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The Battle of the Cowshed
Date 12 October 1918 Location Animal Farm (former Manor Farm), England Result Decisive victory of the animals
Belligerents
Humans	Animals
Commanders and leaders
Mr. Jones	Snowball
Strength
Unknown, estimates range from 10 to 15	Unknown, estimates range from 60 to 80
Casualties and losses
	one dead sheep

The Battle of the Cowshed was the first military conflict Animal Farm was involved in. A group of farmers, led by former owner of Animal Farm Mr. Jones, attacked the animals on 12 October 1918. Due to an elaborate defense plan of the pig Snowball, the animals were able to chase the humans away.

Background and Mr. Jones' preparations

Earlier this year, the animals of the farm revolted against the leadership of the humans on the farm. The owner, Mr. Jones, and his men got expelled and the animals organised themselves.

Mr. Jones took refuge at the Pig Hill Inn in Livington, where he puzzled out a recapture. His rather low esteem among the villagers, especially after the loss of his animals and property, made it very hard for him to gather men for his attack. In the end, only a few people from the two surrounding farms Pinchfield and Foxwood joined Mr. Jones and his own men in the battle. They were scantly armed and poorly prepared. Apart from Jones, who carried a shotgun, the attackers had only sticks.

Animal's preparations

Snowball, who developed to the leader of Animal Farm as well as the pig Napoleon, recognised very early the thread of humans trying to reclaim Animal Farm violently. In preparation for this event, he read several books about military tactics and created plans to fight an attack.

Battle

Snowballs defense plan

Mr. Jones didn't expect an organised defense of the animals at all. He considered the force of his men to be sufficient to overwhelm the flatfooted revolters.

The approaching attackers already have been recognised when they passed the five-barred gate by a group of pigeons. So Snowball had enough time to instruct the animal what to do. The first assault from the animals consisting of Snowball, the donkey Benjamin, the goat Muriel and a group of sheep should give the humans an impression of an unorganised defense. The blindfolded men followed the group of animals to the farm court where they got surrounded by all the other animals. Jones was able to shoot twice, one shot killed a sheep and another one lighly injured Snowball. Then, the horse Boxer stunned a stable-led and the humans fled.

Aftermath

Snowball and Boxer were awarded "Animal Hero 1st class", the shot sheep "Animal Hero 2nd class" posthumously for their strong commitment. The animals declared the day of the battle to a national holiday.

Mr. Jones dismissed the idea of regaining his farm. He worked for several weeks at the Pig Hill Inn as a waiter to collect enough money for a ticket to Canada. He set up a small croft where he lived from forestry. Other sources claim that Jones moved to a remote part of the country and passed his lifetime there. It is suggested that these rumours are spread from the propaganda department of Animal Farm.

References

• Bouvier, M. B.; Burns, D. E.; Wiggum , S.; Gumble , I. (1984). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-521-67461-X.
• Jones, Jonathan (1928). The Animals I used to own. My memoirs. Yorkton, Canada. ISBN 978-1-016725-20-1.
• Snowflake, Ingo (1940). My Life in Exile. Barnsley, UK: Leo Cooper. ISBN 0-96163-953-0.
• Walker, Ian (1999). Battles in English History. Gloucestershire, UK: Wrens Park. ISBN 0-016889-46-4.