Situation at Sandomierz 1656

So following on from the previous post, I decided to go with the chronologically first option, the battle of Sandomierz.

To give an understanding of the situation, at the beginning of 1656, The Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth was facing it's worst test, One which whilst it survived the ordeal, it never learnt from it, did the necessary reforms, and consequently, ended being partitioned between it's neighbours.

In 1655, Sweden decided to intervene in an exhausted Poland, wrought by years of Cossack wars and an ongoing war against Russia. Attacked from numerous directions, the Commonwealth collapsed, the King fled to Silesia and was the country basically completely conquered.

In the year is 1655, and all Poland is entirely occupied by it's enemies. Well not entirely, one small fortress held out against the invaders, Jasna Gora

Outnumbered 10:1, the Poles led by prior Kordecki, withstood the siege and bombardment, igniting a wave of resistance and guerrilla warfare across occupied Poland.

The Swedish garrisons at that time are reasonably well known, thanks to rusmilhist for the graphic. 

The Polish situation is slightly more difficult to ascertain, with widescale insurgent warfare happen across the land, and different mounted detachments under the various local leaders and the hetmans.

When the exiled Polish King returned to Polandm arriving on the 10 February 1656 in Lwów (Lviv) which, together with Gdańsk, was one of only two major cities of the Commonwealth not seized by any of Poland's enemies.
Soon Polish Army units began to concentrate in the area of Lwów, including militias from Red Ruthenia, Volhynia and Lublin, as well as forces under Potocki and Prince Lubomirski, together with the garrison of Kamieniec Podolski fortress. Charles Gustav, after finding out about the return of the Polish king, ordered his armies to concentrate in Łowicz.

The Swedes marched towards Lwów, reaching the Zamość Fortress on February 25. On March 1, realizing that without heavy guns it was impossible to capture the mighty stronghold, the Swedish army gave up the siege, and headed towards Bełżec. On March 3, Charles Gustav, whose units were harassed by Polish guerilla forces, decided to retreat. At the same time, guerilla warfare also broke out in Mazovia and Greater Poland, and Lithuanian units under the Grand Hetman of Lithuania Paweł Jan Sapieha began moving towards Red Ruthenia.

Army on the march, punishing partisans en route

On March 11, the Swedish army arrived at Jarosław, fighting its way across the San river. Charles Gustav sent some of his forces to capture Przemyśl, but on March 16 they returned to Jarosław without success. On March 22, the Swedish army set off northwards, along the San and Vistula rivers, back to Warsaw. They were followed by units of Stefan Czarniecki and Aleksander Koniecpolski, and during the retreat, Polish troops supporting the invaders changed sides, joining the forces of John Casimir. 

On March 30, the starving, cold and tired Swedish army of 5,000 stopped near Sandomierz, which was already in Polish hands. The Swedes camped among the forests of Sandomierz Forest near Gorzyce, near the confluence of the river San on the western side, and the Vistula on the eastern.

The battle at the confluence of the Vistula and San rivers near Sandomierz

Here they were quickly surrounded by approximately 23,000 Poles and Lithuanians.

Battle of Warka 1656

Historically, to help the besieged army, on March 27 Frederick VI left Warsaw with 2,500 reiters and dragoons, so John Casimir ordered the mounted units of Czarnecki and Lubomirski to face the margrave. Frederick's army was defeated on April 7 in the Battle of Warka. At Gorzyce, however, second-quality Polish forces remained, and the Swedish king managed to break out (April 5), and on April 13, Charles Gustav reached Warsaw.

This then is our starting point for our "imagination" campaign, or maybe better said deviation from history. 

Starting points for the PLC

Afer an overly long hiatus, I have been busy doing readings and research of historical events and rules. In my meanderings to find a way to restart my Imagi-Nation, or maybe more accurately alt-history of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth I composed a list different possible starting points where the self-destruction of the PLC could have been avoided.
I came up with the following list:

• Battle of Sandomierz
  the King of Sweden and his exhausted army are surrounded by a superior polish force. Short on supplies, food and ammunition, they were historically able to break through and get to safety. Could we capture the Swedish King in a wargame?
  
  
• 1657 Entry of Denmark and Austria into war, retirement of most Swedish troops from Poland. could be used a a point of not allowing Brandenburg to rechange alliances (again!) and retake Ducal Prussia for Poland.
  
  
• Enforcing treaty of Hadiach
  Supporting the cossacks and creation of  Tristate Commonwealth
  
  
• 1659 Lubomirski Rokosz -Battle of Matwy
  Could the Royal forces not defeat Lubomirksi's rebel forces, giving them a stronger hand in the final negotiations and stating a reform of the Commonwealth
  
  
• or as already initiated in 1696
  as a sucession campaign scenario, getting 2-3 royal contenders to gain points on campaign to see who will be the next King

Mons Rei Publicae Polonae (Allegory of the state of the Commonwealth during the reign of Stephen Báthory), 1578. The composition presents the vision of the Polish state standing by the King and the Church, in line with the popular lex-rex rule of the executionist movement.

Since Sandomierz, seems the most interesting and first I will aim to recreate this first. if the historical outcome repeats itself, I can always aim for any of the other divergence points later on.

On with the show! 

Getting (re) started

So just as it seemed like the campaign had fallen asleep and it was safe to go outside again, rumours come in from the deepest depth of the easten steppes that strange things are afoot.

Campaign maps have been created, troops are starting to be assigned to their posts and things generally seem to be stirring again. Spring has certainly had it's effect.

Commonwealth troop positions (red squares) and their objectives for the coming campaign. In Yellow the lost province of Podolia, in red, what would be great to wrestle out of the hands of the Turk.
Now where are those Holy League allies, the Muscovites and Imperialists?
And most important... Where is the enemy!?

Marked on the map in Yellow and A is the lost province of Podolia, since 1676 in Turkish hands.
The red area B, are the wild fields, a fertile strip of black earth, depopulated by tartar raids. Commonwealth claims these were part of their dominions in 1380... or was it earlier.
Marked as C are the 2 towers, the Black and the white tower, kara kerman and Akkerman respectively, which would anchor the Commonwealth and give it access to the Black Sea, and preferential trade routes from black Sea to Baltic!

Things have been slow in the last  few months, ever since the news that Prince was expecting offspring, and more amazingly the news ran through the kingdom, that it wasn't just one, but 2 Princesses that were expected at the same time.

Since end of May, the potency of the Crown prince is no in doubt anymore, but Laws must change for these two ladies to have any chance of ascending their family heritage.

"What has taken you so long!"

4. February 1696

Maciek Kwiatkowski was cold.  Freezing cold.  And he was angry with himself. "Why can't you just hold your tongue."
He was sure thats why he was out here, in the freezing cold and snow. Telling a magnate where he can stick his veto is never a good idea. Not after the Sapieha's vetoed the King. and certainly not after a few drinks... Some said too many, but that's all relative.
Now he was out here in the cold waiting for a guest of his Pułkownik Mierzejewski's... probably just another stuck up Magnate, looking down his nose at him for not being a Noble.  Maybe he could warm up in the village... maybe they even have an inn, with some food, maybe even a small drink...

Kwiatkowski asking for another shot

Kwiatowski was part of Euzebiusz Pawłowski new dragoon regiment, part of Mierzejewski Pulk/division. The colonel was training them in new ways, that Pułkownik Mierzejewski had discovered in Greece on his great tour. Apparently it was from some competitions the ancient greeks used to train their soldiers. It focused on the skills required by a soldier, with competitions in shooting, swimming, fencing, equestrianism, and cross country running.  He even  called his regiment the "Hoplites".

The Hoplites Regimental Flag.
At least they wouldn't have to wear the helmets

Not that he had much choice. Being an impoverished noble, he had to take whatever his benefactor felt suited him.  He spat on the ground. He was sure it froze before it even hit the ground.

Finally he saw some movement in the trees.  He could see the first riders of the magnate riding ahead of the column. He approached them  to identify himself as their guide.

"Pozdrowienia - Greetings your lordships! I have been expecting you hours ago - I am Pan Kwiatowski, porucznik/lieutenant of Pawłowski dragoon banners!  What has taken you you so long!?!"

The long expeted party arrives

The two men rode up to Kwiatowski. Both of them wore expensive furs, but the rider on the lft looked like a hardened veretan of many a campaign. The veteran smiled at him and started to introduce himself, whilst his companion eyed him with a disdainful glower.

"Greetings, an a special thanks for your forthcomingness. My companion and I have ineed been delayed by the snow, dinners, political meeings and some broken axels. I am Pan Krefeldski,  Rotmistrz of his Highness the Crown Prince of Poland Guard Banner. And my companion here, is Pan Jakib Sobieski..."

Kwiatowski blood started to drain from his face

"... you might have heard of him as Crown Prince of Poland, or as the hetman's son, depending on where you stand?"

"... Ah..."

"Oh yes", pressed the Rotmistrz," by the way just out of interest, where do you stand on this issue?"

"Krefeldski! thats enough!"  spat out the Prince. "I apologize for my friend's forwardness. Being a foreigner he sometimes doesn't understand the freedoms we have her in the Rzeczpospolita"
The crown Prince Smiled at Kwiatowski.

"Shall we proceed to Oleska! I am eager to see these 'Hoplitóws' in action! I have heard so much about them!"

Donald Featherstone passed away

One of the fathers of modern wargaming, Donald Featherstone, died yesterday after a fall at home. He was 95.
It would be hard to find someone who more influenced wargaming worldwide. I still remember with fondness lefing through these colourful pages, getting inspiration for new projects on almost every page of his book.

He will be sorely missed, but left the hobby much stronger and healthier than when he found it.

Thank you!

Back for more!

Work and work have kept me away from here for a little while lately, but then again it's not everyday that you get the opportunity to combine your hobby with your real life work and to design and make very same the toys you have always been playing with since you can remember.

Thanks to Lluis of Minairons and Defiant Pricipality fame, I got the chance to make the T-26 tank for Minairons Miniatures.

So I have been kept busy turning this...

...into this!! :)

Thanks Lluis and here´s to many more of them tanks rolling off the production lines. Remember we have to beat the original 11'000 that rolled out of them Soviet factories ;)

Campaign Map Started

Using trusty google on it's relieve map mode, I made some screen shots of the campaig area.

And using the hexographer free mapper, convert this to a hex map for the campaign.

Next up placing cities rivers and roads!