2 June: 0800-1000

Despite success on the left, Alfonso sticks to his original plan and orders Leite to attack up the center.
Leite immediately pushes forward. Tow battalion are ordered forward up the road through the woods wile a third battalion is ordered to attack the castle position on the hill. On the west side of the woods is the last battalion for Correia's original attack. Disorganized, most of  its officers killed and they are finally beginning to give away. The jaegers know they can't hod against a fresh brigade.  they withdraw in good order to the rear secure in the knowledge they have bought time for the rest of the brigade to get away. They pass through the second line at the eastern edge of town and take up position in the stone buildings.

2 June 1000 Hours

At this point Makowsky is beginning to think about breaking contact. many of his battalion are out of ammo, at least on Line battalion 1/8 has suffered heavy losses, and his left is wide open to a flanking movement.  Leite's fresh brigade finally passes through t narrow terrain and impacts along the edge of the town. they are met by a severe fire and accurate Freedonia artillery.  Within thirty minutes they are back on their heels but the Freedonians can see artillery being brought up for deployment.  Makowsky uses the pause in the Slobibian attack to order a withdraw through th town to the third line. The indefatigable jaegers, themselves low on ammo,  cover the retrograde then break away themselves. Leite, with a bloody knows pushes forward gingerly lest he ruin into another ambush.

By 1030 Makowsky has all of his forces behind the third line in marching order and heads south. the brigade is in desperate need of rest and reorganization, but any delay now will be fatal. he'd like to put about 10-15 miles between himself and the Slobobians. As the brigade heads south, toward Longschamps,  the dragoons and Uhlans resume the rearguard .

Here are the results of the  battle per Carnage and Glory post battle editor:


The Freedonian Army has suffered losses of:
[ 13%]    868 men of all arms
   [ 13%]    760 bayonets
[ 18%]    108 sabres
[  0%]      0 artillerists
Honors: [ 107] 3rd Tuefelwald Jaeger  Bn


The Slobobian Army has suffered losses of:
[ 15%]   1620 men of all arms
    [ 20%]   1473 bayonets
[  0%]      74 sabres
[ 33%]     73 artillerists
Honors: [ 503] 1/3 inf rgt


Both sides have basically accomplished their immediate missions, the Freedonians have given battle and inflicted  tactical reverse, then gotten away more or less intact. The Slobobians have cleared the road and are able to proceed west. We shall soon see how much of a delay has been caused....

2 June: 0600-0800

The attack begins well as the Slobobia press upward. The Cacedores in the lead are in company sized skirmish elements while the line battalions proceed uphill in compact attack columns. Both flanks push forward against retiring screening elements.  By 0630 the early sun gives way to a light misting rain causing visibility to drop under 600 meters. This is an advantage to the attackers who are saved form accurate artillery fire on the long march up slope.

0730 the lines make contact

Heavy firing takes place along the line. Th Freedonians now face a second  misfortune. Both battalions on the right flank run low on ammo! With the newly issued dreyse rifle, the unfamiliar troops rapid shoot of all their ammo. An incompetent Brigade quartermaster further exasperated matters as he has positioned the supply column several miles to the rear and made insufficient arrangements to bring ammo forward. Freedonian artillery is compelled to withdraw without making a significant impact.Both of Makowsky's left flank battalions are compelled to withdraw.  On the right the Slobobians rush forward into the assault. They throw back the Freedonian 1/8th foot with heavy loss.

As the Freedonia line falls back they are covered by two outstanding units, the 2d Guards Jaegers and the 3rd Tuefelwald Jaegers. unlike their line brethren, these two units are highly capable with the dreyse. Operating in company sized elements thy are well-positioned in stone building and the heavy thickets. Now the terrain conspires against the Slobobians. The main road runs through a very thick wood. To push forward they must go into march column. (The Cacedores at this point have ceased forward movement having been in heavy fighting for over an hour). Flanking the wood also requires channelized movement. The three attacking line battalions of Leite's brigade, already exhausted and bleeding become bogged down against this Jager defense.

0830: Leite relieves Correia 

Stepping off.....

Lt Jorge Pereira nervously eyed the gentle, open slope before him. His platoon of cacedores squatted in the wide ditch the marked the forward progress of the entire army. The engineers had replaced the destroyed bridge with a claptrap affair, yet sturdy enough to hold wagons, really just some boards across the narrowest part of the ditch. It was nearly six am. The sun had been up since 430am and was slowly burning off the thick mist in the low lying areas. Before him the main road meandered up a long gentle slope, terminating less than a thousand yards ahead in a thick wood. His platoon would be in the lead of the entire army. To his left and right other platoons in open skirmish order waited in the ditch for the signal to move out. Behind him he could hear the hubbub of the rest of the division in marching order, sorting themselves out for the day’s move ahead. Pereira checked his Colt Navy revolver for the forth time, making sure it was loaded.

“Ho!” Pereira turned at the shout and he saw his Captain impatiently waving his sword forward in the direction of the hill.

 “Let’s go!” He raised to his feet, a bit unsteady, pistol in hand and commanded the men to move along the road. They moved at a deliberate pace, rifles at the ready, the big Sergeant Arroyo in the lead, heads on a swivel. After moving about 100 paces the rest of the battalion followed, open order skirmish platoons in line abreast. Amid a clatter of canteen cups and banging metal they struggled out of the long ditch and followed. 

 **** 

 300 paces up the hill closer to the southern end of the line, Lt Morden, squinted into his field glasses. He stood in his saddle straining at the faint noise in the misty lower reaches of the field. Something was going on. Masked by a small wood he was reasonably safe from whatever might come from his front, and he observed diagonally across the wide open field, observing the road. Sure enough he saw the first enemy troops moving deliberately up the road. He observed them for a minute, until like apparitions, a body of troops in extended order appeared behind them. He estimated at least a battalion. This should be it, he thought. He fumbled for his revolver, raised it above his head and fired off three shots, at one second intervals. The shots caused his horse to flinch. He scribbled a quick note of what he was observing and sent it off to his commander via one of his riders.

 ****

Off to Pereira's left, three shots rang out. They sounded more like a signal than any fire directed at them, but the platoon still halted and went to knee. Behind him the rest of the battalion seemed to have done the same. Up front Arroyo looked back to him and he waved him forward with his pistol. Arroyo waved his men up and along they continued.

They continued forward for another five or six minutes covering about 400 yards. Behind him the head of the first line battalion emerged form the mist. Arroyo stopped the platoon and ran back to him.

“Sir, look up to those trees on the right.” Pereira looked in the direction he was pointing. The rising sun was at their back and he could clearly see, 400 yards ahead along the woodline, a line of troops along the woodline reflections glinting off of various bits of metal in their equipment. Pereira examined closer with his field glasses. He thought it was at least a company. He scribbled a message to his commander.

“Sibella! He looked for one of his runners. The boy came up at once. “Take this back to the battalion commander, Hurry”. Arroyo spread the men out and move up another hundred paces. No sooner had the words left his mouth than the line of troops in the woods open fire. Whizzing bullets flew about their ears and the men again took a knee and began to return fire without being told. Arroyo grabbed the nearest man to him by the belt and sought to raise him up, yelling for the men to move forward. Arroyo slumped forward as if he had stumbled but lay still in a heap. He heard the blast of cannon and saw the smoke atop the hill. Incredulously he saw a single shot careening towards him. It hit the ground in front of him and bounced along beyond, miraculously missing all his men.

 “Lieutenant Pereira!” he looked behind him. It was the company commander.

 “Take your men forward at once. Move damn you!” Arroyo held up his pistol and ran forward kicking a few cowering men along the way. “Let’s go men, move forward. Follow me!”

The Slobobian Plan of Attack

2 June 0100: General Chekov directs that Alfonso's division attacks in the morning along the main road to clear enemy blocking forces, This will allow the army to break out into the clear ground to he west and continue it's march to the Freedonian capital.

General Alfonso directs that General Correia's Brigade will lead off the assault up the main road cleaning the high ground and continuing to push southeast. General Leite's Brigade will follow closely i support and be prepared to pass through and continue the assault if there areany problems. Leite will detach two battalions to guard the flanks together with the cavalry. The Cacedores will lead off the division.

Once the division has accomplished it's task it will reorganize as I corps assumes thee lead of Group A.

First Clash 2 June 0500 Freedonian deployment

The Freedonian commander has deployed his forces as shown. (Note Silberberg is standing in for Bretogne on this map) Cavalry and Jaegers are screening ahead of the main line. The main line or resistance atop the ridge overlooking the road is manned with three line battalions, an artillery half-battery and the jaegers manning built up positions (castles and farmhouses) in company-sized elements. Jaegers and Cavalry protect the flanks. A battalion-sized reserve occupies positions within Silberberg behind the main line. Because Makowsky knows he will eventually withdraw to the west he has another battalion holding a line farther back near the map edge together with a half battery of guns. The forward woods along the ridge are very thick with undergrowth and thornbushes. Positions have been prepared and escape paths marked out through the woods. These can be easily defended if the battalions can get out in time. This should channelize the enemy along the main road or to the North.

First Clash: 2 June 0500 The Situation

Group A has encountered rough terrain upon crossing the border into Freedonia. The Army is confined to a single road. However once through the town of Bretogne, the terrain opens up and the Army can deploy on a wider front for the march southwest. It is at Bretogne that Gen Makowsky, commander of Force N has been directed to conduct his first delaying action.

Each commander received a packet which includes detailed maps of battle area, on overall situation map (attached) and a detailed order of battle for his forces.