Madeline and her raiders were not as prepared and nor very motivated for the attack

Madeline was struggling to get things coordinated. She didn't have the best of the Powder Gangers, indeed, she had some of the dregs of a population that was already the dregs of society.The Powder Gangers were fairly disorganized and they lacked the esprit de corps of a fighting unit. They were unsure of Madeline's leadership and reputation. When the Powder Gangers launched their attack on the unsuspecting Caravan they made a number of mistakes and many of the caravan went hurtling through the dawn light to safety, their loot with them. A pyrrhic victory at best. Madeline took her share of the loot, and her men grumbled at the failure.

Back at the Powder Gangers base people would talk about her failure.