Hundred Years War - Campaign game 8

This is game 8 of my Hundred Years War campaign. In game 7 a rearguard action by part of his army just avoided a major loss and escaped north to join other elements of his English army. So Prince Riddick has been able to consolidate his all his forces.

The campaign dice were reasonably kind to the English and they were able to move all their army elements eastwards and attack Baron Chastain's much smaller blocking force. While victory would appear certain, a major victory is needed to remove this blocking force which will otherwise continue to hamper the retreat to the waiting English ships. (Major victories allow the victor to determine the losers path of retreat.)

Campaign map with the black arrow showing the English move

Baron Chastain places his crossbow units in the woods and his few remaining units in reserve behind the wood. A total of 5 units:

• 2 x crossbow
• 1 x foot sergeants
• 1 x foot men at arms
• 1 x mounted men at arms

The French units prepare to make the best of a bad situation

Prince Riddick's forces lined up either side of a wood. Foot on one side and mounted on the other. With all his commanders with him and the armies baggage, the English lined up with 9 units:

• 1 x mounted men at arms
• 3 x mounted sergeants
• 2 x foot men at arms
• 3 x archers

In their haste to move upon the small French force not all the units appeared in time. In other words - I made a mistake and the English should have had an additional 2 units because of the baggage.

A view of both sides

A close up of the English mounted units on their right flank

English left flank

The initiative was always going to be with the English due to their numbers. The mounted units quickly advanced, swinging around on the French flank with the intent of cutting off their retreat and securing a major victory. While on the other flank their archers engaged the French crossbow in missile fire.

A somewhat disorganised English mounted attack

A more coordinated advance by English foot units draws out some of the French reserves

The mounted English units whittled down the French reserve (not without loss to themselves) and got to grips with the mounted men at arms lead by Baron Chastain.

You may be wondering why the Baron did not simply leave the battlefield to deny a major victory. From a rule perspective a commander can only leave the field once more then 50 percent of their units have been eliminated.

While the English mounted attack was disorganised, it was swift, and had got to grips with the Baron before their foot units had caused too much damage to their opponents. The French still had 4 units (80%) of their force at this stage of the game.

It was not long before the outnumbered French were forced to retreat from the woods and into the open. Where they were mopped up by the roaming mounted English men at arms. Baron Chastain put up a valiant fight before his attached unit was eliminated. However, the brave Baron in the confusion of battle was saved by his loyal followers and escaped capture by the skin of his teeth.

The final moments before the reach defence started to break apart

The English mounted units gave no quarter to the retreating French

So a major victory to the English who will now be able to determine the French line of Retreat.