Road to...

Handing his two horse pistols to his aide de campe, Ritter von Trimbach orders him to dispatch the beast pursuing Duda.The clumsy fellow misses and Duda rides forth into the gloom with the boar in hot pursuit!

Returning to the task of rallying the men, von Trimbach instructs his captains to identify their Feldwebels and Corporals and inform them that they will be summarily broken back to common soldier if they do not immediately turn their attention to reforming their men, and that corporal punishment is authorised for any private soldiers who ignore their instructions to reform.Von Trimbach finds he cannot be everywhere at once . The corporals seem unable to accomplish this with regard to more than a few individuals...

Von Trimbach finds himself alone on a country road with a wall running along it's edge. He rides along it for some time before he finds himself surrounded by the Saschen-Vindow jaegers. Remaining calm von Trimbach clears his throat to speak...

Post-battle ...

Ritter von Trimbach permits his men pursuit to the nearest defiles and woods' edge before seeking out his standard-bearers and bugler to sound recall. Leaving his colour guard at the vacated wolf-pits, Ritter von Trimbach orders his bugle to continue sounding recall while riding forward with his subordinate officers to rally the men back to the colours.

The fates proved to be against this occurring- the men are scattered and engaged in pursuit and plundering.The officers are ignored and the bugle sounds to no avail. In a copse,which proved darker and thicker than imagined, a boar suddenly emerges from the thick undergrowth. The furious animal charges Duda and his horse. The horse bolts and Duda can little more than hang on for dear life itself...

Rout...

While waiting for the reply from Duda, Oberst Trimbach charges the captain of his first company to detach an ensign, corporal to mark off 200 paces downstream, identify the likeliest spot to ford and return to the regiment's main body...
With no fords being thought to lie within the vicinity ,Duda and Trimbach call their men forward. The water is crossed, the Saschen-Vindow forces break and the enemy routed. The Tradgardlanders pursue them and soon the Regiments are scattered across the countryside. Trimbach and Duda become separated from each other and from their men...

Firstblood...

Oberst Ritter von Trimbach is not a man to nurse grievance over trivial questions of precedence, but he does find that his associate's intrepidity verges on rashness.Consoling himself with a prayer to St. Moritz, von Trimbach sends couriers to summon his company commanders to him, requesting them at the next rest halt to have their Corporals identify men in the ranks with any detailed knowledge of the local terrain of the sort perhaps not captured on the campaign maps.

Two men are identified who know a man ,who knows a man who once was in this part of the Duchy whilst wooing a farmer's daughter. It is established that there might just be some marshland and a stream a few leagues yonder!

Those with local knowledge were proved correct. Our gallant Tradgardlanders advance through the marsh whereupon scouts observe Saschen-Vindow border troops in hastily dug"wolf-pits and in a small copse. After a brief but heated exchange the regimental commanders ask for the advance to be sounded...

Meanwhile in the Duchy of Tradgardland...

Under the watchful eyes ,of the sentries on the Walls of the City,Count Getja Bootzon ,the new ambassador to Tragardland is pictured here with Colonel Alexander von Messing, who will be joining the Tradgardland Life Guard. They are conversing about the recent moves against Saschen-Vindow and await for news of the battle which must surely come...

Border crossing...

The Tradgardlanders marched through the long and dark night until they came to the old wooden bridge that marked the border. They found the frontier post deserted and an eerie stillness was evident all around...

The commander of the Brigade ( by force of his enthusiasm and Duke Karl Frederick's patience having been thereby tested ) was one of the first over the bridge into Saschen-Vindow. His more reserved second in command ( by virtue of him taking a less overt part in the meeting with the Duke) can be seen following closely.

In a few miles they will encounter a mix of forest and marsh and perhaps some opposition too...

Marching forth...

On the express orders of Duke Karl Frederick , 1st and 2nd Tradgarland Infantry Regiments left the Ducal Capital today. They were commanded by their new commanders and accompanied by elements of the Tradagrdland Legione. They are to make for the border with Saschen-Vindow where, in the light of the threat posed by the infernal engine, they are to proceed with all haste to engage the forces of Duke Peter and smash the aforementioned engine. Who knows what awaits them...

Roman holiday

Salve!

Well I am off for half term - my week has passed so quickly. I have cleared out the garage , begun research on the Danish /Swedish war of 1658 ( trying to get some books inter library loan) and had some fun R&R too. I have been catching up on series 2 of Rome on my friend's dvd box set. It is ott and graphic at times but I fear I am hooked. Just watched the battle of Phillipi with lunch and feel ancients on the agenda once more. However where to go rules wise these days- I am an old wrg man but am a bit off dbm! What next - any ideas welcome...

With regard to the 18th century I found this interesting diagram and wondered if this family/loyalty "tree" might have a place in the world of EvE . Let me know what you think...

p.s the postwoman has just tried to ram a hard back book into the letter box causing it some damage - it is "The garden cottage diaries- my year in the 18th century " by Fiona J Houston

On the Border...

Some photos of last night's game - our first trial outing for "Hot Trod " rules. These depict 16th century border reiver warfare. Considering we didn't know the rules too well we managed them without too many difficulties.
It was a chance to try out the basic system prior to adding on the colourful local/period details . The rules acquitted themselves well. We look forward to adding the super scenario rules soon. It looks like it is going to be a fun project- anyone know of a cheap(ish) Bastle house/peel tower in 25mm?

New faces in Tradgardland...

This week sees two new commanding officers for the First and Second Regiments of Tradgardland infantry. They are pictured putting their men through their paces.
Due to the Duke's personal wishes the gentlemen have been been given command of the two main Militia infantry regiments. Duke Karl Frederick felt they brought experience and steady hands at this time of impending conflict with Saschen-Vindow.
The gentlemen have been welcomed by their brother officers and are fully integrated into the life of the Duchy.
Comments upon their first days in the Duchy would be welcomed from both these gallant gentlemen...

Updates...

Thanks for the ideas/suggestions! i have decided to run with the front Rank- in fact they go pretty well with my infantry. I hope to continue to sort etc figs at the weekend. I will invest in afew figs to make the cav up to sqdn/regt size.
There is snow on the ground and it looks great- it seems to be shaping up to be a quieter weekend so some hobby work will be undertaken. I am going to post the state of the armies (including those under painting ) to let me and others see where I am headed...

Random thoughts...

Apologies to those who are awaiting pics of their new fig in Tradgardland. The two are here safe but as I put my back out yesterday I am taking it easy- stretched in an odd way when I was hanging out the washing... Photos to pe posted when I can reach the recesses of the cupboard to get the figs and scenery out...

I found a super new blog thru Jeffs eve links- Wars of Louis Quatorze . It is really worth a look and he has some superb stuff on it - late 17th C in America and Canada and loads and loads more feasts for eye and mind.

Watched "Atonement" last night and was really disappointed by it. I don't what I had expected but I was not impressed- probably I'm the only one! I wondered about the Dunkirk scenes but don't know enough - can you help?

Of late I have been sorting out my imagination armies. I have really fancied some old school looking cav but can't afford the size of units i wish. I have agonised about the lack of cav before I can have a good game but now have decided to go with the Front Rank figs I posses already. Not very old school looking but here and bought already. I think that I will go with what I have and worry later about some other cav later. So the table will be full of Front Rank cav and minifig,RSM, etc infantry. A fair old mix but hopefully willy provide a good game for me...