Dundarse on the Bridge - French Withdrawal part two

As we rejoin the action the French naval detachment is still holding on in Newport, whilst Capitaine Finguin's expeditionary force are on the wrong side of the river. No sign of Finguin yet - has he rowed out to the ship, leaving his men behind?

With a sudden rush of blood to the head, Lieutenant Quilp rushes the French barricades at the head of his militia detachment. Aspirant Bon-Voyage is having none of that and orders the sailors to vault the barricade and charge forward.

Bon-Voyage leads the charge

Wielding boarding axes and cutlasses the sailors wreak havoc among the unfortunate militia. Unfortunately, this leaves the sailors in the open within close musket range of the recovering militia. Quilp orders controlled volleys and with some Sharp Practice the militia decimate the exposed sailors. However, Bon-Voyage has done his job and has gained valuable time for the French Voltigeurs to dash across the bridge. But can they keep the bridge open before the British close in?

Voltigeurs cross the bridge

Sailors withdraw under withering fire

On the French left Pomfritte holds the line a the British close in. But what's this - it's Capitaine Finguin! Finally appearing to take command of the reserve group of French Ligne, after a notable absence from most of the battle, can he save the French left?

Pomfritte holds the line

 Not on your Nelly! With an uncharacteristic turn of speed, Finguin dashes across the bridge and leads his reserves all the way to the market place. Is it coincidence that the French boats are only a stone's throw away?

Finguin steps onto the bridge as the Voltigeurs keep the way open

On the left Pomfritte, blissfully unaware that Finguin has deserted him, pours volley after controlled volley into the British ranks. Lt. 'Pantsdown' Hartley's men are suffering badly, whilst 'Banana's Fyfffes-Farthingdale's Dragoons mill about ineffectually in the rear.

Desperate to close the bridge, Quilp leads his men to the barricades whilst Dundarse approaches from the far bank. A desperate firefight ensues at the barricades. Lt. Waive's Marines bring up the cannon and pour canister into the Militia's ranks. British morale is dropping fast, when Ensign Berry leads a group of light infantry to outflank the cannon. The fire from the skirmishers takes it toll but the gunners hang on.

Lt Berry outflanks the cannon

 Dundarse leads his men onto the bridge in a narrow march column and charges the French. Risky but he's desperate. Unfortunately, the Voltigeurs just fall back before his advance.
Lt. Berry finally routs the gunners but Quilp's force is falling apart. On the far flank Lt. Pomfritte is running out of people to shoot!
Once again it's pub 'o' clock but with the British Force Morale down to 2 they choose to withdraw. The French are now able to withdraw to the ship but they have taken terrible casualties.

At the end of the day, the French did manage burn down the telegraph station but achieved little else. Also the prison hulks will now be full of the wounded they callously left behind at the telegraph station. In campaign terms it's an overwhelming victory for the British; however questions will be asked at Horse Guards if not in Parliament. What will become of our heroes? Any hopes that Dundarse nutured of rising above his status as a lowly militia captain have surely been dashed. What will be Pomfritte's reaction when he learns that Finguin left him in the lurch - a duel perhaps? As for 'Pantsdown' Hartley, spending most of the campaign in the arms of a local barmaid and only turning up for the final battle - perhaps we should draw a veil over that.
What we do know is that dashing Light Dragoon Fyffes-Farthingdale changed his name to Comberbatch and made a career writing poems about Albatrosses.