Battle of Bywater: The Last Fight in the Shire

When Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin returned to the Shire in November of 3019 Third Age, they found their beloved homeland dramatically changed. The once peaceful and welcoming countryside had become hostile and unwelcoming, with large gates blocking the road at the Brandywine Bridge. Their initial shock at these changes was compounded by the realization that their fellow hobbits seemed fearful and subdued.

The returning heroes encountered numerous signs of oppression throughout the Shire. Large numbers of new rules and regulations were posted everywhere, enforced by groups of surly Men who called themselves the Chief's Men. These rules restricted everything from the use of inns to the sharing of food and goods between hobbits, creating an atmosphere of fear and suspicion.

Hope emerged in the form of Farmer Cotton, who had been quietly organizing resistance against the oppressors. The well-respected farmer from Bywater had been gathering like-minded hobbits who refused to accept the new order, creating a network of resistance that would prove crucial in the coming battle.

The mastermind behind the Shire's transformation was revealed to be Saruman, the fallen wizard who now called himself Sharkey. After his defeat at Isengard, Saruman had made his way to the Shire to exact revenge on the hobbits, particularly Frodo Baggins, whom he blamed for his downfall.

Under Saruman's direction, the beautiful landscape of the Shire was systematically destroyed. The new rules forced hobbits to surrender most of their produce, while trees were needlessly cut down and replaced with ugly new buildings. The once-pristine rivers became polluted, and the pleasant gardens of Hobbiton were replaced with industrial machinery.

The takeover had been facilitated by Lotho Sackville-Baggins, who had styled himself as 'Chief' of the Shire. Lotho's ambition and greed led him to initially welcome Saruman's men, believing he would maintain control while gaining power and wealth. His alliance with the fallen wizard would prove to be his ultimate undoing.

Saruman gathered a force of ruffians, mostly Men from the south, who terrorized the local population. These bullies enforced arbitrary rules, took the best of everything for themselves, and imprisoned any hobbits who dared to resist. Their abuse of power created an atmosphere of fear and resentment throughout the Shire.

The turning point came when Merry Brandybuck sounded the Horn of Rohan, a gift from King Éomer. The clear notes of the silver horn rang across Bywater and beyond, awakening the fighting spirit of hobbits everywhere. The sound reminded them of their ancient courage and stirred them to action against their oppressors.

Under the guidance of the returned travelers, the hobbits quickly organized themselves into an effective fighting force. Years of hunting and archery practice proved valuable as they prepared to defend their homeland. The natural discipline and organization of hobbit society helped them rapidly form into effective units.

Swift messengers were dispatched to all four Farthings of the Shire, carrying word of the uprising. The messages called for all able-bodied hobbits to join the resistance, and the response was overwhelming. From Buckland to the Far Downs, hobbits armed themselves with whatever weapons they could find and began marching toward Bywater.

Merry and Pippin's military experience from their participation in the War of the Ring proved invaluable during the preparation for battle. Merry had served in Rohan and fought in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, while Pippin had served in Gondor and participated in the Battle of the Morannon. Their knowledge of military tactics and strategy would prove crucial in organizing the hobbit resistance.

The hobbits chose Bywater as their battlefield, using the natural features of the landscape to their advantage. Under Merry's direction, they positioned archers behind hedges and walls, while other hobbits prepared to meet the ruffians head-on. The careful positioning would prove crucial in the coming battle.

The hobbits worked through the night to create effective defensive positions. They built barricades across the road and concealed groups of fighters in the surrounding fields and houses. Their knowledge of the local terrain allowed them to prepare numerous escape routes and alternative positions, giving them a significant tactical advantage.

The battle began when nearly two hundred ruffians marched into Bywater, confident in their superior size and strength. They had grown complacent from months of terrorizing the seemingly docile hobbits and were completely unprepared for organized resistance. The column of Men walked directly into the prepared trap, unaware of the hundreds of hobbits waiting in ambush.

At the crucial moment, the hobbits revealed their true numbers. Over two hundred hobbits emerged from their hiding places, surrounding the ruffians completely. The Men found themselves facing opponents who, though smaller in stature, greatly outnumbered them and held superior tactical positions.

Merry called out to the ruffians, offering them the chance to surrender peacefully. He declared that armed hobbits surrounded them and that resistance would be futile. This attempt at avoiding bloodshed demonstrated the hobbits' inherent preference for peaceful resolution when possible.

When the leader of the ruffians responded with scorn and ordered an attack, the Battle of Bywater began in earnest. The ruffians charged the barricades, but their assault was met with a volley of arrows from hidden hobbit archers. The element of surprise gave the hobbits an immediate advantage in the ensuing combat.

Sam Gamgee's intimate knowledge of the Shire's geography proved crucial during the battle. Having spent years tending gardens and walking the paths of Hobbiton and Bywater, he could guide groups of hobbits through hidden shortcuts and concealed paths. This allowed the hobbit forces to outmaneuver the ruffians repeatedly during the fighting.

Merry and Pippin demonstrated remarkable leadership throughout the battle, drawing on their recent military experiences. They coordinated the hobbit forces effectively, ensuring that the ruffians remained surrounded and couldn't escape to cause havoc elsewhere in the Shire. Their confident commands and strategic decisions helped maintain order among the hobbit fighters.

Farmer Cotton and his sons fought with particular distinction during the battle. Their bravery inspired other hobbits to stand firm against the ruffians, and their knowledge of local farming tools helped turn ordinary implements into effective weapons. The Cotton family's resistance became legendary in later hobbit tales of the battle.

The Battle of Bywater was not without its cost to the hobbits. Nineteen brave hobbits lost their lives defending their homeland, making it the bloodiest battle in the Shire since the Battle of Greenfields centuries earlier. Each fallen hobbit was honored as a hero who had given their life to free the Shire from oppression.

The ruffians suffered much heavier casualties, with nearly seventy of their number killed during the fighting. Many others were wounded, and those who surrendered were taken prisoner. The decisive victory demonstrated that hobbits, when united and determined, could be formidable warriors despite their peaceful nature.

The hobbits showed remarkable organization in the aftermath of the battle, tending to both their own wounded and their prisoners. The prisoners were held under guard but treated fairly, demonstrating the hobbits' civilized nature even in victory. The wounded received care regardless of their allegiance, showcasing hobbit values of mercy and compassion.

Following the battle, the hobbits confronted Saruman at Bag End, where he had made his headquarters. The fallen wizard remained defiant even in defeat, revealing his contempt for the hobbits and their way of life. The confrontation brought to light the full extent of his malice and bitterness.

During this confrontation, the hobbits learned the tragic fate of Lotho Sackville-Baggins. Saruman revealed that Wormtongue had murdered Lotho on his orders, showing the true evil that had taken root in the Shire. This revelation shocked even those who had opposed Lotho's rule.

Saruman's own end came swiftly and unexpectedly when Wormtongue, driven by years of abuse and a final cruel taunt from his master, cut Saruman's throat. The wizard's body seemed to dissolve into mist, blown away by a cold wind from the West. This marked the final end of Saruman the White, once the head of the White Council.

With Saruman's death, the last battle of the War of the Ring came to its conclusion. The fact that this final conflict took place in the Shire, far from the great battles of Gondor and Rohan, served as a reminder that even the smallest and most peaceful places could be touched by the great events of Middle-earth.

The Battle of Bywater represented more than just the last conflict of the War of the Ring. It marked the moment when hobbits proved to themselves and others that they could face great challenges with courage and resolve. The victory demonstrated that the Shire's peaceful nature was a choice rather than a result of weakness.

The battle revealed the hobbits' remarkable capacity for organization and coordination when faced with a serious threat. Their ability to quickly mobilize, create effective battle plans, and execute complex tactical maneuvers surprised even those who knew them well. This organizational capability would serve them well in the years to come.

The battle's outcome had a lasting impact on how hobbits viewed themselves and their role in the wider world. While maintaining their peaceful way of life, they gained a new confidence in their ability to defend themselves and their values. This self-assurance influenced the Shire's approach to self-governance in the Fourth Age.

In the days following the battle, the hobbits worked quickly to dismantle the symbols of Sharkey's rule. The new gates, guard houses, and other structures built during the occupation were torn down. The arbitrary rules and restrictions that had oppressed the Shire were officially abolished, returning freedom to the inhabitants.

The challenging task of restoring the Shire to its former beauty began immediately after the battle. Hobbits from all four Farthings joined together to clean up the damage caused during Sharuman's rule. The unity shown during the battle continued in these restoration efforts, strengthening the bonds between different parts of the Shire.

Sam Gamgee played a crucial role in healing the Shire's wounded landscape. Using the gift of earth from Galadriel's garden, he planted trees throughout the Shire, including a mallorn tree in the Party Field. His efforts ensured that the natural beauty of the Shire would not only be restored but enhanced, making the land even more beautiful than before.