La porte de Wissembourg - the third part of our Dumas campaign

 We finally managed to continue our Dumas-campaign [1] using PML [2]. You maybe will remember the first encounters of our campaign [3].

Kettie's troops are waiting to storm the gate of Wissembourg to get some information. (Photo: C. Hanselmann)

 

In our game Kettie has a large force of foot and horse: 2 x pikes, 2 x musketeers, 1 x harquebusiers, 1 x cuirassiers and 1 x fighters with swords (Spanish Rondartschierer). She plans to occupy the town of Wissembourg defended with only 2 units of militia (raw Pikes and shot) and some light infantry. We had two players for Kettie and one player assisted me and commanded the garrison of the city of Wissembourg. Kettie has to take the town with two units (2 x 4 points) - getting 5 Honours if she is successful.

 

A view on the defences at the gate of Wissembourg. The Jägers were waiting to shoot at the advancing Imperial musketeers - but were reduced to a few men before they could act. The block of pikes are positioned behind the gate to push out attackers if they manage to break through the door. (photo: C. Hanselmann)

 

I have the task to defend the town and have 2 units of arquebusiers, 1 unit of cuirassiers, 1 unit of Commanded shot and 1 of musketeers in a small castle. I would get 1 Honour per 4 points which I would not use - for example a unit of Trotters (harquebusiers). 

Kettie has decided to split her forces. Her two musketeer units shot at my defending Jägers supported by a unit of Imperial pikes. - The other troops were under the direct command of Kettie and ordered to march towards my castle to beat back every attempt of my relief force to attack her units in their back. (photo: C. Hanselmann)

 

Before the game I've chosen the special mission to rout the strongest enemy's unit (the sword-and-shield unit. I supposed, that they would storm the gate of the small town and I hoped to defeat them using my large pike block of local militia (OK maybe I should have noticed that they are militia only). 

She has arquebusiers at horse and heavy cavalry under her command and supports them with Spanish pikes. (photo: C. Hanselmann)

 

At the beginning of the game I had a lot of bad luck with my orders. Therefore I could not react to Kettie's attack against the town. My Jägers had heavy losses and decided to bring them in safety before they are routed. 

The three Jägers surviving the heavy fire are brought back behind the gatehouse. I still hoped to use my pike unit to beat back the Rondartshier unit which was knocking at the gate. (photo: C. Hanselmann)

 

On a 5-6 Kettie had the chance to blow up the gate using a wheelbarrow with a lot of gun powder. On a 4-6 the other troops could bring their ladders to the small walls and cross the poorly defended obstacle. 

Some of my cavalry are coming out and already forced Kettie's lifeguard to retreat behind the capel. (photo: C. Hanselmann)

 

I decided to bring as many units as possible into action. A troop of arquebusiers left the castle to deal with the overwhelming number of Kettie's rearguard. 

The explosion at the gatehouse. (photo: C. Hanselmann)

 

Meanwhile a heavy explosion shocked the town and the pikemen charged the city's walls. I had little hopes that the town's commander could hold the town long enough as my forces came out of the castle very slowly and Kettie awaited them.

The town's militia is still there to fight back. The pike unit is even moved narrower to the gate house. (photo: C. Hanselmann)

 

Finally a large encounter started at the castle. My riders drove back Kettie's lifeguard, which retreated behind a small chapel.  

Kettie decided to reinforce her rearguard with musketeers. Her pike unit suffered under heavy fire from my shot unit. My arquebusiers had to retreat to the castle. But the cuirassiers under my personal command shot very effectively at the opponents. Even my small Commanded Shot had at least some success. Only one rider of Kettie's arquebusiers survived the fire. (photo: C. Hanselmann)

But all that was too late as the heavy infantry stormed with their swords and shields through the now open gate!

The attackers had some losses but will the poor militia have a chance against trained mercenaries? (photo: C. Hanselmann)

 

We were surprised when our militia with their pikes won a melee and forced the rondartshier unit to fall back.

Finally the experienced Imperial pikemen are in the town and the local company of musketeers have no chance. The local pike unit is still there. But Kettie has won because the sword-and-shield-unit made their way into the town too in a second attempt. (photo: C. Hanselmann) 

Despite the heavy losses of Kettie's rearguard, she won the game. Her main force under her subcommander fought their way into the town and got not only nice quarters but could plunder the town winning 5 Points of Honour. This success helped Kettie to advance to the rank of lieutenant because she managed to fulfill not one but two special missions.

Kettie's siege force had two units in the town while a third unit waited in front of the demolished gate. (photo: C. Hanselmann)

 

Anno Domini 1775 - Wie das Salz getragen wurde P 3

 Am Morgen fand sich die Gemeinde ein, um einer Andacht beizuwohnen. Leider ist der künftige Vikar auf der Reise nach Michelfeld [1] erkrankt und passenderweise behandelte der Text am 11. Sonntag nach Trinitatis das Thema Demut und das Gleichnis des Pharisäers mit dem Zöllner fanden wir auch sehr passend.

Auf dem Weg zur Andacht. - On our way to the "church". (photo: M. Leyendecker)

 

In the morning, the congregation gathered to attend a devotional service. Unfortunately, the future vicar fell ill on his journey to Michelfeld [1], and fittingly, the text for the 11th Sunday after Trinity dealt with the theme of humility, and we also found the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector very fitting.

Wir singen sehr schön. - We are singing very well. (photo: M. Leyendecker)

Nach der Andacht versammelte sich die politische Gemeinde des Weilers Leoweiler. Von den 3 Gemeinsmännern [2] fehlte der Wirt der Roten Steige. Dem einen Gemeinsmann wurde vom Schultheißen eine Geldstrafe für das Fehlen eines Gewehrs auferlegt. Dann musste der angeblich in fremde Kriegsdienste entwichene angeblich verschuldete Steigenwirt ersetzt werden, weil er in der Gemeinde das Amt des Dorfmeisters [3] innehatte. Auf Anhieb wurde der einzige andere Gemeinsmann zum Dorfmeister gewählt. Der Grabenreiter, der ja ein Bürger der Stadt ist und daher in der Gemeindeversammlung nichts zu sagen hat, meldete, dass ihm vom Herrn Sanwald [4] der Befehl erteilt wurde sich ins Steigengasthaus zu legen um dort mehrere Tage zu warten, ob auf den Druck der Besetzung des Hauses nicht der Verschwundene heimkehrt. Die Gemeinde beschloss den Amtmann zu bitten sich nach einem neuen Steigenwirt umzusehen, der nicht als Preller der Nachsteuer verdächtigt wurde. Übrigens wurde entsprechend der Instruktion für die Schultheißen darauf hingewiesen, dass die Gemeinsmänner die Dorfwachen durchführen mussten [5]. Die Gemeinde begab sich - wie damals üblich - danach ins Wirtshaus [6].

Ganz Leoweiler ist angetreten. - The whole community of Leoweiler is assembled. (photo: M. Leyendecker)

 

After the service, the political community of the hamlet of Leoweiler gathered. Of the three commoners [2], the innkeeper of the Rote Steige was missing. One of the commoners was fined by the mayor for not having a flintlock musket. Then the innkeeper of the Steigen, who had allegedly deserted to foreign military service and was allegedly in debt, had to be replaced because he held the office of village master [3] in the community. The only other commoner was immediately elected village master. The Grabenreiter, who is a citizen of the town and therefore has no say in the community meeting, reported that he had been ordered by Mr. Sanwald [4] to lie down in the Steigengasthaus and wait there for several days to see whether the missing man would return under pressure from the occupation. The community decided to ask the bailiff to look for a new innkeeper who was not suspected of evading back taxes. Incidentally, according to the instructions for the mayors, it was pointed out that the commoners had to conduct the village guards [5]. The community then went to the inn, as was customary at the time [6].

So schaut unser Adler aus. - A detail of the eagle. (photo: M. Leyendecker)

Am Nachmittag fand ein Adlerschießen statt [7]. Von den 6 angekündigten Schützen traten nur 5 an. Ich überprüfte die Schusswaffen entsprechend der Land- und Dorfordnung, welche gezogene Läufe verbot [8]. Die Flinte des Schmieds war offenbar nicht funktionstüchtig, meine eigene Flinte aber um so mehr. Schließlich gewann der Knecht [9] des Bauers Haug aus Leoweiler nebst jemand vom Hausgesinde der Steige das Schießen. Anschließend tanzten die zufriedenen Bauern vor dem Steigengasthaus.

Die Landleute auf dem Vogelschießen. Im Hintergrund der Adler. Im Vordergrund links der Schultheiß mit Sonntagskleidung. - The country people at the bird shooting. Please note the eagle in the background. At the left in the foreground you can see the mayor in his Sunday clothing. (Foto: S. Winter)

 

In the afternoon, an eagle shooting competition took place [7]. Of the six announced shooters, only five participated. I checked the firearms according to the rural and village regulations, which prohibited rifled barrels [8]. The blacksmith's flintlock gun was apparently not functional, but my own shotgun was even more so. In the end, the farmhand [9] of farmer Haug from Leoweiler, along with one of the Steige household staff, won the shooting competition. Afterwards, the satisfied farmers danced in front of the Steigen Inn.

Auch der Schultheiß ist dabei. - The "Schultheiß" in action too. (photo: M. Leyendecker)