One error brought the scheme to ruin, an error neither of strategy nor
of conduct, but of scientific knowledge. John had miscalculated the
time at which, on that night, the Seine would be navigable upstream,
and his counsellors evidently shared his mistake till it was brought
home to them by experience. The land forces achieved their march
without hinderance, and at the appointed hour, shortly before
daybreak, fell upon the French camp with such a sudden and furious
onslaught that the whole of its occupants fled across the pontoon,
which broke under their weight. But the fleet, which had been intended
to arrive at the same time, was unable to make way against the tide,
and before it could reach its destination the French had rallied on
the northern bank, repaired the pontoon, recrossed it in full force,
and routed John's troops. The ships, when they at last came up, thus
found themselves unsupported in their turn, and though they made a
gallant fight they were beaten back with heavy loss. In the flush of
victory one young Frenchman contrived to set fire to the island fort;
it surrendered, and the whole population of the New Andely fled in a
panic to Chateau Gaillard, leaving their town to be occupied by
Philip.
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