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)

 

I myself lost one point because the Spanish swordfighters survived the battle. But I at least got 1 point for leaving one of my 4 points units [4] behind the walls of the ruined castle of my headquarters. I could not do more then observing how the Imperial and Spanish mercenaries plundered the town, which was under my "protection". Many thanks to my wife for the photos and to the other two players. Even as the loser of the game - it was a lot of fun with funny hats and French beer. Hurrah!

The Imperial pikeformation is now in the town and the swordfighters have defeated the last Jägers. (photo: C. Hanselmann)

 I hope that we will come back to the campaign in January 1626 or 2026. It would be nice if I can paint at least some more figures related to Dumas' stories. Kettie is nice although she is not really a principal character and should be the adversary of Milady if we are close to the novel. Maybe she has her Spaniards payed by Anne d'Autriche? 

 

 

Their are clouds of smoke around the castle mostly because my infantry fought their way out of the walls. But they didn't managed to rout at least one of Kettie's units. (photo: C. Hanselmann)

Text: André Hanselmann

Photos: Cecilia Hanselmann 

 

Notes: 

1) Although I'm still painting some of the musketeers of the king. 

2) Michael Leck: "The Pikeman's Lament" Osprey, Oxford, 2017 

3) https://wackershofenannodomini.blogspot.com/2025/02/1620s-dumas-campaign.html 

4) My second unit of arquebusiers.