A different Finnish War

[von Adler]

OTL, the constitutional meeting included a majority of radical, but anti-French revolution liberals, and the constitution was way more radical than this. ITTL, the regency controls more land, and La Romana tempers some of the radicalism.

The intention is to foster land trades to make estates and farms single entities and thus more effectively run and increase investment in estates and farms to make them more effective. The conservative elements got a lot of things they did not OTL in the constitution, and had to yield on taxation.

[Richter von Manthofen]

I don#t know much about OTL constitution, but IIRC one base principle was that property owners should be allowed to use their property as they wanted. Progressive taxation would circumvent this IMHO.

OTOH progressive taxation is the base of our tax system, so it might be a good idea.

[von Adler]

OTL it was very radical and Fredinand VII refused to abide by it once he had his throne back.

Progressive taxation only happens to non-interconnected estates (since you can only live on one of them) and only on land. The conservatives are placated by promises of land reforms that will allow them (and farmers) to switch land and have interconnected estates and farm more effectively, like the Swedish enskiftet and end communal farming on both farmer and estate owned land. Taxation does not become punitive until you have more than 4-5 estates (and only on the higher number of estates).

[Uff Da the optimist]

Exciting post Von Adler.

Is it the outline of the TL that the king will accept this constitution(however grudingly) due to the fact that La Romana and the others that actually fought the war will be stronger once 'Ol Nappy is defeated?

Not to nag, but how are the spanish and portugese colonies doing at the moment?
I really do love those situation-updates of how Sweden and her empire is doing, and how your POD has generated butterflies throughout Europe.
Couldn't the Ottoman Empire become an important player in this game?

[herricks]

soo update time?

[von Adler]

Originally Posted by Uff Da the optimist

Exciting post Von Adler.

Is it the outline of the TL that the king will accept this constitution(however grudingly) due to the fact that La Romana and the others that actually fought the war will be stronger once 'Ol Nappy is defeated?

Not to nag, but how are the spanish and portugese colonies doing at the moment?
I really do love those situation-updates of how Sweden and her empire is doing, and how your POD has generated butterflies throughout Europe.
Couldn't the Ottoman Empire become an important player in this game?

Yes, it is not even certain that Ferdinand VII will be allowed to return. La Romana and his regency, with the full support of the British and Portugese, as well as a vast majority of the populace will be able to pick and choose potential monarchs - this is why La Romana has not made it clear who is the regent for - he wants to make sure Spain gets the right King to keep the country together once the war is over. His health is not excellent, and while I have had him live longer than OTL, he might die any day. He is in a hurry to get Spain together and will not mince words or deeds.

[von Adler]

1811-06-30.
It did not take long for the French to run into problems in Russia. Napoleon was convinced that the war party of Russia held teh Czar as their political hostage, and that enough losses would allow him to break free from their influence and make a new treaty. Crushing Sweden and the Ottoman Empire should be enough for Russia.

However, if that was true, the Czar would have had the army fight at the border and be crushed by the superior French forces. This was not the case.

In the north, the Prussian army, some 22 000 strong captued Vilnius and slowly marched north. Supply was hard, the Swedish, Russian and Royal Navies were roaming the Baltic at will, and especially the Swedish archipelago navy was harrying all coastal raods, at times landing Swedish sailors and marines to attack Prussian supply routes. Quarter was always given, and men and especially officers asked to join the 'Preußisches Freikorps', a small but growing exile Prussian army. War party defected Prussian officers accompanied the Swedes to speak of honour and the nation to men and officers, and the turnout was actually decent. Those that did not agree were allowed to march off, with their banners and swords, but without muskets and pistols or supplies, which were secured for the exile Prussian army.

By the end of summer, the 'Preußisches Freikorps' consisted of a battalion in Copenhagen, one in Riga and two in Sweden. Sweden lended a frigate and a few transport ships for this exile force, but proved unwilling to actually sell any ships. Russia cited the constraints of the invasion, and Denmark clearly made it known that they needed to build up their own navy again, and that nothing could be spared. The British had to give up on the idea of the 'Preußisches Freikorps' having its own navy. It was recognised by the Foreign Office that none of the Baltic Powers were particularly interested in creating a Prussian or German navy. Prussia as a land power was quite enough for all of them, and the British quietly abandoned the idea.

The Russians were using scorched earth tactics and were constantly skirmishing with the French light cavalry.

"I learned in Finland the value of dominating the terrain around a superior enemy force. It wears him down, denies him reinforcement, supply, rest and refit. If I shall do half as well as the bastard Sandels in this, I shall whip this anti-christ from Smolensk to Paris."

General de Tolly, in command of the main Russian army.

1811-07-20.
By now it is clear to Napoleon that the Russians do intend to fight -just not here, and not now. To his frustration, the Russian army refuses to deliver a pitched battle. Sure, he catches a Russian corps under Bagration conducting rear guard action slightly north of Minsk, and thoroughly trashes it. However, Bagration would not be Bagration if he did not hold his corps together, like he did after Austerlitz. Decimated, but still a fighting force, it retreats eastward, burning fields and villages as it marches.

The Austrians's advance is lacklustre, but at least not as plagued by desertions and lack of supply as the Prussian one. They fight a few inconclusive battles, especially one south of Slonim, which turned the Russian southern army, marching from Moldavia abandoning the campaign against the Ottomans eastwards - a threat to Napoleon's southern flank was stopped here, but so was the Austrian army. Enthusiasm was low and supply was dwindling.

1811-08-10.
At the Battle of Riga (in reality quite a bit south of it), Bulatov, commanding mostly garrison troops, local militia, a decent force of tatars and irregular cossack cavalry with a core of veterans from his command in Finland, stops the Prussian advance towards S:t Petersburg and starts a slow but steady envelopment of the Prussian force. Constant skirmishing along the flanks extract its toll in blood, but otherwise, no large battles will happen in this region until the end of the campaign.

"The Prussians are good soldiers. Disciplined, strong, well-drilled, if somewhat unimaginative. They really need to get the idea of light forces, it is the future. I should know, after Tavastehus."

General Bulatov after the Battle of Riga.

[Karelian]

Still enjoying and following this

[EvilSpaceAlien]

Fantastic stuff man! I'm still following this, however I'm not online very often since I'm currently in Greece.

[konigmarke333]

This is really exciting - please continue!

[herricks]

so when can we expect more updates

[Uff Da the optimist]

Update?
I know I'd really like one!

[von Adler]

Ask and thou shall recieve.

1811-08-11.
By now Napoleon has realised that the Czar does not want peace, and will need to be forced to the negotiation table. The absymal performance of the Prussians, who are currently more or less stationary in Courland is dissapointing. A careful diplomatic ouverture to the Swedes, who are offered support for their annexation of Norway and Estonia, Livonia and Kexholm if they would join the war - and there's no requirement to join the continental system. However, Gustav IV Adolf sends the French envoy back with a scalding reply.

"We are not so easily bribed, especially not by gifts that is not in control of the one trying to give them. It is a poor bribe that one needs to go wrestle for oneself, indeed. We may counter the offer - if you abandon your unrightful occupation of Spain, Germany and Italy as well as your invasion of Russia, we shall give you annexation of America, China, India and the British Isles."

Part of the letter from Gustav IV Adolf to Emperor Napoleon.

1811-08-12.

The French advance steadily despite being harried by Tatar and Cossack irregular cavalry. Early august, however, the II Corps, supported by Bavarian troops are checked when trying to advance on Polotsk by troops under Russian Generals Wittgenstein and Bagration.

The Battle of Polotsk starts as a French success, where their infantry columns steamroll the Russian infantry ahead of them. But Bagration's single division in the field holds, and Wittgenstein arranges a strong cavalry charge, throwing the attacking French columns into disarray. While the battle is tactically a draw, the French attempt to capture Polotsk has been thwarted. The II Corps and Wittgenstein's forces will continue to skirmish and manouvre, but both forces are essentially guarding each other, unwilling to do battle and will not partake much further in the campaign for the next two months. Bagration however, would march eastward north of the French route to join with de Tolly's main force.

With the Prussians held up in Courland, the Austrians unwilling to advance and expose their flank to the Russian Army of the Danube, which had abandoned their campaign aginst the Ottomans in Moldavia and inconclusively skirmished with the Austrians, the only way for the French are either straight ahead, or back to Poland. Napoleon still has a massive advantage in men and commands the cream of the French veterans. Thus the decision was to march ahead. Surely, at Smolensk, the Russian main force would have to deliver battle after all the failed attempts to force them to do so.

In the meantime, the French light cavalry, used to dominate the field, found themselves outclassed by the hardy Tatars and even more numerours and hardy Cossacks. The Tatars fought in the old Mongol style, skirmishing with bow and arrow and avoiding melee combat when not clearly superior frustrated the French cavalry immensly. Despite numerical advantage, the French are unable to prevent Bagration's 2. Army from joining forces with de Tolly's 1. Army, unable to keep deserters from forming mobs waging a cruel and brutal war against Opolcheniye peasant militias and pure guerilla forces in the rear of the Grandee Armee. Spanish and Dutch formations are notorious in this, but the Germans are not much better. The deserters plunder what foraging parties that are successful in the burnt-out countryside, and even attack supply columns!

The Grande Armée dwindles steadily from disease and lack of nutrition, the prolonged campaign, skirmishing and more disease.

[longtimer]

Yes it's back !

[Ares96]

The Grandee Armee? Sounds like a Gilbert and Sullivan play.

[von Adler]

1811-08-15.
Napoleon is correct - de Tolly does deliver battle outside Smolensk. But not for the reasons Napoleon wants him to. The French are suffering horrible attrition to disease, lack of nutrition and clean water and constant skirmishing with the irregular Russian cavalry (which to even further add injury to insult, seem the happily revel in the constant and exhausting skirmishing). Napoleon wants nothing else than to face his enemy in a pitched battle, defeat him decisively, do some mopping up and then have them sue for peace. However, Russia is not Austria nor Prussia. Napoleon have been declared the anti-christ by the orthodox church, and many Russians seem to actually believe it. They are determined to fight until the very end.

At Smolensk, de Tolly delivers battle, not to protect the city, which he considers indefensible, but to protect his spread-out forces. 1. Army and 2. Army have not yet fully linked up, and both forces have corps and divisions spread out all over the place, not even considering the irregular cavalry and the multitude of regular cavalry fighting all over the place. The irregulars can be left to their own devices - they hardly expect to be able to link up with the main army at any time anyway, and will mostly do fine. However, de Tolly needs his regular cavalry to screen his forces from French pursuit in case of battle.

The battle starts confusingly, and it is evident that de Tolly is out of his depth trying to coordinate so many separate forces at the same time. The Russian staff system is not up to the same standards as its French counterpart. Russian forces arrive at the battlefield piecemal, at irregular intervals and from many different directions.

The French III Corps under Ney, with a core of hardened French veterans, but also Croat and Württemberger as well as Rhine Confederate troops (most of them decently well trained, but not veterans and not as motivated as the French), attempted to get between 1. Army and Smolensk, and looked like they would succeed, until they ran headlong into Bagration's Corps, which was positioned in teh southern part of Smolensk.

Nay attempts to dislodge Bagration, who will not move at all. The Russians have thrown up earthworks which makes them almost immune against the heavy French artillery shelling, and they throw back three French assaults during the day.

Tell the General that we are in Smolensk, and that we'll stay in Smolensk.

Bagration, replying to a messenger from de Tolly during the evening of August the 15th.

During the night, French light cavalry infiltrated the city itself, and in the fighting to drive them out, part of the Smolensk was set on fire.

During the night, XI Corps under Murat arrives to reinforce the French, while de Lambert's cavalry corps (in reality a mixed division of cavalry and infantry from the reserve) and parts of 2. Infantry Corps, notably 4. Infantry Division under Eugen, Duke of Württemberg, causing the odd situation of Württembergers fighting, under French command, against Russians and Prussian volunteers under command of thier Duke.

[von Adler]

Originally Posted by Ares96

The Grandee Armee? Sounds like a Gilbert and Sullivan play.

Fixed, thanks.

[mattep74]

Ohh, this is the mother of all bloody battles i think.

[Uff Da the optimist]

Originally Posted by mattep74

Ohh, this is the mother of all bloody battles i think.

Agreed.
Lovin these last two updates Von Adler. You sure know how to depict a realistic AH battle in an exciting way!

[von Adler]

1811-08-16.

"Have you seen Bagration? The man is made out of ice. Straight out of the frozen forests of Russia, eh says little, does even less and never, ever flinches, even as cannonballs whistles past his head! The man is not human, I tell you!"

Lieutenant von Hagendorff, part of the Freie Preussisches Legion, serving at the staff of Bagration's Corps.

The morning starts as the day ended - Murat, who has assumed command after a heated argument with Ney, have attempted to outflank Bagration's corps, but are checked by the Russian reserves, while Ney dithers and refuses to attack in support, still smarting from the argument during the night. It is almost noon until Ney cannot pretend to be preparing or not having recieved the multiple orders to attack from Murat. By that time, an opportunity to split Bagration's forces in two and roll his line up in both directions have been lost.

At noon, in the midst of Ney's lacklustre attack on Bagration's thinly manned earthworks, a strange situation emerges. 7. Württemberger infantry regiment, advancing in a solid firing line, holding it's banner high have ended up directly opposing the 5. Jäger-battalion of the Free Prussian Legion, and behind it, the staff of the Duke of Württemberg. As the Württemberger infantry march closer, the Prussians hold their fire. What looks like a test of nerves, with both sides not firing, as the Württembergers stop at thirty paces, soon turns into something else.

"Von dir, o Vaterland, zu singen.
Muß wahrer Liebe wohl gelingen,
Da dich des Himmls Liebe hält."

The tall man on the fine white horse behind the Prussians have taken off his headgear, revealing a big mop of curly brown hair known to quite a few of the men opposing the Prussians. Duke Eugen von Württemberg, nephew of the King of Württemberg have sung the lines. He actually bows towards the enemy line from horseback. For what seems like an eternity both sides stare at each other, and men's eyes dart back and forth among each other. And then, first one voice, then three, then ten, then a mighty crescendo from both the Prussians and the Württembergers arise.

"Mein Württemberg, das du seit lange
Gefeiert und mit gutem Klange
Genannt bist in der weiten Welt,
Genannt bist in der weiten Welt.

"Mein Württemberg, das du seit lange
Gefeiert und mit gutem Klange
Genannt bist in der weiten Welt,
Genannt bist in der weiten Welt."

The song rings out among the rolling salvos of msuket fire, greatly confusing the French and Russians on each side of the Württembergers and Prussians. A French messenger arrives on a sweaty horse, screaming at the Württemberger officers, who shrug and claim they cannot control their men. The order to attack is yelled out in broken German.

The Prussians lower their muskets, and the Württembergers, almost to a man, salute, then turn around and 'rout' in good order back towards the reserve. French veterans quickly fill the gap, urged forwards by Murat's staff, and soon the Prussians are embroiled in a bitter battle for the earthworks, going to the bayonet. The moment of peace has been shattered by hate and war yet again.

Through the afternoon, the French fail to break through the Russian lines. Bagration, who knows reinforcements are on their way, concentrates on defending his positions, and does, as is his usual modus operandi very little, trusting his subordinates to deal with local crisises.

The rest of the Russian 2. Infantry Corps arrives, and the 17. Infantry Division, under Count Pavel Stroganoff attempt to outflank Ney's attack, but is roughly handled by the combination of Ney's Grand Battery of 43 guns, and a quick cavalry charge. While most of the Russians are able to get into squares, or in some cases, in Austrian blocks, two battalions are completely ridden down, and the attack is blunted.

During the evening, the fighting mostly peters out, with both sides being tired, and needing to provide food, water and rest for their troops, as well as new powder and more bullets. Reinforcements continue to pilfer in for both sides during the evening and the night, setting the board for an even larger third day of the battle.