Second River Crossing (2)

There was little drama as the barges cast off and made steady progress across the river with none of the bumping that occurred during the last attempt. As the light began to increase the French barges were spotted in mid river by the Imperial battery that commenced firing on them. This had little effect until a lucky round hit one of the artillery barges causing consternation, the barge then lost position and slipped behind a downstream barge carrying infantry. The effect of this was to prevent any possibility of counter battery fire.

Even more unfortunate was that this infantry barge attracted all the fire from the Imperial battery. But despite losses they continued towards the battery continuing to draw fire but in doing so prevented their own guns in the other barge from engaging the redoubt.

The upstream trio of barges made good progress with the artillery barge grounding first and the light infantry disembarked from it to find enemy infantry appearing to their front.

The Pommaine militia had been on call and Colonel Faffen had managed to muster three companies and then led them to the defence of the battery. The presence of artillery on the landing barges had been a shock despite the warning he had received and it took all his efforts to steady his 2nd company that was the first to be hit by cannon fire.

Meanwhile the other barge had continued up to the front of the battery and the French infantry attempted to storm it, only to be swept away by a blizzard of canister that left barely a man standing.

Shortly after this, the other two barges grounded and unloaded their troops.