Two battles for Bellevue

 Having witnessed an Illyrian victory in the last post, attention now is turned to their Army (3) that has crossed the border into North East Messaline.

"The General sat, and the lines on the Map,
moved from side to side"

 On Campaign Turn 2, Illyrian Army 3 sought to occupy the village of Bellevue as a potential staging post on their way to Doclea. Messaline Army 2 marched to thwart this move. 

The First Battle for Bellevue

General Valentine led Illyrian Army 3, compring 4 Line Infantry units and 2 cavalry. He was opposed by a Messaline force of 3 Line Infantry, 1 Light Infantry and 2 cavalry under General Fabian.

Illyria quickly took control of the village however the Messaline force fought back with no lack of aggression.

Soon enough it was the defenders' turn to hold Bellevue. Illyrian cavalry finally sprung into action (as those of Messaline withdrew from their attack on the hill)...

but to no avail. 

Seeing casualties mounting, and knowing that the main objective of the invasion was further South, General Valentine resolved to withdraw and reinforce, leaving General Fabian in control of the village.

 On Campaign Turn 3, Illyrian Army 2, which had been transported by their fleet, landed to the West of the Scampa Coal Deposit, the invader's main objective.

The landing was unopposed. Messaline Army 1 was now marching North, as news filtered through, but had been late in starting.

 During Turn 3, General Valentine's subordinates had rounded up the dispersed, rearmed the walking wounded and brought up the reserve. Army 3 was ready for another go at Bellevue. Of course General Fabian had been doing the same...

The Second Battle of Bellevue

Messaline Infantry were well dug in amid the ruins of Bellevue, with cavalry support on their left and the reserve coming up to join them.

The Illyrian cavalry was joined by General Valentine himself in a bid to quickly remove their opponents and allow a flank attack.

In the meantime half the Line Infantry were engaged in a bloody assault on the village, whilst the remainder occupied the hill, looking to take advantage of the elevation.

Heavy casualties were witnessed on both sides, but the defenders held the line.

With both sides now exhausted and largely depleted, General Valentine was once more forced to retire. Neither Army would be a usable fighting force for some time. The North East sector had ground to a halt.

In terms of Campaign mechanics, Turn 4 saw both sides roll for their mobilization of a fourth Army - Messaline's will appear at Turn 6, Illyria's at Turn 7.

With troop movements in the South West bringing four armies into the Scampa locale, Turn 5 looks likely to involve two, possibly decisive, battles.

End of Turn 4 situation