1735: Mobilisation

The Army of Cantica

The operational goal of Vice Margrave Ridley is the seizure of the disputed lands west of the Harpeck River, encompassing Brighthelm, Danehill, Hardingley.

The Cantware army is spread across the border towns (off map), with three strategic options, the bold option has been decided randomly:

1. A thrust to capture Brighthelm via the Coast road before it can be reinforced, and secure and potential amphibious landing by Barroch, with token forces on the Middle and Low roads.
2. Attempt to capture the river crossings west of Brighthelm, Hardingley and Danehill with broadly equal forces.
3. Attempt to capture Danehill as a central defensible position, with one force each to Brighthelm and Wickham Lace.

Their distribution is as follows:

• 1st Army - Coast Road - GdA Waverley, Vice-Margrave Ridley, Lifeguard & Lobster Cuirassiers, Grenadier Guard, 1st, 3rd and 5th Fusiliers, Light Guns
• 2nd Army - Pass Rd - GdB Neville, Rivertide Dragoons, 7th, 9th and 11th Fusiliers, Heavy Guns
• 3rd Army - Low Rd - GdB Fielding, Umbran Cuirassiers, 13th and 16th Fusiliers, 2nd Light Guns 

With a Competency Roll for each active brigadier of 1, 1 and 5 - the 1st and 2nd Army mobilisations are delayed by 2 days, while the Low Road mobilises immediately. 

The Army of the Weald

Wealden army disposition at the point of Cantware mobilisation is as follows:

• Brighthelm: 2nd Army of Brigadier Ashburnham, 2nd & 3rd Musketeers, Pink Hussars, Heavy Guns
• Westbourne:  n/a
• Hurst Manor: Brigadier Chichester, Forester Dragoons
• Danehill: 4th Musketeers
• Hardingley: 5th Jäger
• Wickham Lace: 1st Army of Crown Prince Henry, Brigadier Egremont, Cuirassiers, Royal Grenadiers, Light Guns
• Barroch: 3rd Army of Barroch - Coreshall Dragoons, Galswood Fusiliers, Wealden Foreign Legion

The various Brigadiers are housed in Wickham Lace, Brighthelm and Hurst Manor.  Without knowledge of the intent of the Cantware forces, Mr. M. Smith has defined the defensive strategy:

1. Garrison the three main towns and hunker down until Principality reinforcements arrive from Barroch
1. Try to cut supply lines with roaming light cavalry and/or Jägers
2. Land Barroch Forces amphibiously as far east as possible

With a 1D6 roll of a 1 in Initial Mobilisation and Reaction, the Wealden forces coincidentally mobilise into a defensive position at the same time as those of Cantica cross the border: clearly someone has leaked the Cantware war plan! Maybe to Brig.Gen. Chichester with his swarthy charisma?

With a Competency Roll for each active brigadier of 3, 4 and 5 - none of them delay mobilisation, however the leaderless regiments at Danehill and Hardingley will need to be notified by horse (2 and 3 days respectively).