Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

Huddled off in a corner of the Tavern by the fireplace, Marechal Corbin is deep into a pile of paperwork. A jug of the finest ale on the floor for want of room on the table.

He peers about at the crowded tavern, business is good tonight and smiles. He stands up, buttons up his coat and goes to the centre of the tavern floor and begins to speak

"It is with the greatest of pride that I present the Military Star"



"To the following officers upon their first victory"

Lieutenat Alain Braun
11ème Régiment de Dragons
2ème Brigade
2ème Division de Dragons
Réserve de Cavalerie

and

Chef de Battalion Todd Schmidgall of
Bataillon de Tirailleurs du Pô
1ère Brigade
3ème Division
4éme Corps d'Armée

Well done young sirs, well done.

_________________

Congratulations on the first of many, I am sure.

Helga, drinks for everyone......

(and charge it to the Hanoverian tab. They are so in debt they probaly won't notice it anyway)

_________________
Marechal Jeff Bardon
Duc de Castiglione et Prince de Wagram
Commandant de la Garde Imperiale

Well done sir's!!

_________________
Marechal Knox

Prince d'Austerlitz et Comte d'Argentan
Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

"What is history but a fable agreed upon"

Ha! Helga, bring in some of that French wine I have out back for der Gentlemen. Vell done, meinen Herrn!

It is only fitting that ve sing a song for these mensch.

So, what is a good one not yet heard here, Ach, I have it.......

Es wollt' ein Madel fruh aufstehn,
dreiviertle Stund' vor Tag.
Wollt' in dem Wald spazieren gehn,
halli, hallo, spazieren gehn,
bis dass der Tag anbrach.

Und als sie in den Wald 'neinkam,
da kam es Jagers Knecht.
Magdlien, scher dich aus dem Wald,
halli, hallo, ja, aus dem Wald,
's ist meinem Herrn nicht recht.

_________________

Congratulations, gentlemen!

And my compliments to Marechal Corbin as well for his fine announcements.

Helga, what are all of these charges? Six bottles of Margaux, three kegs of ale, two cases of schnapps..........There are only two of my men present tonight! Oh, what's that, the French are flat broke. Well they best get accoustomed to it I suppose. One day they will lose their entire country over this little war they started.

Did I hear 6 bottles of margaux. Helga my large glass please I would like to toast all the decorations being handed out tonight!
Vive l'Empereur!

_________________
Marechal Knox

Prince d'Austerlitz et Comte d'Argentan
Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

"What is history but a fable agreed upon"

Well done and congratulations young crapauds, I wouldn't get overly attached to the feeling though.

_________________
Field Marshal Sir Edward Blackburn, 1st Duke of Aberdeen K.G.
85th (Buck's Light Volunteers) Regiment of Foot
16th British Brigade
7th Division
III (Peninsular) Corps
2nd Battalion, Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards

I DON'T PLAY WITH ROUT LIMITING OR NME OFF

The Chef de Battalion accepts his Military Star from Marechal Corbin with great pride.

His proud countenance breaks into a broad grin as he recognizes across the Tavern room a grizzlied veteran, a fantassin he knew from the battlefield for which he has just received the fine medal.

It was at the village of Caldiero, in sunny Italy (though that day the fog had been quite thick in the morning, rendering all observations of the enemy positions useless), Oct 30th, 1805, where the Chef had been assigned to the headquarter's staff of Marechal Massena, that wily campaigner, one of Le Tondu's oldest, and most able of commanders.

The veteran who now stood at attention in the common room had been one of the Marechal's guides , and was attached to the Chef's person, charged with keeping him safe as he conducted his duties.

Such duties as they were involved the very dangerous mission of delivering the battle orders to the officers in the front lines.

It was apparent that at first this fantassin had chafed at such a task, "chaperoning" he had said.
But in the heat of the battle, their bond as brothers-in-arms was cemented when, at a crucial moment, as they were picking their way forward, dodging the artillery fire from the Austrian batteries a top the rising ridge before them, a regiment of cavalry had suddenly loomed ahead of them.
Forunately there had been a villa near to hand, and upon reaching it, the guide and chef had barricaded themselves in, and using their muskets, kept the riders at bay.

Even as the enemy cavalry swarmed about their small bastion, seemingly unable to decide whether to dismount and storm the place, or simply ride off, before too many saddles were emptied by the well aimed shots from within, a column of French soldiers advanced from another point, and the issue was decided for them... Off they went.

As they sank back in relief at surviving the close call, the guide had told him, "You did good, sir. Kept your head about you when the sabres were swirling all about."

The commander of the battalion that had rescued them also heaped praise upon the two lone men, who had kept the enemy cavalry so occupied that they lost the impetus of their surprise.

Yes, it is with much bonhomie, that the Chef strides over to greet his friend, and welcome him to share this proud moment.

Congratulations to two fine La Grande Armee Officers!

And I expected no less from fellow Tirailleur et Dragon Chef d Battalion Schimdgall!

Battle On