A bit of a hiatus in the reporting of our game. I have been helping a friend who bought a house. Removing tiles - the glue was pretty though, you really don't feel like typing afterwards
Here are the winter turns in one big post. Not much happened, except some snow, and my men freezing outside Stralsund (those Swedish are pretty stubborn).
Early December, turn 31
The Austrian main army near Kosel retreats. Picolomini with his column stays. My artillerists defend the town. I move Keith from Glantz to Neisse. It will cost (marching in winter), but if I can thow Picolomini back and save Kosel it will be worth it.
Dohna is unlocked at Memel, but down to 48 power. I send him on an all out attack - he will starve and be lost if he does not take Memel.
Hans von Lehwald is almost in Kolberg - his men will survive the winter.
The Swedish retreat into Stralsund. They are just 550 strong. Wilhelm manages to get supply from Rostock - he will keep sieging the town.
At Wismar the enemy strength is now finally going down.
No breach at Koln yet.
Poor sanitation decimates my largest army - I lose 1600 men.
I buy a replacement
Late December, turn 32
I suffer another 132 hits due to the weather. I also lose another 1600 men to poor sanitation, meaning that I lost another 3000 men this turn.
And that is not counting the men in Memel - they decide not to attack - they feel a bit weak due to starvation. As a result they will continue to starve.
The Swedish at Wismar do attack - and got wiped out. Only the artillery remains. I order my men to catch the guns next turn. One of the commanders, LeNoble, is up for promotion after this. I decide to give it to him, even though other general starts to bitch. It costs me 10 vp.
I am once again laying siege to Stralsund.
Kurt arrives in Neisse. He is inactive, so he will stay here a turn. That is good, as Daun has retreated to the region south of Kosel - he will come to the rescue of Picolomini if engaged. I hope the weather hits them as hard as it does me.
No breach in Koln yet.
I buy a cavalry unit (carabiniers - why go for anything but the best? Money isnt the problem).
Early January 1758, turn 33
Winter claims another 112 hits - a 1000 men. Most are lost sieging Stralsund and Koln. No breaches are made
.
The Austrians retreat from Kosel - about time, my artillerists were almost ready to surrender. I cannot buy a new garrison, as the Austrians still control the region. I send in a cavalry brigade to get the control back. I buy two Brummers to help Keith keep the Austrians at bay next season.
My force at Memel is down to the 3 leaders - they are still valiantly sieging the town. They make no progress, surprisingly.... I tell them to walk back home.
The Swedish at Wismar have disappeared. No breaches at Stralsund, as said, but the force inside slowly goes down (to 500 power now). I keep my troops there - it is worth it to have them gone. One less front to worry about.
I spend 25 engagement points to get British reinforcements (this was an option that appeared in the ledger).
Late January, turn 34
Stil snow, and another 114 hits due to the snow. Most again in Stralsund and Dusseldorf. I have lost 13.700 men thus far this winter (in 6 turns, 3 months)due to the weather and poor sanitation.
I manage to make a breach at Dusseldorf. The Swedish troops go down to 498 power in Stralsund.
I receive the contingent of British reinforcements in Bremen.
Gessler retires, due to "bad health'. I think he is still pissed because he got passed over at promotion.
I buy a medium Garrison for Kosel.
Early February, turn 35
Another breach in the walls of Koln - I can assault it next turn. It does cost me in hits due to bad weather though: another 121 hits.
I haven't the manpower to buy anything (except garrisons, but the towns where I could use them, Weser and Dusseldorf, are outside my territory ).
Late February, turn 36
I take Koln. At last. My army will rest here for some time - though there is a French army on the move from Frankfurt to Koln or Dusseldorf. Fortunately it starts snowing again.
Just 52 hits from bad weather this time.
The Swedish at Stralsund go down to 343 power - though a new 38 power Brigade arrives.
I get loads of replacemetns - the yearly draft no doubt. I now have 18 line infantry (and 14 light infantry and 21 militia, but I already had those, and hardly use them).
The number of prisoners I have goes down to 55.400. Do they die? Do I recruit them, do they escape? No idea.
I buy a Grenadier depot btn.
Early March, turn 37
107 hits due to bad weather. Winter isnt over yet...
The French army seems to be about 1400 strong, and head for Koblenz, on the left bank. I retreat from Koln, after instructing the garrison to defend it...
The British troops are send to Minden, just west of Hannover. My troops total about 4500 power there now, so they should be able to slow the French a bit.
It is aobut time to decide on goals for the next campaign (except trying to keep the Austrian coalition out). . Do I try for Eger once again? I send in a cavalry unit to see how the Austrian fared there this winter. I also can strike west from Leipzig, taking Erfurt again. That would threaten the French in Kassel. Prague is out of the question. And the Russians - I decide to let them come. They are not very quick...
I buy a replacement btn.
Late March, turn 38
Winter is back...
No movement on my side, except a Brummer that is shipped to Stralsund. The force inside is now 391 strong (according to my intelligence).
The strength o the enemy in Eger is still unknown.
I receive a letter from my spy network in France that some Xavier, prince of Lusatia, has managed to get 10.000 Hanoverians together to join the French at Koblenz.
I haven't the manpower to buy anything, though I get 12 infantry replacements.
Early April, turn 39
Nothing special. Another 54 hits, most at Stralsund.
Lehwald (a ** general) retires. I buy some Hessen infantry replacements.