12th April 1747– The Coast of Granprix. God has seen fit to spare our entire force from loss. We spent the day preparing a defensive position on the east bank of the river and I observed the Oberstgeneral send out pickets to north and east to prevent any enemy surprising us. Captain Ewald and his savages were seen heading north east to the high lands seen in the distance. It was with some trepidation that later in the day we observed a large force of cavalry enter our lines from the north. Major Huffington, overseeing our work, was called to translate as it appeared these new arrivals spoke the same tongue. As they later left, heading east to follow our Uhlans, the Major returned to us and quelled our concerns. These were our allies, from the Gateway Alliance, and part of a larger force to our west, similarly cast alone upon this foreign shore. The Major was to later attend a Council of War and left that evening to act as intermediary with our new allies.
13h April 1747 – The mouth of the Rio Safir, West of Pescadrix. It seems our scouts have reported back and we are but 10 miles west of our original objective, the fortified town of Pescadrix. But until we can make contact with the main army our position is precarious.
14th April 1747 – West of Pont de la Ciutat al Mar. Late yesterday our scouts returned in haste. The enemy was on the march! First the Cuirassiers of the Gateway Alliance passed through and returned to their comrades and then word came that our valiant Uhlans were being hard pressed by massed enemy cavalry. The order came to strike camp and with no little concern we left our carefully fortified position and headed northeast. As we approached the small town on the Riu de les Anguiles, Pont de la Ciutat al Mar, with its two bridges, we were greeted by our own Uhlans and our allied cavalry falling back through the town and it was with horror that we saw enemy cavalry flood across the bridges and occupy the town to deny us our crossing. As darkness fell we withdrew to a hasty camp and I now prepare myself for my first battle. My father reassures me that I stand alongside valiant comrades and that if I obey my officers and my training then God willing I will witness a great victory. Our Burger today joined us having come from the Army headquarters and all the men look forward to performing well under is benevolent gaze.
16th April 1747– Pont de la Ciutat al Mar –The sun will soon rise and I have never been so tired as we have slaved through the night building gabions and entrenchments for both man and cannon. But it has been a glorious day and my first battle was all I expected it to be. Early this morning word had come that another allied force, under a Lord Drumcharry, was finally hastening to our aid. We could not delay and allow the enemy to reinforce their bridgehead so the order was given to attack, even as the enemy, under the great Duke Zigor, rushed across the bridges to stop us. The Savage Swans were to deploy and advance towards the bridges in the center while our allies would attack on our right flank.[/wpcol_1third] [wpcol_1third id=”” class=”” style=””]The Geizers of Altefritzenburg were to move through the wooded uplands on our left. In the distance I could see the enemy cavalry, the famed Carabineros Ducal, dismounted on the outskirts of the town but safe across the river on the high ground the enemy had deployed a battery of cannon with clear line of fire on our whole advance. It seemed the day would be a bloody one. I have not the military knowledge to recount the action in its true course of events but can only describe that which I saw. As my battalion marched and deployed in line to the front of the town we started to feel the heavy bloody touch of the enemy cannon. Then I saw a glorious sight. In the hills behind the enemy battery there could heard a great whooping sound as Captain Ewald and his savages charged down upon the startled gunners! They did not even stand to defend their guns and honour but turned tail and ran even as hundreds of their own troops were crossing the bridge below. It was a beautiful thing to see, more so as a whole enemy battalion deployed to advance up the hill too late to stop their guns being cast into the fast flowing waters! The Captain soon made haste to retire in the face of overwhelming odds but to the cheers of his comrades.
With renewed vigour we continued our advance as the enemy crossed the bridge to face us. Their cavalry, the Carabineros Ducal, mounted up and move to the attack, only to be scattered by the cuirassiers of the Alliance in a gallant charge.
It was then that I witnessed the true majesty of infantry on the battlefield as the Legion and Alliance, now joined by Lord Drumcharry’s troops, performed a great martial display worthy of the parade ground as the combined battalions maneuvered gracefully into a great crescent and descended upon the enemy defending the town! The Alliance and Lord Drumcharry assualted the buildings with great courage and drove the enemy back as many surrendered as they realised their position most untenable. We were to assault the enemy defending the northern bridge and we advanced with great fervour, the veteran Giezers harassing the defenders. But the enemy would not stand and their officers soon lead them in full retreat. As darkness fell, leaving many dead and wounded and a whole battalion captured and made prisoner, a howitzer taken, and the enemy retired in haste back across the bridges dragging a whole battery of sodden cannon with them!
But there was to be no rest and celebration of our victory. Scouts bought word that enemy ships had laid waste to our small fleet and a force landed to our rear. We do not know how well the rest of the army fares but rumours are to the good. The order was given to build a great defensive line facing west but even with the labour of our prisoners it was hard work and barely completed in time and I fear the exhaustion of the men after a day of marching, a day of battle and this nights labour will do us ill in the coming day.