Second Fight: Jamesel Marsh

Thanks to the heroic sacrifice of fifteen Spanish guerillas, British Detachment Lion arrived in Hopeton before the French cavalry.  This despite being slowed by the pace of infantry.  Even better, the sound of the guns guided Colonel Carter, the British commander on the scene, to the French.  Unable to spot the enemy due to the blocking buildings of the town, he nevertheless managed to get north of Hopeton and nearly interrupt the French Detachment Bleu as they were recovering from the brief fight with the locals.  

It helped that the British commander of Detachment Lion, Colonel Carter, was very familiar with the territory.  In game terms, he has a special ability called Lay of the Land.  Upon arrival in Hopeton, he discovered a strange thing - the signs pointing the way to Beccaville had been subtly altered.  A less experience commander might have turned east instead of west and completely missed the threat of the French cavalry.  What doubts Colonel Carter felt were dashed by the sound of the guns, and he wasted no time in engaging the French.

As part of his Lay of the Land ability, Colonel Carter also had the option to move one terrain piece on the table, and he opted to move the swamps to a better defensive position.  Placing his infantry behind the soft and boggy ground forces the French Hussars to swing wide on their journey to ride down the infantry.  Add to that a pair of bad dice rolls on the charge, and the French found themselves exposed to considerable gunfire. 

Two volleys exacted a heavy toll, and even the advantages of more attacks on the charge and a first-strike capability couldn't turn the tide.  On the British left, their Dragoons waited, securing the exposed flank of Sergeant Eatonfield's infantry, hoping in vain to counter-charge the advancing enemy lancers.

Wiped out to a man, this left the French commander, Lt. Colonel Locataire, alone against a mob.  He managed to wheel his horse and disengage, but the dangers of the swamp made the difference once more as, among a few scattered shots sent to hurry him on his way, was the one ball that had his name on it.

On the British left flank, horse met horse in a huge and swirling melee that persisted through two full turns.  Blows were exchanged and the matter hung in doubt until Sergeant Eatonfield led his infantry into the swirling mass, and hoisted a bloody victory upon the tips of his men's bayonets.

Wiped out to a man, Detachment Bleu was no more.

Detachment Lion carried the day, but not without cost.  Their Dragoons  now must spend a full turn resting, binding the wounded, caring for the bodies of the dead.  In all, the bones of four infantry and two Dragoons would be consigned to the earth, and none of the remaining Dragoons escaped without harm.

What this means for the larger campaign remains uncertain at this point.  Colonel Carter has a difficult choice to make - movement to west attracts his attention.  Blue uniforms glimpsed beyond Drescher Stream pose a threat, but what forces remain to his north?  Does he ride to reinforce Detachment Wheel - tasked with securing Orange Chicken Bridge - or does his continue with his orders and reach Beccaville by nightfall?