Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

It was to be a fabulous day for late Spring of 1846. The morning sky broke clear blue and only the occasional fluffy cloud could be found traveling west to east by the time of the afternoon festivities. The aroma of the plants and flowers of the Great Garden filled the air with enticing fragrances and the soft mew of a peacock would occasionally break the silence. All the notables of the city were excited to attend and those in the best of favor with the Royal house were hoping to get a look at the mausoleum the elderly King had commissioned to be built in the Berggarten.



People were always astonished by the size and scope of Herrenhausen Garten at Herrenhausen Castle. Not just a single garden, it was composed of four distinct parts: The Great Garden, the Berggarten, The Welfengarten and the Georgengarten. The activities for today would be centered in the Great Garden, with its 50 hectacres of lawns, walkways, hedges and statues that was most often used for public events. It had been designed by French gardener Martin Charbonnier. Its central point was the Great Fountain which could spout water over 35m high.




As the people, in their finery, all entered the main gate to make their way towards the stage area for the event. A group of nondescript men slowly gathered to one side. Once they had been young and spry, but, now time was showing its mark as their hair had thinned and gone grey and a few had the telltale mark of previous injuries either in stooped shoulders, a limp, an empty sleeve or the slightly bowlegged walk that one gets from spending ones time often upon the back of a horse. To those in the know, they were the Kings Menagerie (or just the Zoo to the envious). Men, who in their prime, laid their lives upon the line for King and Country. The King had no less a reputation and he had bore the scars proudly for all of his long life. However, those times of daring do were in the past and the Kingdom had had many years of peace and prosperity under the reign of the King. These men had long left their military lives and gone into various trades, businesses and teachings. It had been many years since they had all gathered together.

These men would be here for only two reasons, their King or for the one that lead them so many years ago. They had heard of the event that was to transpire today and as soon as the news had reached their ears, they knew they would come. It was a high honor and so very well deserved. They all wanted to be there to witness the event, and to once again be together and feel the energy of those exciting days one more, maybe the last, time.

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“Do you think he vill come?” asked Der Wurger
“You never know with him, he may just stay in the shadows”, replied Der Falke
“ I thought he had gone to America, may be he has not heard?” added Der Lowe
“No, no, he vent on to Prussia to work fur Der Kaiser”, chirped in Der Wurger
“Oh, I have no doubt he has heard, he always had a way of know what was happening”, piped in Der Wolf
“I don’t know, he was awful upset, but time may have mellowed him”, remarked Die Wolpertinger

With that remark, they all laughed as they knew their missing friend had always lived life with a passion for doing things his own way. Mellow, not hardly, as it would never suit one who was so lovingly called Die Ratte.

“It is late, we should get inside”, stated Der Lowe
“Ja, ich muss sitzen, mein back is nicht so gut”, replied Der Wurger
“It wouldn’t be a problem if you had not fallen so often off your horse when drunk”, added Die Wolpertinger
“Ja, ich weiss!”

With that the men made their way with the crowd to the stage area, where a short play was being performed as entertainment.

The orchestra broke into a rousing rendition of “Heil Dir, Hanover” which had been composed for the Kingdom by George Handel at the direction of George I back when Hanover and England were ruled by the same King. England had kept the tune after the split. The split was caused to keep Hanover’s King from ascending to the British crown. Many other kingdoms also fancied the tune and chose to use it. The King looked energized for the event even at his age of 75. The people all sang,

Heil Dir Hannover, heil!
Freude werd' Dir zuteil,
Freude stets mehr.
Jauchze, Du Engelschor,
Dringe zu Gottes Ohr!
Mit Deinem Freudenchor:
Gebt Gott die Ehr'!
Gott gab den Freudentag,
Was tief verborgen lag,
Kam nun ans Licht.
Zage nicht, Erdensohn,
Wenn schwarz die Wolken droh'n,
Gott hälz auf seinem Thron
Waag' und Gewicht.
Er führt alles aus,
Schützt unser Welfenhaus
mit mächt'gem Arm.
Eintracht ist Gottes Band:
König und Vaterland
Reichen sich Herz und Hand
Heilig und warm.

A rousing cheer went up from the people as their beloved King bowed and waved to them, he then took his seat. As a member of the Kings court stood to address the assemblage, the men began to talk.

“ You were in fine voice, Wurger” said Der Falke
“Naturlich!” came the reply
“Do you see him anywhere in the crowd?” asked Der Wolf
“I doubt you would spot him, why, I don’t think you could spot the old cockroach here as crowded as it is”, spoke Die Wolpertinger
“Vell, da ist der Mann of the hour on the stage.” Said Der Wurger
“Ja,ja. He still looks as stolic as he did facing those Frenchmen”, said Der Wolf and the men all grunted in agreement as their eyes all drifted off to times long ago and sights that could make men quiver with fear.
“Think he could use a shot of Jager now?” asked Der Falke and the men all snorted a laugh, which drew the attention of people around them that shushed the old men.

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The men traded small talk as they watched the proceedings, knowing that what they came to witness would not be until the end. Finally, the King, Ernest Augustus I, stood up and strode forward. A herald called out and read out the names of three men that were seated at the right of the stage. One of the men the observers knew all too well. Those men stood when called and moved center stage to a position close to the King. The King spoke,

“It is always a great honor of mine to present items of worth to men that have done good deeds for the Kingdom. The men that we honor today are ones that have always moved with a determination to provide the greatest service not to themselves, but to others. They have given of their time, their monies, their health, their minds, and yes, for some their blood. They have done all of their good work not to enrich themselves, but to enrich humanity. These men are neither braggarts nor scoundrels, they are the best of our society and we should wish that they set the example of service that our young would desire to emulate.”

The King then turned and slowly moved down the line of men, bestowing upon them the Highest Honor that Hanover could present, The Royal Guelph.







As he reached the last recipient, the King took him in with his one good eye. Yes the fierce warrior was still there, behind the suit and cravat, although he did appear a bit pale. “My Dear Herr Jones,” began the King, “You look as if you have seen the ogre rise from the grave, perhaps you are in need of a shot of Jager?” All said with a wink as the king pinned the medal upon his chest. Shaking his hand, the King continued in all seriousness, “Your duty and dedication are second to none, you and I have always had doubters but we have both managed to make our way thru the obstacles to leave behind a safer and better tomorrow for our fellow men. The Medal carries the motto Nec Aspera Terrent , and if you are not up on your Latin it means, Hardships do not Deter Us. I think it suits you well. Thank you.”

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Salute!

Very

Regards,