Defending against a siege

[integrate.this]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forums. I started my foray into the Total War series with Rome, which I loved, skipped Medieval 2, since my computer couldn't handle it, and am now enjoying Empire (though my new computer still pretty much can't handle it). Though me and Total War go back a few years though, I'm still pretty much an amateur at my grasp of the deeper mechanics.

Background:
So here's a problem I had last night. In the RTI campaign, I capture a French settlement, severely weakening my forces. Next turn, the French send another army to siege the settlement I just captured. I don't have time to reinforce my units, so I right click on the attacker and start a battle. I put all of my remaining guys on top of the fort walls, throw a few armed citizens over to the side to flank their siege units, and start the battle. I successfully destroy their siege units, and what results is a ridiculous stalemate - my guys are all out of ammo, and their guys are randomly wandering about outside my walls looking lost and forlorn.

Problem:
I figure that I can just run down the clock, and since they can't breach my walls, I'll come out on top, right? I would assume that victory goes to the defender. But no, instead, after 10 minutes of sitting there, I'm greeted with "Close defeat", and the enemy takes my settlement next turn. I quit the game in disgust.

Reason?
Now I think I know what happened here, but I don't like it. Since I'm the one that chose to attack them, I was the "attacker" and thus a stalemate went to the defender, i.e. them. But what was really happening was that they were sieging my fort and failed miserably. Am I interpretting this right? Can someone help me rationalize what happened so I can avoid similar situations in the future?

Thanks guys.

[Herr Shimmler]

You counter-attacked them, therefore, time is YOUR enemy.

[integrate.this]

You counter-attacked them, therefore, time is YOUR enemy.

Do you see though, how that doesn't align with what was actually happening on the battle map? And how exactly can they take my settlement if there's absolutely no way they could take it on the battle map?

[Braenn]

Oh they could take it if they had of completely destroyed you. But you attacked their siege, you sallyed forth as they used to call it back in the day

But when you attack it's your perogative to defeat them.

[Hmz..]

Had the same problem when the AI intercepted my troops. Since there force was considerably larger then mine i waited the battle out (AI was not attacking me). But to my suprise the battle was lost and my force gone

[willh90]

what i've noticed is that the AI always send atleast one unit straight to the center of the settlement they are attacking in order to cpature the flag. if you have no units on the central flag area then they just need to place one unit there in order to start the 2:00 minute (?) timer which will count down until you kill the units they have in the central area. if the timer reaches 0 you loose.

i've noticed that even if you have men on the wall their troops will barge thier way through them and arrive at the central area in drips and drabs. its possible that one of thier infantry units scaled the walls and made its way to the centre....