Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Sept 15, 2016 21:01:12 GMT
The Army of Poland, commanded by Stanisław Chomętowski: Stationed in Grodno
6,000 Line Infantry
4,000 Pike Infantry
1,000 Militia Cavalry
1,000 Dragoons
1,000 Ulan Lancers
100 Field Guns
50 Howitzers
The Royal Army, commanded by Charles XII: Marching on Warsaw
10,000 Swedish Line Infantry
3,000 Grenadiers
2,000 Engineers
2,000 Dragoons
1,000 Cuirassiers
100 Field guns
50 Siege Bombards
Only a few days after Chomętowski arrived at the Biala crossing, the Swedish Royal army reared its ugly head. One brisk, but bright, Tuesday morning he was awoken by an aide who informed him that the enemy had lined up at the opposite bank of the river. As Chomętowski emerged from his tent he saw a small disturbance in the front of the Swedish line as a young man of small stature bundled his way through the ranks and climbed atop one of the field cannons that had been placed at the forefront of his force. There the man stood for several minutes before clambeing down and disappearing back between the lines. The attack did not come.
This dance continued for several days as the man, dressed in the signature blue garb of the Swedish army, surveyed his opponents and returned behind his lines. On the fifth day, Chomętowski arose to find the clear autumnal air had been replaced by a thick fog that rolled across the Biala, shrouding the enemy force. The polish general had been present at the Duma landings and witnessed first-hand the way the enemy had used flamed landing craft to disguise their movements. This would be the time.
Chomętowski began barking his orders, two units of line and one unit of pike would hold the bridge whilst the rest of the men used the fog to cover their retreat. Cannons were to be the first to go, as they would need a head start if they were to escape. The fog may be Charles’ greatest friend, but it would serve Poland just as well, he mused. As the Commonwealth men floundered into their lines the ground started to shake as the Swedish drums provided the backing to a terrifying cacophony of cannon fire.
The cannons disrupted the initial Polish deployment, but their barricade on the near side of the river provided safety as Charles seemed reluctant to risk destroying the bridge. Through the dense fog a keen-eyed captain spotted the advancing troops and started yelling to his men. The cannon fire subsided, and a series of smaller explosions peppered the barricade. ‘Grenades! Take cover!’ The captains tried to keep order and many of the men held the line and continued their musket salvos, but some began to break off in an attempt to join the retreat. In the fog, the retreat was covered but confusion began to spread around Chomętowski’s forces and 50 guns were abandoned.
The grenades stopped, but they had breached the Polish barricades and well drilled grenadiers pushed forward after a short exchange of musket fire and drew their sabres. They spread out on the Western bank of the river and a trumpet began to blare, followed by the thundering sound of Swedish horses in full canter. Out of the mist a never-ending stream of Dragoons broke through the remnants of the Polish line and filtered through the encampment. The remaining forces stood no chance. Most broke and were cut down, some tried to hold their ground but suffered the same fate as the rest of the men.
Nevertheless, Chomętowski and the bulk of his force managed to make a good distance and in the thick fog they would be concealed in their quick march to Wyszkow.
The Polish force suffers a a minor defeat, but their army has successfully delayed the Swedish advance and they will be able to fight again. The confidence among the Swedish forces continues to increase, Konig Karl is clearly a champion chosen by God to guide Sweden through these darkest of years.
Polish casualties:
1,500 Line infantry
1,000 Pike infantry
50 Field guns (captured)
Swedish casualties:
500 grenadiers
50 dragoons
OoC: I hope you feel the result is fair. Since it's the first battle I thought I'd add some exposition. Battles are decided by totaling up the combined power rating of the force, and numerical values are assigned to each army representing their General's skill, morale, tactics, terrain etc. The entire army of Poland achieved a value of 183, Sweden had 286.
6,000 Line Infantry
4,000 Pike Infantry
1,000 Militia Cavalry
1,000 Dragoons
1,000 Ulan Lancers
100 Field Guns
50 Howitzers
The Royal Army, commanded by Charles XII: Marching on Warsaw
10,000 Swedish Line Infantry
3,000 Grenadiers
2,000 Engineers
2,000 Dragoons
1,000 Cuirassiers
100 Field guns
50 Siege Bombards
Only a few days after Chomętowski arrived at the Biala crossing, the Swedish Royal army reared its ugly head. One brisk, but bright, Tuesday morning he was awoken by an aide who informed him that the enemy had lined up at the opposite bank of the river. As Chomętowski emerged from his tent he saw a small disturbance in the front of the Swedish line as a young man of small stature bundled his way through the ranks and climbed atop one of the field cannons that had been placed at the forefront of his force. There the man stood for several minutes before clambeing down and disappearing back between the lines. The attack did not come.
This dance continued for several days as the man, dressed in the signature blue garb of the Swedish army, surveyed his opponents and returned behind his lines. On the fifth day, Chomętowski arose to find the clear autumnal air had been replaced by a thick fog that rolled across the Biala, shrouding the enemy force. The polish general had been present at the Duma landings and witnessed first-hand the way the enemy had used flamed landing craft to disguise their movements. This would be the time.
Chomętowski began barking his orders, two units of line and one unit of pike would hold the bridge whilst the rest of the men used the fog to cover their retreat. Cannons were to be the first to go, as they would need a head start if they were to escape. The fog may be Charles’ greatest friend, but it would serve Poland just as well, he mused. As the Commonwealth men floundered into their lines the ground started to shake as the Swedish drums provided the backing to a terrifying cacophony of cannon fire.
The cannons disrupted the initial Polish deployment, but their barricade on the near side of the river provided safety as Charles seemed reluctant to risk destroying the bridge. Through the dense fog a keen-eyed captain spotted the advancing troops and started yelling to his men. The cannon fire subsided, and a series of smaller explosions peppered the barricade. ‘Grenades! Take cover!’ The captains tried to keep order and many of the men held the line and continued their musket salvos, but some began to break off in an attempt to join the retreat. In the fog, the retreat was covered but confusion began to spread around Chomętowski’s forces and 50 guns were abandoned.
The grenades stopped, but they had breached the Polish barricades and well drilled grenadiers pushed forward after a short exchange of musket fire and drew their sabres. They spread out on the Western bank of the river and a trumpet began to blare, followed by the thundering sound of Swedish horses in full canter. Out of the mist a never-ending stream of Dragoons broke through the remnants of the Polish line and filtered through the encampment. The remaining forces stood no chance. Most broke and were cut down, some tried to hold their ground but suffered the same fate as the rest of the men.
Nevertheless, Chomętowski and the bulk of his force managed to make a good distance and in the thick fog they would be concealed in their quick march to Wyszkow.
The Polish force suffers a a minor defeat, but their army has successfully delayed the Swedish advance and they will be able to fight again. The confidence among the Swedish forces continues to increase, Konig Karl is clearly a champion chosen by God to guide Sweden through these darkest of years.
Polish casualties:
1,500 Line infantry
1,000 Pike infantry
50 Field guns (captured)
Swedish casualties:
500 grenadiers
50 dragoons
OoC: I hope you feel the result is fair. Since it's the first battle I thought I'd add some exposition. Battles are decided by totaling up the combined power rating of the force, and numerical values are assigned to each army representing their General's skill, morale, tactics, terrain etc. The entire army of Poland achieved a value of 183, Sweden had 286.
