Laughing Through Clenched Teeth

Some humorous, yet cringeworthy things going on in the news recently.  Here's a few of my observations.

Source

Sarge waxed political a couple weeks ago, which is not the norm for him.  I on the other hand I'm a little more animated and energized about the topic.  There's always plenty of material of course, since our politicians never seem to behave the way they promise when they run, or what we would expect and deserve as they serve us. They seem to often forget that last part, that they serve us, not themselves. I can't even say it's only the Democrats either, as there are plenty of rinos and cowardly republicans, that are either just as corrupt as those on the other side of the aisle, or refuse to do anything about those that do act inappropriately.  I'm a little encouraged by what the new speaker of the house has done, with a little bit of common sense when it comes to removing some members from their committee positions, since they were clearly acting inappropriately with regards to anti-Semitic statements, being compromised with foreign contacts, or just plain lying to impeach the President.  These are things that would get you or I fired, or at least lose our security clearance, if not be jailed for treason, but some pigs are more equal than others as George Orwell said.  For McCarthy to get his position, there were plenty of concessions that he had to give to the Freedom Caucus in exchange for their votes, although I don't think these removals were one of those.  However, I reserve judgment for how well the rest of the promises will be kept over the next year.

Freedom Caucus members also won a slew of other major concessions, including:

• A promise for guaranteed votes on pet issues, like a balanced budget amendment, and term limits, a Texas border plan, and an end to all remaining coronavirus mandates and funding.
• A new committee to investigate the alleged weaponization of the FBI against its political foes. The committee would be modeled on the Church Committee, which investigated US intelligence agencies in 1975. It would have a budget comparable to the recently disbanded Jan. 6 Committee.
• More single-subject bills to allow members to vote on specific, narrow issues instead of thousand-page pork barrel behemoths.
• A 72-hour window for members to read any new bill before it can be voted on.
• A promise to refuse any increase in the debt ceiling in the next federal budget agreement.

Source 

I've expressed my frustration about the security of our elections, government overreach with regards to covid, and what occurred on January 6th 2020.  Another one of those Freedom Caucus concessions is supposed to look into the lack of police response on January 6th.  We already know how doors were left unlocked, the FBI had evidence that this could happen, and how people were let inside (through doors held open by Capitol Police), almost as if that's what the left wanted.  It also seems that more and more people are realizing that the government wasn't all that truthful when it came to the safety and efficacy of COVID vaccines.  With Pfizer executives now admitting it was never going to stop transmission, and quite a few unexplained deaths and adverse reactions, like strokes and heart problems, it's clear that we were definitely lied to.

On that last point, it seems the narrative is unraveling a bit, especially with that latest video (now blocked by YouTube of course) showing how Pfizer is continuing with illegal "gain of function" research, now dubbed Directed Evolution, making the virus more deadly, and ultimately allowing them to sell more vaccines.  Was there some altruism there?  Sure, they claim they want to help people, but I think that's a far distant secondary goal after making huge profits. 

Pfizer’s combined sales from its Covid vaccine and antiviral treatment generated more revenue last year than it had in total sales in 2019  

         Source 

I realize this is not a popular belief, but I think that we were all duped. There's just too much strange coincidental evidence out there, not to mention conflicts of interest between the federal government and pharma, that could make me sound like a conspiracy theorist, but over the last decade, a lot of big power players in the world were talking about population control and using vaccines to do it.  I'm not saying that COVID is a hoax, and that it wasn't an illness that had real disastrous effects that killed people, but it now seems that our response was completely overblown, shutting down the world, keeping people from their faith, and forcing the vaccine on people who didn't need it, such as the young and healthy.  I just can't trust big pharma, especially when they can't prove to us that it came from animals and not a lab.  Also because the govt incentivized hospitals so generously to diagnose it.  We know there's a lot truth out there than we'll never have full access to because it would force the govt to show their cards and embarrass themselves (or show their corruption).   

We'll see if this new Congress has any teeth towards these COVID, election, or corruption issues, or if they will they be cowed into cowardice like we've seen so many times before.

Did you see the video about the young black man being beaten to death by five cops in Memphis?  It's tragic, no matter what the circumstances are surrounding the death, but despite the fact that this was not a white on black, or black on white death, CNN was quick to allow an opinion piece that said that the black cops were probably fueled by racism, caught up in the supposed systemic racism problem we have in this country.  I guess a death can't just be a death, a tragedy can't just be tragic.  Bad cops can't just be bad cops.  It must be spun into gaining political points and further dividing us by tagging it Racism!

I watch a lot of Dash-Cam videos on YouTube. Plenty of accidents occur where two lanes turn left and the inside car doesn't stay in its lane.  Or when one of two lanes in one direction is full of stopped traffic and a car is speeding up the clear lane. Inevitably, someone will try to jump out to get into the faster lane without signaling or looking, and a crash happens.   From the experience I've gained while watching those videos, I'm on defense- watching for the left turns, and making sure I'm not speeding next to a stopped lane.  From the Memphis video and so many others though, I ask- why do they run from the cops?  It's tragic what happened, but many of those deaths seem to have that in common.

Source

How about that Chinese balloon that was shot down? My sister in-law in Montana said they should have shot it down over her state, as there is plenty of land where that thing could have fallen.  Her sons with their 22's asked if they could try.  First kill for an F-22 Raptor apparently, so Biden will probably give the pilot the DFC.  Plenty of memes and tweets out there which are pretty creative and humorous.  Here's one I "lol'd" at.

 

Youtube

The 2024 run is starting to heat up.  I like Trump, voted for him twice, and he was what we needed at the time.  After 8 years of the previous Administration, with both the CINC and SECSTATE running roughshod over the rules, and with Congress forcing horrible bills down our throats through brute force politics*, we needed someone like Trump to come in and make them realize who they work for.  He was a hammer which was the right tool for the job then.  Now, we need something a little more subtle, a little more of a statesman, yet with all the same ideals as Trump.  I think the guy down in Florida is what we need.  It's definitely going to be interesting.  Unfortunately, if there is any dirt on him, I'd expect Trump may drag it out during the primaries, which isn't good for anyone.  Nicki Haley is apparently going to run as well, but with his blessing, Trump clearly isn't concerned about her the way he is with DeSantis.

If you haven't seen "The Menu" on HBO Max, it's worth a watch.  Definitely a different kind of film, not really horror, not typical drama.  Part of the reason I enjoyed it is because of what inspired the writer.  Back in 2017 or so I was fortunate to go on a NATO exchange to Norway.  The Norwegians took our group out to dinner at a phenomenal restaurant on a small island.  The restaurant is the sole occupant of the island which can only be accessed via boat.  The movie has the same premise- the writer went there too.  However, my dinner ended better than the ending the movie characters got.  That's foreshadowing, not a critique!  This photo was taken during the ride back.

All Quiet on the Western Front on Netflix was very good too.  I've also recently discovered "Derek" there too.  It's a Ricky Gervais show, filmed in mocumentary style, like "The Office" which was hilarious.  It's not as full of laughs, but still very touching, set in an old folks home, it's a compassionate look at those on the margins of society.  Apparently Ricky Gervais has many family members who work in that industry.  

Ok, enough of that.  Enjoy your Tuesday.  I expect we'll get to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.  

*Brute Force Politics:  My own term, but it's passing bills with no discussion, compromise, or bipartisanship, purely through a vicious majority.  And it requires every single vote you have, against every single vote in opposition, with no allowance for views that don't follow the party line.  Not good for politics, not good for America.

Disaster averted. (with some help)

 Twas a VERY interesting week here at Casa Juvat starting this time a week ago Sunday.  

...There I was*...Happily writing my weekly Usual Monday Morning Missive (UMMM???),  when the weather app on my Cell Phone beeps.  (Ain't progress great?  Your phone beeps to tell you the Weather Changed.  Who knew? What did we do before Cells? Oh, yeah, looked out the window.)

Stay on Target, juvat!

On Target, Aye, Sarge!

The notification was a warning on a large winter storm with very cold temperatures and precipitation. Now, when Sarge gets notified of cold and precipitation, his thoughts go to visions of snow and such.  Here in lovely Texas,  those conditions are spelled I. C. E.  As in No Bueno.  Texans being Texans and therefore, extraordinarily self-confident, have this belief that THEY can drive on ice.

Nothing can be further from the truth.  My firm belief is no human at any time in the history of humanity has successfully driven on ice.  And, no, managing to stay on the road and not hitting anybody or anything does not constitute "Successfully".  Lucky is a more accurate descriptor.

So...having been informed of the weather forecast and remembering recent similar accurate forecasts and their consequences.  I started my mental campaign planning operation for dealing with the situation.  

Possible ramifications. 

1) Extreme cold.  

    Pro's a) Gas Heat b) Full Propane Tank.  c) Gas Stove   (ed. And the Libs want to ban gas utilities? YGBSM!)

    Con's a) Gas Fireplace hasn't started since we ran out of propane a couple of weeks ago. 

    Probable impact. Cool inside, but manageable.

2) Loss of Electrical Power Grid

    Pro's -None to Speak of

    Cons a) Electrical equipment not available b) Miss B's medical support equipment has limited battery power and must be recharged often

    Probable impact.  Since that medical equipment involves supporting her breathing, loss of electricity could be life threatening.

At that point, about 5 seconds into this planning process, my stress level went way up.  Lots of options  went through my head at that point.  Almost all were followed with "Yeah, But..." Do we evacuate and head some place more likely to have a more resilient grid.  If so, what do we do with the animals?  3 dogs, 3 Cats, 2 Horses, plus my Sister's two dogs.  Somebody's got to stay behind.

In short, no good answers.  

Yeah, I'm pretty tense.  Hit the rack that evening with no good plan in mind.  Storm isn't supposed to hit until around lunch on Monday.  So...We'll hang out and get a better feel for the weather.

I'm going to switch gears at this point to add some background info for this tale.  I've been reading and commenting on this blog since soon after Sarge started it in 2012.  One of the reason's for signing on was the quality of Sarge's posts (gratuitously looking for a raise there, yes I am!) and, more importantly, the quality of the commenters and their comments.

A lot of blogs had turned me off with the verbal fist fights that seemed to break out in the comments.  That is extremely rare here.  Virtually all comments are polite, even in disagreement, and are more like sitting in a bar watching a game on the tube and teasing each other.  

To be frank, it very much reminded me of the camaraderie I experienced in my Fighter Squadrons.  One might get into an argument and vociferously defend one's  position, but the following morning, if the klaxon sounded and the Master Arm Safety Wire ¹ was broken, well...You know that person would be there along side.  

That's the feeling I've gotten with the commenters on this blog, and the primary reason I enjoy it.  Keep up the good work.

Now, back to the story.

So, I schedule my posts to go live at 0600 (6 AM, Beans) Texas Time.  I generally arise around that time, just to make sure I haven't screwed up the numerous settings that have to be precisely set so my drivel is visible to the waiting world.  If I haven't, there's usually a comment or two waiting.  Which is nice. 

The weather at this point is about 30^o and fog with a bit of drizzle.  I walk out to feed the horses, the ground is wet, but not frozen.  So far, so good.

That's about an inch of ice on the upper part of the lamp stand.  That would soon be all round.

At 7:10, I notice a comment from a semi-regular commenter using the callsign "Cletus Valvecore" asking me to check my email.

That email read:

    juvat, we have a standby whole house generator and heat provided by heat pump or (at a computer's choice) lpg. LPG also powers the generator.
    Although I did work a summer job (being a grunt, aka helper) working for the electrical power company at home, all I know about electricity is that it will shock the crap out you, with a fault can set stuff on fire and finally, it can kill you. I know what sine waves are, but how you test for 'em to determine if the power is from the generator is satisfactory for running Pulse/Ox sensor is way beyond my "plug it in knowledge".
    Long story short, if push comes to shove and you can make it to our house, you all are welcome to come roost till things get back to normal.
    We have 4 bedrooms (total) and three baths. One of the spare baths is for one bedroom and the third is shared by two bedrooms plus the master bath. You all are definitely welcome to stay with us till weather moderates and electrical support gets back to normal.

 Turns out he lives 8.75 miles (as the crow flies, about 11 miles by road) from me.  Holy Cow!  Blood Pressure went down significantly at that point.  We had an option that would make workable all the considerations for the circumstances.  

Thank you, Cletus.  Even though we didn't need to take advantage of your extremely kind offer, it was very thoughtful of you and your wife.

In addition to Cletus' offer, there was a lot of excellent info I did not know passed on from other commenters .  Suz's comment about informing the Electric Co-Op about having a "Medically Fragile" person on the property was especially informative. While not needed this time, that notification has been accomplished just in case of a future problem.  (This status can influence the order in which power is restored.)  Also a lot of good cautions and suggestions about back up electricity.  

Cletus also gave us some good info on who to call locally to get a whole house generator system installed.  Got to do a little (ok...not so little) money moving, but that's going to happen shortly.

As to the results of the storm, we never lost power.  The house, while cool, was tolerable with a sweater on. 

Cooper decided her blanket was essential to drinking water.

 The Dogs, as usual were smarter than I.

Annie and Oscar after I told them the fireplace wouldn't light

As was Mrs. J.

Mrs J, with two of three cats, and 3 dogs after I told her the fire place wouldn't light

Going outside to feed the horses was an adventure.  In addition to the sweater, a sweat shirt went on, then a wind proof lined jacket with hood, gloves and a scarf were worn for the 50 yard walk to the barn to feed the horses.  Stepping carefully as the ground was now ice covered and the wind was 20 knots plus.  The horses were smarter than I.  They never left the barn.  

It was interesting, I guess I had just tuned out traffic noise before.  We live 1.5 miles from a very well used road.  Except for the wind, now there was no noise whatsoever.  Very quiet.  Spooky quiet.

But, by Thursday, I was going stir crazy, and we were getting low on some food essentials for the horses (Hay primarily, managed to forget that in my campaign planning), so ventured out to see what was what.

The roads were ok, not great.  The Hay Guy was hungry for sales and glad to see me. Additionally, the addition of about 1000 lbs of hay did wonders for my traction on the return.

Friday's high was 65.  Such is Winter in Texas. As an aside, San Antonio, our bug-out option, had lost power in several large sections for 2+days.

Even the Deer knew Hunting Season is over and it was safe to graze

I meant what I said about the commenters on this blog.  You folks are great!  Thanks.

Oh, and the fire place not lighting problem? The guy arrived Saturday (temp 72^o), walked over to the fireplace, flipped the switch and voila' guess what.  I had tried that exact procedure, several times during the adventure...Nada.  I think he did it with his left hand and that made the difference.  Who knows?

Peace out, y'all!

Addendum: Just in case you need a chuckle.  Doctor Grumpy hit one out of the park today.

¹ Switching the Master Arm Switch on would enable launching all weapons. Therefore, it was safety wired in the off position to prevent any accidental firings. In short, Breaking the Safety Wire is the last thing that happens before employing weapons in anger.

*SJC

Rules, Laws, Regulations ...

Page one of the officially engrossed copy of the Constitution signed by delegates.
A print run of 500 copies of the final version preceded this copy. (Source)

If you live by yourself, out at the back of beyond, you don't really need any laws or rules governing your conduct. Other than the laws of nature that is ...

• Don't leave food out which attracts wild life, especially the sort which would just as soon eat you and the food you left out.
• Dress for the conditions in your area.
• Don't leave fires unattended.
• Don't go out in weather that can kill you, unless you're prepared for it.

Yes, there are others, lots of them. But I have to assume that if you're reading this, then you don't live out at the back of beyond. You'd be too busy to waste time on the Internet.

People of common sense and good will need very few rules to keep them from each other's throats. Because in many cases, that's what all the rules are for - guy cuts you off in traffic, though you might want to, you ain't gonna kill him. If the cops are around, they'll explain the rules to him. But if he had any common sense, and wasn't a jerk, he wouldn't have cut you off anyway.

Most people don't need a lot of rules, but those whose task it is to represent us (which is how we citizens see it, not sure how the subjects view it) seem to think every problem can be solved by making more rules, more laws.

Yes, because that works so well ...

Theft is against the law, yet people still rob ...

Murder is against the law, yet people still murder ...

Making more laws doesn't solve anything, enforcing the ones that are on the books just might.

Some years back (twenty to be exact) there was a big fire in a local nightclub¹, lots of people died. The laws which were on the books might have prevented that, common sense would definitely have prevented that.

Turns out that a lot of rules and laws were broken, but those whose job it was to make sure the rules were followed (stupid people need to constantly be reminded of what the rules are) didn't do so. So what did the politicians do?

Made more rules.

"No smoking within 50 feet of an entryway into a building ..."

Yes, precisely the sort of thing which would stop people from installing highly flammable sound proofing inside a club, then setting off pyrotechnics inside that club. What could possibly go wrong?

Ask the families of the hundred who died.

Common sense, not doing stupid things, sad to say, but most people can't handle that. Ever go shopping?

(Source)

If you can't put your shopping cart away, what other common courtesies do you ignore?

• Treat a stop sign like a yield sign?
• Don't stop for pedestrians in a cross walk?
• Weave in and out of traffic like some maniacal clown?
• Speed up when the light turns yellow?
• Don't dim your high beams for oncoming traffic?
• Don't use your turn signals?

Yup, those are all rules, many of which people ignore or, to be charitable, are ignorant off. Breaking them doesn't make you an axe murderer, but it just might make you an asshole.

Be considerate of others, hell, it hardly takes any effort at all.

Rant complete.

¹ The Station nightclub fire in February of 2003.

For Valour

'L Battery Royal Horse Artillery in action at Nery', 1 September 1914
(Source)

The Battle of Nery was an engagement fought by mounted elements of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) during the Retreat from Mons. Surprised by a German cavalry division, 1st Cavalry Brigade and 'L Battery', Royal Horse Artillery, fought off the enemy until relieved by British infantry reinforcements. The latter battery was all but destroyed apart from one gun which was kept in action by Captain Edward Bradbury, Sergeant David Nelson and Battery Sergeant-Major George Dorrell. All three were awarded the Victoria Cross for their brave stand, Bradbury's being posthumous. (Ibid)

By 1914 the major powers in Europe still went to war in much the same way that their ancestors did, on foot and on horseback. While the railroads were used to move masses of men from one part of the Continent to another, going into battle didn't look that different for the men. Their grandfathers would have recognized the formations.

But the weapons the men carried were far deadlier. In the early days of the war things were still mobile, battles were fought more or less in the open. Occasionally arms which were already obsolescent, in fact obsolete in most cases, still met on the field of battle.

One such encounter is described above.

Three men stayed at their gun until relieved by friendly infantry. Two men survived the action, only one man survived the war.

All three won the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest award for "valour in the presence of the enemy."

(Source)

By 30 August 1914, the German drive towards Paris had pushed the British and French southwards across the River Aisne. On 1 September at Néry, on the southern edge of the Forest of Compiegne, ‘L’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, which had already distinguished itself at Mons, performed another notable brief holding action. Early that morning the German 4th Cavalry Division caught up with the British 1st Cavalry Brigade. ‘L’ Battery, which was bivouacked in an orchard, came under fire from German guns at a range of less than a thousand yards. Men and horses were blown to pieces. Calling for volunteers, Captain E K Bradbury succeeded in turning three guns on the enemy to return fire. Two were soon hit. Bradbury acted as layer for the remaining gun with Sergeant D Nelson as range setter. Nelson was soon wounded but refused to seek medical attention. When they were joined by Sergeant Major G T Dorrell, Bradbury set off to run the twenty yards to the ammunition wagon, when a shell blew off his leg. Despite this, he continued to direct fire until he was hit again. 1st Battalion The Middlesex Regiment and The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) relieved the British force and eventually captured twelve German guns. The British then withdrew with the surviving gunners and cavalrymen, just as the German infantry appeared.

 

Captain Edward Kinder Bradbury VC

16 Aug 1881 - 01 Sep 1914

Citation

"For gallantry and ability in organising the defence of “L” Battery against heavy odds at Nery on 1st September."

Supplement to The London Gazette of 24 November 1914. 25 November 1914, Numb. 28985, p. 9958

Battery Sergeant Major George Thomas Dorrell VC

07 Jul 1880 - 07 Jan 1971

Citation

"For continuing to serve a gun until all the ammunition was expended after all officers were killed or wounded, in spite of a concentrated fire from guns and machine guns at a range of 600 yards, at Nery, on 1st September."

Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 13 November 1914. 16 November 1914, Numb. 28976, p. 9374. Repeated in The London Gazette of 17 November 1914, Numb. 28977, p. 9403

Sergeant David Nelson VC

03 Apr 1886 - 08 Apr 1918

Citation

"Helping to bring the guns into action under heavy fire at Nery on 1st September, and while severely wounded remaining with them until all the ammunition was expended – although he had been ordered to retire to cover."

Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 13 November 1914. 16 November 1914, Numb. 28976, p. 9374. Repeated in The London Gazette of 17 November 1914, Numb. 28977, p. 9403

Excellent accounts of the action at Néry can be read here and here, I highly recommend you read them. Men such as there should never be forgotten.

"Stranger, go tell the Spartans that here we are buried, obedient to their orders."

Counter-Attack

Un officier allemand mort prés de son cheval expirant (fragment du Panorama de la bataille de Champigny) de Édouard Detaille, 1882¹
(PD)

Oberst Klaus von Herzfeld turned to the man standing beside him, "Hauptmann Sauer, take your men and push up this road here," he said, gesturing at his map.

Sauer saw where the colonel was pointing, then checked his own map, "This road, Herr Oberst?" he asked as he pointed at his map.

"Yes, push your company forward with all speed, the French are attempting to break out of Paris and they've surprised and cut the Württembergers to shreds, there's a hole in the line a good kilometer wide. Move man, quickly, I'll try and get you some cavalry support, but get your boys moving!"

Sauer turned his horse and headed towards his company, some two hundred meters away.

As he approached he saw his officers and sergeants getting the men to their feet. 

"Men of Saxony!" Sauer bellowed as he stood in his stirrups.

"Our enemy, the French, are coming down this road. We have them on their heels, their so-called Second Empire has fallen to pieces, their so-called Emperor is in exile with the English. This is their last gasp, we must hold this line, we must then drive them back!"

"Once we have defeated these remnants, we can return home, back to our families. Rise up sons of Saxony!!"

As Sauer sat back down in the saddle, the men gave him a single cheer, then quickly formed ranks. Within minutes the skirmishers were out with the support platoons following, bayonets at the ready.

Advancing with his men, Sauer at first stayed to the rear, wanting to make sure the men kept their alignment, for many this was their first battle. Wary, he watched to the front and to the flanks.

As they went forward, straddling the road, Sauer noticed off to his left what appeared to be a party of civilians, along with a wagon. He thought that odd, then he noticed the dead strewn across the field and back into the underbrush, stretching back into the trees.

(Source)

Before he could order the advance to stop, the commander of his lead platoon was yelling, "Here they come, prepare to fire!!"

Startled he looked to his front again, sure enough a large group of French troops came rushing around the corner of a small knoll, just below the field with the civilians and the dead soldiers. For a moment he was at a loss for what to do. His senior lieutenant didn't  hesitate.

"Fire!!"

As a volley rang out, many of the running French soldiers dropped, many more began to form up behind the men in front. Their ranks were swelling even as Sauer watched.

The French were beginning to return fire, his men were starting to fall. Sauer rode forward, "Hold steady lads! Hold steady!"

At that very moment, a battery of Krupp C64 cannon, over a thousand meters away, began firing at the advancing French. He saw the enemy troops begin to waver as the Krupp guns found the range.

Drawing his sword, Sauer stood in his stirrups and shouted out, "Mit dem Bajonett, Angriff!!²"

Spurring his mount Sauer pointed his sword at the enemy and rode ahead of his men. He heard a loud shout as his men followed him.

Sauer saw a flash, then his horse stumbled and went down.

Jumping from the saddle he managed to land beside his horse as the animal collapsed in the road, screaming in pain. Sauer thought his heart would break.

As he stood there, he felt a punch, which startled him, then a French soldier who had been concealed beside the road ran forward, bayonet pointing at Sauer's chest.

Sauer tried to raise his sword, but his strength was draining away, he had no idea that he had been shot and that his wound was mortal. He fell in such a way that he appeared to be resting his head on his beloved horse.

Before he lost consciousness, the Frenchman who had killed him stumbled and fell across his legs. The man's eyes looked at him, he seemed so young. It was almost as if he was asking Sauer, "Why?"

Sauer had no answer.

Feldwebel Ernst Mannerheim turned his head to look at his lieutenant, "Hauptmann Sauer is dead, Herr Leutnant, it's your company now."

Leutnant Klaus von Bülow shook his head, he had liked Sauer. But the French were falling back, it seemed that the French counter-attack had been stymied.

"Feldwebel, get the men formed up, we need to pursue."

"What about Hauptmann Sauer's horse?" He gestured at the animal, still alive but obviously in pain. Mannerheim was a bit startled when the lieutenant handed his pistol over.

Though he had been in the army for a number of years, Mannerheim was still a farm boy at heart. He knew what had to be done, but the lieutenant should have done it himself.

Von Bülow was studying his map when the shot rang out. "Very well," he said as Mannerheim returned his pistol. "form them up Feldwebel, we need to move."

As Sauer's old company headed down the road, a number of men turned to look at the sad scene in the middle of the dirt road, somewhere near the Marne. Many had tears streaming down their faces, they would not soon forget the death of their captain.

Editor's Note: This is the third small story I've written, one of these days it might become part of a larger story. These are what I like to think of as sketches, something an artist (though I claim no such distinction) might do before beginning a larger work. Or not, as the case may be, many sketches never advance beyond that. But I will note, the use of the name "Sauer" is deliberate. We've already met one of his great-grandchildren, a fellow by the name of Manfred.

¹ A dead German officer near his dying horse (fragment from the Panorama of the Battle of Champigny) by Édouard Detaille, 1882 (The Battle of Champigny is a panorama painted by Alphonse de Neuville and Édouard Detaille between 1880 and 1882. Oil on canvas 120 meters long and 15 high, it represents a phase of the Battle of Champigny (November 29–December 3, 1870) — the German attack of December 2 and the recapture by the French of lost positions — also called the Battle of Villiers, during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Alphonse de Neuville (1835-1885) and Édouard Detaille (1848-1912) , both veterans of this war, Detaille having also participated in the battle of Champigny, painted the main themes while small hands will create the background (countryside, ground, sky...). After its exhibition in rotundas in Paris and Vienna, the canvas was cut in 1892 by Detaille into 65 fragments to be sold at auction. Several of these fragments can be found in various French museums, including a dozen at the Musée de l'Armée in Paris. Source)

² With the bayonet, attack!!

Cold Day in Hell

The Picket
Jean Baptiste Edouard Detaille
(PD)

The captain rode down the line until he got to the 2nd Squadron, spotting the commander of the unit he rode closer.

"Phillipe, I need you to send a patrol down this track, the map seems to show some sort of village there."

"Do you trust that map, Major?" Lieutenant Phillipe Valleur grinned as he asked the question.

"About as much as I'd trust myself alone with the Colonel's wife." Major Adolphe Reille said this quietly so that only the Lieutenant would hear, but he could see from the smirk on the trumpeter's face that he had failed.

It seemed that everyone in the regiment knew about the Colonel's wife, except perhaps the Colonel himself. She was ten years younger than her husband and very loose with her favors.

"You can wipe that smirk off your face, Petit." Valleur said with a grin. As he turned back he saw that the Major was rather red in the face.

"This wind is brutal, isn't it Sir?"

Major Reille blinked rapidly, nodded, then said, "Ahem ... Well yes, yes it is. Now about the patrol, send no more than ten men. Scout this area, I feel it in my bones, the Russians are not that far off."

Valleur snapped a salute and said, "It will be done."

As Reille turned his mount to go, Valleur was already directing Maréchal des logis Chef¹ Charlet to put the patrol together. Though tempted to go with them, he knew that his job was leading the squadron. He had only been commissioned a year ago, this was his first campaign in command. He'd been scolded more than once to leave sergeant things to the sergeants. As the brigade commander had said to him not that long ago, "Damn it, Valleur, you should know better! You used to be a sergeant, would you want your lieutenant running everything?"

Thinking back to his old lieutenant, killed in action at Jena, he had had to agree with the brigade commander, his lieutenant had been a promising young officer. If he had left things to his sergeants, he would probably still be alive.

Cavalier² François Heinze shivered and pulled the collar of his pelisse tighter, it was cold and getting colder as he rode down the dirt track. He was the lead man in the patrol and had to admit, it was more than just the cold that was making him shiver.

He checked the lock on his carbine, fortunately it wasn't snowing so he felt confident that the powder in the pan of his weapon was still dry. He pulled the cock back all the way and brought his weapon up. The first hut appeared deserted, but there were a lot of tracks in the old snow.

He reined in his mount, he swore he had seen something move in the next hut. He dropped the reins and held his carbine with both hands, aimed at the suspicious hut.

Within seconds the rest of the patrol had fanned out, weapons at the ready. He heard a horse directly behind him, followed by the voice of Charlet.

"What is it lad? See something?"

"Oui, movement behind that window in the second hut."

Charlet looked, he could see what appeared to be a curtain behind the broken glass of a window. He thought it odd that a peasant's hut would have glass windows.

Charlet whistled. He saw Brigadier Dupont dismount with his section and move forward towards the collection of huts, from what he could tell there were three, a fourth lay in ruins, burned down from the look of it, not that long ago.

"Cover that window, boy. If you see something, shoot it."

Heinze swallowed, his throat was very dry, then nodded as he aimed more carefully at the window.

Just then a party of horsemen, four men, burst from behind the far hut. Another man ran from the hut Heinze was watching. Without thinking, he shot the man.

One of the horsemen, cossacks Heinze thought, turned in the saddle and fired a round at the dismounted hussars, one of whom crumpled immediately, the others all returned fire.

Four dead cossacks and three dead horses later and the patrol had a prisoner.

Valleur looked up as the patrol returned, he could see a man tied to his saddle, a hussar, one of his men. Another, tightly bound and mounted on a cossack pony, rode behind Charlet.

"Trouble?" Valleur asked as he lit his pipe.

Charlet shook his head angrily, "Just a little, Sir. We surprised a party of cossacks ransacking what was apparently a hunting camp. They tried to run, we killed four, they killed one."

Valleur sighed and asked, "Who is it?"

"Lahaye, one of the cossacks got off a lucky shot. We tried to patch him up but he died. There was nothing we could do."

"Merde," Valleur shook his head and spat on the ground. "Does the prisoner speak French?"

"If he does, he's not letting on. Is Lieutenant Niedźwiecki around, I'll take the prisoner to him."

Valleur pointed towards a small copse of trees, "The Colonel has his staff there, Niedźwiecki should be with them."

Charlet nodded, as he went to take the prisoner to the Polish officer attached to the regiment, Valleur's voice stopped him.

"Luck, Pierre. Lahaye's ran out, perhaps tomorrow it may be me, or may be you, whose luck fails him. Every man's time comes, whether he's ready or not. All a man can do is his duty."

Charlet nodded, "Yes, I guess you're right. My instincts tell me we're in for a battle. Those cossacks we encountered couldn't have been far from their main army."

"You're instincts are good. Brigade is drawing up orders. From what I hear, the army is approaching someplace called Eylau, or some bizarre Prussian name like that. We're to join the screen in front of VII Corps. Old Augereau is itching for a fight and it appears as if the Russians are going to give him one."

"Turn over the prisoner, then get your men ready. I assume we'll be moving before first light."

Charlet looked up at the sky, gray and foreboding, snow was beginning to fall.

"You know, Sir, I don't believe Hell is hot. No, not at all, it must be cold, as cold as this place."

Valleur stomped his feet, "I won't argue that with you, Pierre."

¹ Cavalry equivalent of a sergeant major.

² Cavalry equivalent of a private.

I Can See Just Fine ...

Really dude, you didn't notice this?
(Source)

"I can see just fine!"
(Source)

On my way to work Tuesday A.M. it was precipitating, a mix of rain and snow, so it was kinda dark on the highways and byways of Little Rhody. I noticed a couple of things which have long bugged me ...

... people driving in periods of low visibility with their headlights off and people with only a single operating headlight, seriously this bugs the you-know-what out of me.

I drove in Germany for over seven years, there was a law there, country-wide, which mandated having one's headlights on in periods of low visibility (i.e. night, dawn, dusk, and when it's stormy - rain/snow).

As I recall, it was not possible to purchase, or operate, a motor vehicle in Scandinavia which did not have automatic headlights - engine on, the headlights came on. No option to turn those off.

In Europe, well western Europe, they were pretty adamant about having all the equipment on the vehicle in an operable condition, and using it when necessary.

"Turn signals?" asked the Rhode Islander. "What the heck are those?"

"Seriously, why signal for a turn, can't you see me turning?"

"Uh no, your headlights weren't on." I point out.

"Well, I can see just fine."

Argh.

Editor's Note: I thank John Blackshoe for giving me the day off yesterday. He finds lots of interesting stuff. What with the juvat Monday, that was two days in a row I didn't have to post. Yay me!