Siege of Middleborough
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The Siege of Middleborough was the last engagement of the Tasmana Mountain Campaign and Tasmana War. It began on 5 Fructidor 70 (22 August 1874) when anti-government forces under Machiel Zonnenberg surrounded pro-government forces under Ernst Campbell in Middleborough and some surrounding towns and ended with the surrender of pro-government forces on 8 Pluviôse 71 (January 27 1875), though sporadic fighting continued into the next day. The siege was the longest engagement in the Tasmana War and deadliest engagement in Furbish history.
By summer 70 (1874) pro-government forces were pushed back to the Tasmana Mountans, which began the bloody Tasmana Mountain Campaign. By the end of summer, they were pushed back to only a handful of holdouts including Middleborough. After anti-government forces from the Third and Fourth Armies split the Middleborough holdout into three on 4 Fructidor (21 August), the Third Army surrounded Middleborugh and attacked in all directions early morning of 5 Fructidor (22 August) but were pushed back. Under direct command of Zonnenberg, they laid siege to Middleborough and began a trench warfare campaign. Campbell conscripted civilians from the cities into his army, including Daniel Forbes who was made a captain and sent to the front lines in Westborough on 9 Fructidor (26 August) after one day of training. He defected immediately, allowing anti-government forces to capture the city in a second hastily planned assault the next day, though anti-government forces were held back everywhere else. The day of the assault became the single deadliest day in Furbish history.
The third assault was launched on 9 Vendémiaire 71 (30 September 1874) when the First Army arrived to reinforce the Third. Anti-government forces captured parts of Eastborough and other towns but failed to capture many of their targets and once again faced heavy casualties. On 29 Vendémiaire (20 October) when forces recovered, the fourth assault was launched, which captured most of Eastborough but with heavier casualties. The fifth assault was launched on 25 Brumaire (15 November), before the winter set in, but was pushed back. Several skirmishes and breakout attempts were fought between each assault, without much success from either side. On 6 Pluviôse 71 (25 January 1875) the sixth assault began, which broke through defenses in Middleborough. Heavy fighting continued for the next two days until Campbell was killed and remaining pro-government commanders agreed to an unconditional surrender. Sporadic fighting continued until the 9th (28th). As Middleborough contained the last holdout of pro-government forces, its surrender marked the end of the Tasmana War.
The Siege Middleborough was the longest engagement in the Tasmana War and known for its heavy destruction and loss of life. The cities of Eastborough and Middleborough were destroyed almost completely, being more damaged than Harrisbarig or Noorderstein, and never regained their prominence for decades. Westborough, which surrendered early on, was spared much of the damage. More soldiers died from disease and hypothermia than from enemy fire. Many civilians were also killed, but the number is not known. Campbell is seen as mainly responsible for the siege's destruction due to his unwillingness to surrender when the odds were against him. Zonnenberg also remains controversial for his role, being nicknamed the "Butcher of Tasmana". For his role, Forbes as seen as a hero, especially in Westborough where he prevented its destruction and loss of life. The siege also saw the use of trench warfare and modern weapons, foreshadowing their use in the First Great War.
Background
After several successful offensives throughout winter and spring 70 (1874), anti-government forces pushed pro-government forces into the Tasmana Mountains. The Tasmana Mountain Campaign, beginning in Prairial (June), left pro-government forces to only a handful of holdouts by the end of the summer, but anti-government forces saw heavy casualties. One of these pockets was centered around the cities of Middleborough and Aberystwyth. It had the largest concentration of forces, around 120,000 soldiers, and had the headquarters of four major formations: the Fifth Army and 5th Furbish brigade in Middleborough, the Fourth Army in Wrexham, and the First Army in Aberystwyth. All three cities are on easily defensible and strategically important locations, with Middleborough being the most important, lying on the Aa River and Middleborough Pass.
The Aberystwyth–Middleborough offensive began on 25 Thermidor (12 August) under direct command of Machiel Zonnenberg. Stefaan Hofting's Third Army attacked from the north and west, while Boniface Lemaître's Fourth Army attacked through the Middleborough Pass, and from the south and east. Mountain passes were heavily fortified, so Lemaître ordered an attack from the mountains, which successfully pushed back the pro-government forces guarding them. Facing attacks from the Third Army and the advancing Fourth Army, the pro-government commanders decided on the night of 2 Fructidor (19 August) to pull their forces back to more easily defensible positions around Aberystwyth, Middleborough and towns and cities surrounding them and between them.
Zonnenberg ordered the Third and Fourh Armies to pursue the retreating enemy as fast as they could. However, the Fourth Army was held off at Mount Bailey just long enough so that the majority of pro-government forces were able to retreat. Zonnenberg was made aware of the thin corridor between Aberystwyth and Middleborough, and on 4 Fructidor (21 August) ordered an attack on it, which cut pro-government forces into three sections centered in Aberystwyth, Wrexham, and Middleborough. Zonnenberg ordered the Third and Fourth Armies to exchange the XV and the XVI corps, then ordered the Fourth Army to attack the former two holdouts and the Third Army to attack Middleborough.
Opposing forces
Anti-government
General staff
Anti-government forces were under command of Machiel Zonnenberg. Karst-Jan Dankelman was his chief of staff. Zonnenberg moved his headquarters to Bangor shortly after the town was captured on 4 Fructidor (21 August).
Third Army
The Third Army initially surrounded pro-government forces in Middleborough. It was commanded by Stefaan Hofting, and his chief of staff was Stijn Maanenschijn. Its initial strength was nearly 70,000 men.
First Army
The 50,000 strong First Army was sent in XXX to reinforce the Third Army. It was commanded by Diederick Krul, and his chief of staff was Stijn Lingbeek.
Pro-government
Pro-government forces consisted of elements from the First, Fourth, and Fifth Armies, and 5th Furbish Brigade, totaling 50,000 soldiers. Ernst Campbell, the Commander of the Fifth Army, assumed command of the force as he was the most senior officer. After the first assault, Campbell reorganized the force into the short-lived Army of Middleborough. 10,000 civilians were also conscripted into the army over the course of the siege. Roe Andrews was Campbell's chief of staff.
First assault and beginning of siege
Hofting forced marched his army through the night of 4 Fructidor (21 August), hoping to take Middleborough by surprise. However, as scouts saw his army marching, pro-government forces were able to prepare. They spent all night making basic defenses around the city. Hofting realized this as his force approached the city, but decided to continue with an attack, hoping to break through defenses before they grow stronger. The original plan had Jérémie Jacquet's VII Corps attack from the west in Westborough and Milton, Michiel Lubking's VIII Corps attack from the north in Lisburn, Marco Navarro Gomis's IX Corps attack from the east in Eastborough, and Robbert-Jan Boonenkamp's XVI Corps attack through the Middleborough Pass. All attacks except for the XVI Corps were supported by detachments from the cavalry and artillery reserves. Campbell's largely intact Fifth Army guarded the north, west, and southwest of the pocket. Elements of the First and Fourth Armies guarded the east and southeast, and the 5th Furbish Brigade under Colonel Edgar Foster guarded the south, setting up a defensive line in Thetford.
Though the attacks were supposed to happen at the same time, Hofting decided to not wait. The VII and VIII Corps were in position at 1:50 (3:40). After a half hour-long (72 minutes) artillery barrage, they attacked while the IX and XVI Corps were still marching. The XVI Corps reached their positions shortly after 2:00 (5:00) and attacked immediately, before their artillery was able to arrive, while the IX Corps reached their positions at around the same time and attacked after a quarter-hour long (36 minute) artillery barrage.
Despite superior numbers and the artillery barrage, the assaults were not immediately successful as Hofting had expected. Due to darkness, the barrage was not accurate. Most earthworks and buildings were still left intact. The darkness and size of the front also made coordination between units difficult, and many soldiers were exhausted due to little rest after their forced march. The XVI Corps, who attacked from the mountains, faced these problems to a much greater extent than other forces. The defenders also had those problems, but to a lesser extent. By sunrise, the slow rate of advance of the VII, VIII, and IX Corps became clear. Anti-government forces had not broken through the main defensive line in most places, and where they did, they were only able to advance by only a few city blocks after brutal house to house fighting.
Westborough and Milton
Jacquet believed a direct attack on Westborough would not be successful, so he planned to send one of his divisions to climb the mountains and attack Westborough from the south. After drawing lots, XXX's 3rd division chosen. XXX's 1st division was to attack on the right flank in Westborough while XXX's 2nd division attacked on the left flank in Westborough and Milton.
Lisburn, Banbury, and Mundford
Middleborough Pass
The attack on the Middleborough Pass would be the most successful one. Boonenkamp knew the Middleborough Pass would be too well fortified to assault, even if he did have artillery support. He planned to send only a single division, Nathan Dumont's second, directly through the pass to make it appear as though it was the main target, while Huib Willering's first division and Ewoud Aalderink's third division march through the mountains under the cover of darkness, on the left and right flanks respectively. Pro-government forces did expect such a maneuver to be done so they guarded the mountains, but they did not expect it to be done with entire divisions. They also expected troops from the mountains to attack Middleborough directly, but Boonenkamp instead wanted his troops to attack the guards of the Middleborough Pass from the flanks.
The climb took over half hour, with both divisions not arriving to their positions until around 2:50 (6:00). The sun was beginning to rise at that point, and Foster was quick to realize his force was about to be surrounded, so he ordered a withdrawal from the pass. Dumont pursued the retreating soldiers until they reached Middleborough. They then began to attack the city, making better progress than anti-government forces on the other three fronts as a defensive line has not been set up. The first and third divisions, meanwhile, attacked the defensive lines in front of the mountains. Boonenkamp ordered a brigade from each to attack the defensive lines from their flanks through the gap created by the second division. This caused the gap to widen further as defenders retreated to avoid being outflanked.
A scout was quick to report to Campbell of the situation on the front line.
Eastborough and Moulton
Beginning of siege
Though Zonnenberg believed a breakthrough was still imminent and wanted to avoid a long siege, many officers on the front lines reported that they were running low on ammunition. Hofting realized a siege was inevitable and he began to make plans for one as the assault was still ongoing. At around 7:00 (17:00), after realizing how dire the situation on the front lines was, Zonnenberg ordered all soldiers to end the assault, hold their ground, and dig trenches or build other barriers. Zonnenberg also ordered that once trenches were completed, a steady artillery barrage would continue all day and night, as with every other city under siege by anti-government forces.
The specifics of this order were left to commanders closer to the front lines. Many interpreted it to mean dig trenches as fast as possible, and provide little if any covering fire as they were being dug. Other commanders were more cautious, having only a few soldiers digging while the rest continued to fight. Areas doing the former were often overwhelmed by counterattacks, so they had to stop digging and fight. Orders also differed at what to do with buildings. Some commanders incorporated them into their defenses while others had trenches dug in front of them. Contested buildings were mostly abandoned, decisions commanders would later come to regret. Seeing the chaos, Hofting issued orders on how trenches were to be dug, requiring at least one soldier to cover for every soldier who digs, and that buildings and other strategic locations must be held unless deemed too costly. By sunset most of Middleborough was surrounded by trenches.
Hearing the sudden lull in the fighting, Campbell realized he was about to fight a long siege. As the most senior officer in the pocket, he reorganized his force, made up of three Tasmanan militia armies and parts of a federal Furbish brigade, into the Army of Middleborough. From his Fifth Army, largely intact I and II corps remained as they were, while parts of the IV corps were consolidated into the III corps. The I corps from the Fourth Army became the IV corps, and the II corps and parts of the First Army were consolidated into the V corps. Soldiers from the 5th Furbish Brigade and conscripts were assigned to units where needed by regiment. Campbell gave the order that the Army of Middleborough would hold out at all costs. The reasoning for the order is not known, but Campbell likely believed time was on his side because of extensive supply and ammunition stores in Middleborough and a belief that Fluvan speaking civilians will rise up against occupying anti-government armies. Campbell also may have feared that he would not be treated well if captured by anti-government forces, or simple did not want to be known as a general who surrendered 50,000 soldiers.
Outside the steady artillery barrage from anti-government forces and occasional responses from pro-government forces, the front lines remained quiet for the next few days. Behind front lines, both sides made preparations for what they expected to be a long siege. Campbell had his forces set up a permanent line of defense, including their own network of trenches and fortified buildings. Lines of defense were also set up behind the main line. To increase his manpower, Campbell conscripted 10,000 civilians, a quarter of the civilian population, into 20 new regiments. He forbade men from leaving the city, though he encouraged all women, children, and the elderly to flee in order to not diminish food supplies. Seeing waves of people fleeing made Zonnenberg think Campbell planned to use human shields, but commanders from the front lines convinced him that that was not the case. Fleeing civilians were allowed to travel on empty freight trains. Hofting's forces expanded their trench network as well. They completely surrounded the pocket and added other facilities to the trenches, including observation and command posts. Engineers also extended the railroads and build temporary yards in several locations close to the front lines.
Second assault
Prelude
Daniel Forbes was a young factory manager and Westborough native before the siege began. He was conscripted on 8 Fructidor (25 August) and commissioned as a captain the next day after very little training. Seeing no point in fighting and wanting to spare the lives of his soldiers and Westborough from destruction, he secretly met with anti-government officers on the night of 9 Fructidor (26 August) to arrange a surrender. After first talking with a bewildered anti-government officer on the front line, Forbes was taken to that officer's commander, then higher up the chain of command until reaching Hofting and Zonnenberg. They accepted Forbes' surrender and agreed to treat his men well. Hofting and Zonnenberg then woke up Hofting's corps commanders to plan an assault. Though they had already begun to plan an assault on a later date, Hofting and Zonnenberg wanted to take the opportunity that they were given.
In the early morning of 10 Fructidor (27 August), artillery barrages by anti-government forces intensified. Shortly before the sun began to rise, Forbes returned to his trench then ordered his company. His lieutenants were reluctant at first, but the rest of the company, who were all conscripted that week, agreed to. They quietly exited the trench and were taken in by Floris-Jan Winkler, Hofting's provost marshal. Once Forbes' men were safely behind the front lines, the assaults began.
Fall of Westborough
Assault called off
As the day went on, it became clear to most that very little land was gained from the assault. Despite the casualty reports and many commanders, including Hofting, begging Zonnenberg to end the assault, Zonnenberg believed that a breakthrough was imminent.
Third assault
Fourth assault
Fall of Eastborough
Fifth assault
Final assault
Surrender
Aftermath
By the time fighting ended, no civilians remained in Eastborough and Middleborough.
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