The Bier War - Hopgarten and Second Pilsner

Sunday saw myself and the various members of Oldmeldrum Wargames Group  fight out another series of battles from the Bier Wars.

John (Gelbhandtasche) and Andy (Campari) marshal their troops.

 

This time things began to get hot as what we would now understand as "coalition" warfare started to make its presence felt, with the various states forming (and unforming!) alliances to pursue their various aims. Thus multi state battles became a new feature of war in tiny Staropramen. Its capitol had the privations of war visited upon it for a second time as Campari and Gelbehandtasche held it against Fellschlosschen and Hoegaarden and an opportunistic Guinness. Crabbei survived another few months and a remarkable rapprochement was achieved!

The season kicked off with an encounter battle between Gelbehandtasche and Campari, advancing on the town of Hopgarten and Hoegaarden, hoping to reach its depot and restock before the season commenced.

Faced with odds of 2:1, the Archbishop sent his ADC flying across country to call for support from Fellschlosschen, who were several hours march away at Grimbergen. On receiving assurances that support would be given, Hoegaarden made a stand. The little town of Hopgarten was garrisoned by the Grenadiers..

 

While the remainder of Hoegaarden's army stretched eastwards in a thin line towards the Muhlfelder.

 

 

Gelbehandtasche's blue coated army deployed from line of march in front of Hopgarten while Campari sought to prevent the arrival of Fellschlosschen by cutting the roads to the east.

Gelbehandtasche deploy in line and advance

 

A sharp and heavy fight got underway, things looking bleak initially for Hoeggarden, but a combination of swift marching and good spring roads brought her ally onto the field swifter than was anticipated and by mid morning, Campari and Gelbehandtasche had drawn back. Hoegaarden held fast, having taken light casualties and unwilling to hazard an advance. So it was that the first battle ended.

Hard marching Grun-Hoegaarden pause and draw breath before taking on the foe

Following Hopgarten, each side marched and countermarched, Guinness and his men teasing Crabbei with their manoeuvres, but unable to draw him out.

By high summer Campari and Gelbehandtasche has marched into Pilsner. The mood of the populace was sullen and it was soon evident that the other states would march on the city which did nothing to contribute to their mood.

Sure enough within days Hoegaarden and Fellschlosschen had arrived, joined, surpringly by Sir Arthur and his Irishmen, quite why no one knew although it was rumoured there was a want of shoes in that army and hearing that the shoemakers of Pilsner were a busy lot, Guinness sought to amend his lack of leather!!

 

The Archbishop takes a moment to review his plans.....

However, that morning Campari's men had found a note, wrapped in a hymn sheet, written in latin and addressed to the Duke. In it, the shrewd Archbishop of Hoegaarden offered the return of the Dukes baggage and sordid personal effects as well as absolution for his many, many sins. Hoegaarden would play a minimal involvement in the coming battle but would expect reparation for his "good works" in the form of men and materiel.

Sunshine on Pilsner - Feldshlossen attacks.

 

As the sun rose on Pilsner the armies drew up for combat. The initial plan had been for a joint artillery bombardment to "shoot-in" the attack. However Gelbehandtasche had deployed outside the city and the allied cavalry moved to screen them.

 

Hoegaarden covered the flank, protecting the assault parties from enemy troops outside the town.

 

As Fellschlosschen's infantry moved forward, the more energetic Cuirassiers edged too far forward and took fire from the guns of their foe. They trotted on, drawing in support from Hoegaarden's Dragoons and Horse Grenadiers and their own Dragoons and soon 4 regiments of cavalry were charging across the open ground.

 

 

"Look at the those magnificent horsemen!" cried the Archbishop, momentarily forgetting his deal.

 

The guns took aim and round after round hit the charging men, slowing their impetus. Enemy cavalry swung into view and counter-charged and for a while the melee swung back and forth as fresh units were drawn in.

 Meanwhile the infantry neared the outskirts of the city and were battering their way in. However Guinness and his men had, perhaps through want of shoes, not been able to advance as swiftly and Fellschlosschen faced the defenders on their own.

The battle could only go one way, and despite their best efforts they were thrown back. The cavalry battle was over too, depleted squadrons from both sides limping towards their lines, while Pilsner's famous Cobbler's Quarter burned and Irish voices wailed in lament!