"what if Henry V couldn't cross the Somme?" Topic

I'm looking for fun scenario's to play with my Agincourt era forces.

what if Henry couldn't find a way across the Somme (which nearly happened)? how might the campaign have gone?

I thought that a forced river crossing would be a fun game, as marshal Boucicaut's forces where shadowing his army the whole time. any thougths on if that would that be a likely "what if" type situation?

If you've ever fought a "contested crossing" battle, you will find that the forces which are forced to cross the river will be rapidly bogged down unless they secure a bridge. If they do managed to secure a bridge, if they are on even terms, the defending units/army will usually have an easy time of it as they can confront the enemy piecemeal and wear them down.

I have done that scenerio before. I had a river on the edge of the board, and deployed 2/3 of Henry's forces in battle formation. The other 1/3 is finishing the crossing and will move on from the river crossing point during the game. I then took about 1/2 of the French army from Agincourt and had then attack. It gave the Fench incentive to attack quickly before Henry could get fully deployed. I also broke up the terrain a little more so that it wasn't just an open field.

Chris

Iirc, there was a skirmish at a bridge, and the English moved on. Was it a distraction to the shadowing French army, while the main English army found a different crossing and quickly used it? Hmm, can't remember.

Anyway, IF the English army cannot cross the Somme, it means that they turn inland looking for another way around. Sooner or later there would have been a battle, as the French managed to get between the English and Calais. They are going to get between them and Calais no matter what; it's just a matter of where….