In Progress Photo

A couple of you had requested pictures of my latest project. If you'll click on over to the Landgraviate of Ober-Schweinsberg blog, I've posted 3 views of my first test figure with the SSM plastic grenadier.

http://ober-schweinsberg.blogspot.com/

Tiny Progress

There is now a single Spencer Smith plastic grenadier with a coat of white gesso base, and a yellow coat and vague resemblance of the bag of his cap in the same color. Also, a brown musket.

Now, I realize this is painting him totally out of keeping with general consensus of working from the skin out, but I wanted to see how the yellow would cover, as it's a different yellow than the one that failed so badly on the Lintzer cuffs and lapels. This one's Delta Ceramcoat, and it did very well on this initial test.

Given the rough nature of the Spencer Smith casts, one has to kind of guess at where some things should go, so I suspect I may continue painting out of order, touching things up until it looks right to me. Next up is probably the black facings and black of the bearskin and boots. I'm still debating trouser color.

Oh yes, it occurs to me I've not identified which unit, for which Jean-Louis will surely be agitated. Much as I hate to give such venerable figures to the enemy, I have decided to use the Spencer Smith grenadiers for the Gebuhren Eber Grenadiers of the Bad Nachtschwein League. Since my Hesse-Engelburg grenadiers are not in bearskins, they wouldn't really be useful there, so I gave them to the BNL so they can get onto the table against my H-E troops in time. Rest assured, dear reader, that the venerable Spencer Smiths are not unrepresented on the Hesse-Engelburg side, since the painted regiment of marching musketeers photographed a few months ago are going to be the Hesse-Engelburg marines. Which means, yes, that the current rumors of war may result in Spencer Smith vs Spencer Smith upon my table at some point.

Bad Nachtschwein Threatened

Rumor out of the Landgraviate of Ober-Schweinsberg suggests that the squadron of Hesse-Engelburg ships last seen off the Shetlands has appeared suddenly on the river approaches near Bad Nachtschwein, and begun landing troops to threaten the capital of the Bad Nachtschwein League and its surrounding towns. It would appear the spring campaign season is opening....

A Formal Proclamation

Whereas the recent unrest in the Landgraviate of Ober-Schweinsberg has caused great distress to the security and trade of the honorable Principality of Hesse-Engelburg, and having been provoked repeatedly by the illegal and immoral attacks of the self-proclaimed Bad Nachtschwein League, and agency of merchants in rebellion against their sovereign and rightful Lord and Landgrave whichever he may be, and whereas said League were known to be embarked upon an endeavor to invade, attack, and subjugate the peaceful city of Vergoldeten,

Be it known to all hearers that Their Graces, the Fürst and Fürstin Guntram and Sieglinde Blauerwolf, rightful rulers and sovereigns of this Principality of Hesse-Engelburg, have, with the agreement of Prince Arnold of Ober-Schweinsberg, undertaken to extend their protection to the citizens and lands of the city of Vergoldeten. In accordance with the wishes of Their Graces to ensure the free flow of huminatarian supplies and in accordance with the terms of said agreement, Their Graces do order and command that all manner of supply except weaponry shall be freely permitted to pass through Vergoldeten once inspected for contraband, save such supply as be destined for the rebellious towns of the Bad Nachtschwein League, the which shall remain under embargo for the duration of the state of war that presently exists with that body of rebellion.

Having extended their protection to the city and its surrounding district, Their Graces do declare and form the Barony of Vergoldeten and confer said title upon Brigadier Werner Heintzen, hereafter to be known as Baron Heintzen of Vergoldeten, in recognition of the key service provided by his brigade in the repulsing of the forces of the League from their attack on the city.

Be it also known that battle honors are accorded to the regiments of said brigade, namely the Sumpflöwen Musketeers and the Lintzer Musketeers, for their sterling performance in duty and honor to their sovereigns.

Uniforms at Vergoldeten Battle

Check the Landgraviate of Ober-Schweinsberg blog for post of uniforms of the troops at the battle, plus other battle info.

New Drums Beating in Ober-Schweinsberg

It is often thought that the chillier temperatures fall, the less men's blood will run hot for war. But this is not always the case. Rumors are spreading along the trade routes from traveler to traveler, rumors that the chilled war in Ober-Schweinsberg is about to heat up again. And why not, observe the grumpier amongst the lot. All the rest of Europe is filled with uphevals, great wars, and petty strifes, so why not Ober-Schweinsberg?

The Armies of Prince Asgar and Prince Arnold have abruptly left their winter quarters and are reported to be marching towards the town of Vergoldeten on Ober-Schweinsberg's northern trade routes. Up till now, the town has remained somewhat of a neutral territory, but that all appears ready to change, if the two armies do not divert from their present course.

In the town, rumors fly of a bar-room brawl involving off-duty Irish mercenaries and representatives variously claimed to be from the Bad Nachtschwein League, either of the two Princes, Stagonia, or even the Koronet Korpus or Hesse-Engelburg. Maybe all of the above. As near as can be pieced together from the varrying rumors, the brawl appears to have begun when one person accused another person of having stolen a set of solid silver pig statues from the first someone's luggage. Accusations and blows appear to have flown from there, and the fight is reported to have left at least three people dead, though no one can agree on the identity of the casualties.

Some speculate that the importance of the city for trade and its nearness to the Hesse-Engelburg border may even draw Engleburg forces into the conflict, and local residents have reported various bodies of mercenaries moving along the roads towards the town, perhaps in someone's employ or perhaps simply speculating upon the likelihood that they can pick up employment on arrival. It remains to be seen how many forces will find themselves embroiled and how events will play themselves out, but a number of residents and merchants are reportedly leaving for outlying villages until the matter is settled.

Plotting a battle

Depending upon my time and motivation, and the timely arrival of a group of figures off of Ebay...I'm planning another battle for Hesse-Engelburg, this one larger than the Hirschtal fight. Things have been far too quiet on the Ober-Schweinsberg front.

As with the Hirschtal fight, in order to handle the very small quantities of figures I have on hand, I'll likely be using small battalions of 6-12 figures each. If I do, this should let me field 10-20 battalions and 1-2 regiments of hussars with my existing figures.

Meanwhile, those who are tracking the Emperor vs Elector blog, or the Tipplebruder blog, will know that a small contingent of Hesse-Engelburg forces are amongst the multi-national alliance troops prepared to defend Tipplebruder from Stagonian invasion.

Hesse-Engelburg General Order #17

By the direction of Their Graces, Guntram and Sieglinde Blauerwolf, rightful Fürst and Fürstin of this Principality, and with the full advice and unanimous agreement of the Fürstentumrat advising, the following directives are issued to the armed forces of the Principality of Hesse-Engelburg.

As of this twenty-fourth day of the year of our Lord 1757, the Principality of Hesse-Engelburg declares and acknowledges that a state of war exists with the Banat of Togaras in response to its bellicose declarations against this sovereign state. As a result of this state of war, and the continued state of war with the illegitimate and illegal rebellious organization calling itself the Bad Nachtschwein League, the following orders are issued:

All vessels, property, and persons owing allegiance to either of these governments presently within the borders of Hesse-Engelburg or entering its borders until such state of war is ended are to be immediately seized and held pending review by such tribunal as Their Graces shall appoint to differentiate between military, spy, and civilian, and between government and individual property. Military personnel shall be held as prisoners of war. Civilians pertaining to these governments who are found to have no subversive intent may be required to execute oaths of allegiance to Hesse-Engelburg to the satisfaction of the tribunal or be provided safe escort to the border of Hesse-Engelburg so that they may return to their respective lands of allegiance. Those found to have subversive intent shall be imprisoned or deported at the discretion of the tribunal. Any individual initiating armed resistance against such lawful actions may be met with armed force as deemed appropriate by the most senior individual present at the scene.

Signed this 24th day of July in the year of our Lord 1757,
Generalfeldmarshal Baron Ernst von Krimm
Commander in Chief

(see Emperor vs Elector blog for further details)

Dispatches from Hesse-Engelburg

Dispatch to Tradgarland

In regards to your recent extension of offers to view your musterings, the Principality of Hesse-Engelburg offers to send Colonel Stieffer of our own Fuchshöhle Hussars, a fine officer whom we believe may be of use in the advising of your light cavalry in the proper manner of rapid negotiation of woodlands while mounted. We would also extend to your ruler the offer of the hospitality of our fine hunting lodge in the Fuchswald upon some fine eve, where he may enjoy the local sport of fox hunting and a respite from the weight of rule.

Sincerely,
Ludwig Strasser, Social Secretary for Thursdays

---

Dispatch to Saxe-Bearstein

To our esteemed friend, Prince Bruno, greetings,

Being much disturbed by the recent focus of war upon your region, we thought it fit to write to you in our own hand and offer the return of your kindly loaned officer should you have need of him. We also regret to enclose evidence that the Stagonians may be providing financial support to the Bad Nachtschwein rebellion in our neighboring state of Ober-Schweinsberg. Your Highness will no doubt recognize the seal of a certain nobleman of the Stagonians upon the enclosed dispatch, which was capture amongst a recent Bad Nachtschwein convoy that attempted to sneak past our alert Hussars. If we may be of service with our small supply of iron to assist Your Highness in preparing his troops for the upcoming campaigns, we do hope it is known you need only ask.

In friendship,

Fürst Guntram Blauerwolf of Hesse-Engleburg
Penned by our own hand.

Message to Hesse-Seewald

In the names of Their Graces, the Fürst and Fürst Guntram and Sieglinde Blauerwolf, I bid greetings unto the rulers and representatives of Hesse-Seewald. Having been advised of the relative positions of our fine states, I thought it my duty to contact your government forthwith and extend our formal greetings and open a dialogue upon regional issues.

Naturally, under our present circumstances a primary concern is the current conflict upon our southern border, into which we have been drawn by the flagrantly illegal and ungentlemanly actions of the Bad Nachtschwein League in sending mercenary troops to invade our soil and threaten our southern trade routes. In view of this heinous action and believing your own state to be upon a primary trade route of this merchant league, we humbly request that you would enter into agreement to halt the flow of product from Bad Nachtschwein through your territories until such time as the grievance has been redressed and peace concluded between our Principality and the representatives of the League.

In accompanyment of this message we have dispatched Colonel Freidrick von Heiner and a small caravan of the local produce, in particular goat cheese, goats milk, and goat's hair cloth, as well as samples of the fine coal and iron to be found in our mines. We are confident of our ability to establish a base of trade and goodwill with your fine country that can only assist in increasing the stability of the region.

Respectfully,

Burgraf Heinrich von Waffenschmidt
Minister of State

Hesse-Engelburg Declares War on Bad Nachtschwein League!

While the Principality of Hesse-Engelburg has to this point maintained neutrality in the Ober-Schweinsberg civil war, Their Graces have today issued a declaration that a state of war exists with the Bad Nachtschwein League. The decision was made after careful questioning of prisoners from the Battle of Hirschtal finally established that the two musketeer battalions involved in the battle were mercenary units in the employ of the Bad Nachtschwein League. It is believed that the League was attempting to secure control of the southern trade routes as it the League is driven primarily by merchant interests. Their Graces have further requested that all surrounding nations join them in a trade embargo against all Bad Nachtschwein goods in light of the League's unwarranted and illegal attempt to invade Engelburg territory and disrupt trade.

Carnage in Bad Nachtschwein

In the largest battle yet in the War of Ober-Schweinsberg Succession, the newly formed Bad Nachtschwein League endured its first test of arms as armies from not one but both Princes of Ober-Schweinsberg marched on Bad Nachtschwein to suppress what they view as an insidious rebellion among the middle class merchants. With the army of Prince Arnold marching from the east and the army of Prince Ansgar marching from the west, Bad Nachtschwein found itself fighting a two-front conflict with its small army operating out of the walled town.

As smoke and mingling of troops increased on the battlefield, several areas devolved into confused mobs, further exacerbated by the fact that most troops on the field either wore the Ober-Schweinsberg army uniform or civilian dress, with the differing allegiances marked mostly by banners or armbands or feathers and cockades in hats. It is impossible to judge how many casualties were a result of friendly fire in the confused circumstances of the battle.

The fighting might have continued unabated except for an unexpected intervention....the Mother Superior and her charges from the nearby Sisters of St. George convent (an unusual convent serving mostly expatriates from the British Isles) marched into the field of battle and apparently upbraided each commander in turn in most heated fashion for the destruction of a stained glass window shattered by the reports from cannon fire and the trampling of one of the outer vegetable gardens of the convent. Mother Superior Agnes Pellingham, decked out in the traditional white habit and carrying the red cross-shaped staff of her office, was seen to give a particularly harsh tongue-lashing to the general of the Bad Nachtschwein for the theft of ripe grapes from the convent's vineyards by one of his regiments. Locally, the sisters are known as the Drachenonnen or "Dragon Nuns", a reference most believe to be half to the legend of St. George and the Dragon and half to the disposition of the Mother Superior.

After all sides called a parlay, presided over by the Mother Superior, the wounded of all sides were taken to the hospital of the convent and cared for by the Sisters while the armies of the two Princes retired to their respective encampments and all sides began reorganizing their tangled forces. Even at this late hour, stragglers are still stumbling into the various encampments, and sometimes hurrying right back out again to find the right one.