General von Coors and Major Honking Thirst keep a close eye on Prussian maneuvers

Major General Adlolph von Coors and Major Honking Thirst have been monitoring Prussians maneuvers near Hopsberg. General von Coors believes the Prussians are making final preparations to reinvade Beerstein. He has sent an urgent appeal for Reich Duke Wilhelm to bring all possible reserves immediately. His plan is to pin the Prussians and allow the Reich Duke to enjoin the battle in the Prussian's flank. Speed and stealth could mean victory!

Confusion at Carmudgeon or a Campbell's Revenge

After a swift passage from the shores of Scots-Land, the following letter was read by Major General Seamus Campbell, currently in the service of the Margrave of Carpania.

My Dear Cousin,

By now you should have heard of the action between the government forces of Brittania and the Jacobite rebels at Carmudgeon. Siegfried and I had a close-up and personal view of the battle - with the Jacobite forces no less! How we ended up there is a long but interesting story.

After our landing on the coast, Siegfried and I began our journey to find the Brittanian forces so that we might offer our services as instructed by the Margrave before we left. Along the way, we encountered Fiona MacGillicuddy, a distant cousin on my mother’s side of the family. We always called her “Frivolous Fiona” as she was such a flitterby. Fiona offered to guide us on our way, but no sooner had we started than we ran across a small group of Tradgardlander jagers. It seems that the Duke of Tradgardland had sent them at Colonel vonn Bergmann’s request to aid the Jacobites. Not wanting to cause a commotion with dear Fiona in our company, I told their leader, in my broken German, that we were also on our way to Prince Charles’ camp. They invited us to accompany them, which we reluctantly accepted. Our journey proceded apace and soon we arrived at the Jacobite encampment. Prince Charles was overjoyed to see the jagers, having been expecting them. In order to hide our real identities Siggy and I both assumed aliases. Since Colonel vonn Bergmann was already assigned to lead a force of Highlanders, the Prince asked that Siegfried and I serve as his liaisons to the Tradgardlanders! Needless to say, Siggy and I were disconcerted by all this attention from the Jacobite leader. Not wanting to risk arrest, we both agreed and joined the expedition to Carmudgeon, hoping to escape to the government troops in the confusion of the coming battle. We were extremely fortunate that the Prince also kept Count Mikhail Pavlov, from our arch-enemy, the Duchy of Courland, is his immediate company during the battle, although Pavlov’s batman was attached to the Tradgardland jagers. Luckily for us, the batman was rather incurious and accepted us as fellow supporters of the Prince!

Dear Fiona made such as impression on the Prince that he invited her to accompany his suite. Fiona demurely accepted, with a malicious grin in our direction. Later that evening she arranged to visit us. We then found out that she was spying for the government and wanted to borrow Hans, Siggy’s batman, to deliver a message to the government troops in Carmudgeon. Well, Siggy, always willing to grant the wish of a beautiful woman, agreed and poor Hans was given detailed directions. He left shortly after dark and returned before dawn, his message delivered.

The next morning the government troops were ready for the Jacobite attack, no doubt warned by Fiona’s message. Siggy and I so thoroughly confused the Tradgardland jagers who were on the far left flank of the Jacobite army that they only got off a few shots at the government defenders. They were able to occupy a recently abandoned block-house, but since it was empty, we didn't discourage them.

With confusion reigning the night after the battle, Fiona, Siggy, Hans, and I were able to slip away and join the government forces. We thoroughly reported our doings to Colonel Nicholson, the government commander. Now we are where we were supposed to be all along. Please pass our felicitations to the Margrave and let him know that with our aid, the government forces should be victorious in the coming campaign to put down the Jacobite rising.

Your affectionate and devoted cousin,

Alistair

[Note: Due to a slight misunderstanding, my three Carpania adventurers were inadvertently attached to the Tradgardland jagers for the battle of Carmudgeon. After the exchange of several e-mails, Jim Purky and I decided upon this “back story” that also includes a little bit of skull duggery by Frivolous Fiona and those stalwarts - Alistair Campbell and Siegfried “Siggy” Hapnich. I’m sure we’ll hear more about both of them in future battles with the Jacobites before they return home to Mississippi.]

I am Whaling...

After his adventures upon the island of St Kilda Aeneas and his fellow natural philosophers have sailed to join the Tradgardland Whaling vessels as they go about their business in the Artic.

He hopes to see the great sea leviathans for himself as well as probe the legends of the local indigenous people which tell of blond sea farers arriving long ,long ago. He hopes to pin down further the journeys of his Tradgardlandian fore bearers...

The Cardinals At Versailles

Narrator: If the reader will forbearantly beg my pardon, I am about to press the red button on the incredible machine beside me. It has the ability to warp the space-time continuum as I may please. You don't believe me? Well.... Let me first place in the desired date: April 25, 1758. Specific time: 02:00pm. Location: Versailles, Gallia, Earth; specifically the Rectory of Cardinal Richelieu. No, no, the world will not end. You will not feel even the slightest quiver of the planet nor will you see nearly three months of sunrises/sunsets pass in the blink of an eye. As I press the button....
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Cardinal Richelieu: "My dear Tradgardland brother in The Faith! I welcome you with ardent friendship and pleasure. Enter. Come in and sit there. Allow me to offer you a glass of Chevert wine."

Cardinal of Tradgardland: "Thank you Your Excellency. I am indeed honored to be welcomed in your country and to be here. Yes, I am in need of refreshment. .... Ah, the best I've tasted in many a year."

Narrator: After discussing issues related to The Church and the unfortunate falling away from The Faith of too many of humankind desiring to pursue immoral lifestyles to their unknowing disadvantage, both turn to the true subject at hand.

Richelieu: "As you know the King desires that his nephew marries. From our previous correspondence I am led to believe your Duke may have a marriageable daughter. However, I perceive she was widowed some months ago.

Cardinal of T: "Yes. We speak of the strikingly beautiful Alisona. Her mourning period should be respectably ended this year. An unfortunate incident in New Tradgardland took her dear husband from her before his time, some might say. However, as we know, there is a season for all things. His winter, so to speak, found him passing into the next life."

Richelieu: "Tragic!"

Cardinal of T.: "Yet Alisona begins a new season for herself and the Duke hopes the same for Tradgardland itself. A marriage with your King's nephew, Lt. Gen. Pierre de Galantier would be a good diplomatic tie between our two nations in these troubled times."

Richelieu: "Galantier is indeed our most eligible young man of means. He served in The Carnatic discombobulating the Britannians there as best he could. Recently he was with the expedition to The Shetlands where he barely missed making Alisona's acquaintance by perhaps no more than a day. Now he is here again, but about to pack to join de Broglie in Germania. Near Frankfurt Am Main if I am not mistaken."

Cardinal of T: "What is our next step my dear Richelieu?"

Richelieu: "Let us ask the young man what he thinks of it all. I am led to believe the portrait of Alisona shown to him before embarking for The Shetlands intrigued him. Not only that though.... He also remarked about her courage to journey and live in The New World where so many mysterious perils exist. If I am not mistaken, he considers her to possibly be energetic, brave and loyal."

Narrator: You see. Nothing happened to your world after I pressed the red button. It only now remains to listen to the words to be spoken by the two Cardinals and Galantier himself. We will meet again soon. Meanwhile, I shall press the green button to reverse polarity and return you to your normal existence. Click.
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Votre Serviteur,
Bill

Jacobites Score Another Win

News is travelling rapidly across Caledonia of the Jacobite victory over the Government garrison at Carmudgeon on July 12, 1758. Woodcut drawings will be posted later in the evening showing scenes from the battle.

Prince Charles surprised the the garrison inside Carmudgeon two days ago and drove them back into nearby Curmudgeon Castle, which they were unable to take. Lord George Murray offered generous surrender terms to the garrison, but the British Colonel refused until at least the formality of making a breach in the walls was made. Hence a formal seige has commenced.

I should inform everyone of the gallantry of one adventurer from Tradgardland, a Colonel vonn Bergmann, who led a clan regiment at the bequest of the Prince. Von Bergmann captured 4 British cannon and was appointed master of the artillery park in recognition of his efforts. All were briefly concerned when vonn Bergmann suffered a blow to the head that rendered him unconscious for awhile. But he recovered (saving roll of '6') and continued to lead his regiment on the second day of the battle.

The Clan Cameron regiment captured an important redoubt, spurred on by the inspiring pipes of Pipemajor MacLeod. Another adventurer, knownn simply as The Blade, also showed considerable valor leading a foot charge into a body of Government dragoons.

Again, stay tuned for pictures this evening and tomorrow.

Maj Gen Adolph von Coors to Command the Corps of Observation

Reich Duke Wilhelm von Beerstein appoints Maj. Gen. Adolph von Coors Commander of the Corps of Observation. He will lead this force to the area of Hopsberg, where it is reported the Prussians are again mobilizing. His Corps will consist of the Auerbrau, Carlesberg, Lowenbrau, and Pabst Musketeers; the Landbier Grenadiers and Miller's Lite Grenzers; the Killians Cuirassiers and the Holstein and Isenbeck Hussars; and the Sharp's and Kronenberg's Batteries. Maj. Gen Coors aide will be Major Honking Thirst. Major Honking Thirst has been a valued member of our officer's mess and has proven to be just the sort of man Reich Duke Wilhelm admires. He was invested into the Order of the Goblet upon arrival at court and has been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to face the dreaded Prussians.

Things afoot...

Things afoot on the wargaming front at The Duchy of Tradgardland- I would very much value your comments and input! Thanks in advance!
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