The White Horse (Hanover AAR) Updated Dec 24

[Scottish King]

Chapter 5: Battle is Nigh

“Finally about to go into battle! You nervous there, Hans?”

Hans looked over at his sneering companion as he lifted his pack onto his shoulders. Gustav had been teasing him since they had started out from Hanover but for the last couple of days he had been really getting on his nerves.

“Hey would you stop that Gustav?”

Gustav took a step back in mock surprise. “Oh I didn’t mean to disturb you, your highness. Would you like something to clean up the puddle of piss you’re standing in?”

Hans clenched his fists in anger and Gustav threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh. One punch and he could send his “friend” sprawling onto the ground. He wouldn’t even expect it…

Instead, Hans turned around and walked away ignoring the calls from a bewildered Gustav. The camp was bustling with activity as the army prepared to march to their very first battle. Their first taste of combat had been a couple of weeks ago when they came upon Prince Eugene of Savoy on his way to Breslau, Silesia with a small company of soldiers. It was a short skirmish. Hans hadn’t even fired his musket. Today, however, his musket would see more than its fair share of firing. Hans took in a deep breath as he approached the edge of the camp and looked across the open plains to the walls surrounding the city.

Rumor had it that the city was totally undefended as the Prussians had the Austrians tied up trying to stop them from advancing and taking the city of Prague. The Prussians had already swiftly taken the capital of Saxony, Dresden, and established its army’s headquarters there. Hans had learned that the Prussian command had given permission to General Kitterer to take the city of Breslau and as part of the agreement between the two nations Breslau was to remain under Hanoverian control. Today was the day that the Hanoverian Expeditionary Army took possession of Breslau and by extension Silesia.

“Soldier you better get back to your regiment. We are about to start heading out soon.”

Breaking his gaze away from Breslau’s walls, Hans thanked the sentry with a nod and started to walk back to his regiment and unfortunately back to Gustav…

------

“There he is,” Gustav shouted as Hans neared his tent. “Did you finish crying yet?”

Soldiers with earshot laughed and snickered. Hans walked over and grabbed his canteen which he had forgotten earlier.

“You’re not going to say anything, Hans? Come on lighten up. You know I’m just joking with you.”

“You may be,” Hans replied, “but you don’t know when to stop! You’ve been getting on my nerves since we left Berlin and I’m tired of it. Just stay away from me!”

The soldiers around them stopped what they were doing to listen in. A look of surprise appeared on Gustav’s face which quickly turned into a frown. “Is that what you want, Hans?” Gustav asked in a somber voice.

Before Hans could reply the call had gone out to line up in formation. Hans stared at Gustav for a moment and then turned away without a word. Soon he was in formation, with the rest of his regiment. Looking to his right he could see Gustav down towards the end of row. Gustav turned his face and for a moment their eyes locked before they quickly turned their gazes away. Hans shook his head to clear his mind. His friendship with Gustav was the last thing he needed to be thinking about as they headed into battle. But perhaps he had been hasty with Gustav. In truth, he was really nervous. No, not nervous, he was scared but he didn’t need Gustav announcing it to the world.

The crack of thunder filled the air. Hans looked up at the sky. It was a bit cloudy-

There was a high pitch whistle. Boom. Hans jumped at the sound of a shell slamming into the ground fifty yards front of him sending dirt and dust into the air. That clearly had not been thunder. More shells slammed into the ground as the officers moved back and forth shouting words of encouragement and making sure the men’s ranks were in order. Hans clenched his jaw in an attempt to keep his composure.

“Don’t worry lad,” the soldier to the right of Hans whispered. “We’re out of range. For now. You stick with me and we’ll get out of this alive.”

Hans glanced over at the soldier to see him give him a wink. With his easygoing demeanor had clearly been in battle before or was completely out of his mind.

“What’s your name, lad?”

“Ha-Ha-Hans.”

“Well, Hans,” the winking soldier said as the officers gave the command to advance, “Into the gauntlet we go.”

[IneptCmdr]

Another great update! Battle is nigh indeed. Can't wait to see how this develops.

[McScottish]

Yeeees, into the gauntlet. To be crushed, or to do the crushing...we shall see.

[Lugotorix]

This is a good one. Naturally, I have to overcome my deep seated hatred for all things Hannoverian.

[Scottish King]

Thanks for the support and comments guys. I should have a update sometime next week.

[Scottish King]

Chapter 6: Battle of Breslau Part 1

The infantry marched steadily forward to the sound of their regiments drums. Shells slammed into the ground in front of them and behind them but as far as Hans could see they had yet to hit their marks.

“They are doing a terrible job of adjusting their aim,” the Winking soldier said in a whisper. “Means that we aren’t facing professional troops here.”

“How do you know that?” Hans whispered back. “Perhaps only the cannon crew is inefficient.”

The Winking Soldier smiled. “Would you put your least experienced troops behind cannons that are designed to stop an enemy from getting to the walls?”

Hans’ face wrinkled in defeat. “I guess you’re right.”

“This will be easy but you can get killed just the same. Remember to stay close to me and do what I do and we’ll survive this.”

Hans nodded his head as he slightly flinched as a shell landed near to the right of his marching regiment. He could see they were halfway to the walls. Getting there it seemed would not be the hard part. Getting over the wall was a different story. It would take time to get the lines to the top of the wall for them to climb to the top. In that time and in transit up the lines they would be vulnerable especially those first over the wall. Hans was glad he wasn’t up front. He glanced over to Gustav’s position and saw him marching forward with a determined stare and from Han’s point of view not a sign of fear on his face.

I don’t belong here, Hans thought to himself. I should have stayed home like my dad told-

“Halt!” his sergeant shouted above the roar of a recently fired cannon. Hans heard screams as gunfire erupted from the top of the walls. Without noticing it Hans and the men had already made it to the walls of Breslau.

“Ready!”

Hans readied his gun as men started forward with the rope needed to scale the walls.

“Aim!”

More screams as Hans saw and heard men falling. They were sitting ducks here beneath the wall. Hans took aim at one of the men firing over the walls parapets.

“Fire!”

Hans pulled the trigger and the smell of gunpowder filled the air. Before the smoke obscured his vision he saw what he believed to be his bullet hit the wall itself and not what he was aiming for. When the smoke dissipated enough for him to see again, Hans was already loading the next ball into his musket. The sound of gunfire had disappeared from above as Breslau’s forces took cover. This momentary pause in fire was taken for the ropes to be thrown to the top of the walls.

“Alright, men try not to hit the rope! It is our only way in! Ready…Aim…Fire!”

Heads had just poked back over the wall when Hans’ comrades fired another volley. More screams but this time they were coming from atop the walls.

“Let’s keep it up boys! Affix bayonets! Cover the men as the climb!”

Hans saw the first men in line run for the secured ropes and begin climbing. His heart started to beat just as fast as he moved his ramrod. His eyes slowly followed the men as they climbed up the ropes to the top. Glancing to either side of the regiment he could see the other regiments following suit. Turning his attention back to the task at hand, his blood turned cold as he saw one of the soldiers lose his balance and plummet to the ground. And he was not the only one. More fell just as they crested the top of the wall. However, many more were getting over the wall.

The second line of men rushed to the ropes to assist their comrades and Hans could now do nothing but watch as shooting at the top of the wall would have only endangered his fellow soldiers. Minutes passed that seemed like hours as sounds of fighting and the sound of the occasional shot fired filled the air. It was his turn now and Hans rushed to grab the rope. With a pat on his shoulder by the Winking Soldier, Hans pulled himself up. Looking over to his right, his gaze met with Gustav’s who was also pulling himself up. They both nodded then turned their gazes back to the top of the wall. There was work to be done.

[Scottish King]

Chapter 7: Battle of Breslau Part 2

Hans grasped the rope tightly and with his feet walked himself up the sheer wall face. With each step he was getting closer to his first and hopefully not his last taste of combat. The man ahead of him stopped. Hans pressed his feet firmly against the wall. His muscles were already aching from the exertion.

“Don’t you let go and fall boy,” the Winking Soldier said with a slight laugh. “The soldier behind you would hate to have had survived everything else to have you kill him.”

A slight smile appeared on Hans face. The soldier ahead of him was on the move again and he quickly resumed his climb. It seemed as if the climb would take forever with each step seeming to take him no closer to the top. Suddenly, the soldier in front of him disappeared over the wall. He was almost there. His muscles were shaking now as he let one hand go of the rope and grabbed the warm stone and hoisted himself over the top of the wall.

He landed on his feet in crowd of Hanoverian soldiers. There seemed to be nothing but confusion and shouting. Where should he go? Where was the enemy? Hans took his musket in his hands. What should he do? There was a slight push from his right.

“Come on lad. Just don’t stand there follow me!”

Hans quickly saw the Winking Soldier push his way past him and into the crush of soldiers. Hans quickly followed. As he made his way through the crowd someone grabbed hold of his sleeve.

“Hans, what are you-”

“Just follow me Gustav.”

Hans along with Gustav continued after the Winking Soldier until they came to a standstill.

“Come on! Push them back so we can get into the bloody city,” the Winking Soldier yelled above the noise. “Are you professionals or aren’t you?”

As if in response to what the Winking Soldier said. There was a shout and the men began to move again. Hans and Gustav simply followed, stepping over the dead men in their way without looking down. There was no time to think on the dead. Down the stairs they went and finally emerged inside the city walls. They could hear gunshots in the distance.

“We need to make our way to the city center-Look out!”

Hans and Gustav turned quickly in the direction the Winking Soldier had pointed his gun and followed suit. From around a corner came a crowd of what appeared to be armed citizens.

“Fire!” someone shouted and everyone fired their muskets. About twenty men hit the ground dead or wounded but the slightly smaller crowd kept coming.

“Get ready! Defend yourselves.”

There was no time to reload. A man came at Hans with an axe but he quickly sidestepped it and slammed the butt of his musket into the man’s back knocking him to the floor. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed someone else charging at him and instinctively thrust his bayonet forward. It caught the individual straight in the gut. Hans looked on in horror as he realized he had just stabbed a young teenage boy. The boy looked from the bayonet to Hans in surprise. Hans pulled back and the blade and blood came out as the boy fell to the floor wringing and crying in pain. Hans couldn’t move. What had he done? Suddenly, the Winking Soldier was there and quickly stabbed the boy again putting him out of his misery.

Then Winking Soldier grabbed Hans by his shoulders. “This is no time to be standing around. Come on!”

Hans blinked his eyes a few times as if waking from a dream before tearing his eyes away from the corpse and running after the Winking Soldier.

[Scottish King]

Chapter 8: Battle of Breslau Part 3

Hans ran down the street towards what he believed was the center of the city trying to keep the image of the dead boy out of his mind. Up ahead he saw his sergeant and the others in his regiment coming together. Breathlessly, he took his place beside the Winking Soldier in line with Gustav coming right beside him.

“Reload then forward men! In order!”

Soon they were marching to the sound of drums again with the sound bouncing off the buildings which seemed completely vacant. But Hans could see every now and then the movement of curtains or someone hastily moving themselves quickly to the safety of their interior rooms. At least for now they could escape the battle but like the soldiers themselves they would be unable to escape the aftermath.

“Enemy up ahead!”

Hans could see up ahead that there was a makeshift barrier of wagons and bits of furniture and everything else at the citizen’s disposal. They marched a bit closer when the sergeant called for a halt and stepped forward.

“We do not want any further unnecessary bloodshed. If you surrender and lay down your arms you will be treated honorably!”

There was silence and the sounds of fighting could be heard elsewhere in the city though they seemed to be far away. Then suddenly there was a roar of gunfire and the sergeant cried out as he clutched his arm.

“Behind us!” someone shouted. Hans turned to see more citizens coming from behind with muskets.

“Ready” shouted the sergeant with pain in his voice, “Aim…Fire!”

Hans fired at the barricade and immediately began reloading.

“Ranks one through three charge the barricade,” shouted the sergeant. “Ranks four through six hold off the bastards until the barricade is broken. If they want no mercy then we will give them none. Ranks one through three…CHARGE!!!”

Being in the second rank this time, Hans, Gustav and the Winking Soldiers charged forward shouting with bayonets ready. The men behind the barricade began firing and men in Hans regiment began falling. But Hans felt no fear as he followed the man in front of him over the barricade. He pushed one of the citizens over to the ground before stabbing his bayonet into him. Flashes of the boy he killed early entered his head but he pushed it aside just as he did the man on the end of his bayonet. Gustav pushed his way passed Hans to fight one of the enemy who was about to fire his musket.

Getting there in time Gustav managed to throw off the man’s shot but did not see the musket butt coming at his head from his right. Next thing he knew he was on the ground looking up to see the one who hit him poised to skewer him. But instead the man screamed out in pain and fell to the ground. Gustav then saw the bayonet of Han’s musket in the man’s back.

“Than-Thank…” Gustav passed out before he could finish.

“Gustav!” Hans shouted as he was grabbed by the Winking Soldier.

“Come on we’re almost there! Your friend is either dead or passed out. Either way you need to keep fighting!.”

Hans tried to struggle against the strong grip but he couldn’t. He begrudgingly turned around and he was pushed forward by the Winking Soldier and continued with the rest of the men after the broken defenders. With each step Hans thought he heard shouting. Not the shouting of orders or the shouting of the injured but shouts of joy. The broken defenders up ahead stopped cold and put their hands up in surrender. In front of them was another regiment with muskets ready.

“The city center has been taken and the city is in our hands. The battle is over.”

As Hans comrades slowed to a stop they hands their hands and cheered. The Winking Soldier turned to say something to Hans but saw that he was gone. Turning back, he saw Hans running back to where Gustav lay. For a moment, to the Winking Soldier it looked as if Gustav was truly dead but he saw him move a bit. Breathing a sigh of relief, the Winking Soldier wiped the sweat away from his brow.

“Remarkable. Truly remarkable.”

[Scottish King]

Updated with chapters 6, 7 and 8.

[Blopwerth III]

Getting along well.

[Blopwerth III]

I WANT ANOTHER MAN!

[Scottish King]

I'll have some more updates soon!

[Scottish King]

Chapter 9: Diplomacy

“Congratulations on your victory at Breslau, Herr Schiller. His majesty, Frederick, also sends his congratulations to your Elector.”

“Thank you,” Otto said as he took his seat in front of the elaborate desk of Jan von Braun Prussia’s top diplomat. “I thought I was going to see his majesty personally?”

“His majesty is busy with affairs of state,” von Braun replied. “I have been given full authority to speak on his behalf.”

“I see. Then down to business then.”

von Braun smiled. “I like a man who is straight to the point. Your forces now occupy Silesia threatening the Austrians from the north. We would like for those men to stay there till the Prussian military can assume the control of the occupation.”

“Excuse me?” Otto interjected. “I was led to believe that we would keep Silesia under Hanoverian control?”

“Then you were led to believe wrong. We will take possession of Silesia as soon as we are able and without resistance from your forces. Understood?”

“No, I do not understand? Hanoverian blood was spilled in taking Silesia. It is ours.”

A serious expression was on von Braun’s face as he leaned forward in his chair. “Just be glad that after this is over that we will be making your Elector king. While we appreciate your military’s efforts we can handle Austria on our own. Have you heard the news?”

“The victory over the Austrian army in Moravia? Yes, I did and had it not been for Hanoverian scouts that army would have been besieging Dresden by now.”

“Perhaps and they would have been crushed the same way we crushed them in Moravia. Like I said we can fight the Austrians on our own.

“Really?” Otto leaned forward in his seat. “What if I told you that Austria has offered us a separate peace?”

A look of surprise spread over von Braun’s face. “What?! I believe you know that you are not to negotiate a separate peace?!”

Otto leaned back in his chair. “You believed wrong. Now as you know the Swedes have taken Copenhagen and forced the Danish king into exile in Iceland.

“This is a more pressing threat to Hanover than the Austrians. You want us to leave Silesia?! We will. Right after we have made our peace with the Habsburgs and bring our unneeded army back home where they are truly needed!”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“You leave me no choice. And don’t think I don’t know about the trouble with the Polish. It won’t be long before they declare war on you too and you will beg for our armies! Good day!”

Otto rose quickly from his chair and made his way to the door. He had made his point however untrue they may be. The Elector was indeed worried about the Swedish invading Hanover in retaliation for the invasion in 1675 but was even more worried about incurring the wrath of the Prussians and thus was not ready to withdraw the Hanoverian army until a threat clearly manifested. Otto knew a bit more about the Prussian’s position to know that they were in no position to attack Hanover in force. If he had done his job right then von Braun would be calling him back right about…

“Wait, Herr Schiller.”

Otto smiled slightly before turning to the Prussian diplomat with a frown.

“Let me discuss this matter with his majesty and I will tell you his decision.”

Otto nodded his head. “Do what you may but my Elector and I expect to be treated like allies not mercenaries.”

With that he marched out of the room hoping his gamble had worked.

[Scottish King]

Chapter 10: You Never Forget

“It looks like we are staying in Breslau for now,” the Winking Soldier said as he removed the bloody bandage from Gustav’s head. They had taken over some buildings in the city to house the soldiers in Breslau. It was the best accommodations they had had since leaving Brandenburg. “General Ketterer just got the orders from Prussian headquarters. If the Austrians don’t try to retake Silesia we probably will be sitting the rest of the war out.”

“That’s fine by me,” Gustav said as he winced in pain. “I don’t think my head could take another beating like this.”

“As hard as your head is it’s surprising the butt of the musket didn’t shatter after it hit you.”

“Very funny, Hans. But I deserve it. I made fun of you for being scared before the battle and you go and kill you a couple of men and I get my head split open without killing one.”

Hans’ smile disappeared. “They weren’t all men…”

-------

“Your friend will be fine,” the Winking Soldier said as he walked to where Hans was holding Gustav. “Hey, you over there do you know where they are setting up the medical tent.”

“No idea,” the soldier shouted back. You want to- Look here they come now.”

Hans stood up and looked over what was left of the citizen’s makeshift barricade. Sure enough the doctors and their supplies were making their way to the center of the city. When they drew close the Winking Soldier grabbed one of the doctors and brought him over.

“That’s quite a wound he’s got there but he’ll live. We’ll take him.”

The doctor called over two soldiers and they quickly hurried over and picked Gustav up. Hans moved to follow after them but he was grabbed by the Winking Soldier.

“They’ll take care of him. We have to make sure the city’s secure.”

Hans nodded in agreement as he looked after the Gustav heading toward the city’s center. “What should we do?”

“Well we should probably head back and find our regiment. They will tell us what to do there.”

“Ok but before we go I want to do something first.”

The Winking Soldier glanced back at Hans and nodded his head. “I know what you’re thinking. It won’t help you sleep any better.”

“I want to anyway. You coming or not?”

Hans started walking back towards the city walls. Taking a deep breath, the Winking Soldier checked his musket then followed after the Hans. Soon they were back at the place where they had descended the walls into the city. The street were littered with the bodies of the dead but now citizens were leaving their homes to collect them. Hans’ eyes surveyed the area until he found what he was looking for. The body of the sixteen year old boy Hans had killed earlier was still there. But now cradling his body was a woman with a much older man standing next to her trying to comfort her. His mother, Hans thought as he stepped forward to go over to her but was restrained by the Winking Soldier’s hand on his shoulder.

“It is better if you don’t. What could you possibly say that would make that woman feel any better? War is indiscriminate between young and old, innocent and guilty. Just be glad today is not the day that fate decided your life had come to an end.”

“And what am I supposed to do?” Hans said with a cracking voice as he turned around to face the Winking Soldier. “Just simply forget this and pretend that I didn’t take that young boy’s life?”

“You think that if it had been the other way around that he would feel the same way? What makes that boy any different than the other men you may have killed today besides age? They all will kill you just the same and won’t have any second thoughts about it.”

The Winking Soldier turned his gaze to the weeping mother and the other heartbroken souls carrying away their dead loved ones.

“To answer your question, son, you never forget what you done. You take responsibility for it like a man and move on.” He paused before looking up the sky. “Now come on we have to get back to the regiment there is work to be done.”

Hans nodded his head then with one last glance back at his bloody work he followed the Winking Soldier back to the city's square with his friend’s words still ringing in his ears.

You never forget what you have done.

-------

“What you say Hans?”

“Huh?” Hans blinked his eyes as his waking from a dream.

“You were saying something.”

“Oh, don’t mind me, Gustav. It’s been a long day.”

The Winking Soldier smiled as he finished bandaging Gustav’s head. “You should be fine now lad. Have Hans here change the bandage tomorrow. I have to go. I’m needed elsewhere. Good night.”

Hans and Gustav said good night and were left alone in their room.

“Hans,” Gustav started, “I just wanted to say-”

“Don’t worry about Hans. We’re friends. We fight, have our disagreements but we will always be friends.”

“Glad to hear it,” Gustav said with a toothy smile as he clasped Hans hand. “Always friends indeed!”

Hans grinned as well. “Now get some sleep we have exercises in the morning.”

“Right. And where are you off to?”

“I need some air. I’ll be back in a little while.”

Hans stepped out of the room and went outside into the warm summer night. The skies were clear and the stars were shining. But even in the quiet and peace of Breslau’s streets Hans mind was still not quite at peace. One day perhaps peace would be his again. Perhaps.

[Scottish King]

Chapter 11: Careful What You Wish For

The Hanoverian Expeditionary Army had been in Breslau for the nearly four weeks and Hans was already bored and wishing they were back out in the field again. It’s not that he didn’t like sleeping in a nice bed at night but the monotony of things had gotten to him. Patrols, field exercises, patrols, field exercises, field exercises, patrols. Breslau didn’t have all the attractions that Brandenburg had had. It did have a number of brothels, which he stayed away from, and the taverns were alright but he had gotten so use to being out campaigning that sitting around behind city walls was maddening for him.

Gustav, on the other hand, was fully enjoying himself. If they really did sit out the rest of the war in Breslau, Gustav and many of the other soldiers would be fine with that. After doing a little thinking himself Hans decided it wasn’t so bad garrisoning the city. If he was marching somewhere it would probably be to battle. There was no guarantee that you would come back from those uninjured or alive. Perhaps the monotony of city patrol wasn’t so bad.

Hans wiped the sweat from his brow. Standing onto the city walls was hot work. The July sun was unforgiving and the wind only provided a little relief. Thankfully, his shift would be ending soon. Suddenly, Hans saw two horses galloping down the road to the city. As they approached the gate he leaned his head over the wall to see their interaction with the gate sentries. The riders were quickly ushered into the city and Hans watched them as they disappeared into the city streets. Interesting, he thought. If they were the bringers of news hopefully it was good news.

-------

“Hans! Have you heard what’s happened?”

“No, Gustav,” Hans replied as he entered their room. “I just got off the wall. I saw two riders come in today on what looked like urgent business. What’s happened?”

“Those men were probably the ones who brought the news. Poland has declared war on the Prussians and taken Konigsberg and essentially taken over East Prussia.”

“What!” Hans exclaimed. “Are we now at war with the Polish?”

“There’s been no word yet whether the Elector has decided to declare war against the Polish. Hopefully not though it wouldn’t take the Polish long to get here from Warsaw.”

“So what are we going to then?”

Gustav smiled. “That the thing. Rumor has it that word has reached the general that the Austrians have marched out from Vienna with the intent on reinforcing Moravia and possibly taking Saxony from the Prussians. But get this. The force that left was the bulk of the Austrians forces in the area. Vienna is said to be virtually unprotected.”

“So what? The Prussians had told us to stay here and with there being a possibility of war with Poland we can’t just leave.”

“That’s probably what the Austrians thought too. But the general doesn’t look like he’s going to do that.”

“But he’ll be taking a huge risk,” Hans retorted. “If we leave Breslau we are going to have to leave behind a garrison so the city stays under our control, however, it won’t be large enough to stop a Polish invading force or we risk being too weak to take Vienna. What if the information is wrong and we get there and the Austrians are there in force? No, Ketterer is smarter than that. We are going to stay right here in Breslau.”

There was a knock on their room door. Gustav opened it to see a soldier of their regiment. “Hello, gentlemen. The Sergeant says to be ready to move tomorrow bright and early.”

“Where are we going?” Hans asked.

“Didn’t say. Just be in the city square with your regiment at 6 o’clock. Good day.”

Gustav closed the door and turned back to Hans. “I told you. We’re going to Vienna.”

Hans threw up his hands. Guess no more monotonous patrols and exercises. They were going to be on the move again. “Careful what you wish for I guess…”

[Scottish King]

Updated with chapters 9, 10, and 11.

[IneptCmdr]

This is getting really interesting. I wonder what will come of the friction between Hannover and Prussia, especially if Hannover keeps Silesia for itself and captures Vienna. Hope to see more updates soon. One thing I would suggest is to refer to the soldier's weapons as muskets rather than rifles, since that's what they're most likely to use.

[Scottish King]

This is getting really interesting. I wonder what will come of the friction between Hannover and Prussia, especially if Hannover keeps Silesia for itself and captures Vienna. Hope to see more updates soon. One thing I would suggest is to refer to the soldier's weapons as muskets rather than rifles, since that's what they're most likely to use.

Thanks for your support IneptCmdr! We Empire AARist are few and need to stick together Also thanks for your advice on the muskets/rifle thing. Ill fix that!

[Alwyn]

Great AAR - I like reading about both the high-level political intrigue and the ground-level experiences of the soldiers.

[Scottish King]

Thanks! The diplomat updates were kinda of a on the spot thing, a way to relate what's going on in the rest of the world that concerns Hanover that a soldier normally wouldn't hear. Glad you liked it!