At one thirty in the morning the attack began. The cannons opened up from all directions in a massive thunderous bombardment. The heavy shots smashed into the walls blasting massive holes and craters. Powdered stone sprayed out from the impact covering the Swedish defenders with a fine coat of dust. The smoke rose from the cannon and drifted away. The steady bombardment continued.
Towards noon the Muscovite forces advanced in silence at a steady pace toward the Swedish city of Helsingfors. Stopping they opened fire in one concentrated volley that ripped through the Swedish defender, the Swedes retaliated and the battlefield was covered with smoke, gunshots and the screams of the dying. The hail of bullets cut down hundreds of soldiers, smoke from the gunss, cannons, and fires obscured the battlefield in a smoky haze.
Alexius surveying the battlefield on horseback ordered the conscripts forward. The mass of soldiers charged toward Swedish lines screaming the first line impacted and the fierce and desperate hand-to-hand fighting began.
The better trained and armed Swedish regulars inflicted horrendous casualties on the conscripts driving them back with bayonet and rifles. The conscripts began falling back. Alexius rode his horse forward shouting threats and encouragements urging his soldiers on and throwing fresh waves at Swedish lines. Wave after waves of conscripts crashed into Swedish lines as waves breaking against the shore.
The Swedish lines began buckling under the pressure falling back under the press of Muscovite soldiers.
Alexius ordered the Muscovite regulars forward. The Swedish line shattered under the last offensive. Muscovite rifle fire tore through Swedish ranks. Alexius charged forward with his cavalry hacking through Swedish soldiers. The mobile Muscovite cavalry rode through the Swedish defenders trampling the first line. Waving his bloody sword Alexius shouted to his cannoneers to open fire.
With thunderous booms the cannons opened up smashing into the walls of the city. One section of the wall collapsed under concentrate fire. Elsewhere a lucky cannon shot blasted the wooden gate apart peppering the nearby troops with wooden splinters.
The Muscovite forces surged forward forcing their way through the destroyed gateway. The Swedish soldiers on the walls were rapidly picked off. Others fled into the city but were rapidly hunted down by the Finnish Irregulars.
The Swedish defenses collapsed as the few survivors surrendered and were captured.
Alexius rode through the shattered gates triumphantly at the head of his army. The last pockets of Swedish resistance had been crushed and the city secured. The Muscovite Army marched down the city streets flanked by the Finnish Irregulars at their sides and Alexius at the head. The Finnish people lined the streets watching the mighty army, they cheered at their liberation from the hands of the Swedes. Women wept with joy and men offered to join the Muscovites offering their services.
Vasili who had been watching the battle from a safe distance rode up to join Alexius. “An excellent victory my Tsar” he said,
Alexius grinned “We celebrate tonight Vasili”
“Unfortunately there is no time for that. I have received word that the Poles have broken through our Southern defenses and defeated General Pytor at Kursk. They are nearing Moscow.”
“Get me a fresh horse. I am going to Moscow.”
