3 June: Opportunity Knocks

Struggling through the underbrush, Captain Xavier led the Grenadier Company up to the point where the Jaegers were skirmishing with the Freedonians. The field was in sight through the trees. Major Spelling directed the company forward into the attack. Xavier saw that this would take their attack head on into the enemy position. He approached Spelling.

“Sir, if you slide your company over to the left another two hundred meters you can outflank the entire Freedonian position.” Spelling, preoccupied with the mechanics of his attack at first did not respond. Shortly Xavier’s comments sunk in and he turned and looked at the Captain. Spelling had that arrogance about him typical of Grenadier officers. Spelling’s immaculate appearance had not been disturbed by the unit’s trudge through thick woods. Xavier’s uniform was torn and muddy, no doubt adding little to the impression he was making on Spelling.

“You’ve done your job Captain you are dismissed.”
Xavier could see how this was going to go but decided to press on anyway. After all he didn’t work for this man. “Sir if you give me a few sections I will take them wide around the left and put fire on the enemy from their rear.”

“Know you place Captain! Now be gone.” Spelling said sharply, and then was off to his company.
Ass, thought Xavier. He headed back towards the rear. In a small clearing he saw a section of Light troops mulling about. They had been protecting the Battalions flank. An idea came to him, as he approached the corporal in charge of the section. “Where is your officer?” He asked.
“Wounded Sir, A few men have carried him to the rear.”
“Sorry to hear that. Corporal I need your section to come with me.”
“But Sir, we are supposed to be guarding the battalions flank?”
“Well how much flank guarding do you suppose you are doing from back here in this opening? It’s not a request it is an order, now follow me!”
“Yes Sir!” He saluted.

Xavier gathered them up and headed off perpendicular to the enemy line, bulling through the underbrush. He angled forward until he could make out the field through the trees. He could hear the firing rise dramatically as the Grenadiers ran into the Freedonian position. They came across six more soldiers taking a knee, who looked surprise to see Xavier’s little group emerge from the bushes. “You men follow me.” They looked surprised, but got up and followed.

After fifteen minutes of hard work they were at the extreme end of the field. At their position the field was angling back down so Xavier made a decision to run along the edge of the field, banking on the assumption that the Freedonians would be fully engaged dealing with Spelling’s attack. When he was sure they were well behind the Freedonians, he cut right and headed south cautiously until they were far enough up the rise to observe the enemy position. This was as good a spot as any. They were exposed but could see that the Freedonians all appeared focused on the attack out of the woods.

He turned to his panting soldiers who gazed up at him with wide open eyes. “Now listen up men. We have outflanked the entire enemy position. We need to make as much a commotion as possible to convince the enemy they are being attacked from the rear. This will relieve the pressure on our battalion’s attack.  We will get into extended line from here and move forward until I say, then take them under fire. Shoot as rapidly as you can.” He singled out two men. “I want you two men to stay here face behind and spread out just to make sure we are not surprised from the rear. Any questions?” They were too scared to answer. “Fine, let’s go.”

Route of Captain Xavier's flanking movement