After being delayed by various life event, I finished my version of the battle ("Advance on Leith") this AM and I will post up a bunch of pics and AAR later. It was a reversal of Fred's result, a crushing Scottish victory (which I dedicate to fsn to lighting his heart. 😄)
How could this happen you ask? Commonwealth infantry was very tough but not when assailed from every side. It is also rumored that Cromwell was suffering from an advanced case of piles, causing him to dismount every hundred yards.

Looking forward to your AAR d_Guy

Interesting that the scenario gives a wide range of results, a damn good sign I'd say

Quote from: d_Guy on 28 August 2019, 06:08:48 PM
It is also rumored that Cromwell was suffering from an advanced case of piles, causing him to dismount every hundred yards.

Sounds more like a case of 'The Leith Grief' or 'Scots Trots', an early Caledonian version of 'Delhi Belly'!

Piles wouldn't have you jumping on and off a horse. Been there, done that, though a long time ago.

Have you ever been on a horse galloping towards a 5 bar gate....(This is as a complete non rider).....Thinking "NOOOOOO.......**** me..AAARGH !!!..this daft mare is going to try and clear this."

(And there's me without proper reins.....just a head-collar and lead rope taking the place of the reins, bracing myself for landing the other side....When the wretched horse digs its front 'feet' in the dirt, and stops on a sixpence.......I swear I slid up the horse's neck, almost to its ears.....and slid all the way back down again....RIGHT onto its withers.....Crushing a delicate part of the male anatomy.)

Everybody who happened to be watching thought it was hilarious.

I didn't......It hurt....LOTS !

Cheers - Phil

 

My sympathies, Phil. The first time I was on a horse, it was assumed I was an expert because I had the stirrups up really high like a jockey - in fact, no-one had adjusted them from the last rider (who must have been a child), no-one asked me what my experience was and I trusted that the personnel in the horse trekking company were competent. The horse I was on completely ignored me (so wouldn't turn or stop when I tried pulling reins, etc.) and just followed the rest. Riding jockey style ain't easy. It was really scary when all the experienced riders galloped full pelt across a field and this one followed so I'm glad I wasn't heading for a gate (we were heading for a walll and hedge, mind you). It was just as well I was fit in these days. I barely managed to keep my balance and hold on and, if I had come off, well, who knows ....   

What are these things called stirrups, Davy ?

I've only been out once, kitted out 'properly' on a gee-gee......and I ended up with one hell of a headache...'cos Von insisted I had a proper riding 'hat' on...and it was too small.

In all the years I've been around these pea brained animals, I've probably only been out 'riding' a couple of dozen times....always without a saddle, with the exception above...and usually without any sort of reins.....I'd just hold onto the mane.

I would not recommend this...Unless you're as lucky as me, regarding not breaking your neck, when you get thrown.

(No wonder my neck and back hurt so much, nowadays.)

Cheers - Phil

Quote from: Techno on 29 August 2019, 02:00:41 PM
.......I swear I slid up the horse's neck, almost to its ears.....and slid all the way back down again....RIGHT onto its withers.....Crushing a delicate part of the male anatomy.)

We call this body surfing. 

"piles" will become "runs" Ta

I used to go riding on a lovely long beach outside Cape Town, under the guidance of a local place that rescued run-down racehorses. They carefully explained to us that, though the animals were now pretty well rehabilitated, they had been left with permantly tender mouths following years of rough treatment, so we had to go very lightly with the reins. Fair enough, but it's also bad manners to overtake the leader on a group ride, and this made for conflicting orders when we started a gallop, since when a racehorse starts galloping, he wants to get out in front and stay there, and the only way to stop him is by firm use of the reins (forbidden, as I say). Never did work out what they expected us to do.

Quote from: FierceKitty on 30 August 2019, 12:05:53 AM
Never did work out what they expected us to do.

Which did they value more, the comfort of the horses or adherence to protocol? My guess is the former (unless the protocol was for the safety of all). It occurs this might be some sort of allegory of your recent teaching experience? 

The full AAR and many picture of my Leith playthrough are now here:
https://inredcoatragsattired.com/2019/08/30/the-advance-on-leith-battle/

A brief summary:
The opening move. I need to be upfront and say I made an error in the Scots deployment allowing Innes' and Leven's brigades to be placed rather further west then they should have been. This MAY have assisted in the Scottish victory. V


The Commonwealth was plagued with activation problems through out the game and their advance is exceedingly slow. On the Scots' left, Leven has taken out the lead element of Lambert's cavalry brigade and the Scots infantry are collapsing to the right to defend the Leith roads. V


Around the fourth turn, Lambert's brigade has routed Leven's brigade and is pursuing them off the table. The Scots' left is totally uncovered (with Cromwell approaching toward it). Monck's foot is, however, being shredded by the stiff Scots resistance with a full brigade of Scots lancers coming up behind them. V


At the moment of crises in turn six, Cromwell is demolishing the Scot's left but can't quite seal the deal. The Scots do, however, by finishing of the English infantry in the center (if it is not obvious, blue lines are Scots, red lines are English). V



The Commonwealth cavalry retreat back toward the east. V

 

Certainly a different game to either of ours

Great to see it could have gone either way

Both Peter & I choose to bring Cromwell on the southern table edge supporting Monck's attack

This had them better placed to contend with Montgomerie's Brigade of Horse and able to support Lambert

Thanks for taking the time to review and play the scenario and post the batrep of your game 

I hope you enjoyed playing it. I tried to make it evenly balanced (which I think it is given the varied outcomes so far).

Now I have enough of Montrose's men finished (once I have based up the Gordon Horse which I am collecting from Paul tonight) I'm going back to 1644-45 period for a while.

The long term plan is to refight the Battle of Dunbar at Call to Arms next August once we have all the necessary regiments done (Only about 6 more Covenant regiments, commanders and artillery crews to go Paul  )     

All looking good

Super report, Bill. 

Cheers - Phil