Wuppenhas, the Fourth!

With the redeployment of his infantry more or less complete, Tripodi continues to implement Cavandish's plan and now sends orders to Burgess to re-commence the advance of the Imperial cavalry. This order Burgess enthusiastically implements, the prospect of death or maiming in the incompetent militaries of Mittelheim being a refreshing change to much of his recent previous experiences.

Burgess' furtive and accelerated exit from England had as its origin his foolish dabblings in Palladianism, the architectural style championed by Lord Burlington. Focusing on the symbolic potential of classical buildings, this style incorporated allusion and allegory into the fabric of architecture, imbuing structures with a philosophical as well as a formal meaning. Burlington, of course, was an intelligent and sensitive patron of the arts, whereas Burgess was a penniless chancer with the right family connections but the wrong moral compass: the sort of compass, in fact,  that had a needle that pointed constantly in the direction of "do it, you know you want to". For example, there was nothing especially classical in the allegory of the gardens he designed for the amply proportioned Duchess of  Swindon, the gardens having as their centrepiece a pair of overly large rotunda, the ensemble being entitled "Blimey, Look at the Size of Those". Nor was his work for continental luminaries much better received. The gardens created at huge cost for the Archbishop of Bohemia included a huge glass orangery, the panes of which fell out one mildly gusty Tuesday morning. Forced to replace all of the windows, the "Refenestration of Prague"  left Burgess with heavy debts. After that, he was forced to take almost any employment to survive: selling tulips on dangerous Bristol street corners; bulb-running on behalf of vicious Tetbury criminal gangs; the backstreet pruning of vulnerable young stems.

(Below) Burgess' command sweeps through the forest and, still in perfect order thanks to his understanding of local flora, emerges from the other side. Burgess now orders his troops to begin to wheel. The threat to the Bachscuttel right flank is a clear as King Wilhem of Gelderland's exercise diary.

Recognising the peril he faces, Barry-Eylund responds. He orders his own cavalry to form line and then advances them to try and seal off his flank. As the Fenwickian cavalry continue to wheel, one of Burgess' regiments, indeed, the one that he is attached to, in the heat of the battle launches an unauthorised charge on the infantry to their front. (Below) However, the Bachscuttel troops are in good order, and the cavalry are easily repulsed. The disordered cavalry, with Burgess in their midst, fall back, though not beyond Bachscuttel musket range.

On the long-standing military principle of "in for a penny, in for a pound", Burgess orders a general cavalry charge (below). With his two elite regiments to the fore, and putting their stirrups in, the Fenwickian regiments thunder forwards, hoping for a lucky break.

Sadly for Burgess, however, he must watch both his penny and his pound roll lazily down the back of the chaise longue of defeat. With the only breaks being applied to the limbs of his cavalrymen, the Imperial attack is defeated. The elite Bachscuttel Kurassier von Fliegerweiner it turns out also have a ready supply of stirrups, and they stand firm against Burgess' assault. (Below) The Fenwickian horse fall back. In the background, however, can be seen the massed ranks of the Imperial infantry. With the cavalry assault having, in the short term, failed, Tripodi orders his foot regiments to resume their advance.

(Above, top left) Bachscuttel infantry volleys pour into the cavalry to their front. (Below) Already disordered by their previous charge, the Fenwickian cavalry can take no more, and they break and rout. Burgess, luckily, is able to extricate himself and joins his reserve horsed regiment.

(Above, right) But now, the Fenwickian infantry arrive: two massive columns of Imperial musketeers march forwards. As the pressure on the Fenwickian line builds, Major Bohner turns to General Barry-Eylund and suggests delicately 'Could it now be time for a change of plan, my lord?'
'No', says the general grumpily. 'My course for this battle is set. I shall persevere. Change is overrated'.
Bohner watches the approaching horde of Imperial musketeers and gulps with trepidation. 'But, sir. You know, change isn't a sign of weakness. Everything changes. Perspectives change. Plans change. Er, hair styles change. Ah, interest rates fluctuate'.
'No'.

'A collection of low denomination coins: that's change'

'I think that we're losing our focus here, Bohner. I've made my plan: I flopped my flanks out right where the enemy could get at them. Now, we'll just have to see this through. We'll see how how those damned Fenwickians feel after we give them a good volley!'

Cavandish's infantry level their muskets, confident in their ability to fire first. But wait! Before the Bachscuttel troops are able to fire, it is the Fenwickians who suddenly discharge their muskets, having stolen the first volley! There is a thunderous roar, and smoke erupts from the head of the Imperial assault columns. Barry-Eylund peers worriedly through his telescope ...