Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

"Sit down, sit down!" the Tirailleur warmly invites the grizzlied grognard to have a seat at his table. "Here good fellow, have some of this wine, an excellent vintage, 1796, Milan I believe."
He pours wine into a glass and places it before the dashing Colonel. "Here, I think I may have something for you," and so saying the Lieutenant reaches into one of the cases left by Farraris. Out of it he pulled another of the figurines. This was a cannon, but the end was a flourish of horse's tail, and from the sides sprouted two wings. "The flying-artillery I believe your type was called originally, eh." Painted all black and brass, and the wings etched as feathers. "Now, tell me about the Iles Turkey, that sounds most interesting indeed. Helga! More wine here please!"

Mesi mon ami, It a very bon thing that there are still some gentlemen still left in the Grand Armee! I have a very low tolerance for them staff officers the peacocks of the Armee. Them so called once a month Gard de Corps. But any way my young garcon let me tell you of Turkey!Upon returning from Strasburg, with the new replacements I was called to II Corps Artillery Park, to see the Commander of Artillery General Sebastien Maximillien Foy. I was to be reassigned, to his staff on a temporary basic! Not knowing what my duties would be I was very apprehensive about my role in this new Empire that Napoleon was building. I have come to know the General for only a short time but I understood what he wanted and demanded from officers under him. Once I arrived at his headquarters I was met by my old ami Major Remi Pascal, he told me the reason behind my sudden transfer. He let me know that it was his doing, he knew that I would be worried about the sudden change and he felt that he had to meet me and explain the change. He let me know it had nothing to do with the Emperor or any new policy it was a chance for me to go on a long mission and meet new people as well as being with him. You see in war we need the company of friends and someone we trust! Mon ami , if you could have seen the look of relief on my face you would have died laughing, what a fool I have become because of Napoleon. It was as if I thought that he had it in for me how foolish I have become and paranoid. Monsieur Remi told me that this was a way to advance my career in the Armee as well, especially through personal contact and with this Artillery Commander. I was now in a new world altogether one of science and math and gometrie! I was to be assigned to a support unit of escorts for the Topographical section. This would give me a chance to use my Cheval skills which would be a large aid to the command as well as to learn new skills.
What seem particularly interesting to every one was my uniform it really stood out at headquarters, many thought that I was one of the Emperors personal body guards, Le General really like it and told me that I could continue to wear it since I was the only one wearing Mameluke clothing.
History fact;
The Treaty of Paris of 25 June 1802 and the resumption of diplomatic relations between France and the Ottoman Empire gave Bonaparte the opportunity to improve his knowledge of conditions in Persia. He advised General Brune, the new French ambassador to Constantinople: to obtain information about the different Pashaliks and to extend his investigations into Persia.
On May 16th of 1803 with the breaking of the Treaty of Amiens led to a resumption of hostiles between France and Britain. The French government was convinced that Russia, were the pro-British party at the Russian court had got the upper hand after the assassination of Paul I and the accession of Alexander I, they the Russians would sooner or later join Britain in a new coalition against France. In that case, thought the French, a policy of friendship with Persia would be necessary in order to create a diversion against Russia and to threaten British interests in India.

Monsieur for another bottle I will continue?

"Yes Helga, thank you for another fine bottle," then turning to the Colonel, "Oh, how exciting the Near Orient must have been! A mameluke's uniform? That must have been a sight to behold."
Josephine the cat wound around the Colonel's legs, brushing him with her fluffy tail. "Finish your story, sir, of the Empire's waxing glory." The Lieutenant settles back, wine glass in hand, and listens to the tale unfurl about them, of splendid lands under strange skies, and the heroes who strode the world for the honor of L'Empereur.

I was asked by many why this type of uniform that they wore in 99 in Egypt! To embarrass to tell the truth I made up a long tale about it. Major Remi asked me who gave me that most colorful uniform, I told him and he told me that I was played the idiot, falling for that by some backward ass at Strasburg. There was no such policy about uniforms, you idiot he said. Why have you allowed yourself, be taken in by these kinds of people! Well I told him that I really liked the uniform it made me look good, well he said it sure does set you apart from the other Artillery officers. They will surly be calling you petit LaSalle (little LaSalle), Remi went on to tell me why worry so, about who you are.
You have many times proven yourself to very important people why sweat the small people who don’t know you. “He said!
What seem the most hilarious to most of the staff was my turban with it’s large Noir (black) fathers, that made me appear taller then I was but I did not notice it that much only when it rained was it a problem. They used my small company mostly for scouting patrols and I was once again use also as a poste courier (postman)! I missed the war in Prussia and so did the 6/3, which were setting mostly in garrison duty in Le Tyrol. I had a small troop of Dragoons from the 6th as my Eclaireur’s (scouts), they gave me a troupe of twenty five under a sergent by the name of Francisco Dupuise we called him Puise! Most of these homme served under General Thomas Dumas in 97 in Italy, so I felt very good with them since they were all veterans of five to ten years service. I notice how the Emperor uses the soldat’s that served in Italy in 1797 to 1800 in most of these details. This also seemed to puzzle me, why so many veterans in one small unit that made us one of the most elite unit in the Corps! We were sent through out the region mapping roads and used as advance eclaireur’s in this part of the Tyrol; we were moving on to Salzburg then to Carinthia. With my correspondance from Madame Lorrie I was made aware of the Prussian war.
Lieutenant Kliff Dumas 1806
Mon ami I will be in this allied stable tomorrow maybe you have more wine to wet my tired mind hey ok !

"Until tomorrow then, Colonel. I too have a background with the Topographic Bureau. I have served as a scout, mapping the roads and other notable features in advance of the army movements. The light infantry are of use when the enemy is close to hand (Tirailleurs even more so) and one wants to stimulate the foe to know the patterns of their movement, to know the tenable and fatal terrain. And of course, the support of the artillerie d' cheval is always welcome.
Adieu.
The Lieutenant watches the Colonel withdraw from the room, imagining what that mameluke's uniform must have looked like upon the eclaireur.

My sincere compliments, Cliff. You have used your knowledge of the officer you portray to impart a lot of information here. This is a much better method than the posts you have made in the past where you copied page after page of your books into the forum. This new style brings the history to life! Excellent work, Cliff. Very good, sir!

Todd, the same applies to you as well. A very descriptive narrative of historic characters.

Great job, guys!

Mon ami the Allied Lt Col at this pig pen didn’t like the way that I was cutting into his ami! How then do you treat a man that you are about to kill? Any way we know that the Allies are listening to us and not bragging about their Brig and how bon they are. Well let me continue with my story. Oh let me tell you that this tale is copyright and I will sue.


Later that year I was told that I would be sent with the Topographical unit to provide a escort for General Sebastiani and his aid General Foy and Colonel Pascal, we were to travel to Constantinople the capital of the Turkish Empire. Here was my chance to explore the world, a dream come true to go were I have never been and to be truly part of history. I had just one request to make and that was that I could have my Sergent Major accompany me along with my detail. I personally submit my request to the unit commander Colonel Remi. The request was for Joc who was in the 4th Dragoons first Sq the elites ; I knew that he would be overwhelmed to hear such bon news! I felt that we were in store for a truly rewarding adventure and I wanted someone that I knew close to me. Remi said that I look the part for this mission with this wild uniform but I felt very comfortable in it although my comrades laughed at me at first. I let my hair

The Tirailleur watched as the good Colonel's head sank forward to rest upon the table... Ah, too much wine perhaps. "Helga, could we have a pot of strong black tea for us here, please."
Josephine leapt up onto the table and circled about the slumped figure, slowly finding her spot and settling down, nestled close, and purring softly.
"Yes, good girl Josephine. Many campaigns hauling L'Empereur's beautiful daughters from one end of Europe to the other has taken their toll upon the fellow. We'll let him rest awhile, and then hear the rest of his tale when he is refreshed."
Soon, the pot of tea and some mugs were set before them by Helga, who also brought a saucer of milk for the cat.
The Lieutenant sipped the steaming beverage, and watched the coming and going of others in the tavern, quite content with things as they were.

Oh, mon ami did I fall in my on mass again ! Well I guess I did, hey pretty meow . I had to order two of my best sections to the front and I knew them since 03. Trained them my self oui I did! All killed by a Cossack ambush they where, got the news as I cross the line to met ju, I did. Oh well that’s war let me continue moi garcon if you don’t mind! I will train some new garcons and send them off the same way but this time with Dragoon escort!
I let my hair grow long and took it out of the pony tail to look more de Mameluke. My horse Roller didn’t like it, he would give me the hardest time mounting him I guess he didn’t recognize me. I was told not to let anyone know of my where about, I felt that this was very top secret information. The Emperor personally wants Monsieur General Sebastiani to make a good impression on the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. I was in my own thoughts on the make up of this command and just what kind of personnel were they sending to Turkey. I felt that it would be Eagles among the Crescent!
History fact;
The Treaty of Paris of 25 June 1802 and the resumption of diplomatic relations between France and the Ottoman Empire gave Bonaparte the opportunity to improve his knowledge of conditions in Persia. He advised General Brune, the new French ambassador to Constantinople: to obtain information about the different Pashaliks and to extend his investigations into Persia.
On May 16th of 1803 with the breaking of the Treaty of Amiens led to a resumption of hostiles between France and Britain. The French government was convinced that Russia, were the pro-British party at the Russian court had got the upper hand after the assassination of Paul I and the accession of Alexander I, they the Russians would sooner or later join Britain in a new coalition against France. In that case, thought the French, a policy of friendship with Persia would be necessary in order to create a diversion against Russia and to threaten British interests in India.


Our unit was commanded by Colonel Remi, we departed Salzburg headed for the Carniola sea port of Trieste then to Constantinople, with one hundred souls as an advance party. Most of the units were made up of Topographical personnel and we would be the only Artillery de Cheval in the command. Although I was the only Artillery officer besides general Foy and the rest were Dragoons, and legers officers. The rest of the command was Turkish once we arrived. I was told that I would be an adviser to the Turc. With no real training in Artillery, I would not be the one commanding the guns, most of my knowledge came from the past year as the Artillery administer, and not as a gun commander, I was the administration officer in the 6/3. I felt that Colonel Remi picked me because of my experience as a scout not as an Artillerist, if there was some special mission to be scouted then we were the best to do it. Most of the other Dragoons were all from Eclaireur units from the Armee of Italy and also, seeing service like us in 1800. With the knowledge that I gained from my correspondence with Monsieur Jean and Madame Lorrie I knew that this would be a detail of Espionage. We did not leave Trieste on the regular transport but a hired sloop, in the most under covered way that I have ever done! The field commander of this expedition was a Major Boquer of the Gendarme de elite it was he that would be the technical commander or field commander. A fiery tempted person with little to say to his homme (men), he only gave orders and no personal contact with his officers or soldat’s!
Le Major didn’t like my uniform at all in fact he wrote me up as being not in the proper uniform and gave it to the Colonel who called me to his cabin. Colonel Remi told me that the Major felt that I was a disgrace to the service and that there was no room for one of my kind on this expedition and that I was out of uniform as well. Colonel Remi had a plan, he went on to tell the Major that I was a Mameluke of the Garde sent by the Emperor himself to talk personally to the Sultan. We laughed our selves silly but we carried on that ruse till we arrived in Turc! Le Major treated me with much respect the rest of the voyage, what a pump up fool he is.

After visiting the front last evening the Russi were firing near to my command post my forward spotters were all killed by know last then three direct hits. I thank God that the Russi cannon balls were all Northeast of me for truly it was a experience when they came within three miles of me ( real world in Dallas Tuesday)
From Trieste to Rumeli to Rodosta 1806;
We sailed from Trieste then put ashore in western Rumeli (ancient Macedonia) to pick up a strange passenger, then we unloaded to travel northeast by Cheval and pack animals we now had Rumeli guides that were leading us through the mountains of eastern Rumeli. It was just as Remi said the new world of the orient, now my uniform didn’t seem strange as most of the Bulgarians wore the same kind of clothing and many were as dark as me. Since my Mere was a Muslim I knew their religious ways once we entered the Moslem county. The Muslim guides all tried to speak to me all I could do was pray with them in Arabic which was much appreciated by them. The Major was unimpressed and sobbed them! Being rude in a strange land was to be his down fall, but I got my troopers to respect their ways and when times got hard we were fed and the others went hungry. The farther North we went the colder it got, my troopers were given sheep skins and the others had to buy their own. Colonel Remi thought that this was pretty amusing and brought himself a complete Rumanian outfit, almost like the one that I had on. Our Guest, the Colonel had one also; his name is Mazieeres de St. Marcel, sent on this very important mission by La’Emperor. We were to be his escort till he reached Constantinople. Remi told me that the chance of our detail being attacked was slim but in these times you never knew The blanc (white) hill tribes were the only ones to attack us when we got closed to Bulgaria. The Mountains of Macedonia were truly a challenge for many of the homme’s, most of the time all we could do was try to stay warm as we could in these mountains of northern Macedonia. Once we started down into Eastern Rumelia to the town of Adrianople the weather seem to get warmer the farther south we traveled the warmer it got.

zzzzzz .... yawn .... oh, its Cliff again. And yes, that dashing Hanoverian again. Spinning yarns ... (the GdI goes back to sleep ...)

_________________


Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Prinz Peters von Dennewitz

3. Husaren-Regiment, Reserve-Kavallerie, Preußischen Armee-Korps

Honarary CO of Garde-Ulanen Regiment, Garde-Grenadier Kavallerie

NWC Founding Member

For Club Games: I prefer the Single Phase mode of play. I prefer to play with the following options OFF:

MDF, VP4LC, NRO, MTD, CMR, PR, MIM, NDM, OMR (ver 4.07)

"Colonel, a rousing story indeed, thank you for enlivening the hours spent here in the tavern. I must soon depart back to the battles I wage against the enemies of our Empire, but do look forward to meeting you here again, and sharing libations & swapping tales. Luck to you upon the field of honor and glory as well."
The Lieutenant pauses, and searches about below the table, around their feet, "Where has Josephine got to now?" he asks aloud.
A movement in the shadows along the wall catches his eye, and he watches as the cat, slinking along, is moving in the direction of a table where the feared skull & bones commander sits snoozing.

Hey great! I love cats!

Here kitty, have a morsel - knowing your French masters have nothing to give you but excuses!

Don't worry kitty, we get them all the time too.

_________________


Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Prinz Peters von Dennewitz

3. Husaren-Regiment, Reserve-Kavallerie, Preußischen Armee-Korps

Honarary CO of Garde-Ulanen Regiment, Garde-Grenadier Kavallerie

NWC Founding Member

For Club Games: I prefer the Single Phase mode of play. I prefer to play with the following options OFF:

MDF, VP4LC, NRO, MTD, CMR, PR, MIM, NDM, OMR (ver 4.07)

There’s that poor and sorry excuse for an officer, I know him he looks just like my nemesis! The Count Evermond the Austrian Spy of 05. Looks like he now wears his black uniform around his fat belly. I know he is scared to meet me with his henchmen. They were his former enforcers of the poor peasants on his family estates in Normandy before the Revolution. We been after his head ever since. Je suis desoiel pardon mon ami, I could not but notice him with that grin on his face! I will tell you more of From Trieste to Rumeli to Rodosta 1806;
We sailed from Trieste then put ashore in western Rumeli (ancient Macedonia) to pick up a strange passenger, then we unloaded to travel northeast by Cheval and pack animals we now had Rumeli guides that were leading us through the mountains of eastern Rumeli. It was just as Remi said the new world of the orient, now my uniform didn’t seem strange because most of the Bulgarians wore the same kind of clothing and many were as dark as me. Since my Mere was from North Africa I knew their religious ways once we entered the Muslim county. The Muslim guides all tried to speak to me all I could do was pray with them in Arabic which was much appreciated by them. The Major was unimpressed and sobbed them! Being rude in a strange land was to be his down fall, but I got my troopers to respect their ways and when times got hard we were fed and the others went hungry. The farther North we went the colder it got, my troopers were given sheep skins and the others had to buy their own. Colonel Remi thought that this was pretty amusing and brought himself a complete Rumanian outfit, almost like the one that I had on. Our Guest, the Colonel had one also; his name is Mazieeres de St. Marcel, sent on this very important mission by La’Emperor. We were to be his escort till he reached Constantinople. Remi told me that the chance of our detail being attacked was slim but in these times you never knew The blanc (white) hill tribes were the only ones to attack us when we got closed to Bulgaria. The Mountains of Macedonia were truly a challenge for many of the homme’s, most of the time all we could do was try to stay warm as we could in these mountains of northern Macedonia. Once we started down into Eastern Rumelia to the town of Adrianople the weather seem to get warmer the farther south we traveled the warmer it got.
The homme under Colonel Remi were busy making maps and routes for supplies and making careful use of terrain and weather conditions. We were used to this as a reminder of the way we entered Italy six years ago.

http://s1071.photobucket.com/albums/u50 ... fDumas.jpg
Oui, it looks like L’ Emperor will be making a move on the Turc soon after he’s was finished with the Russi and the Prussi in the war in the North. Most of the homme were talking about the harem girls that we were about to see, the smell of exotic perfumes were in all of our mind and our noses.
This reminded me of my studies of Alexander the Great when he conquered the eastern Empires, were we to be the new Greek or Roman Empire, all before us failed, maybe L’ Emperor knows a new way of building his Empire, that not my worry I’m just a single man in a large world not trying to build a Empire just trying to survive these wars the best that I can.
Rumeli Feneri
When the Aeronauts were seeking the Golden Fleece they let a wine colored (oinks) dove fly between these magic rocks. That used to approach and strike one another with thunderous sound and then draw apart again. They followed the bird on its route, led by the goddess Athena.


Here we were 4000 years in the past much like the Aeronauts seeking the Golden Fleece of the orient! The tale goes like this.