ECW 1644

Started by paulr, 01 May 2021, 05:51:33 AM

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paulr

Our regular wargame host asked that I stage an English Civil War game. I took the opportunity to get all my forces on the table.

My forces are based around the battle of Cheriton. There were a lot of units of commanded shot at Cheriton, when building my forces I also painted pikes and standards to add to all the commanded shot. For example the Yellow Regiment of the London Trained Bands had one pike heavy batalia and two units of commanded shot. My force include two shot heavy batalia of the Yellow Regiment of the London Trained Bands and one shot heavy batalia of the Yellow Auxiliary Regiment of the London Trained Bands.

This gives me a force of over a dozen horse and over a dozen foot per side plus supporting dragoons, forlorn hopes and artillery (1,683 figures).

The terrain was set up with a central wood, a hill on both the Royalist and Parliament's right rear. The area was broken by a number of hedges with a manor, village, farm and two small copses scattered about. The players were then able to deploy the troops as they saw fit.



The Royalist deployed with the Earl of Forth's Contingent on the right and Lord Hopton's Southern Army on the left. They massed most of their foot on the hill between the manor and the wood. Colonel Thomas Howard's Brigade of Horse covered their right flank while Major General Sir John Smyth's three Brigades of Horse covered their left.

Parliament deployed on a wider front Sir Michael Livesey's Brigade of Horse covered their left. Major-General Christopher Potley's Brigade of Foot deployed with the aim of fixing the attention any Royalist foot on the Manor hill. Major-General Richard Browne's London Brigade of Foot deployed in the centre planning to occupy the wood with the Peasants and Townsmen accompanying the Trained Bands who would advance to the right of the wood. This raw brigade was supported by Sir William Balfour's Brigade of Horse in reserve. Sir Arthur Hesilrigge's Brigade of Horse deployed to their right aiming to make use of the open meadow around the farm. Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Leighton's Brigade deployed on the right with Sir William Waller present to encourage a prompt advance.

The Royalist foot moved up to the edge of the Manor hill while their horse made slow progress on their right.



On their left their horse advanced boldly and engaged Parliament's horse and the London Trained Bands.



In the left centre Parliament's foot advanced to the hedge line and commenced an exchange of fire at long musket shot gaining some initial advantage through their supporting light artillery.



On the left Sir Michael Livesey's Brigade of Horse covered another hedge line supported by dragoons in a small copse.



In the right centre Major-General Richard Browne's London Brigade of Foot and Sir Arthur Hesilrigge's Brigade of Horse advanced and were opposed by Major General Sir John Smyth's three Brigades of Horse.



Rather than exchange fire the Earl of Forth lead Colonel Charles Gerard & Sir Henry Bard's Regiments of Foot through their artillery and down the hill in a charge against Sir William Waller's Regiment of Foot. Sir Bernard Astley & Colonel Matthew Appleyard's Regiments of Foot also charged through their artillery into Colonel Ralph Weldon's Regiment of Foot. Sir Marmaduke Rawdon's Regiment of Foot expecting a longer cannonade failed to advance in support.



And so ended our first evening.

Our second evening started with intense fighting around the farm. Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Leighton's Brigade had managed to occupy the farm and was pressuring the Royalist left. Sir Arthur Hesilrigge's Brigade of Horse had suffered heavy losses but had inflicted similar losses on two of Major General Sir John Smyth's three Brigades of Horse.



The remaining Royalist foot on Manor hill charged in support of the two batalia already engaged. The Sir John Owen & Colonel Charles Lloyd's Regiments and Colonel Charles Gerard & Sir Henry Bard's Regiments fought furiously charging repeatedly with units on both sides falling into disorder.



Fighting became general all along the line except on the Royalist right where Colonel Thomas Howard's Brigade of Horse continued to only slowly advance. Sir Michael Livesey's Brigade of Horse remained behind their hedge supported by the dragoons in the copse.



Colonel Samuel Jones' Regiment of Foot had repulsed the ferocious attacks of Sir John Owen & Colonel Charles Lloyd's Regiments and successfully counter attacked destroying them. This success however left them disordered facing Sir Thomas Blackwall & Colonel S Hawkin's fresh Regiments on the hill and Colonel A Thelwall & Sir Theophilius Gilbey's Regiments positioned to threaten their flank. The remaining foot on both sides were heavily engaged and disorder was mounting. Compounding Royalist concerns the Earl of Forth had been killed while leading Colonel Charles Gerard & Sir Henry Bard's Regiments of Foot against Sir William Waller's Regiment of Foot.



On the Royalist left Major General Sir John Smyth was deep in thought, half his horse was lost, a brigade commander - Lord John Stuart had withdrawn seriously wounded and half the widely spaced survivors were disordered. The only bright spot for the Royalists was that Sir Arthur Hesilrigge was swept up in the pursuit of one of William Waller's Regiments of Horse and was unlikely to return to command his Brigade.



And so ended our second evening, Parliament was ahead on their right. Their foot in front of Manor hill were in disorder and their only support was Sir William Balfour's Brigade of Horse.

Early on our third evening the fight below Manor hill took a dramatic turn. Two of Parliament's batalia broke. Colonel Ralph Weldon's Regiment of Foot broke as they attempted to charge Sir Bernard Astley & Colonel Matthew Appleyard's Regiments of Foot. Sir Arthur Haselrigge's Regiment of Foot was broken by a charge by Sir Marmaduke Rawdon's Regiment of Foot. Major-General Christopher Potley was seriously wounded at the head of his own Regiment of Foot and had to quit the field.



Worse was to follow for Parliament the remaining three batalia of Major-General Christopher Potley's Brigade of Foot, without his leadership, and charged in the flank by Colonel A Thelwall & Sir Theophilius Gilbey's Regiments of Foot broke.



On the other flank things were going better for Parliament. Two of Major General Sir John Smyth's three Brigades of Horse had been broken. Unfortunately all but one regiment of Parliament's horse had set off in hot pursuit. Colonel Jonas Vandruske's Regiment was under the direct control of Sir William Waller and threatened the flank of Major General Sir John Smyth's remaining brigade.



Royalist Colonel Thomas Howard's Brigade of Horse after its initial slow advance charged home against Sir Michael Livesey's Brigade of Horse and despite the loss of a regiment broke all three of Livesey's Regiments of Horse leaving his Dragoons isolated around the copse.



Sir William Balfour's Brigade of Horse attempted to stem the Royalist tide below Manor hill but Colonel John Dalbier's Regiment was broken by Sir Bernard Astley & Colonel Matthew Appleyard's Regiments of Foot. They were in turn broken by Sir John Meldrum's Regiment of Horse supported by Peasants and Townsmen charging out from the woods.



Major General Sir John Smyth's remaining brigade of Horse managed to turn in time and break Colonel Jonas Vandruske's Regiment of Horse claiming victory for the King.



It had been a fascinating and enjoyable game over three evenings with many twists and turns along the way.
Lord Lensman of Wellington
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fred.

Great looking game, and great write up, must have taken an age to do all the unit names on the photos

I'm intrigued that you played the game over 3 evenings, both from the logistics of getting the players available for 3 evenings, and that most games of FKaP we have played crack along a great pace, so don't take that long to play, even with a lot of troops on the table.
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Techno II

Cracking stuff, Paul !!!  :-bd

Cheers - Phil. :)

Duke Speedy of Leighton

Holy tamoly, that is brilliant
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DecemDave

Fantastic.  Thanks for posting.    :) :)

This will be worth studying in detail.    I'll be happy if I can achieve half of that set up.

Steve J

That is very impressive!

Westmarcher

Terrific report!  :-bd

What size of squares in your playing grid, Paul? And are these counters (presumably drawn from a bag or something) instead of playing cards?
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.

Matt J

Lovely looking game Paul  :-bd
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pierre the shy

Quote from: Westmarcher on 01 May 2021, 09:41:04 AM
Terrific report!  :-bd

Indeed....thanks to Paul for setting up the game......and for taking the time to write up a truly epic battle report  :-bd

like Waterloo the battle was a very close run thing. The Royalists were pretty lucky to win as the game literally came down to the final combat outcome......

There did seem to be a large number of commanders who were either killed or left the field wounded...inculding the Earl of Forth (very careless of you Peter  :-[ ;) )

The Royalist left was pretty well overrun after some hard fighting, but the centre and right wing eventually managed to carry the day.  

Quote from: Westmarcher on 01 May 2021, 09:41:04 AM
What size of squares in your playing grid, Paul? And are these counters (presumably drawn from a bag or something) instead of playing cards?

We use a 150mm grid normally Westmarcher....the cavalry and larger pike and shot units are on 130mm x 55mm bases while forlorn hopes, dragoons, artillery etc are on 90mm x 55mm bases.

Yes, as you can see in the 9th picture from the top we use bags of small cardboard chits rather than playing cards as they are less "intrusive" on the table.
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
we are not now that strength which in old days
moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are.

mmcv


Poggle

A thing of beauty!  =D> :-bd

paulr

Quote from: fred. on 01 May 2021, 07:05:50 AM
Great looking game, and great write up, must have taken an age to do all the unit names on the photos

I'm intrigued that you played the game over 3 evenings, both from the logistics of getting the players available for 3 evenings, and that most games of FKaP we have played crack along a great pace, so don't take that long to play, even with a lot of troops on the table.

We are fortunate enough to have 3-5 players who can make our regular Saturday evening games and for this game the 4 players were able to turn up each week :)

We play at a gentlemanly pace ;)

We had four players and tend to take it in turns to move etc rather than both players on a side moving at the same time. This means that everyone has a better feel for the whole battle instead of each player focusing on their area. It allows for (in)appropriate commentary from 3 players on the actions of the one moving. We also take tea half way through each evening ;)
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Norm

Now, that's a game! lovely stuff.