Major Shandys Covert Mission (Parte The Seconde)

The Allied force makes a night time march and moves onto the table using a dice throw to decide were they arrive (the cavalry threw a 6 and have got lost !) . Here we see the British Grenadiers nearest the camera and the Hessians beyond them .

Scheither's Jaegers appear further down the table , very fortunate .

The guard on the bridge spots them and calls the alarum ! , The garrison turns out some what tardily !.

The Allies move into the village , the British cross the earthworks and the other Grenadiers move onto the road .

The forces meet !  as the first French company tries to deploy .

The Hessians , Scheither's Grenadiers and a Artillery Officer and gunner carrying the charge to disable the French mortar.

Voltaire awakes annoyed by the uproar as his servant 'Wee Jockie' brings him his morning chocolate . The French Commander tells him to get out of the way ! .

There is furious fighting in the narrow streets , the French are driven back and rout ! .

The Jaegers shoot down the French as they emerge from their tents , suffering heavy casualties they retire towards the battery .

The Jaegers drive the French before them and finally rout them off the table , the remaining French try to hold the battery against overwhelming odds . The French reinforcements were meant to appear on the turn of a playing card - this didn't happen till it was to late ! .

As the battle rages Voltaire is struck by a musket ball !

He is carried from the field by two gunners , luckily his wound is not fatal* . The remaining French retire leaving the village to the Allies .

 The Allied Gunners lay a charge and disable the mortar , the powder store is also set on fire and explodes spectacularly ! . The French reinforcements arrive to see the Allies retiring over the bridge back to their lines . A great victory for the Allies and a feather in the cap of Major Shandy ! .

* strangely Voltaire makes very little of this episode and in fact later it was reported by Frederick The Great that Voltaire's convalescence was due to a less gallant disease contacted "la poursuite de l'amour"