Hamertheim, the Second!

Even in Mittleheim, it is not usual to deploy troops into a rhomboid, hexagon, or parallelogram; and so General Rentall goes with the tried and tested deployment of a line. On the left flank, he deploys all three regiments of his regular cavalry. In front are the Vulgarian garde du corps. Alongside the national advantage of 'cavaliers', this makes the Vulgarian horse quite a tough proposition if the enemy decide to engage them with their own mounted troops.

The infantry and guns form the centre of the Vulgarian position. The leftmost portion occupy one of the hills (below). Rentall places his headquarters here since it gives him the best view of the battlefield. His guns are dug in. This will make it more difficult for them to move; but then, as artillery, mostly everything is difficult for them anyway - firing for effect, getting up in the morning, putting on their britches, or impersonating competent artillerymen.

On the right-hand side of the centre (below), the rest of the infantry and guns form a continuation of the line. Rentall has eschewed the use of reserves. Reserves are fine, if you like that sort of thing: but Rentall has only five regiments of musketeers and has decided it is more important to present a longer defensive position to the enemy.

Last. and by some measure the least, the Vulgarians have on their extreme right deployed their irregular units: two regiments of cavalry and two of infantry (below). The lord alone knows what it is that these troops might achieve: although if it includes washing themselves, then that would be something.

'Perhapsh it might have been better if we had attacked', says Rentall ruefully. 'At leasht den we could have focushed our forshes against one part of da enemy line'.

'Gottle a geer', replies Baron Tostov, sympathetically. Tostov looks a little worse for wear. Worse, even, than he did when he attempted to eat a volley of Vulgarian cannonballs.

'I shall accompany the baron as he reviews our troops. Perhaps he might even give a speech!' says Duke Neucheim. There is a squealing sound as he wheels the baron off along the line. The duke pauses a little way on to pick up one of the baron's arms, which seems to have fallen off.

'Gottle a geer!' roar the Vulgarian troops. 'Death to Bachscuttel! Long live Vulgaria!'