Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

An old campaigner has returned to the colour!
It has been a good number of years, but the sound of the drum and the promise of some good war stories, has forced me to return to the colours.
"Bar Keep a round on my tab, for all those who remember me, and a small grog for those who don't! I will pay for the round when I receive my bounty for rejoining".

For those who have long memories, hello again.... Paul R Harris.

Now there's a face we haven't seen around these halls in quite some time. Why, if it isn't the inventor of the Harris Technique himself, a tactic that plagued many a Frenchmen's advance at Waterloo in the BG games.

Helga, a round for this esteemed warrior, and keep them coming so he maybe he'll be convinced to follow the tricolor instead.

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

Welcome back Paul. Please proceed to the Coaltion Arms and tell us all about these tactics. Perhaps I can even use them against Marechal Bardon!

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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

To the officers of the LGA, if you wish to test your abilities, may I suggest contacting Mssr. Harris and see How you fair. First, put your affairs in order.

His name is spoken in hushed tones with awe and reverence for good reason.

Welcome back Paul.

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HUZZAH! HUZZAH!

Hats off to our former Commanding Officer! Sir Paul, the Coalition has not forgotten your service and sacrifice. Good to hear from you. Let me buy you a drink. There are still a few of us old campaigners around. We have kept the French at bay 'oer these long years but surely we will drive the Emperor to exile now that you have returned.

HUZZAH!

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FM Sir 'Muddy' Jones, KG
2nd Life Guards, 1st Squadron, Household Cavalry
1st Duke of Uxbridge & Anglesey K.G.

Oh boy, more free drinks...........................

err, I mean...............

Welcome back, sir!

Sir's you are too kind! to an old soldier, it is nice to see old Muddy still sitting in the corner, blagging drinks... Helga another round. As for my rank I'm the new boy with a lot to learn (with maybe a trick or two?!)
Good to be back boys, having been marrooned in the colonies for these 10 long years....

"All the more reason that we cannot allow you to pay tonight, sir", says the Anglo-Allied Chief of Staff as he tosses a bag of coin onto the good Field Marshal's table. "Compliments of our commanding officer, Generaal Bijl. We are proud to welcome you back into our ranks, and there is no need to burden your credit at the very outset. Besides", the Guardsman continues as he grins at the Anglo-Allied's newest 'recruit', "there are plenty more of the French coin contained in that bag to pay for our expenses. The French baggage trains are quite lucrative, even after you sort through the copious quantities of perfume, mascara, and lingerie they transport for their men."

"Hmmph", says Marechal Bardon from his seat at the table near the fire.

Smiling in the French Marechal's direction, the Hanoverian officer touches the bill of his helmet in salute to the two members of the Triumvirate of France that are present in the tavern this evening.

Welcome back Paul!

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Marechal Corbin, far be it from me to disagree with one's commanding officer, but as I recall, most conversations regarding General Harris seemed to involve a fair amount of cursing and expletives, followed by heated exchanges on methods to counter the extended line formations.

General Jones, (salute), I take heart in the fact that the coin you have managed to liberate represents but a small fraction of the shopkeeper's gold that has been obtained over the course of the Grande Armee's campaigns. With so many wagons of captured valuables, we were bound to lose some at one point or another. Fear not, your English paymasters no doubt will send more.

Cheers!

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

Monsieur le Marechal Bardon...

Now that you mention it, several colorful metaphors were used in the conversations about Mssr. Harris.

I also recall mention of his questionable parentage and how cavorts with the devil or some such.

Is it any wonder the allied hordes are losing the war in Europe?

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"Losing the war in Europe", exclaims a startled Hanoverian Guardsman! "By Heavens, Marechal, the night is still so very young for you to be already so deep into your cups! Now I do admit that we may have recently conceded a skirmish to our wayward brethren in the American colonies, but those were Englishmen after all. No, sir, losing to the French in Europe is not even within the realm of the remotest possibility. The entire world is arrayed against the insatiable avarice of the Mad Corsican that you so blindly follow. It is merely a matter of time before the French depredations are curtailed and your megalomaniac leader is tossed into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, preferably over the deepest trench we can find.”

“And regarding the gold of my ‘English Paymasters’, Marechal Bardon, well I must say that I do so hope that they continue to send more. At least they pay us German officers to fight for them, as opposed to forcibly conscripting us, placing us into white uniforms, and sending us on a doomed quest into the hinterlands of Russia where we will starve and freeze to death.”

“Yes”, continues the Hanoverian officer as he pours another shot of Jagermeister, “much better to be appreciated and well paid than to squander one's life for the egotistic aspirations of a madman, however talented in the art of war he may be.”

“And if any of what you relate about Sir Harris is true”, says the Hanoverian with a wry grin, “perhaps it is the two of you who should consider changing your allegiance to the winning side while there is yet time to do so.”

“And do bring that magnificent Peacock of France with you when you come. Your entourage is not nearly complete without him.”

“So Sir Harris has questionable parentage and cavorts with the Devil, eh”, says the Hanoverian officer as he downs his shot of Jager. Pursing his lips, he tilts his head slightly to the side and squints as the conflagration courses from his mouth to his stomach. Recovering his voice, he continues “I like him already.”