Ansom avoided getting owned in force because the Tool canceled Parson's plan. And Misty died. And the dwagons were recalled. All of that together screwed any normal chance for him to make a serious dent in Ansom's forces. And everything he was doing was anything an intelligent, experienced gamer would have done. But now he has gone from possibly ending the war to being right back where Gobwin Knob was before he arrived: up Boop Creek without a paddle.
This is where he will have to actually have to get creative. This is where even your best players will hang it up and resign the game. Parson is now blind and has no command-control-coordination. His forces are out-numbered and demoralized. His most useful units are gone, his best caster is catatonic and his best counselor is in despair. His life is in danger and he is adrift in an alien world with resources he barely understands and which do not seem particularly useful at the moment. What is he going to possibly be able to do? I can't wait to find out.