22-08-2004 11:34									#1
	Ferdinand of the Artillery (Frog Stomp Diaries) Enter the AD-FREE zone

This story is based on the Frog Stomp PBEM being played by myself, Paddythescot, Aqualung, and Ricketyclik. Nothing fancy here; just the story of a poor sap sent to war by his dad.

	22-08-2004 11:35									#2
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It was February of 1802 when Ferdinand¡¯s father put his paper on the table one morning and said patriotically, ¡°All the sons of Europe are leaving their farms and boats to fight the tyrant that rose in France. Ferdinand, my boy, I believe you should also volunteer for the army like your two older brothers.¡±

"But father, I have no skills. I cannot ride a horse well and I have never been good with a rifle.¡±

¡°Then join the artillery. If a man can¡¯t aim he can at least load a cannon or tie it to a team of horses.¡±

And so Ferdinand left his home the next week and learned the science of artillery. Training was rigorous but somewhat disappointing as most gunpowder was sent to the front and hardly any was available for training. Still, now and then Ferdinand¡¯s group received a box of powder and for a day or so they pounded targets on a hill with cannon shot.

After three months of training, Ferdinand and his company attached their artillery pieces to a team of horses and set off for France. Although gunpowder was in short supply during training, the army was not stingy with it once training was finished. The army also supplied strong, hardy horses to pull their weapons across the Pyrenees.

	22-08-2004 12:14									#3
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During the Spanish campaign against the French, Ferdinand kept a diary in which he occassionally wrote. Some of his entries have been selected for the

Frog Stomp Diaries

	22-08-2004 12:23									#4
	February 1802 Tired of ads?

Training is over and we are leaving for France today. My unit received a large amount of gunpowder which we put in cases on the artillery carts. Our local commanders say that the roads to Pamplona are safe so we are not travelling with any infantry or cavalry and we have just our own small arms to fight with should the French make their way into the country. It is craziness but we cannot say so to our superiors. I heard rumours that many of our cavalry and infantry have been killed crossing the mountains.

	22-08-2004 12:47									#5
	May 1802 Suffering from ads?

May 5th, 1802

We crawl slowly across Spain. I don¡¯t know why we don¡¯t have a cartwright of our own instead of having to look for one in the villages every time a wheel breaks. On the one hand it¡¯s irritating but on the other hand it means we will be slower getting into action . . . .

May 15th, 1802

Good news today! The 2nd Army sucessfully crossed into France and is heading for Bordeaux. And even better news! The 1st Army took Montauban with only a few casualities and no units were completely destroyed. Our corporal tells us we may be joining the 1st Army but he¡¯s not sure.

	22-08-2004 13:50									#6
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July 2nd, 1802
Travelling is dreadful. A number of our horses became ill with something near Medina and we were delayed again. The war will be over by the time we get to France.

July 29th, 1802
More rumours. The 1st Army is sitting in Montauban and is not eager to leave. Apparently there have been a few executions because of drunkeness and insubordination. I also hear the locals are revolting and reinforcements are arriving slowly. Like ourselves. The 2nd Army is doing somewhat better and has moved into a forested area near Bordeaux to defend against Napolean¡¯s Royal cavalry.. They are waiting for reinforcements and will then try to take the town.

	22-08-2004 14:47									#7
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interesting

bloody good to read

hope you enjoy the game and continue with this story

	22-08-2004 16:10									#8
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Thanks for the compliment. The game is loads of fun and writing about it makes it even more fun.

	22-08-2004 16:11									#9
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September 10th, 1802
The weather is still warm but getting cooler as we go up the Pyrenees. I hope we can be over them by the time the rains and snow come; the cannons will be impossible to move over winter terrain on these mountain roads.

September 14th, 1802
We have arrived at the top of the mountains and below us lays France. The autumn landscape is beautiful and I can almost smell the vinyards from here. In the far distance I can see columns of smoke that we are told come from Bordeaux. The 2nd Army has been shelling the town a little to soften it up for the main attack.

September 17th, 1802

On our way to Bordeauz we met the 2nd Army¡¯s 1st Cavalry heading back to Spain. They had many casualities and many soldiers were without horses. Apparently they made a premature attack on Bordeaux but were defeated by infantry hidden about the town. The 2nd army is now waiting for the recently arrived reinforcements to get organised before launching an all out attack on the city. I wonder if we¡¯ll get there in time to see action.

September 23rd
More news from the top. The French have retaken Valence (which was held by the Austrians) and so the 1st Army has had their cups taken away and are now marching in that direction. That is somewhat to our advantage as they are no longer hording the wine and some of it has come to us.
Apparently the British are also near Valence so it looks like retaking the city will be something of an international effort. Or an international mess once the generals start arguing about who should control the city.

	22-08-2004 16:46									#10
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January 2nd, 1803

It¡¯s the new year but not a very happy one. Our troops had a glass of wine on New Year¡¯s Day and started marching the last few kilometers to Bordeaux. The 2nd army did not wait for us to begin the attack but no doubt they wish they did. Three complete units of cavalry were killed and several other severely weakened in the attack. When the Cavalry were all used up they sent in foot soldiers. Four units of foot soldiers were wiped out but they finally took the city. I heard that the cannon fire before the battle was extremely ineffective. I wonder if we could have done better?

February 12th, 1803

Messengers have told us of events at Valence. A real bloodbath. Austria retook Valence but it was almost immediately retaken by the French. Many civilian casualties and both the Austrian and the French armies are weakened. The British have taken no action though I do not know why. Our 1st Army is now outside Valence and ready to take the city. If they can.
Things are still a mess here in Bordeaux but getting better. We are organising our army and trying to keep the people from revolting. Our unit is stationed in the north part of town ready to fire at French cavalry that might come down from the north. It¡¯s cold at night but at least we¡¯re in the city where there is lots of food and a few luxuries like wine. Our generals were wise to not let the army ravage the countryside on the way here. I hear Napolean takes everything he needs from the peasants and towns he conquers. Not a good way to win the hearts of peoples.

	23-08-2004 07:42									#11
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wow - keep it coming old chap

the battle for Valence...

	23-08-2004 13:16									#12
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As soon as Ricketyclik sends the turn round

	23-08-2004 19:09									#13
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March 4th, 1803

Time moves on and nothing happens here in Bordeaux. The locals have accepted our presence, I think, and some are even glad to be rid of Napolean. Though I think they would also like to be rid of us. Tobacco is a bit scarce but luckily last year¡¯s harvest was good and we are not short of food or wine.

The French have not attacked this city since we took it and I imagine they are pressed elsewhere. Possibly they are concentrating their efforts on holding Valence or defending Paris. I wonder, not for the last time, whether or not I will see any action this war. To tell the truth, I¡¯d like to just go back to my father¡¯s farm. It¡¯s almost time for planting.

April 19th, 1803

Today a man climbed the hill up to out unit of cannons and introduced himself. It turns out he is an artillery engineer from the 1st Army. Of course, we were all anxious to know what happened at Valence. After we offered him our last bit of tobacco and some Bordeaux wine and cheese he told us something like the following story.
¡°Well, there we were parked next to Valence with the Turks and the British also sitting nearby. The Turks looked eager to throw themselves into Valence and pillage it but the British just lazed around and sure enough, after a few days they packed up and marched north towards Lyons. Our commanders were nervous about the Turk eyeing Valence so greedy-like so it was decided that we would try to take it first. As commander of the 1st Artillery it was my job to start the attack. When the French saw us getting ready to attack they lined up their cavalry outside the town to charge us. As soon as the French commander yelled ¡®charge¡¯ we let loose with our shot. Our cavalry and infantry stood behind us so we had a clear line of fire. We used lots of little cannonballs instead of large shot and it tore the incoming horses and riders to shreds. The couldn¡¯t get more than halfway to us because dead horses were piling up and making it impossible to pass. Seeing that the French were unable to charge, we sent in our own cavalry. They charged up to the pile of dead and shot over it into the confused French army. Without losing hardly a man or horse we slaughtered all the defenders of Valence and marched into the city. It was horrific, beautiful, and absolutely amazing all at the same time.¡±
So that¡¯s what a battle is like. The engineer left us after telling his story and smoking a few more pipes. He said he was on his way to the capital to help design new ways of using artillery in battle. The king said his experiences and expertise would be invaluable in helping to win the war. Could I ever have such an honour, I wonder?
A few cavalry reinforcements have arrived but certainly not as many as we need. Is there a problem back in the homeland?

	24-08-2004 11:43									#14
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June 25th, 1803

Two months and nothing has happened. Some of us have taken to helping the local farmers when we are not on duty. Our commanders approve but tell us not to go out alone and not to go far.

June 27th, 1803

The Turks have razed Lyon!!!! A good thing we got to Valence before them. How cruel . . .

	30-08-2004 11:21									#15
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Ferdinand has been very quiet lately and his letters to his neice Maria in St. Petersburg have not arrived for many a month. I think the poor man must have been killed in the recent battles.

Lovely girl, that 14 year old Maria....married off to the Czar's uncle.......

	31-08-2004 18:26									#16
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July 24th, 1804.

It has been a whirlwind few months rushing across Europe. We finally got to Paris only to lose it to the Ottomans. Now we are finally returning to Spain but, says the sargeant, possibly not to return to our fields and homes. He says there is strange trouble brewing amongst the allies . . . .
In any case, the king has divided all the cities we took in France amongst the allies. Perhaps he thinks this will satisfy their desire for more land.

	02-09-2004 02:52									#17
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good, very good. Im anxious for more.

	02-09-2004 04:03									#18
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Thanks. I've been getting a bit slack about it. I should make more effort.

	02-09-2004 06:10									#19
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quote: Originally posted by Nylan-Nolan good, very good. Im anxious for more.

You should also try to read this in the context of the actual PBEM game (if you're not already), since Masuro is weaving some of our international diplomacy into it.

This is the thread, from where the war diplomacy gets interesting.

	02-09-2004 06:35									#20
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yeah some more please

	02-09-2004 06:44									#21
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quote: Originally posted by Paddy the Scot yeah some more please

Yes, we need some more intel on the inner workings of the mad Spanish King's mind

	02-09-2004 06:52									#22
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If I tell you what I'm doing in this story I'll be having problems in the game. There needs to be a delay.

	02-09-2004 07:00									#23
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July 26th

I still wonder why the King gave those cities to the English, the Prussians, and the Russians. Especially the Russians. I don¡¯t think their lust for more territory will be sated with just one city. Maybe it¡¯s because they¡¯re so cold and they¡¯re looking for warmer places to live. But then why are they looking at Sweden with wolf¡¯s eyes? Strange.
Anyway, I¡¯m glad the king gave away those cities. I think it¡¯s our peninsular psychology. We want to feel safe and isolated behind the Pyrenees. Perhaps the king feels adrift and surrounded past the mountains.

August 5th

I¡¯ve made a decision to leave the artillery and join the infantry. Blasting away from behind the lines seems a bit cowardly now, even though I know the artillery is necessary in warfare. My unit commander has told me to wait until we¡¯re back in Spain before switching. He says I can get proper training there. I¡¯m looking forward to it.

	02-09-2004 08:12									#24
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quote: Originally posted by Masuro If I tell you what I'm doing in this story I'll be having problems in the game. There needs to be a delay.

I am shocked that you would think such things of your allies

we be faithful to the cause

	02-09-2004 08:14									#25
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The cause of imperialism?

	05-09-2004 18:02									#26
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Those serfs need to be shown what's good for them. Think of it more as gentle guidance.

	06-09-2004 18:50									#27
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Seems like Ferdinand made a very bad career choice joing the infantry, and has now been shipped off to Sweden, of all places

	06-09-2004 18:54									#28
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Possiblt he won't be happy about it. I'm waiting a bit before writing any more of the story so no plans are revealed.

	06-09-2004 19:08									#29
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Oh, so you have plans?

Sounds like a conspiracy is being hatched against the other loyal members of the Grand Alliance!

	06-09-2004 19:35									#30
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Yes. Plans to defend Sweden against aggressors.