The Battle of Three Fords

 

With their key river defense line broken the Union of Pacts Commonwealth had begun pulling back the rest of their river covering forces and supplies to safer interior lines. The Wolfenstein Empire had sent out small probing forces to harass these operations. It was in the area of Glenview and Prospect Heights that these forces collided.

The main Commonwealth forces concentrated on a hill west of the Planes river and south of the main wooded area that guarded one of the fords and the main road leading west. A detachment of light infantry was positioned in the woods atop the high ground, while in the open fields beyond awaited the forces cavalry and their supply wagons. They needed to get the supply wagons off the west side of the main road and keep their force mostly intact.

The Empire had sent a flanking force into the main woods, consisting of a small detachment of light infantry, and supported by a large dragoon regiment. There advance guard was a line battalion and a cuirassier regiment coming in on the east side of the Planes River along the main road. This was followed by the main body of line infantry, their converged grenadier, and a battery of artillery.

The Empire started the battle by forcing the road ford with their cuirassier while their line infantry struggled to follow up as quickly as possible. The main Union forces quickly responded by rushing their infantry down from the hill to block the way across the ford. Accurate fire reduced the cuirassier who launched a desperate charge at poor odds. This was sent routing away with little results showing for their effort. It did buy time for their supporting infantry to cross the river. Meanwhile the main force struggled to get forward and bring the artillery in to action.

In the forest the Union light infantry held their superior position as the Empire forces moved forward. Their well timed fire forced the Empire back to regroup time and again, and eventually routed the Empires lights. With their cavalry in the lead the Union successfully crossed the central ford and was easily moving the wagons out of harms way.

Back at the main road the Empire with the aid of their artillery had finally forced a crossing of the Plains River ford, but this seemed too little, to late. The Union had successfully started to withdraw their light infantry from the woods, and their line infantry away from the growing Empire force on the main road. They had effectively established a second line of cavalry to cover the withdraw, when suddenly they changed their minds and instead launched a massive assault against the pursuing Empire troops. Outnumbered, out classed, and out maneuvered, this became an immediate disaster for the Union. In a moments time their brilliantly executed saving of their supplies and preservation of their force turn to the routing of their force and an unexpected defeat.