish his position as one of the greatest generals of all time.
XXIII- Evening
The bugles now began playing a different song: this time a command. Charge. Frederick the Great led his cavalry straight into the hordes of French troops—and stopped them in their tracks. And then pushed them back. More Prussian cavalry rolled in from the east and west—and the French were routed. Those who fled counted themselves lucky in the onslaught.
Marshal de Broglie attempted to stop his men, to turn them and repel the newcomers—only to be pushed back by a massive crowd of scared men. He was caught in the tide of retreat.
Finally they stopped. It was now night. They were at a bridge, the bridge just north of Kehl. They were worn out, and were just where they had started. And the Prussian cavalry was still coming. Victory had seemingly collapsed. Marshal Duc de Broglie made one last effort. He whipped his men into shape, returned them to their formations, retrieved ammo from Strassbourg, and put them in defensive lines around the bridge and the village. For it was obvious that the attackers would now be the Prussians.
The tide had decisively turned. Frederick the Great brought along with him two gifts: the gift of ammunition and supplies, and the gift of inspiration. All the Prussian soldiers had plenty of food and bullets now, and those who had dropped their guns in flight received new ones. And the army of General von Seydlitz was at its highest point of morale in weeks. Now they would win. Their king was with them; now they could not be stopped. They felt, at least, invincible.
And Frederick the Great brought a third gift: he had a plan.
The bugles now began playing a different song: this time a command. Charge. Frederick the Great led his cavalry straight into the hordes of French troops—and stopped them in their tracks. And then pushed them back. More Prussian cavalry rolled in from the east and west—and the French were routed. Those who fled counted themselves lucky in the onslaught.
Marshal de Broglie attempted to stop his men, to turn them and repel the newcomers—only to be pushed back by a massive crowd of scared men. He was caught in the tide of retreat.
Finally they stopped. It was now night. They were at a bridge, the bridge just north of Kehl. They were worn out, and were just where they had started. And the Prussian cavalry was still coming. Victory had seemingly collapsed. Marshal Duc de Broglie made one last effort. He whipped his men into shape, returned them to their formations, retrieved ammo from Strassbourg, and put them in defensive lines around the bridge and the village. For it was obvious that the attackers would now be the Prussians.
The tide had decisively turned. Frederick the Great brought along with him two gifts: the gift of ammunition and supplies, and the gift of inspiration. All the Prussian soldiers had plenty of food and bullets now, and those who had dropped their guns in flight received new ones. And the army of General von Seydlitz was at its highest point of morale in weeks. Now they would win. Their king was with them; now they could not be stopped. They felt, at least, invincible.
And Frederick the Great brought a third gift: he had a plan.
OOC Stuff
1. WAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
2. In the game, right before Frederick the Great arrived the arrow was pointing right at the French shield (you know, the arrow that indicates strenght ratio or whatever). The day after Frederick the Great arrived, the arrow was pointing straight at the Prussian shield. That's how awesome it was. That's why I chose to AAR it; if it had lasted 36 days and ended in defeat, I'd have never AARed it, because at the start I was outnumbered, so there'd be nothing remarkable about it.
3. Eochaid, the next update will come Thursday. Maybe this time you'll post...
4. WAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
5. Okay, I'll be honest. The real reason I had the Wurttemburgers flee is not because it would make it more dramatic. The real reason is that I absolutely hate having to say "Wurttemburgers" all the time. It drives me crazy!
6. WAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
7. You're welcome, Seidita! No problemo.
8. WAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. WAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
2. In the game, right before Frederick the Great arrived the arrow was pointing right at the French shield (you know, the arrow that indicates strenght ratio or whatever). The day after Frederick the Great arrived, the arrow was pointing straight at the Prussian shield. That's how awesome it was. That's why I chose to AAR it; if it had lasted 36 days and ended in defeat, I'd have never AARed it, because at the start I was outnumbered, so there'd be nothing remarkable about it.
3. Eochaid, the next update will come Thursday. Maybe this time you'll post...
4. WAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
5. Okay, I'll be honest. The real reason I had the Wurttemburgers flee is not because it would make it more dramatic. The real reason is that I absolutely hate having to say "Wurttemburgers" all the time. It drives me crazy!
6. WAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
7. You're welcome, Seidita! No problemo.
8. WAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*bump*
Don't worry, I'm writing the next installments, which should be up Thursday. I just want to keep the AAR on page one, so people can see it. Eochaid, get working!!!!
Don't worry, I'm writing the next installments, which should be up Thursday. I just want to keep the AAR on page one, so people can see it.
Eochaid, get working!!!!
XXIV- The Woes of Duc de Broglie
July 28: Day 33
Marshal Duc de Broglie woke up at four in the morning the next day. He organized his men into a line of battle facing north, towards yesterday's Prussian attack. His engineers tried to build a clumsy fort, but there simply wasn't enough time. The sun rose, and the Prussian infantry was revealed.
King Friedrich had brought up his infantry in attack formation. The cannons were close behind, roughly 80 of them. They opened fire.
The ground seemed to open up. The noise was deafening as the shells whistled and exploded. An enormous fireball belched up into the sky when a shell hit a store of powder and ammunition. The destruction was enormous; off to the right, away from the Rhine, the forest caught fire once again. Finally the Prussian infantry attacked. Marshal de Broglie retreated to a hill to watch.
"Sir!" A courier ran up. "Sir, the enemy attacks!"
"I know," snarled the Marshal.
"No sir, to the south!"
"You must have your directions mixed up. That is north. The enemy is to the north. Now look to the south. What--sacre bleu!" For to the south was Friedrich's cavalry, charging straight into the French rear, sweeping around the town of Kehl, led by the King himself. "Grab a few brigades, take them down, stop the cavalry!"
"Your will be done." The courier bowed down and out.
Soon a few brigades had stopped the cavalry charge and now there was horrible hand-to-hand fighting going on. The Marshal thought the sight disgusting and turned north.
The idiot courier had taken the brigades out of the center of the French line. Now there was a gaping hole, through which a seemingly endless supply of Prussian infantry poured. The Marshal looked east, to the forest.
And there, coming over the ridge, were the remnants of the army of General Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz. Not a single man stood in the way of the General's army. The Marshal was surrounded on three sides, and only two sides were defended.
"I am doomed!" he shouted, and threw his long dress sword down the hill and straight through a tree.
July 28: Day 33
Marshal Duc de Broglie woke up at four in the morning the next day. He organized his men into a line of battle facing north, towards yesterday's Prussian attack. His engineers tried to build a clumsy fort, but there simply wasn't enough time. The sun rose, and the Prussian infantry was revealed.
King Friedrich had brought up his infantry in attack formation. The cannons were close behind, roughly 80 of them. They opened fire.
The ground seemed to open up. The noise was deafening as the shells whistled and exploded. An enormous fireball belched up into the sky when a shell hit a store of powder and ammunition. The destruction was enormous; off to the right, away from the Rhine, the forest caught fire once again. Finally the Prussian infantry attacked. Marshal de Broglie retreated to a hill to watch.
"Sir!" A courier ran up. "Sir, the enemy attacks!"
"I know," snarled the Marshal.
"No sir, to the south!"
"You must have your directions mixed up. That is north. The enemy is to the north. Now look to the south. What--sacre bleu!" For to the south was Friedrich's cavalry, charging straight into the French rear, sweeping around the town of Kehl, led by the King himself. "Grab a few brigades, take them down, stop the cavalry!"
"Your will be done." The courier bowed down and out.
Soon a few brigades had stopped the cavalry charge and now there was horrible hand-to-hand fighting going on. The Marshal thought the sight disgusting and turned north.
The idiot courier had taken the brigades out of the center of the French line. Now there was a gaping hole, through which a seemingly endless supply of Prussian infantry poured. The Marshal looked east, to the forest.
And there, coming over the ridge, were the remnants of the army of General Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz. Not a single man stood in the way of the General's army. The Marshal was surrounded on three sides, and only two sides were defended.
"I am doomed!" he shouted, and threw his long dress sword down the hill and straight through a tree.
WAHOOOOO!!!!
Go Prussia!
Unfortunately I am going on vacation from this coming Sunday until next the 18th or possibly 19th. More than a week with no writing, no forum. Eochaid, I EXPECT you to entertain these nice people until I return! You'd better update all the way up to July 28th!! I don't want to see this AAR on Page 2!!! Or you'll have to drop down and give me 25!!!
But seriously, you're going to have to keep everybody entertained while I'm gone, and your special guest appearances are getting way to scarce...
Go Prussia!
Unfortunately I am going on vacation from this coming Sunday until next the 18th or possibly 19th. More than a week with no writing, no forum
. Eochaid, I EXPECT you to entertain these nice people until I return! You'd better update all the way up to July 28th!! I don't want to see this AAR on Page 2!!! Or you'll have to drop down and give me 25!!! But seriously, you're going to have to keep everybody entertained while I'm gone, and your special guest appearances are getting way to scarce...