Battle of the Camp

King Ondoher of Gondor knew the Wainriders were on the march. He divided his army into two forces, he taking the larger group North, and giving command of the smaller group to Earnil, a descendent of King Telumehtar, who led them South. "This had always been the custom of Gondor, that the King, if he willed, should command his army in a major battle, provided that an heir with undisputed claim to the throne was left behind" (p. 291, Unfinished Tales). Ondoher was a warrior and well loved by his troops, so he led them to battle with his eldest son Artamir and leaving behind his youngest son Faramir in Ithilien.

Earnil positioned his troops in the South leaving the Fords of Poros unguarded and encamping 40 miles North in the Southern Ithilien region. "King Ondoher had purposed to lead his host north through Ithilien and deploy it on the Dagorlad, a field of ill omen for the enemies of Gondor" (p. 292, Unfinished Tales). But news of the Wainriders movements came overlate to Ondoher and his purposes were not fulfilled. He was leading the main force with plans to set up a right and left wing on either side once the army had passed through Ithilien as they expected the assault to come from the North/North-east since the Wainriders had approached this way in the past. "But it was not so" (p. 292, Unfinished Tales). I just had to quote that; short, sweet, and to the point. Tolkien is letting us know the King is in trouble.

The Wainriders, strengthened by their kin in Rhovannion and the alliance with Khand moved secretly from the Sea of Rhûn and approached Ondoher's army from the East and found the Gondorians unprepared for their assault. Ondoher was facing a larger and stronger army than he expected on ground he did not choose. "Ondoher had only time to turn and face the assault with his right flank close to Morannon [the Gates of Mordor], and to send word to Minohtar, Captain of the Right Wing behind, to cover his left flank as swiftly as he could, when the chariots and horsemen crashed into his disordered line. Of the confusion of the disaster that followed few clear reports were ever brought to Gondor" (p. 292, Unfinished Tales).

The Wainriders recognized the King's banner. "The main charge was hurled against his banner, and it was captured, his Guard was almost annihilated, and he himself was slain and his son Artamir by his side. Their bodies were never recovered" (p. 292, Unfinished Tales). Much of the main host fled into the Dead Marshes. The Wainriders did not expect victory to come so easily or handily; in fact their main host was still far from battle. "Minohtar took command. He was a man both valiant and war-wise" (p. 293, Unfinished Tales). He quickly raised his banner rallying all Gondorian troops left on the field and as the Wainrider cavalry withdrew he set up his defenses. He sent order to Adrahil of Dol Amroth, Captain of the Left Wing to send his nearest troops to the right who were not engaged. Adrahil was also commanded to send messengers to Earnil and his troops to the South.

All was in place when the main host of the Wainriders arrived. "The first triumph of the Wainriders was now the beginning of their undoing" (p. 293, Unfinished Tales). For the slaughter of Ondoher gave them false confidence since it came so easily. Still it seemed the destruction of Gondor was imminent although the notes from the battle are sketchy. It appears that the Eotheod aided Ondoher in battle and unbeknownst to all Faramir, the King's youngest son, joined with the Eotheod in disguise. In the the first brutal assault the Eotheod fled toward the Dead Marshes and Faramir was killed just as his father and brother were. The leader of the Eotheod found Faramir just before death and discovered he was the Prince. "The leader of the Eotheod then went to join Minohtar at the head of the North Road in Ithilien, who at that very moment was giving an order for a message to be taken to the Prince in Minis Tirith, who was now the King." (p. 294, Unfinished Tales). It was then that Minohtar was informed of Faramir's death.

Though Minohtar was able to choose his ground (and it was not open fields as was the custom of the Wainriders) he could not long hold back the onslaught. Minohtar was overwhelmed and himself died of an arrow wound and the Gondorian's fled. "The chief commander of the Wainriders then called a halt to the advance, and held a feast" (p. 294, Unfinished Tales). Again their confidence was too high and they were unaware of Earnil and his troops approaching from the South. "Hastening north, he gathered to him all that he could of the retreating Northern Army and came up against the main camp of the Wainriders, while they were feasting and revelling, believing that Gondor was overthrown and nothing remained but to take the spoil. Earnil stormed the camp and set fire to the wains, and drove the enemy in a great route out of Ithilien. A great part of those that fled before him perished in the Dead Marshes" (p. 329, The Return of the King). This became known as the Battle of the Camp.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 1944
Today's reading comes from: Unfinished Tales, pages 291-295; and The Return of the King, pages 329-330