December 13th, 2009, 10:33
Posts: 1,027
Threads: 14
Joined: Sep 2009
General Vercingetorix rides again.
Citizens of Utica awoke to find a Shady army entrenching just across the river, and reports of mounted units pillaging and burning in the surrounding countryside. At least one reinforcing Carthagian unit was caught on the roads and destroyed.
Outnumbered and in danger from the ill-understood cannon across the waters, a risky decision was made. Attack! A barrage of catapults from the castle walls focused the attention of the Shady forces, while combat units snuck out of the city in every direction. Militia units engaged flanking Shady mounted units, inflicting heavy losses with their new rifles.
Shady forces rushed to the battle lines to the south and east, to defend their siege emplacements, but were caught unaware
Heavy mounted Cavalry and Cuirassiers engaged from the west. Riding down unprepared siege units in passing, they attacked the combat units. General Vercingetorix was in the thick of battle, taking heavy casualties from a defending rifle unit, but withdrew in good order. Out of position, the Shady forces paid a heavy price.
Then in the confusion and wreckage, the remaining defensive forces in Utica sallied. Despite fording the river, musket-armed veterans decisively defeated everything they engaged, including a field hospital led by Michel de Rutyer. In the excitement of victory, even a group of youths, armed only with clubs, swam the river and blooded themselves finishing off a crippled Shady catapult unit.
With reports of a few fresh Shady units approaching, and Mali sails spotted from the harbor, combat operations were ceased. Only a few Shady units remain, all badly crippled.
![[Image: t168_Lysander_Death.jpg]](http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad8/dsplaisted/t168_Lysander_Death.jpg)
![[Image: t171_CombatResults.jpg]](http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad8/dsplaisted/t171_CombatResults.jpg)