Day Two: 5am!

Both sides spend a restless night, certain that the other will attempt some kind of night attack. But neither does of course, because they are a bit tired, and also afraid of the dark.

Ziegler's Headquarters, 5am

It looks like it’s going to be another fine day. Reveille is sounded. In the darkness, Ziegler's forces quickly prepare themselves to move out at 5.50am.

Major Seewurd reports that Ziegler's guns have each expended 112 rounds and so have 88 rounds each left. He also reports that the lightly wounded from yesterday’s actions have recovered. These include: 58 of Pfannensteil’s hussars; one trained artilleryman; two artillery helpers; nine Bachscuttel hussars; and ten Bachscuttel musketeers.

Having failed to get satisfaction from the bishop (a condition, surely, that has afflicted every self-respecting man at least once in his lifetime) the colonel decides that there is nothing for it but to exit Schrote. He gives orders that his whole force will march for Widenlau. A galloper is sent to find von Pfanenstiel and inform him of this decision.

Ziegler, clearly taking the view that the light inherent in the Enlightenment is best provided by setting fire to other people's stuff, gives orders to burn every village his troops come to! He then decides that his force will take the blacksmith and his forge with them - it will go along with the wagons. The blacksmith is to be recruited into the Nabstrian Artillery with the rank and pay of a sapper. All the captured civilians will be impressed into the Nabstrian infantry. 

The march order of his force will be:

1. Dragoons - one squadron to go out ahead scouting the route

2. 2 coys of Jaeger

3. Nabstrian infantry

3a. Both guns

4. Wagons etc

5. Bachscuttel bn

6 Bachscuttel light infantry

7 Bachscuttel Hussars.

6 and 7 acting as rearguard.

Ziegler intends to keep a close eye on the rearguard, and he will be riding alongside 7. The Bishop and his priests will be given a spare horse or two and asked to ride next to the wagons - or ride on the wagons if they prefer. They are guarded by 2 picquets of Nabstrian jaeger.

Hunchmausen's Headquarters, 5 am.

It looks like it’s going to be another fine day. Dawn is at 5.30am, and it will be fully light by 6.

It would seem that the enemy have sounded reveille: the noises from the enemy camp indicate that they are preparing and assembling, though whether this is to move, attack, or slap one another with haddocks isn’t at this stage clear.

The baron's guns have each expended 50 rounds, and have 150 rounds left. Those lightly wounded yesterday have recovered. These include: 14 Liebgrenadiers; 27 Bremse hussars; 10 Karnstein Dragoons and 16 civilians.

The baron orders his troops to stand to. He then calls in Czernazmije.

'Chumbawamba, gather the Hanamel Farm strike force once more and launch Operation Squealer a little before dawn. Order the troops to go east on the Widenlau road then strike north across country following the course of the river toward Oxfurt & Kambritz. Scouts will check the two villages and then the force will sweep round to cut Tinkel Mill, and then travel up Hanamel Farm road and enter Hanamel Farm from the South'.

 Czernazmije salutes. 'It is an excellent plan, sir'.

'Yes it is', answers the baron.

'Indeed, baron', replies Czernazmije. 'So excellent that you have already sent the force off. Colonel Rimmer's force departed at 4.10pm yesterday, according to your orders'.

Hunchmausen pauses, 'Yes ... yes .... obviously I knew that. It is simply an example of just how important Operation Squealer is that I gave the orders again. Later, after they'd left'.

'Quite so, sir', says Czernazmije. 'It makes perfect to sense'.

'Indeed', says the baron.

'Although you gave them a different route yesterday'.

'I knew that'.