Retreat! Obvs!

With the Bachscuttelers disengaging faster than a man who has just found out that his fiancee is his younger brother, Baron Hunchmausen reaches the difficult decision to withdraw. With the enemy retreating so quickly, he cannot overrun them quickly enough to guarantee that the Nabstrians to the west won't arrive on his flank at some inconvenient time and ruin his fun. He makes the decision, however, to hide his jagers in the woods as retreats, hoping that they might be in a position to ambush someone.

Goethe-Nockenshoppe's Headquarters,  10.15am

'Crikey', says Hammertheim, looking through his telescope. 'The enemy light troops seem to have disappeared. And the enemy cavalry and musketeers now seem to be retreating northwards, presumably back to Schrote. What should we do Colonel Nockenshoppe?'
The colonel consders this before saying: 'Follow them up and keep them under observation but do not become seriously engaged. Send a galloper to Ziegler informing him of the enemy movements and that we are keeping them under observation'.

Hunchmausen's Headquarters, 10.15am

'Well, sir' says Czernazmije. 'It seems as if the enemy are following us as we withdraw, and keeping us under observation! Now, if only the enemy are unobservant, and our jager are as well hidden as shadows in a cupboard full of slightly darker shadows!'
'Indeed', says the baron. 'We'll have to hope that the commander of the jager is a competent fellow. What's his name again, Bumperjumper?'
'Bartoszewicz, sir, a Pole -  no stranger to action; and our jägers are all woodsmen, huntsmen with a fair smattering of poachers, so I have every confidence sir."
The baron nods. ‘Barftosservitch – yes, that’s the chap!

Goethe-Nockenshoppe's Headquarters,  10.17am

The colonel's careful advance and observation commences. After a short time, however, a sudden volley explodes from nearby woods into the vanguard of his force, a squadron of the Kreigwurst hussars! The squadron is broken and flees back to the main column, before rallying. It seems that the enemy jager had ensconced themselves in nearby woods. Clearly hiding themselves very successfully, the enemy at least were spotted at long range, and so were forced to fire prematurely, or matters might have been worse!

Hussaren von Kreigwurst
First Squadron: 76 effectives – six dead, nine lightly wounded, nine heavily wounded.

Hunchmausen's Headquarters, 10.17am

As the main part of your Hunchmausen's force continues to withdraw, there is to the rear the satisfying sound of an explosive volley of musketry! Although spotted by a vanguard of enemy cavalry at long range, the fire from the jager was still able to inflict twenty or thirty casualties on the enemy squadron, which also broke and fled. Hunchmausen is pleased, but orders the jager to retire speedily, making best use of the ground between the wood and Schrote. The hussars return to aid their withdrawal.

Goethe-Nockenshoppe's Headquarters,  10.18am

'Ambush! Bah!' grumbles the colonel. 'Keep at a distance and keep them under observation. Send a rider to the village of Flossen - get the villagers to tend to the wounded. Send a picquet to scout out Hanau-Brancau and report back on whether it is occupied by the enemy'.

Zeigler's Headquarters, 10.27am

A messenger arrives from Colonel Nockenshoppes at 10.20. He acknowledges Zeigler's message of 9.55. He has encountered an enemy force consisting of a battalion at least of regular infantry, supported by jager, and a regiment of enemy cavalry. He intends to move northwest towards Humpe.

Another messenger arrives from Colonel Nockenshoppes at 10.27, sent originally at 10.10. The enemy are now withdrawing. His forces will follow cautiously, keeping them under observation, and join with Zeigler's forces at Schrote.