The first of the year begins the new Spring '25 Campaign. With this being a holiday, we had additional time to play. An early start of 2:00 in the afternoon allowed the battle to continue to a conclusion 7 hours later.
The Battle of the Lakes shifted the story back to the mainland in the west. While the letter of the treaty had not been broken the Emperor felt that the spirit had been. To this end he sent an expedition off to reclaim the lost territory in the north, with a further goal of retaliation for the lost Sugar Island, and the hope that the United Packs would need to return their forces in the Islands back to bolster their home defenses. To complicate the situates and sow distrust amongst the Island invaders allies, he sent his own Mutt's mercenaries on this expedition.
The United Packs Commonwealth (UPC) forces were caught off guard and quickly lost their hard-fought gains north of their border. Quick to recover they brough up a local army and found a superb bit of ground to establish their defenses. When the Empire's Army arrived, it was meet by a well emplaced defensive line. Plans were rapidly drawn up for the assault and the battle lines formed. After a particular powerful initial bombardment by both sides' artillery the Battle Lines began their approach.
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The Twin Towns of Lake Zurich in the Center and Crysal Lake to its West, top right of picture, With its UPC Garrisons. Empire Troops are Formed to the South, right side. |
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Empire Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery Massed for Their Attack on the Town of Lake Zurich. The LZ Redoubt, the Goal of This Empire Group, can be Seen Just to the Left of the Town. |
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The Locally Drawn Empire Forces Moving Up on the Town of Crystal Lake. On the Right of the Town can be Seen the CL Redoubt, the Target of this Assault. |
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Empire Light Infantry Moving Through the Hawthorn Woods. Empire Infantry Columns and Both Sides Cavalry are Massed here in the Open Plane. In the Right Center the HW Redoubt can be Seen. This is the Edge of the UPC's Left Flank Defenses, and the Target of the Empire Forces. |
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A Wide View from the West Showing the Full Aray of Forces Assembled for this Battle. |
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On Arriving at the Break in the Hawthorn Woods the cut by Miller Road, Empire Light Infantry is Confronted by Their Opposite Number from the UPC. |
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Empire Infantry Supported by Their Cavalry and Artillery Advance Against the UPC Defensive Line. |
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The Empire Line Begin the Firefight Against the UPC Defenders of Lake Zurich. They are Supported by the Advancing Columns of the Von Mutts Mercenaries. |
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On the Empire Left they Slowly Continue Their Approach on the Town of Crystal Lake. |
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Empire Light Infantry Force Back Part of the UPC's Defenders, While to Their Left the UPC Holds Firm. |
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On the Empire Left the Fight to Take the Town of Crystal Lake Begins. |
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UPC Forces Around the Town of Lake Zurich Faceoff Against the Full Attack by the Empire. |
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Empire Lines Taking a Beating as They Attempt to Break into Lake Zurich. |
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Masses of Empire Infantry and Cavalry Pour Forward Against the UPC HW Redoubt. |
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In the Hawthorn Woods Empire Infantry Presses Onward Relentlessly. |
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UPC Light Infantry Surrounds Their Empire Opposites Engaging in a Desperate Firefight, While Their Artillery and Muskets Pour Fire into the Advancing Empire Troops. |
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With Their Infantry Engaged Across the Entire Front the Empire Launches a Cavalry Charge Seeking to Breach a Whole in the UPC Line. |
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With the First Wave of Empire Infantry Repulsed the Von Mutts Press Forward to Take up the Fight Against Lake Zurich. |
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On the Far Left the UPC's Lightly Defended Town of Crystal Lake Begins to Come Under Intense Fire from the Advancing Empire Forces. |
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With the UPC Defenders of Lake Zurich Suffering from Heavy Casualties Across the Entire Area They Bring in All Their Commands in a Desperate Bid to Avoid Disaster. |
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At Crystal Lake Pressure Continues to Mount. |
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To the West the Empire Pushes the UPC from Hawthorn Woods and Readies to Assault the HW Redoubt. |
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At Lake Zurich Through Heroic Effort the UPC Upper Command Worked Miracles to Keep the Forces Intact. The Empire Maintained an Intense Fire on the UPC Occupied Town and the Supporting Troops Around it. |
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At Crystal Lake the Empire Launched the First of its Assaults. |
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At the HW Redoubt the UPC Held Off the First Wave of Empire Attacks. |
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By Late Afternoon the UPC had Formed an All-Around Defense Covering Lake Zurich. While the Empire Still Continued its Attacks, There Power was Slipping. |
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To the West the Attacks on Crystal Lake had Been Repulsed. |
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In the Center While the Empire Cavalry was Dominating the Cavalry Battle, the UPC had Effectively Held it Away from the Critical Fights Against Lake Zurich and the HW Redoubt. |
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At Lake Zurich Now Outnumbered the Von Mutts Stoically Threw in One Last Attempt to Break into the Town. |
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At Days End the Empire Having Given Its All Begins its Withdrawal Back to the North. |
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With the Battle Lost the Empire's Cavalry Could Console Itself Having Defeated All of its Opposite Number. |
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As the Rest of the Empire Forces Were Breaking Off the HW Redoubt Finally Fell. A Well-Done Effort but Accomplished to Late in the Day. |
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The Von Mutts Withdrawing After Their Last Assault Failed to Break the Defenders of Lake Zurich. |
Though a decisive victory for the UPC the battle was a very close fought game. Had the "Miracle of Command" not occurred, the UPC was recovering hits just fast enough to keep from breaking, the battle most likely would have swung the other way. Had the Empire's cavalry and assault columns at the HW redoubt acted a bit more aggressively sooner the UPC would have been hard pressed to contain the tide.
A game well played by all involved and a brilliant start to the New Year.