The Pils-Holstein Campaign, 1755.

Before you go rushng off to an atlas to find Pils-Holstein, and before you start calling travel companies to book your holidays in such a wonderful land, don’t worry… because you won’t find it. It is a fictional country, along with others such as Teutonburg-Fredonia, which I have created as the sort of states that could easily have existed in Europe during the middle of the eighteenth century. Their actions and those of their rulers, will, I hope, reflect the political machinations, the intrigues, and the military alliances of that period.

Pils-Holstein is a stretch of land approximately 80 miles east-west, by 60 miles north-south, and lies somewhere between France and Hesse, with Teutonburg-Fredonia further north east.

The map is a “stylised” version, and is not to a strict scale. It shows only the major features; the major towns and rivers, and the significant ranges of hills and woods. Smaller rivers, woods, hills and the complex network of villages, hamlets and farms are omitted for clarity (though some say the cartographer had been paid one lunchtime in Pils-Holstein’s finest ale, and was unfit to complete his work!).

above: stylised sketch map of The Landgraviate of Pils Holstein, 1755.

Pils-Holstein is primarily a rural land with just a few small towns. It is a territory rich in raw materials for the production of the finest beer in Europe , and it’s trade links with all parts of the continent are much coveted. It is a land festooned with windmills, oast-houses, and the means of shipping goods via it’s inland lakes and waterways to The Low countries, and thence to Britain, Scandinavia, and beyond, to the new world and the colonies. In return it receives goods from far and wide, at a low price (countries are desperate to trade for the best beer in the world… for many Absolute Monarchs it is an essential ingredient in keeping their populations content!), making Pils-Holstein a well-stocked land of plenty. In short, it is a land worth fighting for!

The capital of Pils-Holstein is the fair city of Pilsner where the administrative apparatus of the Landgraviate can be found. Kronenbrau is the largest “industrial town” and is only a short ferry ride on one of the famous barges across the “Innen See”. The Palace of Altgard , by far the largest of the many fairy-tale castles, hosts the extravagant court of Ludwig II, and nestles to the north in the mountains overlooking the Ober See.

Above: Staff officers gather in the State Chambers awaiting an audience with Ludwig II to discuss the latest rumours and intelligence of Franco-Astrovian mobilisations and manoeuvres.

In the picture, delegates from The Electorate of Teutonburg-Fredonia (in black uniform coat) and from Ost-Freisland (pale blue coat) are introduced to The Grand Marshall of Pils-Holstein by General Waldstein.

Two of The Rottweiss Gardes, a company of whom are always on State Duty, are in traditional ceremonial costume attending the doors to the Landgrave's State Room.  

 Below... some action shots of the collection.  

A potted Political outline for those who like such background

 Teutonburg-Fredonia is ruled by The Elector of Teutonburg-Fredonia, King Ferdinand Adolphus (also known as “Sweet FA”), and is allied to Prussia .

 The Landgraviate of Pils Holstein is ruled by The Landgrave Ludwig II, also allied to Prussia , and more importantly in the context of the immediate conflict of 1755, allied to Hanover , Hesse-Kassel, and Brunswick against the expansionist policies of Louis XV’s France .

 France, anticipating the outbreak of a major war (which we now know as the Seven Years war, 1756-1763), wants to “practice” its battlefield tactics and put the military through its paces by initiating a few “manoeuvres”. If, as a result, it can make some territorial gains while Teutonburg-Fredonian eyes are directed east in support of Frederick the Great of Prussia in his squabbling with Austria , then all to the good. What better place to start than with the relatively weak (and opulent) Pils-Holstein, which, apart from a very small defence force, has to rely on subsidy troops from surrounding princes, many of whom may just be a little loathe to play their cards too early in the forthcoming struggle for European hegemony.

Allied forces:

Hessians:  Regt Prinz Maximilian	The Prussian infantry contingent	Prussian Cuirassier regt Seydlitz	Seydlitz, of course, in classic pose, about to toss his pipe into the air to signal the charge (after that famous incident at Rossbach).
Kurtz Jagerkorps	The Battenburg Regt	The Holstein Hussars	Pils Holstyein Artillery, deployed for action and on the march

The Ost Freisland Regt

Brigadier Battenburg on his horse Marzipan, accompanied by his dog Jethro

The Preobrazhenski Pandours: a fictional unit... also known as The Black Pandours Commanded by Count von Schwarzenatter (trans. Blackadder) a Transvladachian exile (a region just on the borders of the Astrovian empire ) once described by The Astrovian Empress Teresa Pepisa as having “something of the night about him”, which he misinterpreted as “He has something of the Knight about him”, believing her to be honouring his chivalric tendencies. When the true nature of the comment was explained to the Count, he became infuriated, and it is probable that it was he who first started rumours over the Empress’ alcoholic indulgences, nicknaming her “Tipsy Pipsy.” When an official in the Lorraine administration recently referred to the Pandours as “The Black Pandas”, Count Schwarzenatter responded in typically robust style,  announcing the unit motto to be “Manger, Tirer, Departer” (“To Eat, to Shoot, to Leave”), a direct reference to his battlefield “hit and run” guerrilla tactics! Those unkind to the cunning Count suggested following the Battle of Sitzenschlecht (see below) that his emphasis is firmly on running!

            above: light troops battle on the border fringes: Arquebusiers de Grassin skirmish with Pils Holstein Jagers (Kurtz Jagerkorps) and Prussian Hussars (Malachovski's Hussars)

French forces:   

Les Mousquetaires	Cuirassiers du Roi	Bercheny's Hussars	French Infantry Regt Picardie
Dillon Irish Regt in French Service	Regiment Normandie	French artillery	Arquebusiers de Grassin

The Duc d'Orly and his entourage are shown below:

Picture above shows: Bercheny Hussars, Cuirassiers du Roi, and Les Mousquetaires, cantering past a rural scene somewhere in the borderlands between France and Pils Holstein

Bercheny’s are in 1747ish dress, and to create a slightly more "bohemian"/ semi- irregular look, I’ve left a couple of pelises off, and replaced a few with wolfskins as are oft depicted in plates of the regiment in their early years.

Les Mousquetaires are depicted in their two companies, the first company had grey mounts, the second black.

above: French infantry regiments Picardie and Dillon open fire during a recent game, with Normandie Regt moving up in support.

The Battle of Sitzenschlecht.

Recently, Charles Grant visited, and as well as a full day game, we had a fruitful planning session for our various activities, games, teasers and campaigns for 2009.

The game, Sitzenschlecht, was a scenario I devised based on a game many of you will instantly recognise, I’m sure. The second outing of the rules mentioned above, and they seemed to work well again, having had a few tweaks on morale and light infantry firing.

Below, just a few of the 30+ pictures taken. Click to enlarge.

I took the role of The Duke of Brunswick,  in command of the forces of The Electoral League (an alliance of Prussia, Hesse, Pils Holstein, The Electorate of Teutonburg-Fredonia, and so on). The Franco-Astrovian coalition forces were under the experienced hand of Marshal General Dupont, played by Charles.

My brief was to evacuate stores across the bridge, save as much of the army as possible, and then blow the bridge to prevent pursuit, whilst Charles was to capture the bridge intact.

Sadly, for my dark blues, the Astrovians made a staggeringly brilliant debut (their first volleys were quite devastating), and the French cavalry were totally dominant against the lack-lustre Electoral horse. Even the Electoral bridge commander and his company of engineers failed miserably, and after the 18 turns it took them to successfully lay the charges to demolish the bridge once a large wagon train had been safely evacuated, the charges failed to ignite… twice!  

The Franco-Astrovian force commander, Marshal General Dupont spent the evening celebrating victory, whilst the Duke of Brunswick drowned his sorrows. Next morning, it is rumoured that the latter felt like falling on his sword, whilst Marshal General Dupont had a hearty breakfast and took a brisk stroll round the town in the fresh autumnal sunshine, greeting the locals, and no doubt kissing babes in arms. A worthy victor.  

Take the Hill

We also recently played a scenario I called “Take the Hill” and this provided an opportunity to lay out the whole Pils Holstein collection and judge progress. As well as enjoying the vista, Charles thought the game so good (well, he did win!) that he decided it worthy of being written up as a “teaser” for a certain wargames magazine. So you’ll get to read all about it in Battlegames sometime soon.

Meanwhile here are just a few pics to whet the appetite...

The Allies take up position on the hill

The French arrive

French and Astrovians prepare to attack

The game also allowed us another “rules test”, and my adaptation of The Wargame to multi based 54-figure battalions proceeds. I’m happy with most of the mechanisms, and am now working on some ideas around the use of light troops, and some downright heretical notions with regard to morale.  

Update: Feb 2009

a few new pieces added to the collection...

click to enlarge Prinz Albrecht of Pils Holstein: cousin of the Landgrave Ludwig II, and additionally titled Duke of Westmorland for his part in countering a Jacobite Rebellion… but that’s for another time! Front Rank figure on Hinchliffe horse. His pennant bearer is Major Sergei of the Lowenruhr Dragoons (a fictitious regiment before you go fumbling through your Funckens). Front Rank figure again mounted on Hinchliffe horse. And his bodyguard, from the fine body of men the Edelweiss Hussars (again a fictitious regiment), Major von Trappe, rumoured to be the finest swordsman in the Electoral League. He’s a specially sculpted figure by John Ray, and again a joy to paint. Mounted on Front Rank horse.

Prussian artillery

Note limbered up version… one of my pet hates is seeing guns turned about “to represent being limbered” on the tabletop. I like to have limbers represented properly; probably because I find it hard to remember what I had for breakfast, let alone whether a gun is currently limbered, on the move, unlimbering or whatever. Having the whole ensemble modelled, and interchangeable, like this means I can clearly see the state of play, as it were.

Of course, in the 18^th century, large artillery batteries were still very much things of the future. I am using a maximum of two grouped together in a battery, but also have guns operating individually. 

When guns are deployed I also include a supply base to indicate the paraphernalia associated with an artillery piece. Bearing in mind the issues regarding groundscale and depth on the wargame table, I have kept the supply base relatively simple to represent that area of ground immediately behind the guns which would be full of powder kegs, shot, and other artillery clutter. My battalions in line have a frontage of 405mm, which would be around 130 yards giving a groundscale, very approximately, of 1cm = 3 yards. The depth of the gun base, and the supply base/ limber is 100mm, which represents approximately 30 yards in groundscale, and this seems entirely reasonable.

Gardes Francaises

I was holding off from including any guard units so early in the development of the project, but decided “so what, let’s go for it”, and so here they are:

click to enlarge.

 If one can go “fleur de lys-blind” I think I did when painting the regimental flag!

The Battle of Amstenoy: Falkirk show, 9 May 2009

Before you rush off to your history books (or wikipedia, or even Google!) to find out about Amstenoy, this is a purely fictional encounter.

Regular readers of Broadside will already be familiar with the forces, but here's a recap:

The Electoral League, an alliance of Germanic states, including Prussia, Hesse-Kassel, Pils-Holstein and the Electorate of Teutonburg-Fredonia (the latter two being fictitious entities), will be pitted against a Franco-Astrovian force (The Astrovian Empire also being fictitious).

The Electoral forces, commanded by the highly confident, though perhaps less than competent, Prinz Albrecht of Pils-Holstein and Hanvora, are in a defensive position around the town of Amstenoy, with the centre of their line pivoting on a farm. The French and Astrovian army, commanded by The Duc d'Orly, a flambuoyant French aristocrat ('twas ever thus), has force-marched over the previous two days to launch an attack as the early morning mist begins to clear...

Firstly, thanks to the Falkirk club who made every effort to ensure the day went smoothly. Kenny looked positively nervous on the morning of the show, and I'm sure it must be one of those moments where you just hope a few people are actually going to turn up! But turn up they did, and by the end of the day the Falkirk lads were able to relax and reflect on a job well done.

Pictures from my Amstenoy game are below. They were taken just before the show opened, after which I didn't get the chance to take any more as I was chatting with all-comers to the table for the rest of the day, drawing breath only to take the odd swig of water! What was incredible was the number of people who came up and said they were regular visitors to the site... so "hi" to all of you. What was also very impressive (if a little worrying!) was that a number of people seemed to know the regiments intimately through seeing pictures on the site, and The Battenburg Regt came in for particular attention, being the favourite of so many!

click to enlarge pics...

the town of Amstenoy is seen in the distance	French troops at the near table edge	Electoral league forces march into position
French columns rumble forward, drums beating and flags flying	and again...	The Astrovian contingent starts to make a flanking move around the farm whcih is held by The Anhalt Schwarzen Jager and The Preobrazhenski Pandours

The windmill managed to keep turning all day (note: it looks as if it is turning very fast in the pictures, because the shots were taken wth a long exposure time to help with light/ depth of field and all that other good photo-technical stuff... so don't think the table was about to take off!)

Unable to get away from the table (though Charles was very good and did offer to stand guard if I should want a break, but actually I was loving every moment of sharing the hobby with so many interested people), I couldn't take in any of the other games on display, but the day was made all the  more enjoyable by being surrounded by some great traders -Bill and Hazel of Musketeer Miniatures; Trevor and Paula of Coritani; Dave Ryan and Ann of Partizan Press; as well as being a only an artillery bounce stick from the TSS and Dave Thomas stands. One might say I was enfiladed by temptation!!

It was great to meet up with so many pals from the wargaming "scene" in Scotland. At one point in the day, there was a "Writers' Block" at my table... Angus Konstam, Charles S Grant, and Iain Gale all deep in conversation with Dave Ryan. A veritable phalanx of pen wielders!

From what I hear, there was a decent attendance, and certainly there was a steady flow of people coming to the table all day. So I am sure the show was a success for all concerned.

For my part; all in all, a terrific and exhausting day. Do it again? Yep. See you next year I hope.