1st August, 1703 – Knocking on the enemy's gates
<The Swedish Invasion Fleet>
On the misty dawn of 1st August, 1703, the 19th Regiment of Line Infantry, along with the rest of the 1st Swedish Army – a total force of more than 23,000 troops landed on the shore of Denmark, just a few days march from the Danish capital of Copenhagen.
Along with the excitement of landing on enemy shores, I was glad to finally be on firm land. The short trip across the Oresund was a fun experience to be sure – the sheer spectacle of more than a hundred ships, ranging in size from trading ships to small fishing boats, crossing the calm waters with the green lands of Denmark seen only in glimpses through the mist and escorted by the battle scarred but proud Swedish warships – RSN Charlotte & Tapperheten. But the truth is – I got seasick. I have never before been to sea and now that I am, I find that my stomach is not strong enough to bear even the short trip across. The constant rocking of the fishing trawler we were travelling in had sent me rushing to the side of the ship more than once. But thankfully I survived and am now back on good old terra firma!
<General Gustav leading the 1st Army towards Copenhagen>
Any General worth his salt knows the danger of having a small beachhead in enemy territory and so it was that after disembarking and ensuring that all the cannons and ammunition were unloaded safely, we were assembled in formation and immediately set out on a forced march towards Copenhagen.
The Danish have decided to concentrate all their forces in the defence of their capital, as was expected. Copenhagen is well protected by powerful walls and has a large army of more than 21,000 Danish troops protecting it. Out of these, more than two-thirds were professional soldiers – mostly Line Infantry & Militia regiments and they would surely fight all the more fiercely to protect their ancient capital.
To our great relief, our good General Gustav has decided to avoid a costly frontal assault on the hardened defence of the city. Instead, Swedish forces have completely surrounded the city and have set up camps for a long siege. With the city garrison sure to run out of food and other essential supplies eventually, time is on our side. However, General Gustav knows that as supplies diminish, the Danish are sure to get desperate and may well attempt to launch a full scale surprise attack on our entrenched forces. As a result, he has set up a stringent system of watches and patrols to keep an eye out for any Danish tricks.
As I sit outside my camp at night and watch torches on the ramparts (signifying enemy troops patrolling), it all seems surreal. Just a little less than 3 years ago, I used to spend most of my time serving customers at the Inn and stealing off to read about Sweden’s great battles of the past century. And now here I stand on Danish shores, part of an event that would surely form an important part of history.
For this is indeed a turbulent time for our great nation. To the south, across the Baltic, the small but powerful Dutchy of Cousland has declared war on us. At first it was a stand-off at the borders, but just a few months back a powerful Cousland army, composed of a large number of cavalry and militia attacked the frontier Swedish held city of Riga.
The strong walls of the city, combined with effective artillery and massed musket volleys routed the enemy after a fierce fight, especially after a brave charge by the 9th Militia Regiment and 8th Regiment of Line Infantry against the remaining Cousland cavalry. Also notable was the brave actions of the 5th Regiment of Horse, which along with the 17th Pikemen Regiment managed to rout atleast 2 enemy cavalry regiments and even claimed the lives of the enemy General and his bodyguards. This was however at a heavy cost. At the end of the battle more than 7,500 enemy troops lay dead, while 3,650 Swedish lives were lost – mostly cavalry and Pikemen.
The city’s garrison is being reinforced but we don’t have enough men, because of the threat of the Russians to the east. Poland thankfully seems to be distracted with its wars against the Prussians and Austrians and have not sent any serious forces our way.
There is more troubling news from the eastern borders. It seems an unknown assassin managed to breach Swedish security and assassinated the famous General Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt as he was surveying his troops on the outskirts of St. Petersburg. This is a serious blow to Sweden, as he was undoubtedly the most capable and brilliant commander of our nation and his loss will surely be felt.
In his stead, a young but capable General by the name of Halsten Mjalby has reportedly taken charge of the Swedish 2nd Army. The assassin was never caught, but the Russians are suspected because shortly after a small Russian army was spotted near the border. No one knows whether the Russians plan to attack either Riga or St. Petersburg, or whether they march to aid the Polish against the Prussians.
With the Crimean Khanate recently falling to Russian troops, it is sure that Russia now has more armies to send our way. As a result, the Lord Minister of Defense has stationed most of the troops of the 2nd Army (cavalry and Line Infantry) at a town midway between Riga & St. Petersburg, which would therefore be able to rush to the defence of either of these two major cities. Meanwhile a small garrison guards St. Petersburg against any surprise attack.
And so the war continues...
<The Swedish Invasion Fleet>
On the misty dawn of 1st August, 1703, the 19th Regiment of Line Infantry, along with the rest of the 1st Swedish Army – a total force of more than 23,000 troops landed on the shore of Denmark, just a few days march from the Danish capital of Copenhagen.
Along with the excitement of landing on enemy shores, I was glad to finally be on firm land. The short trip across the Oresund was a fun experience to be sure – the sheer spectacle of more than a hundred ships, ranging in size from trading ships to small fishing boats, crossing the calm waters with the green lands of Denmark seen only in glimpses through the mist and escorted by the battle scarred but proud Swedish warships – RSN Charlotte & Tapperheten. But the truth is – I got seasick. I have never before been to sea and now that I am, I find that my stomach is not strong enough to bear even the short trip across. The constant rocking of the fishing trawler we were travelling in had sent me rushing to the side of the ship more than once. But thankfully I survived and am now back on good old terra firma!
<General Gustav leading the 1st Army towards Copenhagen>
Any General worth his salt knows the danger of having a small beachhead in enemy territory and so it was that after disembarking and ensuring that all the cannons and ammunition were unloaded safely, we were assembled in formation and immediately set out on a forced march towards Copenhagen.
The Danish have decided to concentrate all their forces in the defence of their capital, as was expected. Copenhagen is well protected by powerful walls and has a large army of more than 21,000 Danish troops protecting it. Out of these, more than two-thirds were professional soldiers – mostly Line Infantry & Militia regiments and they would surely fight all the more fiercely to protect their ancient capital.
To our great relief, our good General Gustav has decided to avoid a costly frontal assault on the hardened defence of the city. Instead, Swedish forces have completely surrounded the city and have set up camps for a long siege. With the city garrison sure to run out of food and other essential supplies eventually, time is on our side. However, General Gustav knows that as supplies diminish, the Danish are sure to get desperate and may well attempt to launch a full scale surprise attack on our entrenched forces. As a result, he has set up a stringent system of watches and patrols to keep an eye out for any Danish tricks.
As I sit outside my camp at night and watch torches on the ramparts (signifying enemy troops patrolling), it all seems surreal. Just a little less than 3 years ago, I used to spend most of my time serving customers at the Inn and stealing off to read about Sweden’s great battles of the past century. And now here I stand on Danish shores, part of an event that would surely form an important part of history.
For this is indeed a turbulent time for our great nation. To the south, across the Baltic, the small but powerful Dutchy of Cousland has declared war on us. At first it was a stand-off at the borders, but just a few months back a powerful Cousland army, composed of a large number of cavalry and militia attacked the frontier Swedish held city of Riga.
The strong walls of the city, combined with effective artillery and massed musket volleys routed the enemy after a fierce fight, especially after a brave charge by the 9th Militia Regiment and 8th Regiment of Line Infantry against the remaining Cousland cavalry. Also notable was the brave actions of the 5th Regiment of Horse, which along with the 17th Pikemen Regiment managed to rout atleast 2 enemy cavalry regiments and even claimed the lives of the enemy General and his bodyguards. This was however at a heavy cost. At the end of the battle more than 7,500 enemy troops lay dead, while 3,650 Swedish lives were lost – mostly cavalry and Pikemen.
The city’s garrison is being reinforced but we don’t have enough men, because of the threat of the Russians to the east. Poland thankfully seems to be distracted with its wars against the Prussians and Austrians and have not sent any serious forces our way.
There is more troubling news from the eastern borders. It seems an unknown assassin managed to breach Swedish security and assassinated the famous General Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt as he was surveying his troops on the outskirts of St. Petersburg. This is a serious blow to Sweden, as he was undoubtedly the most capable and brilliant commander of our nation and his loss will surely be felt.
In his stead, a young but capable General by the name of Halsten Mjalby has reportedly taken charge of the Swedish 2nd Army. The assassin was never caught, but the Russians are suspected because shortly after a small Russian army was spotted near the border. No one knows whether the Russians plan to attack either Riga or St. Petersburg, or whether they march to aid the Polish against the Prussians.
With the Crimean Khanate recently falling to Russian troops, it is sure that Russia now has more armies to send our way. As a result, the Lord Minister of Defense has stationed most of the troops of the 2nd Army (cavalry and Line Infantry) at a town midway between Riga & St. Petersburg, which would therefore be able to rush to the defence of either of these two major cities. Meanwhile a small garrison guards St. Petersburg against any surprise attack.
And so the war continues...
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