Bowing and Scrapping

The annual Hedonist Christmas and Debauched New Years Balls have come and gone, the last of the visiting Royal Families have dragged their naked bodies in from the snow covered avenues and are preparing themselves for the trip home. The Streets are quiet once more, and I your chronicler have a chance to beg forgiveness for not keeping you updated as to the comings and goings of Hesse-Cassoulet. This has been a serious error and one I'm keen to make amends on, our victorious Battalions recovering in Schumburg-Lispe wintered there and luckily were able to take control of the situation on the mysterious death of Count Wilhelm. The CO of the small force the Landgrafs younger brother Joachim consolled Count Wilhelm's beautiful young widow and vowed to stay in the Buckeburg Schloss to protect her. I hear the bed there is very soft and that the widow needs much comforting!

The Swedish engineers have completed the rebuilding of the canal system and trade flows once more to our neighbours in the North on the Balsamic Ocean and Westward through Fronsay and the Anglish Chunnel, this is good news for everyone. Unfortunately the reformation of the army continues at a slow pace, with the canal network having lowered the Hesse Cassoulet coffers considerably. This proved to be good news for Herr FarberSchwien as the conniption fit he suffered earlier in the year turned into the palpitations, he was in no state to equip and uniform the new recruits.

Hot on the heels of our visit by Marshal Tall'Lard came the Fronsay Marshal Vile Lars, I wonder what he wants?

Artillerists and a visitor from Louis

Apologies for not keeping my loyal followers up to date with the machinations of Hesse Cassoulet, let it be said all is peaceful and the reformation of our army progresses albeit slowly. Unfortunately Paint Pig (Farbenschewein) and his alter ego have been busy with 'some sort alternative reality' limiting my ability to keep you informed.

Artillerist uniform has been delivered by Herr Schweingutz not fully complete, however a reasonable sample.

 

This fine looking chap was drafted from Eurekas WAS range, and has signed up with the Hesse Cassoulet forces for the minimum draft period of 15 years and the right of citizen ship after 10 years service, pay of florin a month and free uniform, food and board, generous terms indeed!

The Fronsay Marshall Duc Tall Lard paid visit to Uppendufsk and his Benevolence the Erzherzog at the end of June. The purpose of the visit was to examine progress of our military reforms and give voice to any shortfalls in training. Me thinks the mid winter ball and and associated minimally clothed subsequent chamber parties may have taken priority in the Marshall's thinking. The Marshall posed for preliminary sketches and some fine oil on canvas images have resulted to mark his visit to Hesse Cassoulet.

More news From Hess Cassoulet soon.

More SYW Uniforms and a BIG gun

Well, one really. I nearly had two but not quite so for the moment we must content ourselves with the sartorial elegance which is IR 6 Grenadiers of Hesse uniform, here being modelled by an over active chap..........

 ......dashing here.........

...............running there!

Another piece of artillery has been delivered to the artillery grounds for trials and acceptance which should be academic, after all it is 100 years younger than Hesse Cassoulet's heavy guns.

 

A couple of Frenchies proving it works, before they hand it over. Hmm, looks like their uniforms are not quite finished either?

regards
IG

Badswallowback Fusiliers get a uniform

Herr Schweingutzen has delivered his second uniform.  A nicely tailored ensemble that no fusilier could refuse, the much awaited uniform of IR2 Prinz Pumpernickel's Badswallowback Fusiliers.

This is the senior fusilier regiment currently based in County Schumberg resting after saving Schumberg-Lipz from a protracted war with Spongeheim. The regiment was in the heat of battle and is reported to having fired at least 3 volleys during the campaign.

As is so often the case the campaign moved to a conclusion when it was realised the Hesse Cassoulet battalions prefer "going in" with the bayonet. Both Schumberg-Lipz and Spongeheim realised there could be actual casualties and immediately started negotiations, no doubt to resume hostilities at the same time next year, as they have done annually for the last 13 years.

your faithful chronicler

New Artillery Piece Has Arrived

There is much activity at the Royal Artillery Grounds and Barracks here in Uppendufsk.  The word is the a new light artillery piece has arrived and the artillerists are keen to be trialling their gun. No word on when this will happen as foreign experts in the laying of artillery are yet to arrive and begin the training.

There is much jockeying for position and favours being called in to buy commissions in the artillery park now that the rumoured new guns are a reality. From now on Hesse Cassoulets will do more damage to the enemy than our own sons.

For further details on the assembling of the weapon by the finest artillery makers in all the lands of Hesse Cassoulet visit Das alt Schweingutzen (aka Paint Pig), the link is in the sidebar in all it's pomposity!

Declare and be Recognized

Celebrations in the capitol of Hesses Cassoulet today 10 of the Erzherzog's royal cousins have declared themselves to the court of His Benevolence, the latest being the Royal Family of Tripplebrudder. Further more over 700 visitors from across Europe, The Orient, Asia and the Americas have visited our lands. Envoy's and their concubines, merchants and their hussy's, Lords and their mistresses, tourists and professional military men both have seen much to relate to colleagues loved ones, and forged strong bonds both inside the Royal Court and in our famous bordellos, more often both.  Hoorah!

Spontaneous celebrations broke out all over
Hesse-Cassoulet, who's citizens need little enough
motivation for a party as is!

Landmilitz Uniform

Der alt Paintpiggen has delivered the first of his uniforms. After much consultation with court insiders and the Graf of the province he has delivered the Muchenteabags Landmilitz battalion uniform. All Landmilitz uniforms will be of similar cut with facing, waistcoat, and in some instances coat colour variations.

Visit Herr Schweingutzens if you require details. Not a good likeness I'm afraid will paint a better one in the morning.

Hesse Cassoulet News

The broad sheets and criers are announcing the arrival of a new artillery piece from Eurekasburg the 3lb piece is being considered as a battalion gun and the carriage is said to weigh half that of the pieces currently in use which date from before the rule of the ErbPrinz Hoomphrie Beebare, the mad prince in 1650-80.

Count Wilhelm of
Schumberg-Lippe

The war between Spongeheim and Schumberg-Lippe has been concluded in Lippe's favour. Our battalions, after a parade in Schumberg Lippe, are to return home after a short period of rest and recuperation in the "County of Schumberg" The elderly Count Wilhelm expressed his thanks though continues to agitate about sharing the Buckeberg mines and representative committee with the County of Schaumberg which of course belongs to Hesse Cassoulet.

Cardinal Rollmop Wholly
Roman Empire  envoy

The Wholly Roman Empire is pleased the war between the Confederation of the Whine Stadt's is bought to successful conclusion. An envoy is on the way to discuss the matter further with the Erzherzog including succession of Schumberg-Lippe, due to a Morganatic marriage, there will be numerous claims and counter claims and possibility of further war. There is also talk The Wholly Roman Empire is not please with our continued taking in of refuges from the Korkases, this policy is one of the Erzherzogs long standing commitments, I cant see him changing it soon.

Herr Schweingutz is soon to complete a prototype uniform for the Court to consider When asked to elaborate on the design Der alt Paintenpiggen (as mien Herr is referred to by friends and foes alike) remained tight lipped and sweating profusely collapsed into a soft divan chair.

New recuits

The Swedish cartographer and his team of surveyors and draughtsmen make good time with their drafting of maps and soon will start on the problem of the abandoned canals and roads.

 New recruits have been gathered in Minden and are due to be dispatched to Hesse Cassoulet within days, according to dispatches from chief of recruitment in Minden Herr Franz Ammond.

It is reported Reich Duke Wilhelm von Beerstein has warmly welcomed Hesse Cassoulet Court artist Francois Metrelong in Kronenberg. The nobles of Beerstein seem keen to see his work and rumour of commissions is rife.

Query from a friend and the Ginger Prinz

Prinz Xavier, the Ginger Prinz, as he is referred
to for his preference for the Herr's

I had a runner drop of a message from my good friend Herr Schweingutz asking me to supply information as I might glean about the new uniforms for the army, I confess I was somewhat puzzled and confused, for in truth I did not know of any such plans. On further enquiry I found the Erzherzog's older step brother, Prinze Xaver Hansuppen had been sent to mien Herr to source a suitable cut of uniform, present it to the Landgraf and set about equipping the army. Herr Schweingutz will have to employ every tailor and seamstress in the Landgravite, and those neighbouring, to complete such a task but if anyone can do it Der alt Paintenpiggen can. Leather workers and cobblers too are being engaged by the merry Prinz in making accoutrement and I hear now that weapon smiths from the Turkestan and perfidious Albion are making their way to our country. Why was this kept from your chronicler, when the court knows I have ways and means of obtaining all but the most intimate secrets, that assumes I know there is a secret to find

T'other News and an Announcement

Johann Bljorken Decker

It seems our good freinds in Shveden have dispatched a cartographer (Johann Bljorken Decker) with a team of surveyors to more accurately map Hesse Cassoulet and ze Tittanmuff.

To the archives Princess Nana

Talk of the abondoned cannals and roads from the enthusiastic but psychotic rule of Crown Prinz Hoomphrie Beebare von Hessianhesse, who believed the acclaimed scientist Herr Eyesack Neutown could make water flow uphill, has been revived and gradmother, Princess Antoinette Fay (Princess Nan as she is affectionately known), has been put in charge of searching the archives for the plans.

Mad Prince's overgrown canals

The cannals could soon be a useful means of transport for produce, trade items and live stock throughout the lowlands namely the prefectures of Cassoulet, Chardonnay and Bad Shirazgau just as the canals linking Hessiansacken, Oestrich-Winkel and Offenbach. The abandoned roads which which the mad Prince insisted to go over the very tops of the mountain ranges in a straight line (being the shortest route) will now be surveyed to take advantage of the generous passes and valleys of Oestrich-Winkel and Gladbaggenmund.

Bill Peosters

The cost of these works have caused much discussion at the Schlosse but it is agreed that the effort and cost will be amply rewarded. A meeting of interested parties will be held in the Burgers and Merchants Guild Hall next a week from today, to announce the projekt, riders have been sent and the printer William Peoster has been tasked with the making of the flyers and placing them.