The Second Battle of Vienna
With the French harassing Austrian forces, General Buxhoewden takes this opportunity to move west from Budapest and into Vienna. His plan backfires though as before he can reinforce his position none other than Napoleon Bonaparte attacks him in the largely ruined city.
The Russian forces are deployed to the east of the city in an attempt to divide the French attack into two parts - one which can march directly on me under fire from my artillery and a second that can will be broken up and slowed by the constricting streets of Vienna. In order for Russia to win this fight the French will have to be defeated in detail.
Upon seeing my army's deployment, Napoleon wisely shift his line to match mine. He does however send several units through Vienna, no doubt in an attempt to try and flank me. I immediately send my grenadiers into the city streets on my left flank to prevent the French from getting behind my line of battle.
The Second Battle of Vienna (cont.)
Though many men were lost, the French Emperor has been humbled. He will think twice before tangling with the might of Russia again. This victory may prove to be Pyrrhic as the Austrian people have decided they have had enough of both French and Russian soldiers in their homeland. A rebellion has begun and a large army has been raised, from whence it came I know not. General Buxhoewden will need to fall back to Budapest once again to replenish his losses.
A Bridge Over Troubled Water
Late July 1806
Word has reached me about a mutiny in the faraway land of India. Though the mutineers have been executed, the British have suffered a black eye from the locals. If this so-called empire cannot tame savages they deserve to be conquered by the likes of me.
General Kamensky has marched into Selesia, setting up camp at the bridge on the Oder River. The Prussians know he is intent on capturing Breslau and have marched against him in an attempt to remove him from their lands. They must have less sense that I thought as the army they sent is primarily undisciplined militia.
The battle is won without too much difficulty, but something strange happened. The Prussians seemed very intent on reaching my cannon and sent cavalry through devastating volleys of fire to reach them. Though the cavalry was slain, they did manage to kill some of my gunners. The reason for such seemingly irrational behavior would become apparent to me the next day when the Prussians send an even larger army at Kamensky's position. This time they have reinforcements and I am vastly outnumbered.
A Bridge Over Troubled Water (cont.)
The second Prussian army is made up of professional soldiers, and in larger numbers. My battle-weary men will have to fight desperately to hold back the Prussian tide once more.
Perhaps the Prussians were not so foolish as I first thought. The attack yesterday was obviously a probe to test my strength, and to destroy my guns to prevent their use in the real fight. Though I retained all of my guns their crew were sufficiently diminished to give me concern for being able to hold off attacks from the Prussians at both the ford and the bridge. Now I must also face a contingent of Austrians attacking from the rear. Truly this day's battle shall test Kamensky's mettle like no other before.
A Bridge Over Troubled Water (cont.)
Early August 1806
Though Kamensky prevails, he has lost half of his men. With the loss of so many experienced soldiers, his army is in no shape to continue on to take Breslau. With his offensive thus stalled, he marches his army east to Łódź in Greater Poland to recover. It would seem the Prussians have done the same as the battered remnants of their armies have marched west towards Berlin.
Enemy forces have been loose in my lands, sowing destruction where they march. Salzburg and Debreczin have both been put to the torch. I vow that henceforth, when presented with the opportunity, my foes shall be treated in kind. Their farms and villages will not be spared my wrath. All who oppose the Russian Empire shall learn a hard lesson about my power.
In brighter news, my gentlemen at university have been successfully discovering new ways to help their empire. Their most recent discovery is a new system of land drainage. This should increase the output of Russia's farmland and raise more money for the war effort. Things are starting to look slightly better for my economy.
The Second Battle of Istanbul
Late August 1806
Not content to let me hold his former capital, General Alemdar Sadik of the Ottomans has rallied the remaining forces in Rumelia and marched on Istanbul to displace General Kutusov. Veterans each and every one, Kutusov's men aren't going to give up their prize without a fight.
With the Ottoman force being made up of so much cavalry and artillery, I decide to station my infantry in the city streets. With the buildings sheltering them from enemy artillery, they hastily construct anti-cavalry barricades to channel the enemy horses into killing zones should they dare to enter the city. Jágers are to screen the bulk of my army, and set up ambushes with improvised explosive devices on the main approach to the city.
The Second Battle of Istanbul (cont.)
The trap works as intended as Ottoman light infantry are lured into pursuing my jágers as they retreat to the city after lighting the fuses. The resulting explosions cause many casualties among the enemy.
Ottoman infantry eventually make it into the city, only to be confronted by volleys from my musketeers. Once engaged, the hussars are sent in to mop up the remaining men.
With the enemy infantry out of action, all that remains is their cavalry and cannon. The cavalry are being held in reserve as their massive 18-pounders shell the city from well outside the range of my own 6-pound guns. It falls on my own cavalry to convince the remaining enemy to cease their hostilities or die by the sword.
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The Second Battle of Istanbul (cont.)
My hussars get behind the enemy line and attack. They manage to slay the enemy general and break through to the gun crews. Though they suffer heavy casualties, the hussars escape annihilation and fall back to the safety of the city, hotly pursued by Ottoman cavalry intent on avenging their slain general.
Ottoman sipahis make it into the city only to find their route blocked by barricades and angry musketeers. There's not much they can do other than swear impotently as they fall like flies. The streets run red with blood as the day once again goes to General Kutusov.
