Somewhere in East Prussia...

My Dearest Grand Duke Orzepovski,

It is with the deepest regret that I must report on the recent engagement with the forces of Germania near Sonnenfeld.  In conjunction with the Tsar’s forces, may he reign a thousand years, we brought your enemies to battle in late morning and ended the engagement only after the utmost efforts.  Our forces were well matched, perhaps even precisely so and looking at the ground it appeared obvious that it would be an infantry fight initially.  Even though we possessed no advantage we judged it our duty to attack and drive the enemy away.

 

    

We opened the battle with our infantry advancing across a broad front with the Cossacks and Dragoons interspersed to provide more immediate aid.  The cuirassier brigade was held in deep reserve until needed.

Initially it seemed as though the old gods of war were favoring us and we drove our enemies back everywhere except on the for right where we were out-numbered.  The only set-back we experienced involved the new, experimental Jäger Corps.  To our dismay the only strongpoint on the field was occupied with ease by the Prussian Jägers.  Judging that it would be a constant drain of manpower, the Dainava Forest Jägers assaulted them.  Unfortunately in their eagerness to prove themselves they took unnecessary risks and losses, which caused them to rout away, never to be seen again.  This experiment requires more research.

Having cleared the dominant ridge of the enemy and taking a gun, our light and medium cavalry sought an opening to exploit.  On the right a skillful action was being fought by Brigadier Beck against superior number which also seemed as favored by the gods as we were on the main battlefield.

I can only write with admiration for the fighting power of the infantry on both sides.  The execution was great and the toll on manpower severe.  Many units were broken, only to rally and return to the fray.  By early afternoon neither side had any infantry reserves left, which is hardly surprising given the parity of the armies.  About this time we resorted to the bayonet with success and the Russian dragoons and your own Palanga Dragoons covered themselves with glory by charging and routing Prussian infantry units, admittedly already greatly weakened.  The Palanga Dragoons pursued their foes to extinction, unfortunately not returning to the fray.

 

 

Though our successes were numerous in the center, on the flanks things began to sour.  Brigadier Beck began to feel the combination of numbers and quality, plus he faced the arrival of Prussian dragoons.  On the left the Prussians were so desperate that they began to commit their cuirassiers.  The Russian grenadiers were taken partly unawares and were routed away.  Similarly a group of Bosniaks routed your loyal Cossacks.  Though musketry restored the balance, much damage was done and the field piece recaptured.  Similarly the Jonava Musketeers, involved in an infantry firefight, were surprised by Prussian dragoons emerging from the woods and could only get off a weak volley.  The result was predictable though the dragoons did not long enjoy their victory.

 

By late afternoon most of our infantry regiments were at or below 50% strength.  Although we continued to resist with great devotion it appeared we were not going to drive away our adversaries.  So the battle came to a close, though many such victories of a similar nature will ruin our enemy.

We will rally the survivors and reorganize the army for future operations.  I regret that it will be some time before we can resume offensive movements since only the cavalry is fit for action.  In the interim we will adopt a defensive posture.

Until then, I have to honor to remain Sire, your humble and obedient servant,

General Arkady Grigorovich Ouromov