3 June 1455: Mounting Pressure

The fight developed  atop a wheat covered field which rises up from the surrounding woods like a pregnant lady's belly. Along the ridge of this hill, 2d Company, with two platoons detached to  fall back position behind them, pours a deadly fire down upon the Slobobians spilling out of the trail 200 meters below. Despite their penchant for the bayonet, they are too embroiled in the firefight to organize into assault columns. Here the rapid fire of the needle gun trumps the rifled musket. The gun attached to 2d Company pours canister into the Slobobians and they retire 50 paces into the woods, to continue the firefight under better cover.

A runner  reports more troops coming from down the trail. For Major Wiggins, the trick here is timing the prologue of his guns. Some of his gunners have already been shot down. He gives the signal and the gun sighted atop the hill, with 2d Company, is directed to retire back up the trail to its fall back position where it can cover the retreat of his other gun astride the road. The crew pushes the gun back down under defilade and the caisson is brought forward to hitch it up safely behind the lee of the hill. Wiggins signals one of his messengers forward and scribbles a message for General Wassermann:


Gen Wasserman,
3pm...
The enemy is attempting to force the Atwater trail to get into the Brigade's rear. Am heavily engaged against an infantry force which I estimate at over one thousand men. We are currently holding along a hill  perhaps 1500 yards southwest of the Lourenco farmstead. Situation under control for now. WiIl keep you informed.


With Compliments...Major Wiggins

No sooner had the messenger galloped off when a runner from 3rd Company came up fatigued that he had to squat down and catch his breath. From the direction of third company on the right the popping of rifle fire could be heard. Smoke arose from the treeline in that direction and very rapidly it sounded as if his right flank was enveloped in a heavy firefight as well.

"Major Sir, a message from Captain Schlitz." The Corporal Saluted.
Wiggins returned it. "What is it?"
"Sir, our pickets detected movement in the woods to our front. An enemy force is approaching at least in company strength. They've driven our boys in from the woods." He turned his had to the sound of the fighting. "The Captain requests instructions."
"Dammit. Hold! Now go and see what's going on I need more information."

Wiggins was worrying now. How strong was this attack on the left? The enemy coming out of the trail had recoiled, at last for now, and a general firefight was underway along the line. However the supply of ammunition was not endless. The Slobobians could afford to slow down and draw fire, they had more men.
He turned to his staff, "Inform all companies to conserve their ammunition. Make every shot count."

Just then the crash of cannon fire erupted from down the Atwater trail. The enemy had put at least one of their guns into operation. Wiggins looked about. He thought of going over to see what was happening with the Third Company, but even here he could see some men hesitating, others too quick to help wounded comrades back of the line. He thought it best to walk the center and right of his line, showing an example and keeping the troops rallied.

A general engagement: in the back left the Grenadiers come into
 action against the Freedonian Left