Our players took to a running series of connections, hinting about things to come ...

Well yes, it has, the King has broken camp and is riding north with his entourage and advisers. There was no Allied Conference, at least to the King's knowledge. Now, where exactly is he headed?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

HM King Frederick William of Prussia,

What news from your capital sire?!

Michel Ney, Marshal of the Empire, Prince of Moscow, 1769-1813

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Die Vorschlaege des franzoesischen Kaisers!

Euerer Majestaet! Wenn ich bitten darf!

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I am having great fun teasing Frederick William, who refuses to engage me in 'conversation'--I guess that he does not believe in ghosts, or at least does not like to communicate with those who have 'passed over'.

 

 The Allied monarchs had met, minus the King of Prussia.

New orders were issued for the Allied forces:

Blücher

Orders 31st August 1813

1)    From Allied High Command, the Two Emperors, to M
Prince Gebhard von Blücher

It is our intention that the forces under your control combine
and march to Lubben to engage with the French forces
there. The Hapsburg forces to your south and west are to
protect your left and rear, forcing Marshal Oudinot either to
withdraw to the west or to battle. Once these French forces
have been disposed of they will march to join your
command.

In line with these intentions we issue the following orders.
• His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Austria has ordered
the Austrian cuirassiers (1st & 2nd heavy cavalry),detached
to your command, to move north of Luckau (hex 24,29)
where they are to combine with the Russian 1st dragoon
division and a Cossack brigade from your forces currently at
Cottbus, the entire force is to be under the command of von
Ribbentrop.

• His Imperial Majesty, Czar of all the Russias, has ordered
General Duka with his 3rd cuirassier division to also move
north of Luckau (hex 24,29) to join with von Ribbentrop’s
force.

• These combined cavalry of von Ribbentrop are to block
any movement of Marshal Oudinot’s command towards
Lubben (at hex 24,29)—or indeed towards your command
at Cottbus—with the view to defeating Oudinot’s French
cavalry and delaying them so that the Austrian infantry
south of Luckau can engage and destroy Oudinot’s force.

• We order your Army of Silesia currently at Cottbus to
await the arrival of the Russian troops to your south-west
and east, which will join you on 1st September, then we
desire that you move with this combined force to Lubben to
engage and defeat the French there.

Their Majesties have supreme confidence in your ability and
desire to procure this war against the Ogre. Please accept
this Order of Saint George with Honours as a tangible
expression of this.

Alexander I, Czar of all the Russias
Francis I, Emperor of Austria

Schwarzenberg

31 August 1813

From Allied High Command, the Two Emperors, to FM Karl Prince Schwarzenberg

The following is sent to you for your information as the
commander of our Army of Bohemia and C-in-C of our
combined forces.

It is our intention that the forces of FM Blücher combine and
march to Lubben to engage with the French forces there.

The Hapsburg infantry to the south and west of Blücher are
to protect his left and rear, while forcing Marshal Oudinot
either to withdraw to the west or to battle. Once Oudinot’s
force has been disposed of these troops will march to join
Blücher’s command

In line with these intentions we have issued the following
orders.

• His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Austria has ordered
the Austrian cuirassiers (1st & 2nd heavy cavalry), to be
detached to the command of FM Blücher and to move north
of Luckau (hex 24,29) where they are to combine with the
Russian 1st dragoon division and a Cossack brigade from
Blücher forces currently at Cottbus. The entire force is to be
under the command of von Ribbentrop.

• His Imperial Majesty, Czar of all the Russias, has ordered
General Duka with his 3rd cuirassier division to also move
north of Luckau (hex 24,29) to join with von Ribbentrop’s
force.

• These combined cavalry of von Ribbentrop are to block
any movement of Marshal Oudinot’s command towards
Lubben (at hex 24,29)—or indeed towards Blucher’s command
at Cottbus—with the view to defeating the French cavalry
and delaying them so that the Austrian infantry south of
Luckau can engage and destroy Oudinot’s force.

•We have ordered Blücher to await the arrival of the
Russian troops to his south-west and east and then to move
with this combined force to Lubben to engage and defeat
the French there.

• General Radetzky is to take command of the Austrian
infantry that are currently to the south of Luckau(joining with
the lead corps) and to keep marching north. His lead troops
should reach Luckau by 1st September. If Marshal
Oudinot’s French are halted by Ribbentrop’s cavalry force
he is to move to join that battle.


• Our Imperial HQ and reserves will continue to march
towards Cottbus-Lubben.

Our Imperial Majesties are aware of a commotion in the HQ
camp this evening as the Prussian guard, His Majesty the
King of Prussia in command, have left the camp. The Czar
of all the Russias has sent his Black Sea Guard Cossacks
to escort the Prussian Guard. This is for your information
only and should not be repeated to anyone.


Alexander I, Czar of all the Russias
Francis I, Emperor of Austria

 There existed an opportunity to have all three of the main Allied commands meet with the Allied Monarchs in an epic cross-planet (really because we are talking from UK to Iceland to Canada to Australia) conference call on Skype (remember gang this is 2013 and not as many net-connected tools existed for such things and not everyone had a camera/smartphone/system to make it all work).

Behind this planned meeting - the King of Prussia was already in covert communications with the 'enemy' Bonaparte the Ogre.

I now expose some of the email train that was going on at the time (I think six years ought to be enough?).

XXX

From me as game-master:

> The King of Prussia is still in Allied HQ.
>
> Surrounded by Russian Guardsmen and Guard Horse and Prussian Guardsmen
> and a Line Brigade of Prussian Cavalry.
>
> Grawert is the one who may get the meeting with the Emperor.
>
> This call would be with Allied HQ, Schwartzenberg, Alexander and Francis

Reply from King of Prussia:

I wonder whether Allied HQ really is the best place for me to be, under the circumstances? If an armistice is declared, wouldn't we rather be back in Berlin? Is there, indeed, some excuse that can be satisfactorily manufactured for my urgent departure back to Berlin? Rumours of a battle, perhaps? An attempt to relieve the city?

 Then while attempting to arrange the timing of the call, to include the Schwartenberg player, this little snippet came out from the King of Prussia:

Well, of course, this all depends on protocol, and may be awfully difficult to arrange. Moreover, there are rumours of a fresh French offensive in the north, and it may be necessary for me personally to break camp in order to reach Berlin as quickly as possible - naturally, my Allies will be kept informed of all developments as soon as information reaches me....

Other players suddenly knew something was 'up' with the King of Prussia ...

Then a response from Haugwitz just brought me nearly to open laughter about the situation:

These conferences, so difficult to arrange, so many diplomatic complications - but Your Imperial Majesty is so right, we must all concoct our actions together, it is vital - a common cause, naturally....but problems at Berlin, a potential need to travel back...vital interests of the Prussian State, capital in mortal danger...

Unknown to one player, the message had already been - essentially - delivered via the 'messenger' (Grawert) that had come across the lines to open negotiations with Bonaparte:

Dear David,

Oh how I'd love to tell [the King of Prusssia] the bad news that his capital is firmly in French hands!!!

I'll contact Mark next. I think a meeting of Francis, the Czar and Schwazenberg to discuss the "Prussian problem" may be in order. Our Sunday would be best. I'll get back to you soon.

I have been waiting to expose this part of the backstory to the 'big Imperial Allied HQ meeting' - because, literally as they were gathering in the big HQ tent ...

The King of Prussia:

>You really think I should participate, when we are on tenterhooks waiting for communication from the Emperor? Certainly, I can't leave physically where I am to journey to some tom-fool location...they might even kidnap me!

 Haugwitz:

Euerer Majestaet is so very wise. From the last Konferenz your Majesty's trusted servant formed the strongest impression that certain envious and ill-disposed individuals at Alliierten Hauptquartier were castting dreadful suspicions upon your Majesty's motives and recent actions, were fulminating drastic action to keep the war going, and would likely stop at nothing to prevent your Majesty from serving the very best interests of the Kingdom, Gott mit uns...

 

But in coming days your Majesty will have to display the very greatest firmness of purpose, not to be inveigled into useless disputation with the August Habsburger or his flunkey Schwarzenberg, and his rough crew. I suspect they will neglect no opportunity now to divert your Majesty from the divine purposes.

 

Your Majesty's most trusted servant still has not seen the Emperor's proposal!

 

Wenn er bitten darf!

 King of Prussia:

My advisers wholly concur, as you can see. We should, I think, make haste for Berlin at the earliest opportunity....

the note to the game-master:

I shall leave you, of course, to adjudicate on this departure from the camp, the consequences - not least for the abortive Allied conference - and to communicate all this to the Emperor, Schwarzenberg, and indeed, the Russians....

Just to be clear, an international Skype call of the main allied players in the campaign were coming together since the start of the game there has only been email information exchanged, some of it time-delayed by messengers.  This was to be the first opportunity for the players to 'in real-time' analyze the situation and formulate a plan.  -AND- The King of Prussia has plans to leave just before the meeting.

My game-master questions just before the call and the "king" of Prussia's responses:

> Okay,
>
> So just to be clear about this:
>
> 1 King Fredrick is leaving the Allied HQ camp?  Yes
> 2 Will the King be taking the LiebGard troops with him?  An escort as appropriate, presumably not all but sufficient
> 3 Will the departure happen essentially overnight?  Yes.
> 4b Will the departure happen at the same time as the proposed High
> Command dinner/meeting?  Yes, that's right.

Literally as the Allied GHQ and other Monarchs are meeting the King of Prussia is fleeing camp.

 The King of Prussia is really treading on thin ice ...

 Very early on the morning of 30 August 1813, the attached message arrived at the King of Prussia's personal field tent.

 It was delivered by a visibly tired member of Julius August Reinhold von Grawert delegation. He had crossed the lines from the French side only 6 hours ago.

(contents of message)

Emmisary of King Fredrick William III

Julius August Reinhold von Grawert

plus 20 staff escorts.

Request an audience with Napoleon Bonaparte.

 Oudinot message for delegation:

 Proposition to the delegation.

“Napoleon has agreed to meet you for formal discussions regarding the current hostilities.

 In order for this to happen a temporary truce be put into effect immediately between the forces under my command and those of General der Kavallerie Blücher (Russian, Prussian and Austrian) in the area around Grossraschen and Elsterwerda.

 Neither side may advance towards the other until after the proposed meeting has been concluded and your delegation has returned to General der Kavallerie Blücher’s HQ.

 The meeting will take place at the fortress of Torgau on 1st September.

 Further the delegation will be permitted to meet with, and discuss the current situation with Crown Prince Charles John, Commander of the Swedish Army, formerly Maréchal Bernadotte, who is held captive in that fortress.

We will also provide evidence to the delegation of the fall and capture of Berlin.

 Signed for and on behalf of Napoleon

 Maréchal Oudinot, Duke of Reggio

 29th August 1813”

(message ends)

Truly now the Kingdom of Prussia was no-more, for their armies were shattered and their capitol in the hands of the Ogre - there was no more 'Army of the North' and the King of Prussia was now the first to know of it.

XXX

The King turns earnestly to his advisers. I can see, he says, how we can give an order to Blucher to disengage Prussian troops, but how can this be enforced as to the other nationalities under his command? Also, what about the numerous Prussian forces trapped elsewhere in Germany under others' command? How can we effect a truce with Napoleon ourselves, without putting at risk Prussian lives elsewhere?

XXX

 Haugwitz was quick to respond:

Ausgezeichnet, Preussen ist gerettet! Gott sei Dank!

But the text of the proposal, Eurer Majestaet, wenn ich bitten darf?

What exactly is being offered in return for the huge boon which is the removal of the Kingdom from the war? Are the French going to evacuate Berlin? Are they promising to evacuate the Kingdom? Was geschah?

I suspect that if the proposal-which must be acted upon or not immediately, I see-is satisfactory to your Majesty, then the best course is to announce oeffentlich und sofort that the Kingdom declares neutrality and all Prussian commanders are under orders to withdraw upon some central point, which will depend on the generals to arrange, I suppose.

After that, of course, orders can go out to the civil administration-the Kreise-to withdraw any support from the Habsburg and Muscovite forces still on our territory, except as may speed their removal to the boundaries.

It's possible that these forces will create some sort of difficulty, as your Majsety wisely observes. We can trail past them the fact that there is an opening for peace for all parties-the August Habsburger may wish to consider whether this is an opportunity for him to take up negotiations, in the interest of his daughter and grandson, who may rule in Versailles one of these days, if the rumours of the health of the Great Beast himself are anything to go by, and the wish of the Russians to go home is manifest, has been for months. Provided that the French are evacuating the Kingdom, and that this commences forthwith, I cannot see that our erstwhile sogennanten Allierten will have any true grounds to object or interfere, it cannot be in their interests to recommence hostilities on Prussian and now neutral soil with a surly and unco-operative population all around and the Prussian portion of their own army retiring from the field, the French will know how to take advantage of that situation far better than any stodgy Habsburger, after all, and the end result would be little different from the present one, except that they would be ohne Preussen.

But the text of the proposal, Euerer Majestaet, wenn ich bitten darf?

XXX

The King answered:

Yes, indeed, this is exactly what I was thinking, my advisers as  usual along precisely the right lines. The proposal, how are we to see and discuss it in detail? Especially such matters as the French evacuation of Berlin and indeed the kingdom as a whole. All this cannot be hurried, this we understand, but it does not behove any of us to wait unnecessarily long...

XXX

Haugwitz continued:
 

Euerer Majestaet, might I most respectfully draw your attention to the advice which I offered [earlier], as to the importance of the sogenannten Alliierten seeing this as their own opportunity to negotiation a settlement, albeit on less favourable grounds than ourselves, of course?

XXX

 The King's response:

On this point I must demur, I do not envisage this as an opportunity for our Allies to negotiate a separate peace, not at all....

XXX    XXX   XXX 

Meanwhile Bonaparte's orders came out looking like this:

Orders and despatches from Napoleon and others

Written at 23.30hrs on the day of our Lord the August 29, 1813

Napoleon with the Polish Lancers (at 18/26) to move, on the road, to Lubben (22/29) & join up with the Imperial Guard.

Guard Light Cavalry under Dejean escorting the prisoner Bernadotte to Torgau, please report when you reach Torgau. Also be prepared to move the prisoner to Wittenberg, using your initiative, should events transpire against us in the area around Lubben / Luckau / Cottbus.

New orders from Napoleon

The Imperial Guard at Lubben (22/29); Maréchal Mortier make your troops ready to move as soon as I arrive tomorrow, 30^th August. Maintain cavalry patrols towards Cottbus.

Despatch to be sent to Latour-Maubourg and Flahault

“Maintain your cavalry on recce duty. You are not to advance any further than Luckau until you receive fresh orders from me. Please report all enemy activity to Imperial HQ at Lubben”

Oudinot (at 27/29)

Davout HQ (at 8/10) to advance, with XIII Corps, along the road to Parchim (9/12)

Davout (at 8/10) sends out the following orders:

To the Danish Auxillary force en route to Schwerin (7/9): continue your advance through Schwerin on the road to Pritzwalk following XIII Corps and my HQ along the road from Schwerin to Pritzwalk.

To V Cavalry Corps (at 9/12)

The Corps is to probe the enemy forces to their east.

They are not to initiate any combat.

However should the enemy attack then V Cavalry Corps are to stage a feigned withdrawal westwards towards Parchim and XIII Corps which is moving into close support.

Despatch from V Cavalry Corps to Maréchal Davout

“Excellency we have encountered troops of the Royal Swedish Army: under the command o Fieldmarshal Graf Stedingk. It seems to consist of three infantry divisions.

From the captured stragglers it is known that both Crown Prince of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Generallieutenant Count Sparre are in command positions; they are supported by  the Corps of the Lower Elbe, a small contingent of around 1600 men.

We will maintain our position and report any movements by the enemy whilst we await infantry and artillery support.”

To XIII Corps (at 8/10) advance along the road to Parchim (9/12) to support V Cavalry Corps, who are shadowing the enemy force to the east of Parchim.

Despatch from V Cavalry Corps to Maréchal Davout

To 9^th Light Cavalry at Gustrow (6/12)

You are to recce for any enemy formations in that area, and to the south. Should the enemy move against you then you may retreat, if faced by overwhelming numbers: the enemy infantry has reached a position to the east of Parchim. We still think they are moving toward Berlin, but cannot be sure at the moment. Report any enemy sightings post haste to my HQ which will be on the road between Schwerin and Parchim.

Despatch from 9^th Light Cavalry to Maréchal Davout

“Excellency we have reached Gustrow and have not encountered any enemy troops.

We will send out small recce patrols towards Muritz and Plau at first light. The main body of the regiment will then move south to Plau.

Should the enemy move against us in overwhelming numbers then we will retreat to Gustrow.

Otherwise we will maintain our position at Plau and report any movements by the enemy whilst we await further orders.”

Despatch from 30^th Light Cavalry to Maréchal Davout

“Excellency we have moved through Karstadt and would be approaching Pritzwalk tomorrow.

However there is evidence of a large cavalry presence in and around Pritzwalk. The local populace say that a large (??) Swedish cavalry division has entered Pritzwalk. Our patrols sent towards Pritzwalk report Swedish cavalry patrols to the south and west of that town. We have not encountered any other enemy troops.

In view of the size of the Swedish force I will not be advancing further; I do await your further orders.

We will send out small recce patrols at first light.

Should the enemy move against us in overwhelming numbers then we will retreat to Karstadt.

Otherwise we will maintain our position and report any movements by the enemy whilst we await further orders.”

 AN ENDING SITUATION WAS NOW BUILDING FOR THE CAMPAIGN

French situation map end of August 29th

 With the Crown Prince now a prisoner of the French, orders for the Army of the North were somewhat subtle ...

Well here is my move. The Swedes will group up to the west and prepare to
attack the French.
I guess Bulow will have to stop and regroup by looking at the map so he will
not move once he gets over the river so he can get his bearings so to speak.

Bulow from the Cyberboard system

 Bulow's forces in Lowenberg:

Prussian Provisional Korps of Havel (3)
Von Tauentzien
Troop Strength:

1 Brigade von Dobschutz
Russo-German Legion: Generalmajor von Arentschildt         Troop Strength:  2074

3 Brigade
Hessen Homberg Division: Sacek, von Pfluger Lwh

5 Brigade
von Borstell Division : Bruckner Lwh

Reserve Artillery under von Lindenau
2 foot batteries (24 guns)
Pioneer coprs

(organized after battle retreat 28Aug 1813)
(game played 2 Dec 2013)


were faced by Prince Marshal Poniatowski:

I Corps          (4)                                                         Troop Strength: 20680
Commander-in-Chief: Général de Division Count Vandamme

1st Division: Général de division Philippon               Troop Strength: 6688

2nd Division: Général de division Dumonceau          Troop Strength: 5056

21st Light Cavalry Brigade: Général de brigade Gobrecht   Troop Strength: 360

Reserve and Park                                                              Troop Strength: 832

and

(III Corps: Maréchal Ney)

23rd Light Cavalry Brigade: Général de brigade Beurmann  Troop Strength: 2832

The Prussians were now outgunned 10:1 or better ...

bleak situation for the Army of the North, now in full retreat ...

 The Allied Command had an opportunity to meet and enter into a renewed alliance and co-ordinate a response to the obvious French actions.

Prussia was hesitating ...

The Allied Monarchs decided to issue a set of "messages"

Messages 28th August 1813

From Allied High Command, the Two Emperors

 

To King Frederick William

Your Royal Highness,

We understand and share your deep concern at the peril currently facing your capital. This should be palpable and clearly evident to you by the distributions and orders that we have given to our troops. These forces, now united around us, are set to drive north to support Marshal Blücher in taking Cottbus and then driving on to Berlin.

We have issued express orders to this effect to Prince Schwarzenberg, acting on our behalf.

While the bulk of our army moves north, it is imperative, for the security of our southern and western flanks, to hold the passes through the Bohemian mountains around Marienburg and to capture Dresden. Critically, the supply-line for the forces of our three nations flows north, from the Hapsburg Empire (through Prague), and this must in no way be imperilled.

Your Highness’ recent actions are at odds with this.

We implore you, as a matter of the utmost urgency to countermand the order to General von Kleist. He must return urgently to support General Barclay de Tolly in his position around Marienberg. The presence General Kleist with your majesty’s troops was critical to the success of our forces at the first Battle of Marienberg earlier this month.

Alexander I, Czar of all the Russias

Francis I, Emperor of Austria

 

To Marshal Blücher

Prince,

As our main army drives north to relieve Berlin, it is imperative, for the security of our southern and western flanks, to hold the passes through the Bohemian mountains around Marienburg and to capture Dresden. Critically, the supply-line for the forces of our three nations flows north, from the Hapsburg Empire (through Prague), and this must in no way be imperilled.

We implore you to order General von Kleist to return urgently to support General Barclay de Tolly in his position around Marienberg. Kleist’s presence was critical to the success of our forces at the first Battle of Marienberg earlier this month.

Alexander I, Czar of all the Russias

Francis I, Emperor of Austria

 

To Field Marshal Schwarzenberg

Prince,

As agreed at our conference this morning, we command you to order, on our behalf, the movement of our united forces north to support Marshal Blücher in taking Cottbus and then driving on to Berlin.

General Radetsky, with the Austrian cuirassiers is to remain on the left flank of the army to cover against Marshal Oudinot and to mask the movement of our troops.

Alexander I, Czar of all the Russias

Francis I, Emperor of Austria

The situation for the Allied command at the end of the 28th: