21 March 2008 - New: The Prussians arrive! see below

and Battle Report... click here!

John Ray’s Fulda Campaign

John Ray is a wargamer, figure designer and sculptor of considerable standing, as many in the hobby will know.

His 18^th century collection is one of the finest in the world in terms of quality, uniqueness (the majority of the figures are John’s own designs), and quantity.

And so it is with enormous pleasure that this section of the site is handed over to John to display some of his “alternative history” Fulda campaign.

Over to John…

Invasion of Fulda

 Chapter 2.

With the declaration of war on Fulda, Duke Charles hastily started the mobilisation of an army to invade. This was much hampered by the disbandment of most of the army following the end of the Seven Years War and the dire financial position of the state coffers.

Even these restrictions and the lack of trained manpower did not stand in his way, men of all ages German or not were rounded up and soon under military instruction.

The Duke eventually managed to assemble a force of four infantry regiments, three cavalry regiments, jagers and artillery under the command of General Philip Olleyschiller (!)

In the meantime, the Duke had written to King Louis XV requesting military assistance. An invasion of Fulda could have far-reaching implications and consequences for all of Europe.

Fulda, up to 1765, had no standing army. This changed in 1766 when concerned for the safety of its borders the Bishopric hired first a battalion of Guard Grenadiers from Prussia (IR 6) and secondly a battalion of Leibgrenadier-Garde from Saxony. A cavalry regiment of two squadrons had been purchased from the Landgraf of Hesse-Kassel in 1769. A squadron of light horse commanded by Captain Nicholas Welsh (more of him later), further supplemented the Bishoprics small corps of cavalry.

Above: Prussian Potsdam Grenadiers (IR6) parade outside the Palace of the Bishopric of Fulda. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Above: vignette and Brian Riglesford's pen and ink sketch of Wurttemburg Grenadiers requesting "Papers" from certain individuals trying to leave Fulda. Click on pics to enlarge.

Above: Wurttemberg Regt Gabelenz

various personalities from the campaign

Fulda Kettledrummer

Above: Prussian Infantry Regt IR 5. This is the first of a new collection to wargame the War of the Bavarian Succession. Painted by Dave Jarvis. Flags by Mark Allen.

Above: Colonel of IR 5. Weight on the stirrups, he stands leaning slightly forward to see above the smoke! Named "Lanky Heinz" by painter Dave Jarvis.

Picture credits:

Flags: Hand-painted by Mark Allen

Figures: painted by Dave Jarvis (except Prussian IR 6 Potsdam battalion figures painted by John Ray).

Horses: designed by Peter Gilder, Firing Line and others.

Photography: John Hansom

Coach, Walls, Palace: Hand made by Brian Riglesford, painted by John Ray.

Pen and Ink drawings: Brian Riglesford

Figures: Designed and sculpted by John Ray.  

Copyright: Please note. No photographs may be reproduced without the written permission of John Ray who owns the copyright.

If you wish to comment on John’s collection, please email him direct, putting "Fulda" in the subject line:

email John Ray