Ziegler's Headquarters, Day One ,12.10pm

At 11.45, a message arrives at headquarters from the picquet on the Widenlau road. A squadron of enemy hussars attempted to attack them. The picquet has retired successfully to the Tinkel road, without casualties. Ziegler immediately orders Pfanenstiel’s Hussars to form up and go after the enemy squadron! The hussars are organised, prepared, and then dispatched. They are ordered to proceed carefully - the aim is to get close enough to surround and destroy the enemy squadron - this means that the enemy must not realise they are outnumbered until it is too late!

Meanwhile, having ceased fire, as per Ziegler's orders, the artillery recommences a slow fire that lasts from 11.50am until 12.00. They will continue to fire in the last ten minutes of every hour, until 4.30pm, at which point they will commence a heavy bombardment - or as heavy as a 3pdr and a 6pdr can rustle up. This fire is likely, to be fair, to have a greater effect because, at 12.10pm, a wagon arrives from Humpe, accompanied by a picquet of hussars. The wagon contains Herr Odo Dodo, a blacksmith, who arrives with all the makings of an ersatz field forge. Herr Dodo evinces a considerable enthusiasm for heating things up and setting fire to stuff.

Captain Kugel holds forth on the subject of heated shot. It will take 40 minutes or so to set up the makeshift furnace, get the wood, and burn it down to white-hot charcoal. The open furnace can hold ten rounds. It takes 30 minutes to heat the shot. Obviously, as each pair of shot are used, another pair can be added. Three men are required to operate the furnace, so Dodo is helped by a pair of artillerymen. The shot is sufficiently small that it can be carried with tongs by one man. Parties of infantry are ordered to gather leaves which can be used to provide damp wadding between the powder charge and the red hot shot. Lieutenant Ludwig Brandt, who has the most expensive and accurate pocket watch, is entrusted with ensuring that the pairs of shot go onto the brazier at 5 minute intervals, so that no shot remains on the furnace for longer than 30 minutes: otherwise the shot might become misshapen and jam the barrels.

Kugel predicts that the first of the rounds should be ready at 13.30. Each gun will be able to fire one round every six minutes.

Ziegler nods enthusiastically: there's nothing quite as satisfying at making a fire, especially if the main ingredients are one's enemy's houses.