Wiggins was deeply worried about his position. The Jaeger’s line was still holding, but he was deeply aware of how much they were outnumbered and vulnerable here. He had pulled two sections out of the line to from a small local reserve. He did not want to draw men from his second line, as they would be needed to cover the first line’s withdrawal. There was very heavy firing coming form 3rd Company’s position.
He called over Captain Tanner, 2d Company commander, over and held a quick meeting. "Captain I am taking the reserve and bringing them over to check the enemy attack on our right flank. Hold here. I will return in a few moments. If something happens to me fight the battle as we planned." He turned his horse and trotted off, waving for the two sections to follow him at the run.
When he arrived on the right flank things were already in a bad way. He could see the smoke from the enemy fire beyond 3rd Company’s position. 3rd Company had at least one of their platoons faced about and advancing at the force to their rear. Men were already running for the woods behind him, though most of the company was still holding off the attack to their front. Wiggins through the two sections into a counter attack against that enemy fire and sought out Capt Schlitz.
More men began backing away to the rear. He saw four Jaegers dragging a body in a blanket and rode over. It was Capt Schlitz. He looked dead or near dead. “Who is in command?” He shouted. One man pointed back over his shoulder towards the rest of the company, too tired to look up. Now things were crumbling fast and the Slobobians were swarming out f the woods. His whole left flank was being enveloped. Wiggins spotted an officer, sword in hand directing men to the rear. He rode over, oblivious of the buzzing of balls about him. It was one of the new Lieutenants; Wiggins could not recall his name.
“Lieutenant, you have got to maintain order as you fall back or else all is lost. “ Wiggins turned to one of the staff who had followed him. “Let Captain Tanner know that the right is falling back, tell him to commence his withdrawal to the second position at once.”
The young Lieutenant looked at Wiggins and implored. “Sir you must fall back at once or I fear you will be shot from your horse."
“Never mind about me, just extract your men back to the woods as planned. I have put two sections into the attack behind you to hold the way open. Move with all haste, but maintain order.”
GM Note: At this point the Blue player was given an opportunity to risk a run back to his main body or remain with 3rd Company. He chose to remain with 3rd Company.
Wiggins moved over to the extreme right to see how his counterattack progressed. The enemy had been pushed back, but much of 3rd Company was in full flight to the woods. He galloped over to where they were entering in order to rally and organize them before they were lost to the woods. Here he remained, cursing shouting, using the fault of his sword, until the men were back in some order. By the time the Lieutenant (He remembered the boy's name now, Moreau), had arrived his way back to the rest of the battalion was cut off. Nor could he bring his horse through the thick brush. Cursing his fortune he dismounted. His orderly took the reigns, and that was the last he saw of either his horse or the orderly.
Wiggins swore at himself for losing control of the man battle. From this point he would assume command of the remnants of 3 Company and conduct a fighting withdrawal back through the thick woods. The Slobobian were hot on their heels and seemed to be surging. Control for either side in these woods would not be easy. At least the enemy was pursuing the Third Company rather than turning and rolling up the rest of his line from the flank.
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