Terra Ferra

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====== The Battle of Weidefurt ======

{{tag>"Bishop's War"}}

The small town of Weidefurt lies on the banks of the river Birkett, one of the many minor tributaries of the Great river. It marks the crossing of the main road from Leasowe to Klien-hoysee. The road after crossing the small river slowly climbs out of the town first passing through a marshy area of small streams and water meadows. The plain to the south of the town is dominated by a low ridge marking the Birkett's watershed. 

It was here on the ridge that Andreus Raparger sat on his horse feeling reasonably happy. The march from Leasowe landing had been without incident and he had reached the small town of Weidefurt on the main Leasowe to Klien-hoysee road and drawn up most of his troops along the small river on which Weidefurt stood, preventing a Hoysee advance. With reports that Klien-hoysee was held by just a small garrison of no more than a battalion, he had dispatched two battalions of infantry along the road to the port. Once the Hoysee advance had been slowed if not stopped he planned to send more troops. 

He surveyed  field in front of him. To his left holding the town was Colonel Hampl's Regiment along with the Jaeger and Kellers single battery of breech-loading artillery. Over on the right holding a secondary crossing were the battalion of Landwehr Jaeger backed up by the three regiments of cavalry. The troop disposition was completed by the two batteries of artillery which remained with Andreus on a hill which dominated the centre of the position. In the distance he could see troop movements. Hoysee troops were approaching. Given Hoysee's normal cautious advance he expected battle not to be joined for sometime.

The rapid advance of the Hoysee troops surprised Raparger. From his position it looked as if an entire Hoysee brigade had stormed across the ford on his right smashing into the landwehr. He could see the blue clad troops reforming on the near edge of the wood they had originally held. Good at least they were holding on. Meanwhile a brigade sized force had more slowly advanced up the main road on the left a firefight erupted between them and the defenders in the town. Would the town hold? Yes, the threat was the brigade which had crossed the steam and was advancing on his centre. Raparger's artillery opened up on the advancing columns. Though his glasses he watched as cannon fire rained down on the Hoysee columns which wavered and fell back.

Raparger noticed movement around  Weidefurt as two battalions moved across the battlefield to engage the Hoysee as they fell back. Good, all seemed, at least so far, to be going well. With the landwehr seeming to be steady he needed to keep in mind why this battle was being fought, turned to his cavalry commander he ordered “Detach two regiments and send then along the road to Klien-hoysee and support the infantry. We do not plan to hold here forever.” Lt Col. Schwing saluted and rode off. Schwing was a good officer and Raparger was sure soon hold a rank worthy of his skills.

Turning back to the battlefield the situation had changed as the two advancing Keller battalions had halted and formed attack columns and the precious breech-loaders had limbered up to follow them. It looked as if Hampl was planning to send Hoysee back across the river with a bloody nose.

The advance at this critical moment seemed to stall. The milling mass of Hoysee began to deploy in line, no longer so vulnerable to cannon fire. At the same time the men were visibly returning to the colours to begin a firefight with the Kellerite columns. Was Hampl never going to deliver the coup de grass? 

The moment had gone a sudden raise in gun fire from Weidfurt signalled an Hoysee attack. Men began to fall back in a rout. At the same time the reformed and revitalised Hoysee attack on Raparger's right was lapping like a white tide around the two Keller columns in the centre of the field. The quickly eroded away leaving the artillery unable to unlimber vulnerable. Raparger decided enough was enough. He had stopped the Hoysee and hopefully given them pause. He might have to fight another delaying action before Kline-Hoysee but not here and not no. He ordered the start of disengaging and withdrawal.
Terra Ferra

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