Saturday 25 November 2017

The Croats are paid off ...

To further reduce the threat from Monrovia, after a some negotation Wittenberg has come to an agreement with the Croats - they have accepted a sum of money for them to return home - they have also agreed to provide men to join the Wittenberg army in the future (with suitable payment of course ...)

The Croats receive their payment ....

Saturday 18 November 2017

the King meets with the Cardinal ....

After capturing Rumsdorf, the bulk of the Wittenberg army camped to the west of the city.  A regiment of foot was posted to defend the east gate on the other side of the river Oudear.

King Leopold travelled to Faustenberg to meet with Cardinal Lazunarund to discuss what military action to take next before  the weather worsened and the campaign season ended.

The Cardinal arrives and is greeted by the King...
they have much to discuss ....

Saturday 11 November 2017

At Rumsdorf (3) ...

continued from the previous post .....

The commander of the Monrovian garrison of Rumsdorf decides to defend the town,  in disregard of the wishes of the town council who would prefer to open the gates and surrender the town - in protest the guild militia companies do not muster .....

..... day 3 .....

With no response to the surrender ultimatum, the King issues the order to start the bombardment - guns and mortars start their work in the morning... a mortar shell falls short of the town wall...
 the gun battery is in action ....
meanwhile two more regiments of foot have been bought up and stand ready if needed...

the guns seem to be having no effect on the walls; the mortar fire is hitting the town setting some buildings afire.

Another method of attack has been prepared - at midday the King orders an assault; men move forward with mobile protective wooden screens.....

once they are in position a group of men come out from the farm and run up towards the town - a petard assault team ...
as troops provide covering fire the petard team reaches the moat bridge ...
they loose a couple of men as they reach the gate ...
the petard is set against the door and the fuse lit ....

the gates are blown open and a storming party charges in ....
they are soon into the town and holding off the defenders ....
more troops surge over the bridge and into the town .....
Wittenberg troops are in the town and the defenders are in disarray, some make it out of the east gate over the river Oudear while others surrender -  Rumsdorf has fallen !

Thursday 9 November 2017

At Rumsdorf (2) .. ordnance in place

continued from the previous post .....

..... day 2 .....

a few soldiers linger in the camp setup in the Abbey grounds
the King has arrived to check on progress of the initial fieldworks ...
a the gabions are in place for the main battery
the dragoons have made up a forward post from things found around the nearby farm

 ---oXo---
later on in the day, the ordnance has arrived and is in place; a large mortar and some heavy guns...

if no response on surrending the burgh town is received this day then offensive action will start on the morrow.

Wednesday 8 November 2017

At Rumsdorf (1) ..

back to the campaign ....

After the delaying rearguard action at Buckdorf the remnants of the Monrovian army head for Rumsdorf, followed by the Wittenberg forces...

---oXo---

the last few Monrovian stragglers reach Rumsdorf ...
Pursuing Wittenberg cavalry are moving up towards Rumsdorf ....
nearby some dragoons pass by St Wulfred's Abbey
by the time they are in sight of the town walls the gates are closed, they retire and take up position by the abbey; they will wait for the rest of the Wittenberg army to arrive....

The dragoons have moved forward and take control of a farm ...
 a small work party is clearing ground and making gabions ...
 as troops arrive ....
 a parley has been arranged - a Wittenberg officer presents terms for the surrender of Rumsdorf ...