Battle of Barton Hollow

The Battle of Barton Hollow was the second major offensive in the Second Griffon-Pony War. It was the only major battle not fought in any large city in the Griffon Kingdom. It was a military operation to flush out griffon reconnaissance forces in the northern hills and forests of the Griffon Kingdom that led to the discovery of enemy troops garrisoned in the lake town of Barton Hollow. The area was cleared and captured by Equestrian forces. 
== The campaign ==
=== Search ===
Following the Battle of Skyfall, Captains Stratagem and Saber proceeded to take their companies around the northern regions of the Griffon Kingdom to clear out smaller towns and settlements of griffon insurgents and military caches. During their search, Stratagem discovered small reconnaissance units of griffons observing her troops' movements from town to town. Stratagem immediately ordered her company to pursue the recon team through the dense forests. 
=== Barton Hollow ===
The pursuit led the company to Barton Lake, where they uncovered a small camp of griffons hiding out in the woods. Upon capture, the griffons admitted to there being more soldiers waiting in the town of Barton Hollow for orders from Alaric to ambush the Equestrians. Stratagem took her company into Barton Hollow to verify these claims. Upon entering the town, the company immediately came under enemy fire from a small garrison of griffon elite troops. The close-quarter fighting lasted for two hours while the Equestrians pushed their way through houses to clear out the entire town. Once the fighting had ended, Stratagem was notified that Commander Audvakr Bronzebeak, a high-ranking officer in Alaric's army, had been killed in combat. 
After securing the town, the company again came under fire from the woods and across the lake by griffon elite sharpshooters. Stratagem had two squads detach from the company to sweep through the woods and clear out any hostiles while the others focused on returning fire from within the town. The griffons were caught off guard and were subsequently wiped out. 
=== Aftermath ===
In the wake of the battle, the Equestrians uncovered that many residents of Barton Hollow had chosen to remain in their homes, despite Alaric's orders of evacuation. These griffons told Stratagem about the propaganda Alaric had put out against them, and revealed how he had convinced the entire nation to fight them. Along with this news, the Equestrians also uncovered valuable intel regarding griffon troop positions and strategies in the north that they would later use to exterminate them. They also discovered Alaric's familial home in Barton Hollow and raided the Dawnbreaker villa, making off with personal accounts and journals, named and dated accounts, and strategies he had drawn up.