Raid on the Hetzenberg Flotilla: Proxy Skirmish Part III

As the sun rises, we find the first Hetzenberg gunboat fully engulfed in flame...

...as the crew of the second gunboat attempts to make sail and escape... Lieutenant Weismuller orders his party of jagers to make a grapple attempt... which succeeds! ...the third gunboat under the direct command of Commander Horatio Hornegeblase manages to clear the wharf and slowly eases into the current...the Commander has mere seconds to think through his situation and make decisions..."how to save the second gunboat?"

Commander Hornegeblase's gunboat passes to the rear of the second gunboat still contested by the jagers who have boarded and are locked in melee with the few remaining sailors... orders the starboard 6lbr loaded with grapeshot....

the gunboat fires it's 6lb cannon at the dock hoping to keep the jagers from getting the remaining gunboat underway...Lieutenant Weismuller is grazed by grapeshot and knocked down, another jager is killed, but the remainder manage to board the ship and drag the stunned Weismuller aboard as Commander Hornegeblase's gunboat catches the current and drifts downstream...in these few moments a jager draws a bead on the officer standing high on the forecastle of the passing enemy gunboat, he fires and hits his target but the officer remains standing...

....meanwhile the marines rally and head down the road after the militia who are now pursuing the retreating jagers...

...a drammatic moment in the fight where Commander Hornegeblase's gunboat just clears the stern of the second gunboat as it is pushed away from the dock by the jagers now desperate to make their escape...Hornegeblase and Weismuller, now both lightly wounded, eye each other across their respective quarterdecks as the ships pass within yards...the order to "reload!" rings out...

meanwhile the remaining men of the first jager platoon, seeing several jagers surrendering inside the compound, see that the chance to reach the escape ship is gone and decide to make an escape overland...a course of action with slim chance of success...

theirs is indeed a forlorn hope....

...and out on the river Commander Hornegeblase's gunboat moving downstream fires another round of grape into the fleeing enemy gunboat...the jagers now are at a significant disadvantage since none are true sailors so their ability to maneuver is limited...though they manage to fire the gunboat's 6lber...they struggle to reload the unfamiliar weapon...

Hornegeblase's swings his gunboat round to bring the heavy bow gun to bear...

Hornegeblase calculates his moment...

...as "Old Gertie" is loaded...


to be continued...