Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

The two Hanoverian officers rode side by side, each mirthfully laughing at the quick witted jokes exchanged with his companion. One officer wore the green coat of the Hanoverian Feld Jagers, the other wore the red coat of the Duke of Yorck’s 1st Field Battalion. Both carried the swords of a vanquished Frenchman.

They dismounted in unison when they arrived at the tavern stables, tipping the stable boy handsomely for the good care they knew he would take of their mounts. For his part, the stable boy was overjoyed to care for the magnificent, Hanoverian steeds, as he could stand upright when grooming them, as opposed to the back breaking work of constantly stooping to groom the small ponies ridden by the officers of France.

With captured swords in hand, the two Hanoverian officers entered the Rhine Tavern. Striding confidently to the table where their Commanding Officer was seated, they placed the captured swords on the tabletop in unison, broad smiles radiating from both of their faces.

“Well, well, well”, said the Hanoverian General, “look at what the cat dragged in.”

Josephine the cat, lay contentedly curled up in General Schmidgall’s lap, purposefully ignoring the reference to her hunting prowess.

“Herr General”, said the Jager Commander, “Ve bring you presents, compliments auf the Emperor auf France”.

“Major victories, both”, added the Line Battalion Commander.

“Ah, major victories then”, says the Hanoverian General, “the very best kind indeed.” He leans forward to examine the captured weapons, reading the inventory tags placed on them by the Anglo-Allied Chief of Staff when officially registering their capture. “Hmmmm, this one belonged to a French Colonel”, observed the Hanoverian General, “and was captured on a most unbalanced field of French advantage. Congratulations, Colonel Peccolo.”

“And this sword also belonged to a French Colonel”, continued the Hanoverian General. “Well done Captain Friedman, it is always good to see an officer capture swords from opponents of higher rank.”

“A celebration is certainly in order, but before we begin, I have something for each of you as well”, said the Hanoverian General as he reached into his brief and pulled out two boxes, handing the gold one to Colonel Peccolo and the other to Captain Friedman.

“Congratulations on your promotion to Major, Herr Friedman”, said the Hanoverian Commander, “it is my honor to serve with you, sir.”

“Ach, ja”, exclaimed the Jager Commander as he opened the gold box that he had been handed.

“And congratulations to you as well, Colonel Pecollo”, continued the Hanoverian Commander. “I am well proud of the manner in which you have commanded my beloved Feld Jagers following my promotion to Brigade Command. You have done well, Herr Wurger, and I offer you my heartfelt congratulations on your promotion to the rank of Brigadier General.”

Rising to stand, the Hanoverian Commander raises his crystal shot glass high into the air as he shouts, “Gentlemen officers of these wretched wars, please join me in a toast to Major Friedman and Brigadier Pecollo, two of the finest officers to have ever graced this tavern! And a special mention to the Emperor of France, who by his generous, and most frequent, donations of captured treasures to the Anglo-Allied Victory Vault, continues to fund your insatiable thirst for alcoholic libations, as well as keep our beautiful Helga dressed in the finest fashion. We are certainly going to miss the Little Corsican when he becomes a casualty of one of our well placed bullets. Long live the King!.”

"Generals of Armies have better things to do than to shoot at each other"

Congratulations gentlemen.

Hanoverian Generals lead from the front, and we certainly shoot as well as frequently saber.

Your French Generals may cower in the rear, as is their common habit, but even that does not prevent their capture by our brave Coalition officers as we cut our way fully through your ranks, capture your cowering Commanders, and turning about, cut our way back out again with your 'valiant' leaders in tow.

Au contraire monsieur...

General Officers 171 Killed 908 Wounded
Other Superior Officers 1,130 Killed 5,352 Wounded
Total Superior Officers 1,301 Killed 6,260 Wounded

http://www.napoleon-series.org/research ... sses3.html

A nice wound is even better than a medals with the ladies.

_________________
Général David Guegan

3ème Régiment de Grenadiers - Bataillon d'élite du 3ème Légère
2ème Brigade
Grenadiers de la Réserve
Réserve
La Grande Armée
--------------------------
"From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step."
Napoléon Bonaparte

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.
Groucho Marx

I never confuse reality with role playing, David. What I really think of the historical Grande Armee stands in stark contrast to what my fictitious, Hanoverian personae thinks.

I never get confused about the fact that nobody in this club actually served in the Napoleonic Wars themselves either. I well understand that the Armies of the NWC are not in any way reality. We are simply a club of real people who enjoy playing wargames.

You quote to me the glories of the Napoleonic, French leadership as if you can claim some measure of credit for yourself, or for your fictitious NWC Army. The simple fact is that you cannot. None of us may. Those men who fought these wars consecrated the battlefields with their blood and their sacrifice "far above our poor power to add or detract".

A member of the NWC is no better than the battles that he plays, the friends that he makes, the respect that he earns, and the measure of effort he puts into our club. It is just as simple as that.

Let's start giving out headhunter awards to the number of General French Div officers killed in fancy battles. Some people confuse fancy for real life, yes my granddaddy lost his leg at Petersburg but I didn't my granddaddy got TB and die from the trenches in WWI but I didn't my pop flew with the red tail but I didn't I can go way back !

We got a MP team that can't get a fight even the Dragons won't answerer who are they fighting and who the Elite of French winning from???? Oui they beat my Prussian teambut they picked the place and the rules and I was on my back but am back and quitting in the middle of the game.

Ach, It vould be grand if Der Prussians had der Jager Ordern again. Venn I see one on another uniform it makes me mad that it is not available to mir Sigh....

Aber! Wir haben Heute einen Hochzeit! Wir muss gute essen haben, mit trinken und .... das ist the Beste....singen!

Danke fur alle gluckwunsch!

Heir we ist im the Tavern, zo, ich will the singen start

Da, wo die grüne Isar fließt,
Wo man mit Grüß Gott dich grüßt,
Liegt meine schöne Münch'ner Stadt,
Die ihresgleichen nicht hat.
Wasser ist billig, rein und gut,
Nur verdünnt es unser Blut,
Schöner sind Tropfen gold'nen Wein's,
Aber am schönsten ist eins:

In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus:
Eins, zwei, g'suffa
Da läuft so manches Fäßchen aus:
Eins, zwei, g'suffa
Da hat so manche braver Mann:
Eins, zwei, g'suffa
Gezeigt was er so vertragen kann
Schon früh am Morgen fing er an
Und spät am Abend kam er heraus
So schön ist's im Hofbräuhaus.

Zum Voll!

_________________

Salute!

Although the thought of how such promotions were gained at the expense of my fellows may pain my heart, it is without a doubt that the two of you fine gentlemen are proving worthy opponents upon the battle maps - and so - I congratulate you each - Major Friedman and Brigadier General Peccolo!

Regards,

That part I get it.



That part I am not sure to get it or even if it is addressed to me, because I just checked with my mirror and my wife and I am not wearing a French uniform around the house and I don't pretend to be living in the Napoleonic wars.
But I like to play.
What I quoted has nothing to do with glory. Just simple historical facts. In that period of time, a lot of officers were killed and wounded because they could not hide since their role as officer was to be in front of their soldiers. It wasn't a French characteristic (I didn't have the time to find the numbers for the others armies) it was in all the armies.
But I have to say that being in a Napoleonic Wargaming Club I do like historical facts (and I am sure I am not the only one). At the end it was only one historical fact I was pointing out. Nothing else.
I have been member of this club and the French Army* (Armee du Nord then La Grande Armee) for over 14 years and I still remember that I am playing games of an historical period I love very much. And if I choosed to be in the French Army* in this club it certainly has to do with the fact that I am French and that the Napoleonic Wars do involve my country. So for sure there is a link there (not of particular pride but of interest). From my teenager years I was already playing board games for that Era. I was reading books about the campaigns of Napoleon. I was fascinated by the Revolution and then the Empire. It was part of the history we were taught when I was in school (and that period was always too short to my taste). It's a part of French history that many French people don't know anything about because it doesn't interest them... and I imagine that it's something universal. We are a few people interested in history and every body else doesn't care.



As for your last remark I will have to say that over the years I made quite a few friends on both sides. Some are from the coalition because I play(ed) against them and I have a lot of fun with them, others are from the French army because over the years I have participated to the administration of the club. So I guess I am covered on that front. I have good friends and I participate in all the ways I can to the life of the club (division commander for some time, then corps commander) and fortunately we have many members of the club doing the same thing.

I even remember when we (you and me) were in good terms. I designed scenarios for the 2 last tournaments. I participated to the panels that were investigating cheating allegations. And then I don't know what happened... I have been raised in a place where it's OK to have disagreement with friends over something (politic or whatever) but we still stay friend or whatever it is we achieve as virtual members of this community.






*when I use the therm "French Army" I am referring to the French Army of the NWC that has nothing to do with the historical army because we are in a virtual GAMING club.

_________________
Général David Guegan

3ème Régiment de Grenadiers - Bataillon d'élite du 3ème Légère
2ème Brigade
Grenadiers de la Réserve
Réserve
La Grande Armée
--------------------------
"From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step."
Napoléon Bonaparte

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.
Groucho Marx

Bonjour David,

I salute your words and your style. Should you ever visit New Zealand I have a spare room and a large Napoleonic war gaming room you may use

Vive L'France!
Vive L'Napoleon!

Vive L'Enjoyment of History and War gaming

*when I use the therm "French Army" I am referring to the French Army of the NWC that has nothing to do with the historical army because we are in a virtual GAMING club.

Historical fact - We (they) beat you.

Historical fact - Only after a lot of heartache and a lot of losses

Club fact - It's no fun if you can't distort the truth for the sake of a bit of humour

_________________

I agree with you...

_________________
Général David Guegan

3ème Régiment de Grenadiers - Bataillon d'élite du 3ème Légère
2ème Brigade
Grenadiers de la Réserve
Réserve
La Grande Armée
--------------------------
"From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step."
Napoléon Bonaparte

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.
Groucho Marx