July 1
7:35 AM
The sudden sounds of cannon shots disrupted her from her work and looking out of her tent, Applejack tried to gauge where the noise came from. Where in tarnation is that ruckus coming from? She thought to herself.
Immediately exiting her tent, she made her way through the camp and towards the nearby hill, where she planned to listen as best she could and try and figure out where the cannon fire was coming from. Something’s wrong, and I’m darn tootin going to find out what it is. She thought determinedly.
Applejack had expected a quiet day, with nothing much to do than marching and planning. Confident on her own strategy and believing that it was being executed well, she did not really think that any engagement, whether it be major or minor, would happen today. Yet the sound of cannon fire was greatly discouraging her, as a sense of worry filled her body. Cannon fire meant battle, and unless these rumbles of the cannon were result of a disobedient artillery officer firing random shots, then Applejack was certain that there was a fight going on. But where?
Already, a surge of concerns went through Applejack’s head as she wondered where this possible battle may be. Is this a major battle or just a mere skirmish? Where is it being fought? How long will it last? Will it just be a mere setback or will it derail her entire operation?
The last concern brought a great sense of frustration within her, knowing that it could bring a lot of problems to her entire strategy. Her entire operation centered on the idea that the enemy won’t send a strong enough force to block her approach to Ponyville. But now, with the possibility of having the enemy army blocking her force, the idea of the entire operation being stopped became possible. And with her forces still out of place and not yet concentrated for battle, then the idea of losing her army was a possibility now too.
But there is no sense in just worrying about this problems. She said as she made her way. I must try to resolve them…and to do that I must find out where this darn cannon fire is coming from.
As she made her way, she managed to pass by Captain Time Turner, whom she immediately brought with her as she went up the hill. Once on top, she had a clear view of the open expanse of land, and was also able to hear better and follow the echoing booms of the cannon.
“It might be coming from the outskirts of Ponyville, mam.” Time Turner said, as the
Carefully listening on her own, she soon agreed with Time Turner’s presumption. This brought a sense of dread to her, for there was still the sense of the unknown. Worried that a major engagement was taking place, and even more worried that she had no control over it, she began feeling uneasy and restless.
I can’t just sit here and wait for a report. She thought. I must take action!
“Captain Turner, it’s General Spitfire’s division leading the army, right?” She asked, as her gaze stayed towards the direction of Ponyville and the sound of cannon fire.
“Yes, mam, it’s her division.” Time Turner said with a gentle nod. “The old reliable 1st.”
“Has she reported anything important?” Applejack asked. “Anything about encountering enemy forces?”
“No, General, none at all.” Time Turner replied. “Her last courier message to us only said that she was approaching Ponyville and that she should be in firm control of that town soon.”
“Very well. Thank you, Captain.” Applejack said, as she stopped her gazing and turned towards the brown earth pony beside her. “Have we any word from General Rainbow Dash yet? If there’s anypony who can shed some light for us through the fog of war, it’s her. Has she returned to us or at least sent a courier to give us information about her whereabouts or information about enemy activity?”
“I’m sorry, mam, but we still have no word from the, General. I have had all our best ponies look for her and her brigade, yet no word has come back from them as of yet.” The brown earth pony said apologetically.
Frustration ran inside Applejack as she felt helpless and clueless towards the situation towards her. She was the commanding general of this army, yet how was she supposed to lead it victory if she lacked the proper information it needed into achieving it?
I’m as blind as a bat. She grudgingly thought. Where in Equestria are you, Dash?
Instead of helping her assess the country around them or provide vital information, Rainbow Dash was still roaming around enemy lines, sending no word to them and leaving them in the dark when it came to scouting.
If you were here now, then I would know what we’re facing before us. Applejack thought grudgingly, as she brood on the topic and let it linger for a short while.
But knowing that nothing else could be do about it, she decided to make do with what she had and worry about Rainbow Dash later. She’ll have to give her a strong reprimand later on when she returned, reminding the cavalry commander of her duties to this army.
Although being her close friend and one of the few reminders of the friendships she cherished, yet no longer had, Rainbow Dash was no exception from reprimand. This was the army and there was no friendships here, especially between a commander and her subordinates. Despite being close friends, Applejack would have to pull rank on Rainbow Dash in order to make sure that she would not make a fatal mistake like this again.
To make the army go blind… She thought as she shook her head. That mare has caused a lot of trouble before, but none of those past troubles can beat the one she has done now. I would have to teach her a lesson, make her understand. She must never repeat this.
Turning away from the sound of the battle and beginning to go down the hill, Applejack started to head back to camp, giving Time Turner orders as she moved.
“Captain, I want you, three staff officers of your own choice, and my bodyguard ready in fifteen minutes. You shall meet me at my tent, geared and read. We leave the moment after you assemble there.” She told him. “And have a courier inform General Big Macintosh that he’s in charge of troop movements while I’m gone.”
“Yes, mam.” Time Turner said, bobbing his head in acknowledgement. “But, uh, mam, if you don’t mind me asking, where exactly are we going?”
“To the sound of the guns, Captain.” Applejack told him. “To the sound of the guns.”
July 1
8:30 AM
The sound of battle died down for a while, a brief pause in the fighting, as Soarin gazed at the field that was now littered with the brown clothed bodies of enemy troops. Forming up in the distance, he could see the distant sight of another attack forming up, as the Republican soldiers once more prepared to send another onslaught towards them.
Shaking his head, he knew that this attack would be another futile one. From what he was seeing, he could tell that they were once more concentrating on his center, the strongest portion of his line. Time after time now, the enemy sent their regiments up the road and under the fire of his guns and battered by the carbines of his own regiments.
A terrible plan of attack. He had thought at the time, as he watched his forces hold down the enemy attack.
Even with a smaller cavalry force, Soarin and his troops had no trouble checking the enemy, preventing them from breaking through. Despite being outgunned and outnumbered, they held on strongly, keeping their line and not letting the enemy pass.
Despite having thinner lines, the advantages of having the higher ground helped them a lot. They were able to bear down on the enemy and let out a hailstorm of fire on them as they made their attacks. Letting out volley after volley, they battled the enemy lines, exchanging fire under the hot striking sun. Taking a punishing and unable to handle the thick fire, they soon wavered and fell back to the safety of their rear, only to return again later to conduct the same type of assault, bringing only more ponies, but not changing their tactics at all.
Why are you being so foolish, Spitfire? Soarin had thought. You have numerical advantage over us and yet you wasting it with frontal assaults.
It was a slaughter, a slaughter that could have been avoided if they weren’t so stubborn and instead bear their forces on their flanks. With such brute tactics bearing down on them, all Soarin had to do was concentrate his forces and fire in the center, picking out the enemy as they came through the open field.
But the casualties were not totally one sided, as Soarin’s brigade received a battering of their own. Despite holding on to their lines and keeping their ground, his forces took a good chuck of losses. Losses that would be irreplaceable in this time of isolation from the rest of the Equestrian Volunteer Army.
Trotting through the eastern ridge and surveying the lines, Soarin looked on with sadness as injured soldiers were dragged away from the lines and towards the medical tent in the rear. Ranging from simple wounds to deadly injuries that needed surgery and other complicated operations, these soldiers were brought away from the fighting, as they screamed out in pain and agony at their misfortunes.
Shaking his head, Soarin too felt hurt seeing them. These were his soldiers, the ponies he lead, admired, and took care off. It hurt seeing them suffer and it hurt more knowing that they were suffering because of his orders. The pain of battle always left a terrible mark, and that mark wasn’t always physical. Deep inside, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for them.
But he couldn’t show such emotions now, not here, not in front of so many ponies. It was a part of a commanders job to distance himself from his subordinates, it was a commanders job to give orders that would risk the lives of his command. And so he mustn’t show any emotions that could endanger that job.
So instead he looked away, away from the lines of injured ponies heading towards the rear, and into the lines that stopped the enemy, the rows of soldiers standing guard and awaiting the next assault. There, the bodies of lost and dead comrades were quietly dragged and set aside, to be buried later when the battle was over.
Despite the terrible loss they may have taken and despite the saddening sight they had to endure, the regiment on the lines held firm in proper order and full energy, as they got ready to receive another attack. Even under such brutal heat from Celestia’s hot summer sun, they stayed firm on the line, as they looked down on the ridge, made sure their carbines were loaded, and waited for the enemy to come.
“It was a heavy battering, sir, but I think the troopers did pretty well.” Thunderlane told him, as he trotted by Soarin, gazing towards the same direction as him.
“They did better than well. They fought tremendously.” Soarin commented. “But it was a hard fight, both for us and the enemy.”
“Yes, sir, it was indeed.” Thunderlane said with a nod.
“We’re just lucky that it wasn’t their full force yet.” Soarin continued, as he gave a survey of their situation. “But it seems the enemy is about to give us a taste of what an entire division in attack would be like. Correct me if I’m wrong, Thunderlane, but it seems that new force gathering there is bigger than the last one.”
Picking up his binoculars and gazing across the field, Thunderlane studied the forming enemy forces, before turning his look towards his commander and nodding. “It seems like it is, sir.”
Letting out a sigh, Soarin shook his head in dismay. “Well, it took her long enough, but I think Spitfire finally realized that she should throw her entire force against us, instead of sending them in piecemeal. Took her a couple of failures, but at least she’s learning.”
“Don’t give her too many compliments, sir-“ Thunderlane interjected. “-cause it still seems like she’s still concentrating on our center, ignoring our flanks once more. If she just sent one brigade to our flanks, we’ll be done!”
“I don’t think she’ll have to hit our flanks in order to overrun us, Thunderlane.” Soarin said, knowing the weakened state of their lines. “One powerful thrust in our center and she’ll have us split. Both the 1st and 3rd Cloudsdale are already tired and weakened from battle and although I know they’re good soldiers, I don’t think they’ll be able to hold off a full on attack from a division. With no more reserves to help them, I have my doubts on whether we can handle this new attack or not.”
Thunderlane went silent for a moment, as he quietly thought about their situation. What Soarin told him was true and worrying, and he could see that the state of their lines here were indeed weak.
To them, it seemed like they’re only hope now was the arrival of the Volunteer Army. Ninety thousand strong and better armed, the ponies of that army would easily be able to fend of the enemy division before them, as well as be better suited on facing the entirety of the Republican Army once it arrived. Larger than the enemy’s army, the Volunteer Army was the main veteran fighting force the Kingdom of Equestria had against the rebellion.
Yet it was still not in the battle, and that proved to be a problem for the brigade.
The last message they received from the General Twilight Sparkle, the Army’s commander, was that they were making all haste towards Ponyville. Packing up and marching as quickly as possible, the large force had already left Rambling Rock Ridge and was taking all the roads that led to Ponyville in order to get there as soon as possible.
But with such a large cumbersome force and many miles to cover, Thunderlane wondered if they would ever get here in time. Although their holding action here was going well, Thunderlane wondered on how long they could continue with it. With more and more casualties coming in after each assault, they would only be able stand strong for so long before having to withdraw. And if they withdraw, then all hope of protecting Ponyville and beautiful ground advantage they had here will be lost.
The situation was desperate and with no sign of the Volunteer Army arriving anytime soon, it seemed that all hope was lost.
But during that moment of silent contemplation, Thunderlane had a sudden idea that might just help them against the next enemy assault.
“Sir, if I may suggest, wouldn’t it be better if we have the 2nd Cloudsdale reposition here in order to strengthen and support the center.” Thunderlane suggested and before Soarin could counter, he continued on with an explanation. “The 2nd reports no sign of enemy movement on their front and I doubt they would ever make a move anytime soon on that flank. It’s too rocky there and hard to navigate and the enemy would be likelier to attack our right than our left. But in case they do, we can leave a company of troop there on the hill in order to keep an eye on that area. If they find that the enemy is heading there, then they can send word in order for us to reinforce them. With terrain that is to our advantage, the enemy would struggle to get to the hill and once they get there, we would have ample forces to hold it. Please, sir, I think this would work and if you give the order I would immediately set work on conducting it.”
Staring at him, Soarin at first through that what Thunderlane suggested was an absurd idea. But giving it a deeper thought, he soon realized that it might just work.
Having another regiment to support the line would be a great help, as it would give them more firepower and strength to use against the enemy. Although adding another regiment won’t solve their problem forever, it would at least give them more time in holding.
And time is what they desperately needed right now.
“Very well, Thunderlane, do what you have to do and get things arranged to your plan.” Soarin said with a firm nod. “I just hope this would help us hold long enough for the Volunteer Army to get here.”
“Don’t worry, sir, with three regiments, and a battery of artillery in support, holding such good ground like this, I’m sure we’ll be able to hold them off all moring.” Thunderlane said confidently.
“Yes, but let’s not let over confidence overcome us too much.” Soarin reminded him. “Be sure to send another courier to contact General Sparkle again. Inform her that we are still holding the line, but are in desperate need of reinforcements.”
“Yes, sir, I’ll have it done as soon as possible.” Thunderlane said, giving a salute before rushing off to do his duty.
As he galloped away, the distant sound of cannon fire echoed from afar, only to be followed by the whizzing sound of shell and the powerful explosions of exploding ordinance from the enemy. Glancing towards the enemy positions, Soarin could see their battery’s open up, softening their positions on the ridge in order to clear the way for their infantry.
Shaking his head, Soarin knew that another attack was about to come, another attempt to break them and get to Ponyville. This time they would send all they got, and this time we’ll have to hold with all we’ve got.
We must hold. He thought to himself. The fate of Equestria lies upon us holding our line.
With that though it mind, he quietly trotted away from the field, leaving command here to the field officers, as he and his staff went back towards their headquarters at Ponyville’s town hall in order to get a better assessment of the battle.
July 1
10:00 AM
Looking down on the battle from his excellent vantage point on the top floor of Ponyville’s town hall, Soarin watched as shot and shell fell on their position on the ridge, as another enemy attack approached their lines. Taking cover and trying their best to get away from the terrible bombardment, the ponies of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Cloudsdale kept low on the ground, lying as flat as possible in order to present a low target for shrapnel and shot.
Throwing dirt and fragments, as shells landed on the ground, the enemy artillery released all that they got on his position on the ridge line, trying to take out of action as many soldiers as they can. Seen in the distance as nothing more than puffs of smoke, Soarin knew better than to dismiss those distant puffs. For those were the three batteries of artillery positioned by the enemy in order to pound his line and disrupt them as much as possible.
Wreaking havoc and causing confusion as his soldiers tried to take cover, the enemy’s artillery continued on their onslaught, seemingly getting more and more powerful with every volley and salvo.
“Stand strong…” Soarin muttered to himself, as he watched his lines. “…stand strong. You’ve got to hold once more!”
A total number of seven assaults had been thrown at his line at this point, and although already ragged and weak, his brigade still manage to keep the line and push back the enemy. But getting tired, disheartened, and badly hurt, Soarin was beginning to wonder how long they could continue to hold against such persistent assaults.
Even after blooding them and kicking them back, the enemy continued to attack, and it seemed that each failed attack only brought them more reason to take the ridge, rather than demoralizing them and bringing them down. Hammering the center line with artillery and hitting them with large waves of infantry, they did their own damage to his line, weakening it even more.
Despite support from the 3rd Cloudsdale, it was clear that the center was once again vulnerable and beginning to buckle. Although still in favorable and formidable positions, the engagements were beginning to take its heavy toll on his regiments.
It seemed that cavalry troops alone cannot hold this line anymore and a desperate need for fresh reinforcements of infantry was needed if they wanted to stay here.
“They’ll be here soon…” Soarin promised, as if addressing all his troops. “…if you just hold long enough, they’ll be here.”
As he watched on from his position, Soarin suddenly saw and heard the bombardment quickly lift and stop, as the enemy lines of infantry got nearer towards the ridge. Three brigades, formed up in three long parallel lines, reached the base of the ridge as they began heading up towards the top.
At that moment, the ponies of his brigade started rising from their positions and, bearing their carbines towards the enemy, let lose a powerful volley as they got within their range. Covering the ridge with smoke and hitting the enemy hard, the advancing lines soon halted just a few steps away from the base, as they reacted by bearing their own weapons and returning fire.
A heavy engagement soon ensued, as ponies fired at one another, fighting for supremacy over the ridge. Bettering each other with volleys, the engagement seemed to go on for hours, as the smoke of fired gunpowder rose to the air, till the only sign of battle Soarin could see were the flashes of the rifles and carbines.
Ponies of different ranks fell from both sides, as the engagement seemed to reach an all-time high. Making their way through the smoke of battle, Soarin could see a few dozen ponies of his line depart the fight and head back towards the rear of their lines.
At that point, Soarin thought that they had loss and that the battle was over and against their favor. But noticing that they were few and that they were moving in some form of calm and order, he soon realized his mistake, as he quickly concluded that this wasn’t a rout he was seeing, but merely a few injured soldiers making their way to the medical tent in the rear.
Relieved by this, but still worrying about the fate of the engagement, Soarin kept his eyes locked on the ridge line, hoping that his soldiers would hold. Smoke still filled the area and the crackle of rifles and guns still echoed from it. Occasionally, the loud boom of his own battery of cannons could be heard firing and the combination of all these sounds gave him a reassuring sign that his brigade still controlled the ridge line, still fighting, still holding on.
After a couple of minutes of continued fighting, the sound of battle soon began dying down. The constant fire from guns, rifles, and carbines, soon began to slacken as shots lessened with each passing second. Soon, a cool breeze came in and blew upon the ridge line, enabling Soarin to once again see his troops on the ridge.
From what he saw, he gave a small smile, as he could see his troops still firmly holding the ridge. Although ruffed up by this assault, they still stood there and held on, like an old tree in rich soil.
Backing away from the ridge and taking pot shots as they fell back, the enemy lines began heading back towards the safety of their positions on the other side of the fields. Once again, they have been beaten back.
But like the earlier assaults, the casualties inflicted on them by the enemy were severe and the damage done would be cause problems for them. More ponies were now filing out of the lines and soon a trail of injured headed towards the medical tent, pooling at it as they were segregated by the severity of their wounds.
Shaking his head from the sight, Soarin soon looked away from the ridge. More heavy losses, more pain for his soldiers.
Yet we must do this. He though. A lot depends on us.
Trotting towards the other side of the room and turning to face towards the North-East, Soarin gazed out into the distance, even pulling out his binoculars out one point, as he tried to scan the area and horizon for any sign of the Volunteer Army.
Soarin knew that everything will be for nothing if the Volunteer Army didn’t arrive here on time. They too shared the great burden of this battle, for it was them who could really match up against the enemy force massing here at Ponyville.
But with no sign of them coming here soon, it seemed that all hope was being lost. They had waited all morning for their arrival, yet aside from couriers bringing in reassuring words that the army was near, the presence of the army could not be felt.
“Celestia damn it, what is taking them so long?” Soarin cursed. “If the infantry could just learn how to gallop, then maybe they would have been here already.” But of course, he knew that even that would not have had helped, for the infantry’s heavy equipment would always bog them down.
Bringing his attention back to the south-west, Soarin’s attention was quickly attracted by a fast moving blur, which was flying away from the ridge line and heading towards where they were. Focusing on this, Soarin soon realized that this blur was Thunderlane, who seemed to be heading towards him in a rush. Something important to tell, he knew.
“Sir, it’s terrible…” Thunderlane said, panting after he entered the building and reported in front of Soarin. “…just terrible.”
Knowing what he was talking about, Soarin urged him to continue, as he prepared himself for the worst.
“The 1st Cloudsdale took the brunt of this assault and received a lot of dead and wounded. As of now, they only have half of their force capable of fighting. But even if they 1st took the brunt of it, the 2nd and the 3rd are in no better shape. The 2nd has only three hundred ponies left capable of fighting, while the 3rd only has two hundred ponies left and our trying to fill their ranks with injured ponies who could stand and fight. It’s just awful, sir, very awful. I don’t know if we can handle another assault.”
Sorrow and frustration filled Soarin as he heard this report and at that point he was just about ready to give up. His force was devastated, there seemed to be no sign of reinforcements, and the enemy seemed to still be capable of massing another attack on them. With such things facing him, it seemed that Sorin would have nothing else to do but order a withdrawal from the field.
Such a thought made him feel guilty though, as he knew that he would not only be abandoning the town, but also giving up the great positions they had here.
And we have such good ground. Soarin mused. I don’t think I’ll be able to live with myself, knowing that I left it for the enemy.
Yet he must, unless he wanted to sacrifice the lives of all of his soldiers, which to him was something worse than abandoning good ground.
Dejected and with no more hope, Soarin gazed at his gathered staff and began giving them orders to prepare the brigade for an ordered withdrawal while the enemy was still recuperating from their recent setback.
But as he was doing this, still giving orders to each of his officers, one of the members of his staff, his standard bearer, cried out with a jubilant voice, as he began pointing towards the north-east.
“Sir, I think that’s General Shining Armor over there!” He said, before letting out another cry of joy.
Snapping his head towards that direction and quickly picking up his binoculars to aim at the direction the pony was pointing, Soarin gazed at his target, as he quietly, and happily, watched him approach.
Surrounded by his staff and galloping under a white banner with an image of a violet shield imprinted on it, General Shining Armor, commander of the Volunteer Army’s III Corps, quickly headed towards Ponyville, towards where Soarin was.
Finally, after such a long wait, they were here, the Volunteer Army was here. Soarin and his soldiers had held and fought for this ground. Many of his men have been casualties in order to keep this ground theirs. And now, it seems, their sacrifices and hard work were worth it, as the main army finally arrived.
Moved by this, and knowing that this was a victory in itself, Soarin turned away from his staff so that they couldn’t see him wipe away the tears dripping from his eyes. Then, after a short pause to let out the emotion within him, he quickly trotted down the stairs in order to meet Shining Armor once he arrived at the town hall.
“I heard you got into some trouble and needed some help, Soarin.” Shining Armor said, returning a salute that Soarin gave him as he approached.
“I guess I have, sir.” Soarin said, smiling broadly, glad that he was here. “Ran into some rebels, over there on the ridges south-west of town. Tried to give them a friendly welcome, but they didn’t seem to like it.”
“Well, those rebels were always a sour group.” Shining Armor said, as he urged Soarin to lead him towards the direction of his lines. “Never learnt how to cooperate and all, even if you approach them friendlily.”
“Yes, sir, you’re right about that one.”
Smiling, Shining Armor soon got over with the pleasantries and got to serious business. “Now, I have my entire corps moving here with all speed, and behind me I have the rest of the army coming in close. My 1st Division would be here soon, and we would be willing and glad to replace your troops on the line.”
Reaching a gap in the town’s building and getting a good view of the ridges in the south through it, Shining Armor was able to give a quick inspection of the ground Soarin had chosen. A great leader and famous to all of the Volunteer Army, Shining Armor was one of the best general the Kingdom had. He had great tactical and strategic skill and always knew what to do in battle. The soldiers loved him and to the enemy, he was one of the few capable commanders the Kingdom had. Many believed that if it weren’t for the fact that he was considered as royalty to another nation and not the Equestrian Kingdom itself, then he would have been appointed the leader of the Volunteer Army.
“This is good ground, Soarin, very good ground.” Shining Armor said, a smile on his face. “I’ve never seen ground as good as this for a defense. Perfect. Just perfect! You did an excellent here, Soarin.”
“Well, sir, it was nothing.” Soarin said, scratching the back of his head. “I just used my instinct and training and applied them here.”
“Then your instincts and training may have one the day, if not the war!” Shining Armor said, before continuing their approach towards the line. “I’ll have my soldiers take over the lines your troops are occupying, but you’ll have to cover us while we do so. You think you and your brigade can do that?”
“Yes, sir, we can.” Soarin said, his confidence high. “They haven’t knocked us off that ridge yet and they surely won’t knock us off now.”
“Yes, good. You did a great job here, Soarin, a real great job.” Shining Armor said in praise once more. “Now, the enemy would be attacking again soon, but I think that the time between the next attack would be sufficient for us to take over the line.”
“Good, sir, very good.” Soarin said, releaved to hear that.
With a laugh, Shining Armor shook his head, as he was now in his battle set.
“The rebels think they’re still facing one brigade of cavalry, but when they attack again they’ll be in for a surprise. The III corps has arrived.”