Part 3 - The Battle of Sheep Meade

Prince Henry’s plan was simple. Outnumbered by the enemy arrayed in front of him he would charge his knight at the nearest enemy to inflict as much damage as possible - that is what knights do! The crossbow fire of the infantry in the centre would keep the enemy off the knight’s flank.

Timur was more circumspect. The field of Sheep Meade was flat; perfect for his all cavalry army. His 6 units of light cavalry were not much use in a melee but were bow armed, fast and flexible. He would aim to filter around both flanks of the Marnians while keeping them under constant bow fire.

Terrain was randomly chosen from tables set up in Berthier. In this case the battlefield was deemed to have no terrain features.

On Prince Henry’s right flank the knights advanced at full speed eager to engage. In response the Saracen light cavalry facing them split into two groups. One group slowly retreated firing the occasional arrow as the knights advanced. The other group worked its way around the knights. On the other flank an ongoing arrow exchange between the Turcopoles and the light cavalry would eventually see the Turcopoles eliminated. The crossbowmen advanced in the centre but they moved so slowly. The Saracens heavy cavalry had no trouble remaining out range. The crossbowmen were out of the fight for the time being.

Finally when the Saracens who had run out of room to retreat the knights charged. The Saracens converged from everywhere and the knights fought a confused melee. A heavy and a light cavalry unit fell to the knights superior fighting ability but overwhelmed one of knight units was also destroyed.

Prince Henry however had burst though the Saracen cordon. The way to his front was free but his flanks and rear were being peppered with arrows. With an eye to his survival Prince Henry put spurs to his horse and he and a few retainers fled the field.

Timur reorganised and advanced on the crossbowmen – the only Marnian force left. Mindful that he had three-quarters of the Saracen army with him and that there would be more battles yet to fight, he pull up his cavalry just out of crossbow range. The crossbowmen had formed up in a semi-circle to enlarge their arc of fire but they were pinned in place by the cavalry. (The crossbowmen could move or fire but not both.) Light cavalry move around each flank and gradually whittled down the crossbowmen who could not reply.

The battle was a success for traditional steppe cavalry tactics. Timur was able to separate the knights from their infantry supports by feigned retreats and then overwhelm both the knights and later the infantry with shear numbers.

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