Battle of Jamestown

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Battle of Jamestown
Part of the Aquitaynian War of Independence
File:BattleofJamestown.jpg
Imperial troops storm Battery Hill
DateJuly 16, 1735
Location
Jamestown, Aswick
Result Imperial victory
Belligerents
 Aswick Blackhelm Confederacy Empire of Exponent
Commanders and leaders
Alexander Jones
Charles Keene
John Callaghan
Lucius Vetus
Gaius Paetus
Aulus Attianus
Castus Tamphilus
Strength
4,000 12,000
Casualties and losses
 Aswick 365 dead
98 wounded
137 captured
Total: 600
Blackhelm Confederacy 61 killed
120 wounded
6 missing
Total:187

The Battle of Jamestown, fought on July 16, 1735, was a defeat for the Aswickan Army under General Alexander Jones and the beginning of a successful campaign that gave the Imperial army control of the strategically important city of Jamestown.

After defeating the Imperial army in the Siege of New Atlieum, General Alexander Jones, Commander-in-Chief, brought the Aswickan Patriot Army to defend the port city of Jamestown. Jones understood that the city's harbor would provide an excellent base for the Imperial Navy during the campaign, and would prove a morale boost for the Imperial forces as it would effectively capture the Aswickan capital. There he established defenses and waited for the Imperials to attack. In June, the Imperial army, under the command of Legate Lucius Vetus, landed a few miles from the city, where during the next month and a half they were slowly reinforced, bringing their total force to 12,000 troops. With the Imperial fleet in control of the entrance to the harbor, Stonebridge knew the difficulty in holding the city.

On July 16, the Imperial Army advanced into the city, attacking the Aswickan defenses on at Battery Hill. Realizing the hopelessness of their situation and gravely outnumbered, the Aswickans immediately decided on a tactical retreat, and a stand by 400 troops prevented a larger portion of the army from being captured. The remainder of the army retreated out of the city.

Background

New Atlieum to Jamestown

At the outbreak of hostilities, the Imperial army in Aswick found itself trapped in the port city of New Atlieum, but soon abandoned it to await reinforcements at nearby ???. Seeing the city open to his forces, Jones then began to send troops to Jamestown, fearing the city would come under attack by the Imperial Army because of its strategic importance. Unfortunately, the rebel army was not large enough to cover both cities adequately, and quality troops were in limited supply, so Jones' men could not complete the necessary defensive works in time before the assault. Further complicating matter, Charles Keene realized that with the Imperial navy commanding the sea it would be impossible for Reichist forces to hold the city for very long against a determined Exponential invasion. With this problem before him, Jones decided that whatever defenses that could be made in the time given should be positioned to inflict heavy casualties on the invading force while allowing the rest of his army to escape relatively intact. With this plan in mind, barricades and redoubts were established in and around the city,and elements of his force began to dig in for what would likely be a doomed battle.

Strategy

Imperial Arrival

Battle

Night March

Attack on Battery Hill

Paetus' Flanking Maneuver

Retreat

Aftermath

Long March Inland

Casualties

At the time, it was one of the largest battles ever fought in Aswick. If the Imperial Navy is included, over 20,000 men took part in the battle. Vetus reported his losses as 61 killed, 120 wounded and 6 missing. The Aswickans suffered much heavier losses. Over 300 had been killed and 235 captured. As few as half of the prisoners survived. Kept on prison ships, they were starved and denied medical attention. In their weakened condition, many succumbed to smallpox