[NTW AAR] Liberation, A British AAR.

[Erik3E]

Sweet, exited to see what hapeneds next

[LuckyLewis]

Thanks everyone

I've been busy today so I'm unable to update. I should be free tomorrow though so expect one tomorrow night (GMT)

Sorry for the delay.

Lewis

[LuckyLewis]

Sorry for the double post chaps,

But Juvenal has kindly reviewed by AAR in Issue 17 of the The Critic's Quill. How very generous of him and his team! Please do check out his review of my AAR and the others!

I think he recognised the areas in need of improving in my AAR but he also praised it a fair bit, so I’m quite pleased with myself, haha.

Thank you everyone, who has continued to comment on my AAR since the beginning. As I mentioned above, I will have an update tomorrow night.

[LuckyLewis]

In reference to: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=337275

New Update

LIBERATION
Europe at the end of September 1811


November 1811 - Part 31 - One Step Forward


The Scottish General, John Moore and his strong army travelled down to the United Kingdom’s southern coastline, across the rough waves of the once major battle location, the English Channel and landed in Normandy, outside of Caen in the French Royalist’s lands. The Scot’s army is strong, featuring Cold stream Guards, Grenadiers and some of the best Heavy Cavalry from the isles; all brought across the channel to bring an end to the Paris-based regime.

Meanwhile, George Townshend Walker and his men, currently in Reims as they continue to push back Napoleon’s armies from the east now plan to meet John Moore on the outskirts of the grand city of Paris itself. One army alone has no hope of breaching the walls of Paris, as the late Alexander Mercer showed in a devastating defeat earlier this year.

In early days of September, John Moore ordered his men to move across Normandy, following in the footsteps of Mercer, willing to complete the famed General’s ambitions himself by walking through the streets of Paris. After word from Moore’s men, Walker left some of his army with the defence of Reims, boasted by their recent victory and followed the narrow roads to Paris keen to meet Moore outside of the French Capital.



Several days passed and both Walker and Moore entered the Paris Region unopposed by any French opposition. Heavy storms were common this year, with September being a month full of reckless weather. This slowed down both British armies significantly, yet there was not one Frenchmen in sight as they continued towards their goal in Paris.

Both Generals were becoming confused as they approached the outskirts of the city. It seems most of the French Army was still busy fighting the Spanish and Portuguese in the south, unaware of how close the powerful British force was to their much loved Capital.

Eventually Moore reached the walls of Paris’ Fort and it was only a few hours before Walker’s army arrived from the east to aid their brothers in action. The men could now rest and take shelter from the heavy rain, at least for now. The Siege had begun.



- The Siege of Paris 1811

One late afternoon with the sky still full of such dreadful weather, Moore signalled the assault to begin. The much anticipated Battle of Paris commenced, with both Walker and Moore eager to learn from their fallen friend's mistake.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Battle opened with the tremendous blast of some 12 Howitzers on the French walls by John’s Moore’s artillery regiments. They crashed against the tall fort, doing limited damage as French Artillery from the walls began to fire upon Moore’s men with a sudden mobilisation of thousands of French troops to the walls, overlooking John Moore’s army.

Claude Robert, the General left with the burden of defending the prestigious capital of Napoleon’s empire stood in the centre of the fort alongside his regiment of Polish Lancers. He watched as the walls took little damage from the British artillery, ordering yet more of his artillery to fire upon a regiment of British Grenadiers as they advanced forward to protect the Howitzer’s position.

Meanwhile, George Townshend Walker and his army were approaching from the east with the general himself leading his army towards the fort from the front. However, suddenly a French Dragoon Regiment approached from the Fort's gates, and was riding towards Walker. George had foolishly advanced too far ahead from his own army, and quickly realised that he had no chance of retreating in time considering the sheer speed of Claude’s Dragoons. Walker fiercely charged into the Dragoons and the two cavalry units clashed in the muddy saturated ground.

Walker's Charge


The British and French swords clashed, with Walker himself in the thick of the combat. Walker’s Dragoons could see that their well respected general required much aid, and quickly galloped towards him and his men.

Walker at the front


But they were too late; Walker was smashed off his horse and smashed onto the wet, muddy ground with a single swipe from a French sword. Only three of his guards remained, but with the French Dragoons exhausted after Walker’s standoff, his own Dragoons, full of vengeance were able to drive the French back towards their fort.



With the success of Claude’s cavalry, the French General assumed he could do severe damage to Moore’s advancing men with his powerful Polish lancers. They rushed out of the Northern gates towards the British in the open fields. The British Grenadiers and the Line Infantry at their rear quickly formed squares as the Polish Lancers charged down and battered the British lines.

Several Polish Lancers were shot as they approached yet still managed to do significant damage to Moore’s men. Nevertheless, the superior firepower from those in the squares eventually broke down the Polish Lancers, leaving none to escape back to the Fort unlike the Dragoons earlier.

As the Polish Cavalry was annihilated by Moore’s infantry, he quickly moved his troops towards the fort yet again with his Howitzers now doing severe damage to the French wall after ordering them to concentrate their fire on a single point in the wall.

Meanwhile, Walker’s Cavalry galloped towards the French fort in order to destroy a regiment of French Artillery outside the walls. They were opposed by the French Dragoons, who tragically killed Walker on the eastern hills earlier in the battle, but their exhaustion still showed and the French Dragoons eventually fled back into the fort itself to remain there. Walker’s Cavalry quickly dispatched of the French Artillery, and also managed to rout a unit of Light Infantry attempting to flank Moore’s advancing forces.

Eventually, Moore’s Howitzers breached the grand walls of Paris with the French Middle Guard appearing from the dust and debris to oppose Moore’s men. The Middle Guard advanced forward and pushed back a British Regiment of Line Infantry, but this allowed John Moore to move his men to open musket fire onto the Middle Guard, and Claude’s units had to retreat back into the Fort yet again.

The Battle outside the fort was won, with the cost of Walker’s life. The Siege of Paris was not over however, a powerful French force still lies within the walls.

A Continental Overview

Belgium and Holland, the first of the liberated states are now competent states, who have aided the British War effort for nearly two years now. Their home regions are strong, and are certainly able to oppose any imperialistic moves from any foe.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Similarly, Oldenburg and Hannover have some of the strongest armies of Western Europe in order to defend their independent lands from French forces in the former Prussian regions. A wise, justified reason for maintaining such an army, especially with large French armies holding access routes into the German lands. The Road to Brandenburg is blocked, and will eventually have to be defeated if Prussia is to rise up through the shackles of imperialism and tyranny.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Electorate of Hesse-Kassel has also proved itself with the ability to easily defend against any attacks. The British should not be surprised if the leaders of the Electorate advance further into German themselves with such a capable army.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Portuguese and Spanish Kingdom are very powerful, with the Iberia Peninsula united for many months against Napoleon's empire; they effectively pushed into French lands and into the region of Paris itself. However, recently it seems the French have concentrated on pushing back to the Spanish-Portuguese armies, regaining their former lands leaving both nations with their original borders. Both Nations are still strong despite this, and their wars in the south against the French continue.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Last month, the Greeks were free from decades of the Ottoman's oppression due to the efforts of Ferdinand Ernt Gabriel and his men. The Greek State is still weak but with British Support, it shall eventually grow. It is important it does so, as one expects the Ottoman’s to send several forces to regain their lands.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The German State of Württemberg has kindly acted as a safe haven for Wellington and his men after the loss of Strasbourg. Nevertheless, Württemberg's Military is strong and has good means to be so with French armies on nearly every front. When Wellington's army has resupplied, one expects them to make significant contributions to the liberation efforts around their lands with maybe even the reoccupation of Strasbourg.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

To be continued.

[Scottish Heretic]

Action packed as always. Fantastic.

p.s read the review - congratulations!

[Erik3E]

Wooa! awsome, besst one yett!

[Dynamo11]

Battle of Paris must have been a beasty one to fight!

[LuckyLewis]

Thanks again everyone, This is a smaller update as it only shows the conclusion to Paris. Well, I say conclusion.
_____________________


In reference to: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=337275

New Update

LIBERATION
Europe at the end of September 1811


November 1811 - Part 32 – Moore’s Valour


- The Siege of Paris Part II 1811

Several men, friend and foe had died already for this prestigious city, including the British General George Townshend Walker, who shall be remembered for his victories in Westphalia and Reims. Despite the loss of Walker, his men still continue to fight and have joined John Moore’s forces in the final assault to face their French foes within the breached fort walls of Paris. The British forces charged the French Position as both cannon and rain fell upon the French Defence.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Howitzers hit the French Walls, shattering the several regiments and pushing them down to the saturated ground below as John Moore’s men flooded within the breach in the wall created by the tremendous firepower of the British General’s artillery regiments.

As Moore’s men advanced on the ground, Walker’s army climbed the tall walls from the east, they pulled themselves up with supreme courage as the heavy rain and French foes at the top made it quite the risk. The 61st Line Infantry was the first to reach the top, only to be met by the veterans of Napoleon’s Imperial Guard, the elite Old Guard. The Old Guard were tired and damaged from the constant bombardment from the Howitzers. They were only weak imitations of what the British had met previously in their campaigns. As more units climbed the Fort’s walls, it was not long until the Old Guard fell after fighting courageously to nearly the last man.

With the French units on the Fort’s eastern walls routed or annihilated, the British Infantry began to fire down at Claude’s men from their very own walls.

Men from Walker’s army fire down upon Claude’s remaining army


Meanwhile Moore’s men including the Coldstream Guards were within the fort walls, fighting the remaining army of Claude Robert, mostly composing of Chasseurs à pied and Dragoons. Claude realized Paris was lost to Moore’s army, and charged into a regiment of British Line Infantry at the centre of the Moore’s men within the fort alongside his Chasseurs and Dragoons.

The buildings burned, the fort burned, Paris was burning.

Paris Burns


Moore had defeated Claude Robert’s army and had accomplished the goal of many. Paris was within the coalition’s hands and Napoleon’s capital was no longer under the French Emperor’s rule as John Moore and his men walked through the burning streets of Paris.

The Scottish General, John Moore had completed the late Alexander Mercer’s dream and ambitions but with the unfortunate tragic death of George Townshend Walker. However, the French Populace, loyal to their emperor are unhappy with John Moore’s occupation, defending Paris from both the inside and outside will be a mighty task for the British forces.



It was not long however until the French arrived back from their battles with the Spanish and Portuguese on their southern borders. Bon-Adrien Jeannot de Moncey, a French Marshal alongside the Generals Jean Baptise Cervoni and Pierre Augereau arrived outside the walls of Paris after word of Moore’s siege. A Massive French army now opposes Moore’s men, who are now alone after the rest of Walker’s army returned to Reims due to the risk of attack in that region too.



John Moore and his men must face Moncey’s onslaught, or the deaths of Mercer and Walker would not have been avenged at all. Moore realises that an occupation of Paris won’t end the French superiority over the European continent, Napoleon himself must be dealt with, where ever the man may be.

To be continued.

[Bryanrows]

Wow. I can't wait to see the French counterattack on paris. most epic battle, or MOST EPIC BATTLE?

[Petrov]

COOOOOOOOOOL ASSSSSSSS

[Cyphon88]

Don't know about Epic, looks like it will be a slaughter.

[Erik3E]

Looks like the frogs isnt going to give paris up that easy

Keep em comming captain!

[Dynamo11]

Just make sure when you find Boney it'll be 3 armies vs. him and that you only JUST win!
That would be epic!!!!!

[LuckyLewis]

See for yourself.
_____________________
In reference to: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=337275

New Update

LIBERATION
Europe at the end of November 1811


December 1811 - Part 33 – One Step Backward


Some 10,000 French troops we’re outside of their Capital, eager to take back what was once theirs. They are all on the command of Bon-Adrien Jeannot de Moncey, a French Marshal who has the ambition, skill and determination to destroy John Moore’s army.

John Moore’s army were already weakened by the intense battles throughout the battles in Paris, they may have occupied the French Capital, which many before them had failed to achieve, but one could hardly say they had high morale. They are outnumbered, a superior, fresh force lies before them. John Moore and his men can only hope that their trip to continental Europe will not be a short one.



- The Siege of Paris Part III 1811

John Moore and his men stood outside the once French fort in an organised fashion as Moncey and his army approached on a cold December morning, as the French Second in command, Jean-Baptise Cevoni, approached from John Moore’s rear. The British will be fighting on two sides, as his 4,000 strong army attempt to hold their ground against the French Marshal and his 10,000 or so soldiers.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

John Moore’s artillery regiments, who were key to the victory only days before this event, opened fire from within Paris’ walls and shattered the slowly advancing French war machine. John Moore and his limited cavalry were outside of the Fort’s ruined walls alongside several regiments of infantry to meet Moncey on the field.

The French were the first to open fire with regiments of Voltigeurs letting hundreds shots loose on the Coldstream Grenadiers to the right flank. The British line slowly advanced forward, only to be met with another volley from the main line infantry force of Moncey’s army. As the British line advanced, a regiment of French Dragoons charged the line infantry on John Moore’s right flank, shattering the unit.

Meanwhile, the British Artillery Regiments continued to fire upon the advancing French army, concentrating their fire on a regiment of the Middle Guard, who sprinted towards John Moore’s line. As musket fire was shared between both opposing sides, a regiment of Chasseurs à cheval from Cevoni’s detachment were approaching John Moore’s left flank and opened fire on horse towards the British flank. Both of John Moore’s flanks were now under attack by Moncey’s cavalry as a massive infantry force was pressurizing the British Line in the centre.

The Chasseurs à cheval eventually retreated from the left flank, only for the British Coldstream guards there to be met by a charge from a regiment of Polish Lancers. They opened fire upon the Lancers, weakening the effect of their charge as musket balls penetrated their skin, leading to several men falling off their horses. French Artillery was also causing many difficulties for John Moore as Moncey concentrated his fire on a building holding some 50 men as they fired down on French Grenadiers. It was not long before the building collapsed and all 50 perished with cloud of dust and smoke.

The Coldstream guards hold off the Polish Lancers


The British Line was breaking and Moore signalled his men to head back inside the fort, however as Moore and his guards approached the gates, they were attacked by French Infantry of Cevoni, blocking John Moore’s retreat. Moore attempted to fight himself towards the gate, with some success killing General Cevoni with support from a regiment of Grenadiers. However, French loss of Cevoni resulted in a cost for the British army. A Frenchmen stabbed John Moore off his horse, he fell outside the gates of Paris as only two regiments managed to get inside the fort itself.

Moore falls in battle outside the gates of Paris



News quickly spread of Moore’s death in these two regiments as French Cavalry galloped through the breach in the wall created by Moore’s artillery in the last battle. The French Cavalry was simply too much for Moore’s remaining army, and they fled, only to be cut down by Moncey’s savage Cuirassiers and Hussars. The battle was lost, Paris was lost.




December 1811 - Part 34 – To the Balkans

Since Sir Sidney Smith's landing in Southern Greece, Ferdinand Ernst Gabriel and his forces have liberated Athens and forced the Ottoman Empire outside of the Greek lands. They now advance north towards the long disputed lands of the Balkans, where many key battles took place several years ago when the great power of Austria was not destroyed.

The men advanced at a steady pace and it was not long until they had reached the city of Belgrade, which was under French occupation. Ferdinand was looking to besiege the city before Ottoman and French forces could arrive to reinforce their positions in the south. Napoleon’s armies would be looking to have similar success in Greece as to what they had in the North West lately under Moncey.



- The Battle of Belgrade 1811

On one clear afternoon, Ferdinand and his army besieged Belgrade as Ferdinand's ambitions of breaching a large hole within Napoleon's empire right down the centre had begun.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Battle started with the firing of several British Howitzers deployed in the centre of Gabriel’s army. Strangely, the French, who had a little skilled or experienced army in the Balkans advanced towards Gabriel and his men. Gabriel couldn’t believe his luck as his men remained in a steady line formation awaiting the French forces as they arrived from behind the buildings of the settlement in the harsh Balkan sun.

French-Egyptian Corps, who had arrived back from their campaigns back in Egypt, took part in the battle as they advanced upon the British Position, side by side French Line Infantry. As the French Infantry advanced towards the thick British line, a regiment of Polish Lancers we’re quickly arriving on Gabriel’s flank and battered a unit of his line infantry as they struggled to form a square formation.

Eventually, the men on the right flank had formed squares and musket fire surrounded the Polish Lancers as they advanced deeper into the British infantry. The lancers we’re quickly brought down by the musket fire and eventually fled allowing the flanks to concentrate on the advancing French Infantry.

When the French Infantry were in range, the British fired upon the French-Egyptian corps and they suffered tremendous losses. The British Howitzers continued to provide the pressure against the French Army and it was not long before they were seriously concerned about the amount of casualties they we’re receiving before even firing a shot. The British 57th Line Regiment took many casualties as both French Line and Light Infantry concentrated their fire on the middle regiment of Gabriel’s line.

It was too late however, and the French realizing that the British line was almost impermeable, they fled.

Gabriel looks upon the French Retreat


The battle provided the perfect morale boost for Gabriel and his men, who suffered several losses against the Ottoman Empire in Greece. Gabriel gave Belgrade to the Greece as a sign of good will and to increase their presence outside of Athens. Only Hungary and Croatia are now in the way of Gabriel’s army until it could be a possibility of being outside the grand city of Vienna, home to the once great Austrians.



-Moncey's Movement

After defeating John Moore in Paris, the French Marshal, Bon-Adrien Jeannot de Moncey advanced out of the devastated French Capital and headed towards Reims. The city no longer has George Townshend Walker, who fell in battle last month. Will the Garrison of Reims be able to hold back Moncey, who has already claimed many lives? The men are demoralized, tired and weak from the battles in Paris, and now they must fight for their lives yet again.



To be continued.

[LuckyLewis]

Just summarizing what's happened to what I consider to be the primary characters of the AAR so far.

To be added to first post:

Character Overviews (Contains AAR Spoilers as it summarizes what has happened to the 'primary' characters so far)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Name: Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington
Nationality: British
Status: Alive
Notes: In January 1810, He landed an invasion force in Holland, from which he liberated the Kingdoms of Holland and Belgium. The Duke and his army continued to liberate many of states, although he was wounded during the Battle for the Weser River in August. Once he returned, Wellington and his men liberated many more German States, but suffered another setback in Strasbourg, where an Anglo-Dutch army was defeated by French armies from Switzerland.


Name: Sir Sidney Smith
Nationality: British
Status: Alive
Notes: A British Admiral, who has often been compared to the late Horatio Nelson due to his several victories. He was one of the greatest contributors in securing and removing the French naval threat in the English Channel during the early months of 1811. He left the docks of Portsmouth in March 1811 with Ferdinand Ernst Gabriel and his army and travelled to Greece in September, successfully evading several French and Ottoman Fleets. He still remains in Greece.


Name: Ferdinand Ernst Gabriel
Nationality: German (Westphalia)
Status: Alive
Notes: An Ambitious German General, who enlisted into the British army with the aim to defeat Napoleon. He left London in March 1811, and arrived in Greece by September. He was recognised with the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman Empire, and has continued to move North with his Greek allies into the Balkans.


Name: Napoleon Bonaparte
Nationality: French
Status: Alive
Notes: The Emperor of France, who has arguably been one of the most successful political and military leaders of our time. He defeated the great powers of Prussia, Austria and Russia in little less than 5 years, with his Empire now spanning across most of the European continent. He has yet to be seen personally by the British in the west, and is rumoured to still be in Moscow.


Name: Bon-Adrien Jeannot de Moncey
Nationality: French
Status: Alive
Notes: A Marshal of Napoleon’s Empire, who returned to Paris after victories in the east to deal with the arising British Threat. He arrived outside the city of Paris in November 1811, but was too late to help defend Paris after John Moore’s victory. He attacked the city only days after the British Occupation, and resulted in Victory for the French Empire along with John Moore’s death. He has now travelled into Reims in order to defeat the British there.


Name: Geerard Ouwater
Nationality: Belgian
Status: Alive (out of action)
Notes: A Belgian General who enlisted into the British Army after the liberation of Belgium in January 1810. He protected Belgium’s borders for several months and led an Anglo-Belgian army into the French region of Picardie-Champagne. He was defeated there in May 1811 and fled back to Belgium. Due to his devastating defeat, he was replaced with George Townshend Walker on Belgian’s border and has yet to see action since.


Name: John Moore
Nationality: British
Status: Deceased
Notes: A Scottish General, who remained rather inactive through the early days of the war. However, in November 1811 he crossed the English Channel and besieged Paris itself alongside George Townshend Walker. He was victories in battle and occupied Paris but only several days later, French Marshal, Jeannot de Moncey had arrived with a far superior army. John Moore’s men struggled against the large French force and Moore himself perished in battle. Despite his failure at holding the French Capital, He is still remembered throughout the British Isles as the first to occupy Paris.


Name: George Townshend Walker
Nationality: British
Status: Deceased
Notes: A British General who successful defended Westphalia from French offensives for several months. Due to his actions in Westphalia, he was deployed in Belgium after the failure of General Geerard Ouwater in May 1811, where he eventually defeated the French at Reims and occupied the city itself. He remained in Reims until November 1811, when he moved his army towards the French Capital of Paris for a joint assault alongside John Moore. He fell in battle during the siege after a heroic charge against a superior French Cavalry force.


Name: Alexander Mercer
Nationality: British
Status: Deceased
Notes: He arrived on Continental Europe in July 1810, in which he liberated both Caen and Bretagne, and therefore the Duchy of Brittany. He was famed for his successful defences against several French offensives at Caen, in which he held his fort for several months. He was a very ambitious man and in April 1811, he besieged the French Capital of Paris itself. He was defeated here however, and only two months later, he perished alongside an army of French Royalists at Orléans.


Name: André Masséna
Nationality: French
Status: Deceased
Notes: A French Marshal of Napoleon’s French Empire widely regarded as one of the best military commanders by the Emperor himself. He contributed greatly to defeating the Austrians in Italy and their inevitable downfall by 1808. He stayed in Italy until Wellington’s army had taken over Strasbourg, in which in besieged the city himself in an attempt to reoccupy it for the French Empire in July 1811. He was killed by a musket ball to back as he fled near the end of the battle.


Name: Horatio Nelson
Nationality: British
Status: Deceased
Notes: An experienced admiral who managed to ensure British naval supremacy within the Atlantic. He died in July 1810 during the Battle of the Bay of Biscay. Julien Marie Cosmao-Kerjulien, a French admiral approached Nelson’s much smaller fleet, which resulted in a victory for Nelson, however his ship was set on fire during the battle and was the cause of the admiral’s death and his crew.

[Oli-God]

Oli damn! I bet that was what the hell of an epic battle!

This is the best AAR i have ever read...you have talent... looking forward to the next update

PS: Are u thinking in revenge on Paris or let them stay with it for some time while u push through the balkans?

[Erik3E]

Me are feeling the tingly tingly in me toe

Realy nice! Cant wait for next uppdate, just keeps getting better every time.

Realy love the uppdate on the different characters to see what they are upp 2

[myrmedon]

this just keeps on getting better Lewis, loving it!

[Petrov]

Oh my god, 10 pages in and we have barely taken germany, but wait? dont you have to take over THE WORLD!!! just saying this AAR will take 4eva

[LuckyLewis]

Oh my god, 10 pages in and we have barely taken germany, but wait? dont you have to take over THE WORLD!!! just saying this AAR will take 4eva

Breaking down Nappy's empire is a hard task, sir!


Thanks Oli-God, Erik3E and Myrmedon, it's very much appreciated.