Under the command of Jean of Dunois and Joan of Arc, the French brought started to reduce the English fortlets that surrounded the city one by one. Eventually, the English were forced to retreat. On 8 May, Orleans was free of the English.
Joan and her lieutenants (Gilles de Rais, Jean Poton de Xaintrailles, and La Hire) quickly took advantage of the weakness in the English forces. They launched a lighting campaign, striking at Jargeau ten miles east of Orleans on 11 June. They lay siege, using cannon to collapse one of the main towers, and then successfully stormed the town.
Next was Meung-sur-Loire on 15 June, where they forced the English to retreat, and on June 16, they turned to Beaugency. After taking control of the bridge across the Loire, they attacked. The English
