The contemporary illustration accompanying this article represents a little known action prior to the more famous main battle. The attack on the Ulrican monastery of the 'Man as Wolf' by an Ulrican army rather serves to illustrate the tangled nature of the civil war. It also further draws into question the tactics of both participants during the civil war - though it offers insight into others, particularly the decision of the Sigmarite army to seek battle rather than await the onset of winter behind the walls of Wolfenburg.

The monastery is (was) located outside Wolfenburg with its own small outbuildings and ancillary peasant shacks. Whilst it was actually a mile or so from the city, it was regarded as an outer defence by both parties. The Ulrican besieging army was particularly concerned about leaving their flank open to a sally by these defenders and determined to make an example of them as a warning to the Sigmarites 'huddled in Wolfenburg'. Thus was the attack on the Ulrican monastery carried out by the nominally Ulrican army. Even more ironically, the Ostland defenders were local Ulrican volunteers and Kislevan soldiers serving as mercenaries in Ostland with their Tsar's approval; these are, of course, traditional allies of the Graf of Middenheim. In effect this battle over an Ulrican monastery was fought Ulrican v Ulrican, Middenheim v Middenheim ally and Imperialist v Kislevan.

The fight for the monastery was terrible, the defenders proclaiming themselves as holy warriors. Early attacks were bloodily repulsed. In an attempt to speed up the slow progress, artillery battered the monastery on three separate occasions, reaping great slaughter on the defenders. However, it was bloody melee that eventually won the day. The Ulrican commanders were appalled at the cost and what they were required to do to their fellow Imperialists and even the most vociferous began to wonder at the right of their cause, given that this was their own temple that they had destroyed. On the other hand, the people of Wolfenburg were horrified by the slaughter and terrified that a similar fate awaited them; they secretly opened negotiations with Ar Ulric. However, the Sigmarites also realised that their safety within the walls was tenuous at best, that provisioning was minimal in any event and that a bold strike whilst their troops were still appalled at what had happened to their allies might win the day. It was because of this now forgotten battle that the main battle was therefore set into motion.

In military terms, the attack on the monastery probably served little real purpose. The decision to defend the monastery might have been valid as a means of threatening upon two fronts, but to allow the 'Ulricans' the freedom to destroy it at leisure was senseless. At the same time, the bloody assault was costly and ultimately of little strategic gain.

Today, the monastery is little more than a ruin but a small shrine still remains dedicated and a small metal plinth, created (allegedly) from the broken swords and armour found at the site, records its valiant defence, but not the nature of those who attacked it.