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Duke Friedrich allowed his Brigade to occupy the center of the valley. He allowed them to establish camp rearward or in the direction of where they just marched from. He would leave the regimental commanders to post a picket screen and guard rotation near the center of the field. They would serve as an early warning in case Marion’s imperial army arrived during the night or early morning. He also ordered jaegers to conduct squad sized patrols both left and right of the valley to conduct reconnaissance as well.

“Herr Oberst von Kerpin, since your regiment is on the left flank, use your jaegers to patrol the northern woods,” Duke Friedrich spoke to the 50-year-old colonel with a monocle in his left eye. Then he turned to the youngest colonel in his Brigade. “Herr Oberst Göttisheim, your regiment will be on the right. Send your jaegers into the southern forest. Rotate your line units on picket duty about one hour per kompanie. Herr Oberst von Schmidt, your regiment will have center of the line. Ensure your men get a good night’s rest, we expect to meet the enemy in the morning.” Duke Friedrich stood to leave then addressed the Grenadier Guards commander, “Viktor, you are in command of the Brigade in my absence. I will need Hauptmann Jodel to accompany me to the commander’s tent. I do enjoy his penmanship.” Friedrich smiled at the slightly taller man. “Before we left Vollen, Generalleutnant Schwerin told me the eyes of the world were upon us. We must not let them down. Hold up the honor of the Halldorian Empire.”

Friedrich left the tent, quickly joining up with Hauptmann Jodel. “Alfred, Wie gehtenSie, herr Haupmann?” The Duke asked the Captain how he was doing as he approached.

“Mir geht is gut, mein herr,” the Captain responded he was good to his commander as he saluted. The Brigade commander returned the salute and the two men marched to the commander’s tent. He wondered how is allied commanders would be while walking to the tent. He planned to post three line regiments abreast with Battalion frontage. The first and second battalions would stand one in front of the other with the jaeger battalions forming regimental reserves. He fully expected to use the Royal Grenadier Guards in reserve and would be posted near wherever the Horsemen from the Dusmane Khanate were posted. They would inevitably support the cavalry during their advance, when the time came. He mentally prepared himself for the deployment of the Gauldic Artillery battery. 

Friedrich and Alfred entered the commander’s tent and took a seat, waiting for their allies. Alfred offered his commander a bite of his schnapps. “Jawohl, mein Hauptmann. Vielen dank.”