More Gentlemen of the Regiment OSW!

I have been remiss in posting of late as the realities of my job have intruded most foully upon my hobby.

I have painted a few new Vulgarians and will post photos soon.

The story continues to develop regarding the soon to be obvious misunderstanding between Alzheim and Vulgaria.

At least for now I can introduce a few new sites of interest.

First Jeff Hudelson and Saxe-Bearstein, in fact I have had a link to Jeff's site for awhile.

http://saxe-bearstein.blogspot.com/

He has some magnificent flags for his regiments, great rules ideas and an excellent number of photos of his Great Northern War figure collection. Well worth watching, he is very active with lots of useful tidbits.

Second Allan Tidmarsh and the Kingdom of Wittenberg, dedicated to 18th century warfare in 40mm. A scale I find near and dear to my heart as I have another Blog for 40mm Russo-Turkish War figures.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/allan.tidmarsh/Wargames/WG-index.htm

Allan is developing a website with all manner of 18th Century goodness, scenarios, armies, dioramas a diary and more. Take a peek and bookmark it, he updates more frequently then I have of late.

Last but not least the Grimsby Mariner.

http://grimsbywargaming.blogspot.com/

First Paul is a fan of American Rules football and the Chicago Bears. We both love defensive based NFL football teams; I'm a Baltimore Ravens fan and have been since we got the team. More importantly Paul updates frequently with excellently painted figures from the War of Spanish Succession and Monday night games at his local club. He has been online with his blog for awhile and his pages deserve a good inspection as they are full of great ideas and well painted figures.

Trespassers on the plateau.

"Alarm!" "Alarm!"

The voice was crying from the front of the cave.

"Alarm!"

It had been peaceful and quiet a moment ago and now this.

"Alarm!"

Helmut forced himself awake and moved instinctively to the sound. There stood an exasperated looking Fusilier with Opalnitz. Opalnitz had arrived from a different location in the cave a few seconds prior to Helmut.

"Alarm!" the Fusilier exclaimed again.

"Damn it man, you've said that, stand to and behave like a soldier!" ordered Opalnitz.

"I will not have a Fusilier under my command behaving in such a fashion in front of my senior officer. Now calm yourself and state your report!" Opalnitz added.

"Alarm Sir, there are intruders at the ruin."

"Ahhh the poachers have finally arrived, eh Opalnitz. I believe the game is finally afoot!" Helmut felt he had correctly identified the source of the Fusiliers agitation.

"I do not think so Sir!" stated the Fusilier.

"Oh and why would you not think so soldier?" Helmut blurted out impulsively. He really found these Fusiliers to be tiresome at times.

The Fusilier looked perplexed, not sure of a correct course of action. The silence was no more then a few seconds and yet it felt like centuries passed.

"You have been addressed by a Senior Officer Fusilier, now answer the question directed at you promptly, or so help me I will have at you with the lash!" commanded Feldwebel Opalnitz.

The Fusilier a youth of perhaps 18 looked as though he wanted to run and hide, flushed at the suggestion of the lash, he blurted out; "They are wearing uniforms Sir!"

"Uniforms? Are you sure Fusilier? Are they ours? What else do you know man! We need all of the information that you can provide!" demanded Helmut.

"It is time for a proper report Fusilier Haug and you have been taught how to make such reports." added Opalnitz.

"Sir, I was on watch at the ruin with Fusilier Zieter and the Warden. We heard footsteps and thought the patrol was coming back early, we were about to issue our challange when the Warden put his finger to his lips. Sir we knew he meant for us to remain quiet and to find cover. A body of men, perhaps a platoon or so came up the path in military order and began to establish a camp at the ruins. The uniforms are not black, they are a blue tint and they do not speak Vulgarian, the Warden suspects they are from Alzheim. He told me to report here, to alarm our forces. He and Zieter are continuing to watch from the brush."

"My God! It's an invasion." Helmut said while staring thru Opalnitz. "Feldwebel Opalnitz, quietly organize our forces. We will move quickly out onto the plateau and establish a firing line outside of the cave with the Musketeers to the right and Fusiliers to the left. I want all muskets primed, charged and loaded prior to moving out of the cave. We will then advance across the plateau and give fire. I expect the action will become general and develop from there. I will command the Musketeers and the battle line you will second me and maintain order over the Fusiliers. We will advance across the plateau in order giving fire as we advance. If we can capture any prisoner of merit we shall to hopefully shed some light on all of this."

"Sir!" Opalnitz and Fusilier Haug departed to begin organizing the soldiers.

Helmut was forced to view Feldwebel Opalnitz a little differently. He certainly had exhibited the skills expected of a Feldwebel.

But what of these soldiers from Alzheim here on the plateau. If it was a platoon there must be many more on the main road moving inland. If his small force could drive this party off of the plateau he could hold it against substantially larger numbers.

Another thought, where was Stieger? Did his patrol still exist or had they perished during the initial phases of the invasion? Helmut wished he had Stieger's patrol at the cave with him now. The extra soldiers, leadership and experience would be useful in the next few minutes.

"Hauptmann von Stahl, the command is formed in column, Musketeers to the front and Fusiliers to the rear. You may form line to the right when leaving the cave and your battle line will be established." reported Opalnitz.

"Thank you Feldwebel!" replied Helmut.

Well the tea was brewed as the Anglanders so often said and must now be drunk. Hot it would be also.

"At the double, Command Advance!" cried Helmut!

"Urrah!" shouted the soldiers as they erupted from the cavern.