Axis & Allies - damowords

A Very English Affair
The Duke of Richmond lookʹd down on his ball
Enrichʹd with English suave & gaiety,
Ladies holding darling captains in thrall
Amidst a swirling, twirling company;
Fast throʹ the door
Burst the Prussian Muffling,
Who strugglʹd cross the floor huffing & a‐puffing.
Wellington took him to one side
& frownʹd as the Prussian spoke,
Then an aristocratic glide
Swept them throʹ the dancing folk,
Deepest anxieties did hide
Neath noble, smiling cloak...
ʺRichmond, do you have a map anywhereʺ
ʺYes I do...ʺ They stole up the ballroom stair.
ʺBy Gad! That man has humbuggʹd me!
What nerve to choose Charleroi ‐
Thus the army must speedily
Converge on Quatra Bras...
& if not there then Mont Saint‐Jean must dowse his martial star.ʺ
Brussels
22:00
A Tense Affair
Wellington rode along the paved chausee,
Crammʹd with each companies hot‐marching crunch
& wagons jostling with artillery,
His head smarted from last nights partyʹs punch;
Til Quatra Bras,
Where with a sweeping glance,
He wills his men to bar the brave Gallic advance.
On he rode to meet old Blucher
Below the Mill of Bussy,
There surveyʹd the panorama
About the spire of Ligny,
The horizon fillʹd with soldier,
The ancyent enemy
Manouvering guns into position,
ʺYour Highness, I sense thy disposition
Will receive a damned good licking,
Your forces too exposed...ʺ
With time ticking, horses kicking,
The conversation closed,
He rode to Quatra Bras to solve the problems that Ney posed.
Brye
16th June 1815
13:00