"This Aint Siluruia" Day Eleven Shenanigans..

 Day Eleven:

So... We have Roman forces setting about bringing zones "back into the fold"; thus far by one skirmish and "intimidation by marching" in those zones where there was likely to be no (futile) resistance against overwhelming force.

We also have two Rebel field armies operating in the area; one under Caeog ravaging their neighbours and fellow tribesmen (aka collaborators) in the north west, the other under Twrch sitting in front of Fort Serovium wondering what to do next (the latter rebel force having today been joined by 100 disgruntled locals).

After a LOT of discussion (a post-breakfast session lasting about two hours) it is decided Twrch's men will, with their best part of thirteen hundred warriors, attack the fort and its garrison (III Bracarii  - mixed cohort - and 2 detached centuries from 8th Cohort II Augusta). Hmmm.... Possibly biting off more than they can chew..

[Re. the Serovium business; I settle the decision for the Silure commanders with a Council of War, using my usual method - covered elsewhere - with cards for the three leaders and one for the local folk. As Twrch - as per initial dice throws - has been an active, reasonably aggressive leader we can assume he will more likely be for affirmative action.] 

Caeog continues ravaging the pro-Roman zone in the north west.

At Fort Nidenum no action is taken (again) Caninia sending messengers to Albinus suggesting an action plan, while Burriana's men recover from their march and get their wounded attended to.

At Firmium Caesetius decides on something risky. Leaving VI Nervii in place as garrison, he pushes with the rest of the vexillation southwards, towards Fort Serovium - even though he has no knowledge of Twrch's presence there - subduing two zones. This seems to be in order to make a cross-country communications route between the two forts, and further slip the central revolted zones. He will likely arrive at Serovium mid afternoon.

Albinus contents himself with advancing into the Caenona Valley to subdue the Hillfort Cluster there. There are some 600 resident warriors, plus some stragglers from the Pen Foel Aman fight, here, gathered at the Meandy hillfort. Albinus has 3rd cohort II Augusta and 1st Morini (foot 500) with him, along with the three turmae from Difforum; but not enough to intimidate the number of warriors assembled into submission. The rest of the Difforum garrison (part of 4th Gallic mixed cohort infantry) remain at the fort. As he is quite prepared to press the issue it looks as if Albinus has a fight on his hands.

Meandy Hillfort

The Battles:

So... We have two potential fights pending: Albinus in the Caenona Valley at the Meandy hillfort and the Silure attack on Fort Serovium.

Regarding Serovium, because I can see this will require a lot of table setting up for what I feel is likely to be a short action and a forgone conclusion (amateur warriors assaulting a Roman fort, without surprise or any equipment - with another Roman force on the way). I will therefore fight this as a board game; so a quick bit of research, Google Earthing and Paint Shop Pro 4* work,and we have a game map of Fort Serovium (an approximation of Pen-Y-Darren/Pennydarren Roman Fort).

(*Using my old 1990s program - and the best graphics program for my purposes EVER, in my book.. And I've tried at least six other makes/versions since. Intuitive (I don't think I ever read the manual). No pointless bells and whistles, which I'm never going to use, to confuse etc. etc.  Software as it SHOULD be for the layperson IMAO.. :) ) 

Fort Serovium

The Battle of Serovium:

The Silures approach from the south west in three bodies. The largest, under Twrch assaults up the slopes, hoping to catch the garrison unprepared, but the defenders are warned and waiting and the attackers are held by the auxiliaries on the wall and one of the legionary scorpions. 

Most of the rest of the force, under Tewdrig, swings round to where the walls of the fort are NOT fronted by the slopes.

Cyfwlch remains hovering off board.

Curtilius, the Roman garrison commander has kept back a good reserve, consisting of a century of his men, plus the horse, plus the legionary units. He has placed the two legionary scorpions on corner towers. His men on the walls are well supplied with stuff for chucking.

[Technical Note: I used the standard SPI Prestags rules - and counters - with the addition that Roman units, while on the walls and not involved in sorties or hand to hand, had a "1" missile capacity per unit. Note that I did not use "Contact" counters for either side when fighting over walls, but used the principles for "engaged" defenders; i.e. defenders were assumed to be "fixed" by an indecisive clash, but attackers could withdraw from one if desired.] 

Twrch himself leads an attack, supported by slingers, which causes problems for the auxiliaries on the south west wall. A sudden sortie by the Curtilius with a reserve auxiliary century, charges out of the south west gate, catching some skirmishers on the hop, and forces the attackers to pull back.

Meanwhile the attackers on the north west wall close, and cause considerable problems here. Curtillius pulls back to within the fort without interference, but leaves some if his reserve on the south west wall. 

Then another attack by Twrch, again supported by good work by the slings, scatters a half century of the auxilia, and the Silurian commander leads some of his men over the wall.

However, another counter-attack by Curtilius, this time with the legionary centuries, forces Twrch back from the walls, while a sortie by the garrison cavalry detachment discomforts Twrch's skirmishers.

The Silurian skirmishers have by now suffered badly, being caught on the hop by each sortie and Twrch himself has been slightly wounded. The attack on the south west wall has been effectively stopped

The main Silure attack now focuses on the more western wall. Twrch (and Cyfwych) also move to support this assault. In the battle for the north west wall neither side seems to be gaining much advantage.

Curtilius, having already pulled back his foot reserves into the fort, then swings his cavalry round the "blind" side of the fort and charges the enemy skirmishers on the far left of the enemy line. Twrch moves over to counter this.

The Roman commander then plays his trump card, and brings the legionaries out  of the north east gate to join the horse threatening the flank of the enemy attacking the north west wall. Twrch has no choice but to try to stop this threat. He moves, with Cyfwlch, to do so.

However, Curtilius charges and, supported with scorpion fire from the walls, hits Twrch's force; catching the enemy skirmishers and scattering them. In the melee Twrch is wounded and more skirmishers are cut down.

This is enough to push the Silure Army Moral to near breaking point, and so - with the forces from Fort Firmuium approaching, Twrch calls off the attack, and his men withdraw to the hills. Curtilius does not pursue.

Conclusion: 

As expected, the attackers made little headway against the (prepared) fort. 
However, the defenders lost comparatively heavily (when the coordination of slingers and assault troops on the south west wall led to the ramparts being briefly overrun by the attackers) with 20 dead or mortally wounded and 10 men with light wounds. However, the bulk of Twrch's close-quarter infantry got away unscathed.

The Silures didn't break, and so were able to get all of their wounded off the field (About ten walking wounded, and ninety or so badly wounded. They'd have lost all the badly wounded had they routed), but leaving some forty dead.

Twrch has been badly wounded. Recoverable, with care, but he is effectively out of the fight for a couple of weeks at least if he is to fully recover.

Next: the Battle of Meandy Hill...