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I concur with my major. The Captain was a spirited warrior. I pray God for the repose of his immortal soul and that I may make my end even half so nobly in the service of His good servant, my King.

Did we not get a turn this week or are we waiting for the whole season? Pillage, sack and burn!

You will get a turn at the weekend after I have finished having jetlag and catching up at work.

sweeet.

Yay!

Le Poireau Parisien de Juin 1621

Siege of Charlesroi


Report of General Abondance

Your Majesty, I am chagrined to report that the siege continues, the defenders having shown an unusual amount of courage and initiative for the Spanish, which has thus far frustrated our efforts.

My first action was to choose and fortify a camp -- this proved a wise decision as my report will show.

The camp having been completed, I set the Engineers to sapping towards the town walls and constructing a battery, with the help of the Frontier Brigade.

The 1st Division of Foot was drilled in assault tactics, while the 2nd Army foraged around the town and kept watch for possible enemy reinforcements.

After three weeks of sapping, our battery was close enough to the walls to begin effective bombardment. The steady pounding of the guns had such good effect that it became necessary for the Spanish to make a sortie against the battery.

At dawn on the 25th they began a counter-battery fire from the walls and columns of infantry issued forth to attack our lines.

Lt-General Viso, commanding the siege lines, was observing the town at this time and was unluckily killed by a cannon ball from the first enemy salvo. Fortunately both his brigade commanders had the good sense to rouse their troops without waiting for orders and they assembled them to repulse the enemy.

Both brigades moved swiftly to counterattack despite a hail of enemy fire. At first, the enemy was halted between our lines and his own walls, and it seemed they would be forced to retreat. Then, a lucky shot brought down the commander of the 2nd Brigade of Foot. This dismayed the troops and they began to fall back. I have no doubt that the lack of regimental officers in the 12th Fusiliers, which has been remarked upon in the Paris press, was partly responsible for this reverse, since the 1st Brigade which as Your Majesty is well aware contains some strong young officers, was unaffected by the enemy attack.

The 1st Brigade however bravely it fought, was unable to hold position unsupported, as a second enemy column began to move around their flank. They commenced a fighting retreat, during which the Colonel of the Royal Marines was cut down, and a courier at his side also wounded. When the 1st Division reached out camp, they were able to rally. In the meantime, the Frontier Regiments, supported by a battalion of the Gascon Regiment, moved out against the enemy.

By this time it was nearly noon and I confess my spirits were low, as it seemed very likely our battery would be overrun and the guns spiked. Spanish troops were already among the guns, demolishing the embrasures, spilling the ready powder, hammering the balls, and other such acts of vandalism. It only needed their Artillerists to come up and Your Majesty’s fine pieces would have been seriously damaged.

Fortunately, the sound of fighting had attracted the attention of some of our cavalry. At their own initiative, the Horse Guards Brigade and Dragoons Division fell on the flank of the approaching columns and forced them to retire into Charlesroi, thus, the battery was saved from serious damage.

During this action, the Princess Louisa Light Dragoons became separated from the main body, and, venturing too close to the town walls, sustained serious casualties from light artillery fire.

I am glad to be able to state that the siege works have been delayed only by a week, and things could have gone a lot worse if not for the prompt action of our cavalry.

Sadly there are a number of notable casualties to report.

Lieutenant-General Viso of the 1st Division
Lt-General Langres of the 2nd Division
Brigadier General Fourme of the 2nd Brigade of Foot
Brigadier General Salers of the Dragoons Brigade
Colonel Roquefort of the Royal Marines
Major Tomme of the Princess Louise Light Dragoons

Also a number of lesser ranked officers and many Privates fell, but not so many as to force our lifting the siege.

In order to make up the losses it is necessary to promote some of the younger officers. Fortunately, there are a number of young Gentlemen in your service who have already proved themselves in combat and I have no hesitation in recommending the following names to Your Majesty.

Brigadier General Munster of the 1st Brigade of Foot to be promoted to Lt-General of the 1st Division.
Lt Colonel Pélardon of the Royal Marines to be promoted to Colonel of that regiment.
Colonel Valançay of the Picardy Musketeers to be promoted to Brigadier General of the 1st Brigade of Foot.
Lt-Colonel Epoisses of the Picardy Musketeers to be promoted to Colonel commanding that regiment.
Major Bael to be promoted to Lt-Colonel of the Picardy Musketeers.
Brevet Captain Thoré of the Picardy Musketeers to be promoted to Brevet Major commanding the 3rd Battalion, and his rank as Captain to be confirmed.

I love war. And my King. Lord, let me but wage war for my King!

Yay! I've been gaining in command ability, now I get a promotion too! Sweet.

"Never mind maneuvers- just go straight at them."

Le Poireau Parisien de Juillet 1621



Great Victory at Charlesroi !


Spanish Menace Confounded by Surprise Attack !


Town Liberated by Assault !





A special report from our War Correspondent

Never let it be said that French arms can be dismayed for long by a reverse!

After last month’s battle, in which the siege battery was damaged by a Spanish sortie, General Abondance set his men to work to repair the damage and enforce the siege with utmost vigour.

The Dragoons Brigade were detached to forage for wood, while engineers were set to making wooden boards and gabions to reinforce the trenches.

Regimental officers who had distinguished themselves in previous fighting, were put in charge at command level. New generals were quickly summoned from Paris, to fill the various positions in divisional and brigade command which were emptied last month by the fortune of war.

This however was all merely a cunning diversion. In secret, the General prepared a dramatic assault against the town. Reckoning that the defenders would be lulled into a false sense of security by the success of their sortie, and the obvious signs of the siege being re-instated on regular terms, the General gave orders for a two pronged attack.

The most daring part of the plan was to put everything into effect within only three days of the enemy sortie, so that the repair works on the battery were still incomplete. This would mean the advance would take place without covering fire, and the General relied on the element of surprise to allow his troops to approach the enemy walls without incurring serious casualties.

The first prong of the assault was carried by the 1st Army, 1st Division, 1st Brigade of Foot. This brigade, comprising the Royal Marines and the Picardy Musketeers has already covered itself with glory during the course of the war and is a clear choice for such a hazardous duty as the Forlorn Hope.

The assault took place in later afternoon on the 3rd, at a time when the westering sun would obscure the defenders’ view of approaching troops.

The formed up brigade, apparently carrying materials for the repair of the battery, was actually equipped with fascines and escalading ladders. They marched towards the battery, then continued straight through it without any fanfare. By this quiet approach, they were able to reach the first parallel of the town’s walls and had begun to fill the moat, before any alarm was raised.

The defenders then opened fire with all their guns, but were unable to halt the 1st Brigade who, closely supported by the 2nd Brigade, gained the parapet and attacked the wall mounted artillery. The guns there were quickly silenced, allowing the 2nd Brigade to escalade quickly and move into the town, with the 13th Fusiliers leading the advance.

Although the street fighting slowed down the movement of our troops, it also attracted defenders from all over Charlesroi. At this time, the second prong of the attack made itself known, a direct assault on the North gate, carried out by the Dragoon Brigade, supported by a battalion of the Gascon Regiment.

The cunning of the General’s plan was to let the Dragoon Brigade be equipped with two carts of gun powder from reserve siege stores, under cover of their foraging expedition.

With the defenders’ attention distracted, the Dragoons brought the carts to the gate and exploded all by means of a fuse. The concussion was heard all over the battlefield. As soon as the debris stopped falling, the Gascons cleared the road and the Cavalry Division charged through the gate.

Readers will know from previous reports that cavalry are not usually reckoned effective in town fighting. Despite this, the moral impact upon the Spanish of the sudden irruption of so many enemies into their rear, when they were already hotly engaged in front, quickly led to the collapse of organised defence.

As the Spanish evacuated Charlesroi to the south-west, our glorious troops were welcomed with flowers and kisses from the liberated inhabitants.

The campaign thus far is a great success, yet one more month remains in which effective operations may be undertaken.

Considering General Abondance’s proven ability to pull large elephants out of small sacks, who can say what dashing deed of arms he may put over against the Spanish before our elite regiments return to their normal quarters?


Report of General Abondance

Your Most Christian Majesty,

It is with great pride in the army, the command of which you graciously favoured me, that I humbly report the liberation of the town of Charlesroi by assault.

My siege plan having been frustrated by a Spanish sortie, I determined to bring the operation to a quick conclusion in order to have time during the rest of the campaign season, for some other useful action.

The assault on Charlesroi was accomplished by means of surprise and the utmost energy of your troops..

The defences west of the town were escaladed by the Royal Marines and Picardy Musketeers, carrying fascines to fill the trench and ladders to escalade the parapet.

This operation was a quick success, silencing the defending guns. Several officers distinguished themselves in this attack. I particularly commend to Your Majesty’s attention, Lt-Colonel Bael of the Picardy Musketeers. Majors Guderian and Thoré of the same regiment, are to be congratulated on the speed and resolve of their battalions’ advance. I regret that Captain Gabriel Adlam, a dashing officer of the corps, fell at Major Guderian’s side, as they crossed the enemy parapet.

The support troops consisting of the 13th and 53rd Fusiliers, moved forwards quickly and broke into the town, where they became embroiled in street fighting.

At this stage the second attack took effect. I had recourse to the use of gunpowder bombes, or minnes, prepared for this occasion from our siege supplies, which were packed into wine tuns, and carried forwards by Your Majesty’s Dragoons by use of small carts. These bombes were placed at the north gate, and exploded by fuse. This was overseen very capably by Brevet Captain Yves L’Angley of the Princess Louisa’s Light Dragoons.

The attack was completed by the Heavy and Horse Guards Brigades, supported by a battalion of the Gascon Regiment, who charged into the town as soon as the road was clear.

The cavalry was well handled in street fighting. The cavalry brigadiers have asked me to note their brigade majors, Baron Mauvoisin of the Crown Prince Cuirassiers, and Major Tacomanne of the Dragoon Guards, who performed an exemplary duty in organising the advance through the narrow streets.

In the confusion of being attacked from two sides, the Spanish were forced quickly to fall back, and withdrew from Charleroi under cover of darkness, leaving a great quantity of stores and many guns to be captured by our army.

Regrettably there have been some notable casualties, which glorious names I note here, along with a list of the officers recommended for promotion.

The Fallen
General Gaslon of the 2nd Army
Brigadier-Genl Cabecue of the Dragoon Guards
Brevet-Colonel Rochebarron of the Picardy Musketeers
Captain Adlam of the Picardy Musketeers

Mentions In Dispatches
Baron Xavier Mauvoisin (Crown Prince Cuirassiers)
Major Patrick Le Tacomanne (Dragoon Guards)
Lt-Colonel Jean-Michel Bael (Picardy Musketeers)
Major Manfred Guderian (Picardy Musketeers)
Brevet-Major Luc-Vincent Thoré (Picardy Musketeers)
Brevet-Captain Agramant Yves L’Angley (Princess Louisa’s Light Dragoons)

Field Promotions
Baron Mauvoisin to Lt-Colonel of the Crown Prince Cuirassiers
Major Tacomanne to Brevet Lt-Colonel of the Dragoon Guards
Captain LeBlanc to Major of the Royal Marines
Lt-Colonel Bael to Brevet Colonel of the Picardy Musketeers
Major Guderian to Lt-Colonel of the Picardy Musketeers
Brevet-Major Thoré is promoted and confirmed Major of the Picardy Musketeers
Brevet-Captain L’Angley is promoted to Brevet Major and confirmed as Captain in the Princess Louisa’s Light Dragoons.



Announcement from Les Tuileries
It pleases His Most Christian Majesty Louis XIII, to mark the occasion of the capture of Charlesroi, by congratulating officers who have distinguished themselves and their arms in the current campaign.

Major Manfred Guderian, Brevet-Major Luc-Vincent Thoré, and Brevet-Captain Agramant Yves L’Angley are most warmly thanked for their courage and esprit de corps.

Kilkrazy wrote:This operation was a quick success, silencing the defending guns. Several officers distinguished themselves in this attack. I particularly commend to Your Majesty’s attention, Lt-Colonel Bael of the Picardy Musketeers. Majors Guderian and Thoré of the same regiment, are to be congratulated on the speed and resolve of their battalions’ advance. I regret that Captain Gabriel Adlam, a dashing officer of the corps, fell at Major Guderian’s side, as they crossed the enemy parapet.

Cover save???

-Gabriel

A New Character is on his way.

Kilkrazy,

great write up.

The battle report is exciting and offers some cool historical insight.

Thanks for the work.

So we have one more season of campaigning?

can we have a tally of our pistoles/debts at some point?

Next month's battle is the last in the summer campaign season.

When it is finished I will do a complete accounting update and refresh everyone's character sheets.

No moneylender would dare to interfere with a King's Officer on active duty, so anyone who has outstanding debts need not worry about them at the moment.

One more battle may with luck bring in some useful loot, alternatively characters may get killed in which case their accounts will be of only academic interest.

Individual results of Juillet, including any plunder captured, will go out tonight.

Outstanding. Another great writeup!

Most of our heroes cover themselves in glory, including the tragic Captain Adlam- a romantic figure if there ever was one. I can picture the German Major Guderian, mourning his junior officer despite the differences of their backgrounds, before leaping back into the fray.

I think perhaps Col. Bael will commission some sort of memorial- perhaps a plaque, or painting, to commemorate the crossing of the wall of Charleroi by the Picardy Musketeers, and remember Col. Rochebarron and Captain Adlam's glorious sacrifices.

If I am promoted to Brevet Lt-Colonel am I still Brigade Major or do I lose that appointment.

You'll be brigade major until the end of the campaign. All military appointments come up for renewal then.

Alright so I am Brigade Major until the end of the campaign but when we are gallivanting in gay Paris I do not get the extra SP from it then. I mean it is cool.

Brigade Major Dragoon Guards +5 SP/ turn.

And correct me if I am wrong, and I may very well be, I get another 4 SP for being a Brigade Major at all. So 4 for Brigade Major and another +5 for my regiment. From the Regimental Appointments table and the Regimental Table C.

Tacommane deserves SP for knowing the rules !

Captain Adlam's service will be remembered in a fitting memorial service at the battalion chapel in Paris when we return. Our honorable regimental commander will be invited of course, and the service will be compulsory for all members of the Battalion, to include the officers.

General Abondance, Commanding His Most Christian Majesty's Armies in the Spanish Netherlands
Currently situate in The Lines Around Marchienne-au-Pont,


Your Majesty,

Following the successful conquest of Charlesroi, I paused for several weeks to rest the Infantry, organise the city, repair the damages of the siege, and bring up supplies.

Meanwhile I sent the 2nd Army (Cavalry) to sweep the area of Marchienne-au-Pont, northwest of Charlesroi along the River Sambre. This operation was most capably orgnaised by Majors Bael and Tacomanne of the Heavy and Horse Guards brigades.

At Marchienne, as its name indicates, there is a substantial bridge which if captured would achieve the twin objective of denying the Spanish a crossing to the rear of Your Armies, and also enable our continuing winter operations to be more easily supplied.

The 2nd Army was able to clear enemy resistance in a series of field operations. A bold attempt by Monsieur L’Angley of the Princess Louisa’s Light Dragoons to sieze the town gates by a coup de main, regrettably was unsuccessful. It became clear that the town and its bridge would only fall to a formal siege by Infantry and Artillery.

At the start of August I brought the 1st Army along the north bank of the Sambre, the Guards Division being detached to close off the southern end of the bridge.

I let the cavalry continue operations to the north of the city while the Engineers, assisted by the Frontier Brigade, began to construct siege lines. I caused a pontoon bridge to be built, to allow our forces north of the Sambre to be supplied in case the enemy should manage to cut between Charlesroi and our camps around Marchienne-au-Pont. Major Gagnon of the Gascon Regiment, deserves credit for foiling a sortie against the pontoons.

Although the lines have been completed satisfactorily, and our batteries are making steady progress, it has become clear that the army is not in a fit state to complete a siege before the autumn.

While the Frontier Brigade has received good reinforcements, much of the 1st and 2nd Infantry have been on campaign now for four months. Their spirits are of course high, however the men’s equipment is pretty well done in. Ammunition is low, some men having fired as many as two or three dozen shots during the campaign.

The ranks have been thinned by camp fever and deaths in the many daring attacks the regiments have made. Furthermore, many higher commanders have fallen, such was the intensity of the campaign.

Although the regimental officers have proven themselves capable of good tactics, it is essential that their social level is sufficient to command the respect of the army. The case of Brevet Major Thoré is very illustrative; this young officer’s talents have propelled him to a position much higher than his social rank befits. A few seasons in Paris will mature and round out these young fellows’ characters.

Always mindful of Your Most Christian Majesty’s interest in the welfare of His Army, I have therefore issued orders to return the following regiments and brigades to Paris for reorganisation.

The Picardy Musketeers
The Royal Marines
The 13th and the 53rd Fusiliers
The Gascon Regiment, 3rd Battalion
The Horse Guards Brigade
The Heavy Cavalry Brigade
The Dragoon Brigade

Your most obedient servant, General Abondance

Awesome. Looking forward to the Fall in Paris. I can't wait to get back to my carousing and gambling ways!

The Leaderboard has been updated on the website to Aout 1621.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Août 1621


Led by General Abondance the elite regiments began to arrive in Paris at the end of the month.

The Queen herself greeted the senior officers of each regiment, honouring the conquering heroes by her gracious presence.



Such a spectacle drew great crowds, enabling a number of men to absent themselves from the ranks in a bid to avoid their creditors.

The more loyal men, however, returned to their respective headquarters expecting to be paid off. Many of them were suffering from camp fever and needed proper nursing care.

Also jamming the stately quarters were hundreds of horses, many in poor condition from low grade campaign feed, especially the cavalry whose mounts are generally harder driven than those belonging to infantry officers.

Moneylenders thronged around the gates, eager to tap the returning troops for their owings before all the plunder could be spent on debauchery.

Many tasks need to be completed to stand down the regiments for the close season. Apart from paying off and caring for the horses, all the campaign equipment needs to be inspected, returned to store, sent for repair or condemned as unserviceable. The battle flags must be cleaned and repaired, unless they are badly damaged in which case they will be mounted as wall hangings. Captured standards will be displayed as war trophies. The guns will either be taken into The King’s artillery, or melted down for scrap.

The losses of senior officers meant many units are short of the experience needed to complete all these important but tedious tasks. Astute officers lean heavily on their experienced subordinates, others simply scamp their duties and off-load as much work as possible to civilian agents. Naturally this leads to a significant amount of ‘wastage’ as barrels of ration wine or gunpowder fall off the back of wagons, and so on.

Nonetheless, those who had a ‘good war’ are pleased to be back in Paris. There is money to be spent and social opportunities to pursue.


Lapsed Players
I urge you to rejoin the campaign. It is much more fun with more players involved.


The Military Awards 1621

Plunder
The lowly brevet Major Langley proved a reputation that light cavalry have always held.

Mentions in Dispatches
Baron Mauvoisin and Major Thoré tied with six each. Major Thoré wins by the total value of his being greater.

Military Ability
Lt-Colonel Guderian of the Picardy Musketeers proved himself a tactical genius.

Honourable mention for Lt-Colonel Tacommane, who started out thinking that warfare involves a certain amount of rushing around and shouting, and ended with a good appreciation that you should not stand either in front of or behind a cannon.

Promotions
Major Thoré started a newly spawned subaltern and ascended to senior Major of his regiment.

Baron Mauvoisin was given two titles raising him from a Gentleman to a Baron.

Dodgiest Looting
No-one knows where Brevet Major Fortescue of the 13th Fusiliers got his money.

Flush with booty, yet still lacking in social recognition, Lafayette Gagnon is ready to consider offers to pay in return for toadying.

(GM, if this needs to be done as a paid advertisement let me know and I'll re-write it)

If you want to advertise in le Poireau Parisien the rates are in one of the back issues.

You get a bit of SP for doing so.

Lafayette Gagnon, now a Major, has come to Paris to seek his Fortune. He is a Stout-Hearted Fellow of proven Valour and Loyalty in the service of His Majesty the King. Yet, hailing from Bruges, he finds himself Bereft of Friends in the Capital. Thus he wishes to make the Acquaintance of other Men of a Respectable and Virtuous Sort, who may lend Aid towards his Prospects and Career. Correspondence should be directed care of Mme Fournier's Boarding House, rue Gilet, La Rive Droite.

A smartly-dressed servant, clearly pleased with himself in new clothes, delivers a letter:

To the attention of the Hon. Major Gagnon-

Best greetings and felicitations to a new inductee into our Illustrious Brotherhood, the officers of High Royal Majesty's armies. Truly we are blessed, as there is no better possible Role a man can serve, nor a better place to serve it, than Paris. I am recently returned from Campaign, and am planning to host a fine party in the first week of the month, at my club Red Philips, in which we shall toast our victory in finest champagne, and no doubt talk strategy well into the night. You are welcome to join.

Best regards,

Lt. Col. Jean-Michel Bael, of His Majesty's Picardy Musketeers.

Couple of quick questions: (1) how would one apply for transfers to maintain rank in open positions? For example, if a Lt. Colonelcy in a better regiment were open and you met the purchasing requirements, what would you need to do to get moved over? (2) When are brevet promotions revoked and which ones became permanent since the campaign? I.E. is Colonel Bael the regimental commander or the acting one with a full colonel vacany for purchase?

And yes, this game rocks. Great work so far.

If you want to move regiment this is the procedure.

1. Check you fill the requirements of SL and money.
2. Go to new regiment headquarters and see if the position is vacant.
3. If it is, apply to see if you get blackballed.
4. If accepted, hand over cash.

A brevet promotion lasts one year or until you achieve the SL needed to hold it permanently or if you receive another field promotion to a higher brevet rank your current brevet rank is confirmed as permanent even if your SL is too low.

Most characters who get a brevet promotion will probably go up enough SLs to have it made permanent inside the year. The main limitation is you can only go up one SL per month.

Excellent.

Are any of our other fellow officers planning to host any parties this month, in celebration of our glorious success?

AMENDMENT: To better simulate Lt. Col Bael hosting the party at Red Philips, I'll pay the carousing costs of any attendees. Please confirm any acceptances of this invitation in this thread by Friday at the latest. Thanks!

Col. Bael,

I must catch up on personal matters this month, but I plan on hosting a victory party in October for all who are interested in attending.

Respectfully,
Lt. Col. Guderian