Battle of Alcort Bridge
The Battle of Alcort Bridge was a pitched battle fought between the Grand Duchy of Canyndor and the Noble Republic of Aijia at the bridge crossing the Jaer River several miles east of the small Aijian town of Alcort. Grand Duke Arttu I led the Doric forces who approached the bridge from the north, upon arriving at the bridge he was met by the Army of King-Elect Andelwyn who had encamped on the opposite side of the river. The Grand Duke set out to quickly push past the bridge, hoping to keep up the momentum his army had made after their victory at the Battle of Ebben Field four days prior. In doing so he ordered for an advance upon the bridge by his Mixed Billmen units, these units were the typical infantry formations used by militaries in Doria which consisted of levy recruited Yarrow Billmen and supplemented by Jakaamen archers among them. These formations were designed primarily for defensive purposes, however well-trained soldiers would be just as capable of offensive tactics. The mixed billmen approached the bridge and were met upon the bridge by steel-plate clad dismounted knights who were tightly packed and armed with swords and kite shields. This proved to be a stalemate as the two forces battled upon the bridge, the billmen and Jaakamen having the tactical advantage as their bills gave them range against their opponents to strike. However, their opponents were well organised and heavily armoured, casualties amounting only from lucky strikes of the bills catching loose armour plates and an arrow of the explosive Jakaamen bows finding a gap in their armour. On occasion the armoured knights would manage to grapple the bills of the Yarrow Billmen, causing them to break formation and sow disarray in their ranks, allowing the knights to counter and break forward. This would be quickly countered by supporting units and arrow volleys of concentrated Jaakamen, cleaving apart the knights and leaving them vulnerable, causing them to retreat.
This would repeat, again and again, the knights proving to be too well organised to break and likewise the Mixed Billmen formations having the tactical advantage of versatility and effective ranged weapons which caused supporting crossbow units of the Aijian forces to become ineffective due to being unable to get within range of the bridge. This continued into the night and then the following morning when it began to rain. Angered at the lack of progress, the Grand Duke brought forward artillery units intended to be used at the later Siege of Asjaer, using mobile mangonels to bombard the armoured knight units. This proved to be of little consequence, unable to directly target the bridge without endangering their own units, the artillery did little but to disrupt the organisation of Aijian forces in reserve, useless unless the bridge could be taken. Surcount Markko of Siltala, who was commanding the cavalry units of the Doric forces, had been leading small skirmishing teams along the river probing for possible crossing points. Due to the rain, the river banks had been reduced to marsh which slowed the Surcounts cavalry unit, this led to an incident where the cavalry became bogged down within range of Aijian sharpshooters. Surcount Markko was shot by a bolt in the thigh, incapacitating the commander and required him to be evacuated from the field for immediate medical attention. By the end of the day, the Doric forces had lost nearly a fifth of their mixed billmen in an effort to take the bridge, likewise, Aijian forces had sustained casualties among their most elite units, particularly their cavalry who had become fodder to the siege artillery before withdrawing in the evening. This proved to be a critical mistake.
The following day, the elite armoured knights of the Aijian forces had been driven to exhaustion leading to those fighting on the bridge to rout. Following the enemy, the mixed billmen advance to the field on the other side of the bridge, they were met by more armoured units however they were easily picked away at upon the open field. The Aijians lack of cavalry allowed the Doric forces to gradually cross the bridge without much resistance. Once across, the Doric light cavalry could pick apart the enemy crossbowmen and allow the Doric infantry to advance with impunity. The battle proved to be costly for both sides however it would allow the Doric forces an open route to Asjaer where they intended to siege the Aijian capital.
The Conflict
Deployment
Included under Conflict
Conflict Type
Battle
Battlefield Type
Land
Start Date
16th Saati 7662
Ending Date
19th Saati 7662
Conflict Result
Narrow Victory for Doric Forces
Belligerents
Army of Grand Duke Arttu I
Led by
Strength
12,000 Infantry
3000 Cavalry
3000 Cavalry
9,000 Infantry
2,500 Cavalry
2,500 Cavalry
Casualties
2,000 Infantry
200 Cavalry
200 Cavalry
2,500 Infantry
500 Cavalry
500 Cavalry
Objectives
Cross at Alcort Bridge and proceed to Asjaer with intention to seige
Stall Dorian forces at Alcort Bridge to await reinforcements
Comments