Fight at the Fist

Fight at the Fist
The Battle of the Fist of the First Men - by zippo514 ©
Conflict	Conflict beyond the Wall
Date	299 AC
Place	Fist of the First Men
Result	Others victory
Combatants Night's Watch Others Commanders Lord Commander Jeor Mormont unknown Strength 300 men Hundreds of wights Casualties ~ 250 with more dying on the retreat Thoren Smallwood† Ottyn Wythers† unknown

The fight at the Fist is a lopsided loss for the Night's Watch. Taking place on the Fist of the First Men beyond the Wall, the Night's Watch is unable to defend against the wights sent against them.

Background

Lord Commander Jeor Mormont leads three hundred men on an expedition beyond the Wall, with two hundred men from Castle Black and the rest from the Shadow Tower, in search of the wildlings and, if possible, to discover the whereabouts of Benjen Stark. Finding neither, Lord Commander Mormont choses the Fist of the First Men, an ancient ringfort, as his base of operations while he sends out scouting parties in search of information.

From the Fist, Mormont hopes to stop any march on the Wall. He strengthens their defenses with spikes and pits, caltrops scattered on the slopes, and a ring of watchers around the camp and along the river to warn of any approach.

When the men arrive at the Fist they make camp. Dywen feels that it smells cold, while Jon Snow thinks it smells like death.

Battle

While waiting for the last of the search parties to return to decide on a plan of action regarding the wildlings, the Watch are attacked by hundreds of wights, both human and animal. Their volleys of arrows have no effect against the undead attackers and Mormont orders them to use fire arrows, slowing the wights but not stopping them. The Watch is quickly overrun, but Mormont is able to form up about fifty survivors to break out of the Fist.

Aftermath

After a crushing defeat, the majority of the Night's Watch who fight on the Fist are slain by the insurmountable odds. Those who survive are led by Jeor Mormont on a grim march back to Craster's Keep where the next disaster occurs.

Quotes

Jon: The Old Bear commanded. This place was high and strong, and he made it stronger. He dug pits and planted stakes, laid up food and water. He was ready for ...
Mance: ... me? Aye, he was. Had I been fool enough to storm this hill, I might have lost five men for every crow I slew and still counted myself lucky. But when the dead walk, walls and stakes and swords mean nothing.

—Jon Snow and Mance Rayder

Sam … would you wake me, please? I am having this terrible nightmare.

—Dolorous Edd to Samwell Tarly