Herge's Adventures of 10.10!

... charge carelessly forwards! Huzzah! Zeigler guesses that the enemy is clearly outnumbered and is attempting to cover this fact through furious activity. His view is that the enemy squadron’s horses will now be blown and unable to resist a combined charge by two regiments of horse! 'Advance on Schrote!' cries the colonel, and orders the hussars and dragoons to clear away the enemy! If anything, then, Kinski's force has encouraged the advancing Nabstrians to speed up. Cursing, Kinski orders his little force to retire quickly. As this is happening, events elsewhere are unfolding.

Hunchmausen's Headquarters, 10.10

Secure in the knowledge that Kinski will have slowed the enemy advance from the west, the baron prepares his troops for the attack on the Bachscuttelers advancing from the southwest. The cavlry set of immediately at high speed. The jägers follow, preceding the line troops, on the basis they may be a bit faster and able to deploy out into formation quicker or into cover. His guns remain in Schrote, being carefully positioned to cover the enemy approach and having gabions fashioned or other protections created. Leading the bulk of his immediate forces out to the southwest of Schrote, Hunchmausen soon encounters the enemy troops advancing from Redderblau Hill, at a position less than a quarter of a mile from the town. Riding furiously, his five squadrons of cavalry have arrived at the enemy first. His light troops and regulars will follow on behind.

The hussars deploy to the left of the track, the dragoons on the right of it.

The hussars will advance toward the enemy squadron on the hill by way of the field ahead and to their left if passable, swinging round to deploy between the wood and the single tree, with the hill to their rear. The dragoons will advance ahead to the hill and deploy between the first hedge and up the hill.

Nockenshoppe's Headquarters, 10.10

Advancing from Redderblau Hill and pushing to within a quarter of a mile of Schrote, the Bachscuttel light troops and cavalry, under the command of Colonel Goethe-Nockenshoppes, encounter what looks like a force of enemy cavalry. A scouting squadron on the hill to the right determines that the enemy cavalry are being followed by infantry, although the enemy force does not seem so much larger than his own. The light troops will follow on immediately behind the hussars.



As an advanced guard with no main body behind him, the colonel decides that his role is to screen, observe, but not become seriously engaged. He will push his light infantry into the wood to his left. The hussars will deploy into line of battle but will not advance beyond the cover of the light infantry’s muskets. Nockenshoppe's determines that he will hold position until pressed, and then retire by squadrons and companies.

Zeigler's Headquarters, 10.10

The enemy hussars fall back in front of Zeigler's advancing cavalry. To the west, sounds of sustained musketry commence! 'Push on!' declares Zeigler. 'It sounds as if an engagement has begun with the Bachscuttel advanced guard - the main body must come to their assistance!'