A raiding force under Thomas Beaufort, Earl of Dorset, was confronted by a larger French army under Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac at Valmont.

In January 1416, 900 men-at-arms and 1500 archers arrived to reinforce the garrison at Harfleur, which had been captured in the previous September following a siege.

The English had time to form a fighting line, placing their horses and baggage to the rear, before the French launched a mounted attack.

This allowed Dorset, who had been wounded, to rally his men and lead them to a small hedged garden nearby, which they defended till nightfall.

The French withdrew to Valmont for the night, rather than stay in the field, and this allowed Dorset to lead his men off under the cover of darkness to take shelter in woods at Les Loges.

Alfred Burne spoke of the "achievement of this devoted little band of English soldiers" as "epic"[12] and his view is echoed by Matthew Strickland.

[13] Newhall, however, felt the overall result was "satisfying" to the French[14] and Juliet Barker describes it as a "disastrous occasion" for the English.

[15] Perhaps the most balanced summary is given by Wylie: "It is true that the Earl of Dorset had extricated himself from a deadly trap with wonderful nerve and pluck, yet his foolhardy adventure had cost him immensely dear in men, horses and material".