28th July 1812
This morning we reached Aleshki. We took everything and burnt most of the dwellings. The screams of the village-people and their animals had still ringed in my ears if not replaced by the thunder of battle. My eyes had still been burning with soot if they had not burned with gunpowder smoke. During mid-day time when all our troops were finally gathered to march south the french approached. Lacking any cossacks we were surprised, and the hussars had been instrumental in gathering all supplies. We were forced to battle to save our now, quite loaded wagon-train. But the gallant drill of our infantry and artillerists saved us. The battle was terrible, I lost half of my infantry, but they hold their ground. What a soldiers! Anyhow I know that I can not afford one battle more like this. The artillery under Panchulidzev worked miracles and showered the french in close-range canister until they broke. Our hussars was roughly handled by french lancers (my men has dubbed them "the iron riders") and infantry. Lieutenant Lanskoi killed a french officer in duel. As the french withdrew they abandoned plunder in the smoke and confusion, my men loaded it on our own wagons. This very night word reached me from Captain Sabinov.
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AuthorShirty is a wargamer currently very into Napoleonics! His further plans in that era is Ottomans, Spanish, Persians, French, Saxons, Swedes and probably some Confederation of the Rhine troops. He also likes left wing politics, the sun and friends. Shirty dislikes right wing politics, dichotomies (some may sense a sort of self-critisim here!) and superhero movies. Archives
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