I have always said the world needs less 'war war' and more 'jaw jaw' but while there is a war I shall report it. I was advised to report from the Herman side but I had some very good contacts in Crussia and I was embedded with the 'Black Cossacks' of Colonel Patrichek.This was a somewhat risky business as it will be certain death if I am captured by the Hermans, Redian Times ticket or not.
Colonel Patrichek looks like a pirate with his eye patch and wild beard which looks like a blackberry patch gone mad. He is jovial enough and a good drinking companion if you do not mind an enormous hangover in the morning. He and his men are all dressed in black, Their cossack fur hats come in an assortment of sizes but mostly have the red tops and white crosses.
The colonel's reputation as a womaniser is legendary. He nearly died in the incursion in to Hermany prior to the retreat and the Herman invasion of Crussia. The tender ministrations of some nuns at a convent had saved his life. He wanted to show his appreciation, so much so that he was expelled from the convent with nuns fervently crossing themselves, although one or two, according to the colonel, sighed at the loss of his congenial company
His other reputation is of a different nature. The colonel is a great fighter, I'll give him that, but his enthusiasm is not limited to killing soldiers. Enemy civilians were fair game in Hermany. He also has an extravagant idea of the monetary reward necessary for himself and his men. This sometimes involves extensive 'scouting' detours to isolated farms and towns when on campaign.
My impression of cossacks was that they were enthusiastic, colourful and romantic, good for scouting and hunting down retreating troops (including those of their own side) but when it came to a real fight against disciplined cavalry and infantry they would be not up to the task. The battle for the town of Catherine tells a different story. I was tempted to join the cossacks in battle but that would have caused a diplomatic incident.
I must say that prior to the battle for Catherine the Crussian general showed strategic genius, not what I would normally expect from a Crussian commander. General Shortskinski had somehow kept his position despite Tzar Nickoff's fury over the failure of the incursion in to Hermany. The general determined to change his fortunes and his strategy. Instead of tackling the Hermans head on he decided to use wide flanking actions to cut off the Hermans from the Crussian towns. The Crussians ignored the herman front lines outside of Ivansky. The Crussian troops were highly motivated by their desire to defend their country and movement was swift for the usually slow moving Crussians. The cavalry comprised the Balkan auxiliary Snookum Ookum lancers, the 15th Hussars, Brother Paul's blue clad cossacks and Patichek's cossack 'thieves and bandits'. Brother Paul's cossacks first spied out the Herman positions and sustained the only casualty inflicted by infantry fire, before joining the hidden cavalry columns.
Two Herman and one auxiliary Ruritanian lancer unit supported by a horse artillery and machine gun were sent to intercept. The gallant Ruritanians in their grey, yellow and light blue uniforms charged the Crussian Gatling gun. The sun gleamed from their polished brass helmets but their day in the sun was to come to an end as the elite 15th hussars charged them in the flank and whilst they were still disorganized. It was their end. Blue and white clad Crussian lancers galloped around an area of forest-- right into the mouth of the Crussian horse artillery, which quickly sent two rounds in to the column. Brother Paul's cossacks then attacked them in the rear, and so saved the artillery.
The famous Von Fleet led his field grey clad lancers to charge the cossacks, who fought back ferociously. I wish I could have joined them. Von Fleet's men recoiled and Patrichek's cossacks shot at them, without causing casualties. Von Fleet's men returned to charge Brother Paul's cossacks again, only to be repelled again.
I am now riding with Colonel Patrichek's cossacks to cut off the Herman retreat. The Herman cavalry command are fired at without casualties but they get the message. Despite their poor marksmanship I have a respect for the cossacks enthusiasm. They are a sure match for the Herman cavalry. (Of course it would be a different matter if they came up against Redian cavalry).
Colonel Patrichek looks like a pirate with his eye patch and wild beard which looks like a blackberry patch gone mad. He is jovial enough and a good drinking companion if you do not mind an enormous hangover in the morning. He and his men are all dressed in black, Their cossack fur hats come in an assortment of sizes but mostly have the red tops and white crosses.
The colonel's reputation as a womaniser is legendary. He nearly died in the incursion in to Hermany prior to the retreat and the Herman invasion of Crussia. The tender ministrations of some nuns at a convent had saved his life. He wanted to show his appreciation, so much so that he was expelled from the convent with nuns fervently crossing themselves, although one or two, according to the colonel, sighed at the loss of his congenial company
His other reputation is of a different nature. The colonel is a great fighter, I'll give him that, but his enthusiasm is not limited to killing soldiers. Enemy civilians were fair game in Hermany. He also has an extravagant idea of the monetary reward necessary for himself and his men. This sometimes involves extensive 'scouting' detours to isolated farms and towns when on campaign.
My impression of cossacks was that they were enthusiastic, colourful and romantic, good for scouting and hunting down retreating troops (including those of their own side) but when it came to a real fight against disciplined cavalry and infantry they would be not up to the task. The battle for the town of Catherine tells a different story. I was tempted to join the cossacks in battle but that would have caused a diplomatic incident.
I must say that prior to the battle for Catherine the Crussian general showed strategic genius, not what I would normally expect from a Crussian commander. General Shortskinski had somehow kept his position despite Tzar Nickoff's fury over the failure of the incursion in to Hermany. The general determined to change his fortunes and his strategy. Instead of tackling the Hermans head on he decided to use wide flanking actions to cut off the Hermans from the Crussian towns. The Crussians ignored the herman front lines outside of Ivansky. The Crussian troops were highly motivated by their desire to defend their country and movement was swift for the usually slow moving Crussians. The cavalry comprised the Balkan auxiliary Snookum Ookum lancers, the 15th Hussars, Brother Paul's blue clad cossacks and Patichek's cossack 'thieves and bandits'. Brother Paul's cossacks first spied out the Herman positions and sustained the only casualty inflicted by infantry fire, before joining the hidden cavalry columns.
Two Herman and one auxiliary Ruritanian lancer unit supported by a horse artillery and machine gun were sent to intercept. The gallant Ruritanians in their grey, yellow and light blue uniforms charged the Crussian Gatling gun. The sun gleamed from their polished brass helmets but their day in the sun was to come to an end as the elite 15th hussars charged them in the flank and whilst they were still disorganized. It was their end. Blue and white clad Crussian lancers galloped around an area of forest-- right into the mouth of the Crussian horse artillery, which quickly sent two rounds in to the column. Brother Paul's cossacks then attacked them in the rear, and so saved the artillery.
The famous Von Fleet led his field grey clad lancers to charge the cossacks, who fought back ferociously. I wish I could have joined them. Von Fleet's men recoiled and Patrichek's cossacks shot at them, without causing casualties. Von Fleet's men returned to charge Brother Paul's cossacks again, only to be repelled again.
I am now riding with Colonel Patrichek's cossacks to cut off the Herman retreat. The Herman cavalry command are fired at without casualties but they get the message. Despite their poor marksmanship I have a respect for the cossacks enthusiasm. They are a sure match for the Herman cavalry. (Of course it would be a different matter if they came up against Redian cavalry).
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