Les Petites Bêtes Soyeuses
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Les Petites Bêtes Soyeuses
Being a correspondence game of En Garde! run by Pevans since April 1986 and now published as part of To Win Just Once.
If you'd like to play, you'll need to subscribe to TWJO (follow the link for details). You will need a copy of the rules to En Garde! - or at least access to a copy. The additional rules for LPBS are available as a PDF document. (You will need Adobe Reader to view this: it is available free from Adobe.)
Orders for September 1677 to LPBS, 180 Aylsham Drive, Uxbridge UB10 8UF or the LPBS orders e-mail address by 29th May 2026.
Game Report for August 1677
Sections: Duels, Trials, Appointments and Regiments, What happened in Paris, What happened at the front.
As the summer campaign rolls on, potential recruits arrive in Paris. Henri de Boudeille signs up with Princess Louisa's Light Dragoons, courtesy of CO Dee Jean Aise. Henri buys a Captaincy, courtesy of a substantial gift from Louis Renault and accepts appointment as Louis's Aide. This means he joins Second Division HQ in the field, rather than his regiment.
Come Asiouar calls in a favour to make sure Lance A Little makes it into the Picardy Musketeers. Sebastiane Blanc-Chevaux decides it's time to re-join the military and also enlists with the Picardies. The two both buy the rank of Major, Lance borrowing heavily to enable this, while Sebastiane has cash on hand. Each with a string of horses, they trot off to join their new regiment.
Jean Seneaux is taken on for the Dragoon Guards by its commander, "Tiny" Thierry Toothpick. Having taken out a fresh loan, Thierry stumps up for Jean's signing fees. These amount to buying him a horse as Jean is just a trooper. However, Jean is noticeably better off thanks to cash he's borrowed and what he receives from Terence Cuckpowder. Looks like the two enemies are now competing in sponsoring arrivals in Paris. Hitting the road for the Low Countries, Jean ponders the truth of the stories he's heard about his commanding officer.
Henri De Flection and Hugo Furst finally get their acts together with Hugo appointing Henri as Brigade Major of Second Foot Brigade.
And Thibault Chanson de Skye makes Con Stantinople Adjutant of the Frontier Division, depriving the Horse Guards Brigade of its Brigade Major. Con shifts his bivouac from First to Second Army to link up with his new unit.
It's not Holy, it's not Roman and it's not an Empire
First Army carries on its operations against the Imperial forces, pushing them further away from the Rhine, their main supply route. There's a Mention in Despatches for General Greg de Bécqueur, who adds a couple of hundred crowns to his personal wealth.
First Division (comprising the Guards and Dragoons) finds things a bit tricky this month. Princess Louisa's Light Dragoons are caught in the crossfire of a couple of Brandenburg regiments and retire with casualties. Alerted by the gunfire, Grand Duke Max's Dragoons swing round to hit one of these regiments in the rear. Lieutenant-Colonel Elroi le Flingue is in command and is rewarded with a MiD. Collecting the muskets thrown away by the fleeing enemy nets him over 500 crowns when re-sold ("one careless owner"). There's a just a Mention for Major Steve De Sade ("Should've collected the ammunition pouches"). Brigadier Charles PiedLuminaire is brevetted to Lieutenant-General and takes 10% of Elroi's proceeds.
In the Guards Brigade, the King's Musketeers suffer without cavalry support. CO Claude de Nord is Mentioned ("Shouldn't have left the cavalry behind") and collects a couple of hundred crowns' worth of loot. Major Hugo Serre is also in the Despatches, briefly ("Major Hugo Serre").
The Cardinal's Guard doesn't need cavalry support, superior shooting seeing off Imperial infantry. That's just over 200 crowns for commander Frank X Change, who's overshadowed by his number two, Lt-Col Come Asiouar. A Mention in Despatches ("overshadowing his CO really") brings him the title of Viscount and Come finds time to amass over five hundred crowns' worth of booty.
It's an indifferent month for the Royal Foot Guards and their habitual looting activities are curtailed. Boss man Camille de Polignac manages a bit of looting, but his takings are well under 500 crowns. Major Neville Moore plunders slightly less and Captain Felipe Savant gets nothing.
The bulk of the loot is swept up by Guards Brigadier Terence Cuckpowder - over a thousand crowns' worth - and he is Mentioned in Despatches ("That's a win!"). Another MiD comes to Brigade Major Hector William Boone ("Excellent paperwork").
Zeold von Tu leads First Division and is promoted to (brevet) General. A few crowns slip into his possession as well. A few more go to Divisional Adjutant Martin de Garnache.
Horse Guards Brigadier Balzac Slapdash is in acting command of the Cavalry Division where his leadership brings him promotion to (brevet) Lt-General, making him the actual Division commander. For as long as it takes to march back to Paris. There's a MiD for him as well ("Fine leadership"), along with a few hundred crowns' worth of loot. His Adjutant, Botte Le Chimiste collects a little more booty and a Mention ("Fine administration") brings him a Knighthood.
The acting Horse Guards Brigadier is Justin Thyme of the Queen's Own Carabiniers, who also finds his new command made permanent at the end of the month. In the meantime he's earned a Mention in Despatches ("Stepped up well") and close to five hundred crowns' worth of loot. In his absence, Major Ian Dediette leads the QOCs and is also Mentioned ("Him too").
The Dragoon Guards are the Horse Guards' success story. Colonel "Tiny" Thierry Toothpick survives a close encounter with an enemy sabre to earn a Mention in Dispatches ("It went right over his head") and promotion to (brevet) Brigadier-General. Almost five hundred crowns come his way too. There's a few hundred crowns for Major Maurice Danseur. However, new trooper Jean Seneaux can't control his horse and finds himself swept into the middle of the melee where half a dozen swords end his life. RIP.
In Heavy Brigade, the Crown Prince's Cuirassiers have a difficult time as the enemy seems to know where they're going and blocks their advance, but Lt-Col Arent Hayes and Captain Vaux de Fon survive handily. No such problem for Archduke Leo's men and commander Hugh Jeneaux secures a Mention and over five hundred crowns' worth of loot. Brigadier François de Blanchefort cashes in, plundering the best part of a thousand crowns, while the Brigade's success brings a Knighthood.
Peace in the Polders?
The signing of a peace treaty between France and the Dutch Republic brings some peace for Third Army defending France's new northern border. However, this doesn't apply to the Spanish who press their attack on Mons. The town's defenders, Second Foot Brigade, are overwhelmed, but there are still Mentions in Despatches for Brigadier Hugo Furst ("That did not go well" "And he's off to lead the Division!"). Yes, the erstwhile Brigadier takes command of Third Division - until September, anyway. His new Brigade Major, Henri De Flection is not so lucky. Hurled from the town wall as he carries orders to the regiments, he does not survive impact with the cobbles below. RIP.
Colonel Charles Etfeevor of the 13th Fusiliers is brevetted to Bdr-General and takes command of the Brigade just in time to organise the retreat. There's nothing for 53rd Fusilier Major Beau Taux.
A few miles down the road, First Foot Brigade is only slightly happier. The Picardy Musketeers take a mauling from the Spanish assault. In the aftermath Major Sebastiane Blanc-Chevaux takes command of the regiment after being promoted to Lt-Colonel. He is Mentioned in Despatches ("He got promoted"). As the junior Major, new boy Lance A Lot misses out on promotion, but still gets Mentioned ("He didn't"). This is all academic to Subaltern Papier Marchee after a fusillade sweeps him and his men off the ramparts. RIP.
The Royal Marines just about hold firm, but there's no reward for Lt-Col Marcel Hatch Dupree. Conversely, First Foot Brigadier Percival Puffington gains a MiD ("Fighting a losing battle"), a Barony and several hundred crowns' worth of loot. Brigade Major Chemin de Fer just gets booty: over two hundred crowns' worth.
Second Division has an easier time of it once the Dutch troops get the news. Brigadier-General Sir Armand Alsace, leading a battalion of the Royal North Highlanders, is Mentioned in Despatches for reining in his men as hostilities cease. It's all nicely peaceful for Lt-Col Beaumes de Venise in the 27th Musketeers.
Division commander Louis Renault refuses further promotion as he's busy looting. The sudden peacefulness means he can only grab a couple of hundred crowns' worth. Adjutant Dee Jean Aise, glad to be away from the PLLD, is brevetted to Bdr-Gen and Mentioned ("Good work standing everybody down"), which means a pat on the back. He somehow pockets over three
hundred crowns. Renault's new Aide, Henri de Boudeille, is another refugee from the PLLD and is promoted to Major. He's acquired more than
twice the funds he needs to buy two extra horses for his new rank.
General Jacques Hatt's personal bravery is almost fatal as, checking on the situation at Mons, he has to beat off a Spanish pikeman. Luckily the fellow doesn't seem to have sharpened his weapon and Hatt gallops nonchalantly away. This brings him two Mentions in Despatches ("What was he doing there?" "Such nonchalance!") and a few hundred crowns from admirers.
This leaves Second Army to account for and these troops get some hassle from Spanish forces, but nothing they can't handle. There's a Mention ("Our new Field Marshal") for General Ben e'Volence, commanding, who drafts nearly a thousand crowns into his coffers. Frontier Division commander Thibault Chanson de Skye is brevetted to General and appropriates a couple of hundred crowns for himself. Con Stantinople is Adjutant of the Division and his reward is a Mention, but there's nothing for Thibault's Aide, Maximilien de Piquemaire.
Tumbleweed
Yes, it's really quiet in Paris as the August sunshine beats down. Some desultory sword practice is all that happens.
Who was where: in the clubs |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Fleur de Lys | RS + Justine | |||
| Shows who was in or outside a club: . = Toady to character above; (G) = Gambled; CP = Toadying to Crown Prince; (id) = expected host; bold = first visit to new club; underline = first time mistress seen in public with this beau. | ||||
Who was where: courting, visiting and going out |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Justine | Out | |||
| Shows who was with a mistress or on a doorstep: Out = Mistress with current lover; I = Indiscreet (+ mistress name); ex-id = Pinched from former lover; st.down = stood down to rivals. | ||||
Who was where: round and about |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Practising | JdG - Rapier | JdG - Rapier | JdG - Rapier | JdG - Rapier |
| RS - Sabre | RS - Sabre | RS - Sabre | ||
| Shows everybody else: FC = Female Companionship; Mug n = Mugged & amount lost; (G) = Gambled; Weapon = Weapon practised with. For those doing nothing: -club = not a member of a club; -Cash = insufficient funds; -SL = insufficient Social Level; ???? = unknown host. | ||||