| They did not fold. Little spindling and mutilation, but did not fold... | ||||||||||||
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The 1st Battalion, 18th RCT, advanced on St. Cloud along the line of high ground south of the city with the mortars on the high ground in the center of the line. The French has deployed in St. Cloud and on the heights to either side with their mortars and about half their forces on the high ground to the north. At first the American advance went well with the Americans advancing in the dead zone behind the hill south of St. Cloud. As the Americans crested the hill, a French HMG opened up and started the process of pecking at the morale of the Americans. Over the next two hours, the roughly evenly matched forces fought each other as the Americans moved closer to St. Cloud. Throughout the battle the artillery of both sides caused progressively more demoralizations among the infantry units. By the third hour the Americans had sustained 4 steps of losses but had advanced to about 500 yards of St. Cloud where a firefight took place that whittled down both sides. Although French morale was proving to be a growing problem with several steps and one leader retreating off the battlefield, they would not abandon the village. With morale and ammunition running low, the Americans pulled back to wait for re-enforcements. The first blood in North Africa had been shed on both sides. The French were not going to collapse without a fight. |
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