Schwimwehr, the Second!

On the other side of the field of battle, Furst Augustus Saxe-Peste, Generalissimo of the Landgravate of Hesse-Rotenburg, surveys the Vulgarian deployment and makes his plans. The general could really do with a victory. Though related to the Landgrave Choldwig III, this being one of the main requirements for promotion to high military office in Rotenburg, his relationship with Choldwig has not always been harmonious. Choldwig holds the view, problematic in Mittleheim, that commanders should win battles. The Rotenburg army, whilst it has had its moments, not least at the legendary Battle of Chestwig, has of late suffered badly, and many of its troops are newly raised conscripts.

                            

(Above) In some respects, General Rentall has done his job too well. With a wood, a stream, and a marsh clogging the front of the Rotenburg right wing, the Furst concludes straight away that there is no point in him attacking on that front. There's going to be no getting around behind the Vulgarian line there. Not for the first time, Saxe-Peste curses the fact that his troops are a bunch of useless flankers. Instead, he deploys all four regiments of his cavalry on this wing, and he places both his guns to support them. This force will act defensively to prevent any advance by the enemy irregulars. 

(Below) The rest of his army, all of it infantry, he deploys in a double line astride the road. The road itself is the main objective for this battle.

The front rank are trained troops; the whole of the second line are newly raised. Saxe-Peste hopes that, with the advantage of his troops' lethal volleys he will be able to advance, win the ensuing musketry duel, and triumph before his conscripts learn that they are actually in combat. If his conscripts actually end up having to fight, then Saxe-Peste's chance of victory in the battle is as low as something that was already quite low; but then, thanks to poor maintenance during an extended public holiday, had been allowed to sag even further.

The general attaches considerable importance to his troops' ability to conduct oblique manoeuvres. His intention is that his infantry will advance, obliquing to the left with the hope that this will not only make it impossible for the enemy cavalry to move around his flank, but that he will in fact be able to force the Vulgarian cavalry to take his infantry on frontally: a very difficult proposition for them. Having defeated the enemy cavalry, he will then wheel his left flank around and roll up the enemy infantry line. As long as his troops only have to do an oblique, and don't have to spell it, there is at least some chance that they might succeed.

He summons his orderly, Captain Sebastian Wankrat.

'Wankrat!' says the Furst. 'Sound the advance!' 

With a glass of brandy in his hand, and a small barrel for refills in case of emergencies, Saxe-Peste watches as his infantry begins their attack!