Zeigler's Headquarters: Day One, 11am

Hunchmausen's Headquarters: Day One 10.40am

Colonel Rimmer arrives at Schrote, along with Major de la Gardie, with two squadrons of Karnstein’s Dragoons, and Major Strigoi, leading three squadrons of the Bremse Hussar Regiment. Rimmer reports that his infantry are probably fifteen or twenty minutes behind. He has received Hunchmausen's message and sent a squadron of the Bremse hussars off to Oxfurt and Kambritz, via Tinkel Bridge and Tinkel Mill. To the west, the enemy have placed two guns on a low rise just inside medium range. The remainder of the enemy forces seem to have been placed to make best use of cover. The baron orders Rimmer to take up a flank guard position out of gunshot and cannon shot range, making use of cover, and to rest his troops.

Hunchmausen's own guns each have available 200 rounds of ammunition. He instructs his artillery commander, Captain Werner Wärtzog, to hold fire until decent targets present themselves.

Zeigler's Headquarters: Day One, 11am

At 10.40, Zeigler's guns commence their fire. With a roar*, the cannon start a slow, slow bombardment, beginning with the enemy infantry.

At 10.50, a messenger arrives with a report from the picquet tasked with investigating the situation in Hanau-Brancau. The hussars encountered no enemy forces on the road there. The village seems unoccupied by enemy troops and there were few villagers to be seen. There appear to be some armed civilians on watch – perhaps half a dozen. The remaining five hussars have stayed in the vicinity awaiting further orders.

At 10.52,  a hussar arrives from the picquet on the Tinkel road. At about 10.40 a body of enemy comprising of several squadrons of horse was seen entering Schrote from the direction of Widenlau by the picquet observing that road. One squadron of enemy hussars was seen heading in the direction of Tinkel Mill. The picquet were seen by the squadron, but the enemy did not pursue.

10.55: The two companies of Jager arrive. The don’t so much march in, as insinuate themselves forwards.

11.00: The rider sent to Flossen returns. He reports that there are no villagers there to look after the wounded Bachscuttelers. The village seems indeed to have been abandoned a long, long time ago. There did seem to be some signs of recent visitors. He noted recent indications of a camp-fire.



*This is a lie, created by later writers to increase dramatic effect. The first gun actually made a small ‘put’ sound; and the other a slightly louder ‘phut’.