They quickly put up siege equipment and dug trenches. Upon arriving at the city, the enemy sprawled before the main walls of Minas Tirith. The great battering ram Grond, used to smash Minas Tirith's gate Prince Imrahil and Gandalf led a cavalry sortie which allowed the retreating men to regroup and return to Minas Tirith, but Faramir was wounded by a Southron arrow and was carried by Imrahil. Although Faramir and his men resisted stoutly and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy forces, the Witch King's army began to breach the wall, forcing Faramir to retreat with most of his remaining men, but was soon overtaken by Orcs and Southrons pouring onto the fields. Gandalf arrived to give heart to the defenders, remaining there for most of the day, before escorting wounded back to Minas Tirith. In the morning of the next day, despite stout resistance, the Witch-king's forces crossed the Anduin and Faramir retreated to the Causeway Forts of the Rammas Echor, the wall surrounding the Pelennor Fields, holding the position for most of March 12. That night, they were attacked by the Witch-king's forces, who had been joined by Haradrim regiments. After giving a report to Denethor, Faramir left to command the garrison. On March 11, Denethor sent forces to reinforce the garrison at Osgiliath, expecting a large blow from the enemy. They have paid dear for the crossing, but less dearly than we hoped. This was the smaller of Sauron's forces the larger host issuing forth from the Black Gate. The Witch-king of Angmar emerged from the city on a black horse, accompanied by an army stated to be larger than any that departed from the vale since the time of Isildur. When they arrived, they saw a red flash emanating from beyond the eastern mountains - likely from Orodruin - which was answered by lightning and blue flame issuing from Minas Morgul and the surrounding hills. During the Dawnless Day, the Ring-bearer Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, and their guide, Gollum, approached Minas Morgul. The Muster of Rohan, led by King Théoden, left the camp at Dunharrow, the Beacons of Gondor being lit one day prior. The purpose was two-fold: to prevent the Rohirrim from reaching Minas Tirith, and to attempt to cut off the garrison at Osgiliath. On that same day, an army from the Black Gate emerged and captured the island of Cair Andros. Sauron's purpose was to instil fear amongst the Army of the West, and also to ease the passing of his minions who feared daylight. A large cloud from Mordor silently crept over the lands of Rohan and Gondor, covering the sun and preventing sunlight from penetrating the clouds. This was the day which is called the Dawnless Day. There was no dawn between March 9 and 10. Beregond to Pippin about Sauron's cloud This is some device of his malice, some broil of fume from the Mountain of Fire that he sends to darken hearts and council. Due to the threat of a huge fleet of Corsair warships sailing from Umbar, the southern fiefdoms of Gondor sent far fewer people to aid Minas Tirith's defense than expected. He decided to release his long-prepared army in hopes of quickly annihilating his greatest enemy, Gondor before aid could arrive. After this decisive victory, Aragorn revealed himself to Sauron through the Palantír of Orthanc, which spurred the Dark Lord into action, making him send his armies before the full force was prepared. They were, however, defeated by the forces of the Rohirrim in the Battle of the Hornburg. Nine months passed after the skirmish in Osgiliath when Sauron's ally Saruman sent forth a large army to destroy the people of Rohan. However while the eastern half of the city fell, Boromir the son of Steward Denethor II successfully defended the western half by destroying the last bridge that crossed the Anduin river. Gondor was first attacked on Jwhen the forces of Mordor launched a surprise attack on the ruined city of Osgiliath.
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