Make For The Bridge! We'll hold them off!

Previously, the Duke of Belmont, recently appointed commander of English garrison at Cheverie, aware of the constant threat of being besieged by the French, had sent out a foraging party under Captain Smith. A short way from the town, there was a stone bridge over the Petite Riviere Bleu where the Duke had established a permanent post. Once the returning party crossed the bridge, they would be safe but the Duke dared not risk more of the garrison beyond the bridge. 

When word came that the convoy was in sight, the Duke himself rode down to the bridge. All seemed clear until the advanced guard neared the little village at the crossroad and the calm was split by the roar of arquebus fire and clouds of smoke.  An ambush!  

Soon French cavalry and mercenaries appeared, the convoy would have to fight their way through. 

(Note: click on the pictures for a larger view)

Quickly Captain Smith deployed his cavalry to screen the convoy and sent some of his infantry to see if they could clear the road through the village. It was clear that the French infantry was arriving more quickly and in greater numbers than his escort could handle.

French cavalry was already deploying in the open fields.  He needed a new plan NOW! The speed of the convoy would be halved if they tried to move cross country but it was probably a better chance then trying to fight through the town.

Charge followed charge and the number of Lancers was smaller after each charge but the English archers seemed to be holding their own against the French light cavalry. There was a tremendous thunder of arquebus fire in the town but the French were being slow to notice that the convoy was avoiding the town and making the slow trek across the fields. They might pull through yet.

Now the English artillery opened up! The French must have worked through the town and be attempting to cut off the convoy from the bridge. Most of the English archers had finally been scattered by the French cavalry and only a few Billmen remained to guard the flank and rear of the slow moving carts. Well, it was beyond Captain Smith now to do anything but hold back the French lancers and hope for the best.

When Captain Smith awoke, he felt a tremendous sense of failure, but then he raised himself and looked around. His lancers were scattered, wounded or dead but to his surprise his French opponents were also out of action and the remnants of the French  light cavalry had pulled back.  All that remained of the rearguard were a few archers taking cover in the small Hamlet they had passed through earlier. Startled by another volley of artillery fire, he twisted around and to his amazement and great joy saw the convoy beginning to cross the bridge with a body of Billmen formed behind them, daring the German mercenaries to do their worst.

Mission accomplished.