More Gaming: Part 2

 The last game of the week, I was invited to Erik's for an English Civil War clash using his own rules which he has tried to keep on two sides of an A4 sheet, so this is the second battle involving Royalists and Parliament in just three days.

Erik had set up the Battle of Lansdown Hill and had prepared OOB's, rules and a lovely map and information on the battle, I had a quick look over before arriving. Parliament under Sir William Waller had marched out of Bath and took position on Lansdown Hill, the Royalists under Sir Ralph Hopton tried to tempt Waller from his hill but failed and decided to withdraw. Waller saw an opportunity and attacked Hopton's rear around 3pm.

The Royalists turn around, Lansdown Hill in the background.

At first glance it looked like I (Waller) could inflict some damage on Hopton's (Erik) rear guard with four cavalry squadrons vs  two, I also had three more approaching the enemy left flank supported by some dragoons. Full of enthusiasm I threw my troopers at the enemy, I was roughly handled and a bit disappointed as it looked like I had failed, I had lost a full brigade of cavalry and my centre decided to retire towards the nearby hill, everything seemed to be in Hopton's favour as more and more Royalists turned up. However as the dust settled and both sides reorganised several of the enemy units had taken heavy casualties and were going to need some luck to push me off the hill.

A tsunami of Parliamentary cavalry.

Lansdown Hill.

Surely we will win........

My flanking cavalry about to be run off.

 

With the first phase of the battle over we set up for the second phase, I put my dragoons along a hedge bordering a wood on my left supported by two badly cut up cavalry units, I had a full regiment of pike and shot in my centre interspersed with cannon the on my far right Haselrig's 'Lobsters', armoured cavalry completely fresh. Erik put his gun batteries in the centre and split his army across both flanks with most of the cavalry on his left and most of the infantry on his right. I was a bit dubious about my ability to hold the left as it was fairly weak.

Steady boys, steady.

The Royalist right move on the hill.

Haselrig charges in.

Fortuna smiled on me as Haselrig's troopers smashed into the Royalist cavalry and slowly and surely routed all around them, the guns on both sides firing at long range were basically no threat to either side. Seeing this and the Royalist infantry intent on rolling up my left I now decided to move a gun and all my infantry apart from one dragoon unit over to support my dodgy flank. I did this just in time as Erik chased away some dragoons and my supporting cavalry. With the Royalist left destroyed it was now up to his last untouched infantry regiment on the right to continue in its attempt to roll up my flank and centre. It was not to be as the Cornishmen had taken several hits during their advance from the dragoons and the Parliamentary foot stood their ground and and finished them off, they fled, the battle was over. 

Haselrig routs the enemy left.

 

Waller holds the hill.

I was a bit surprised at the result as it looked like my fate had been sealed during phase one, but the damage inflicted by my forlorn hope's ensured taking the hill would not be easy for the enemy, this along with the success of Haselrig and the redeployment of my infantry sealed the victory.

I have fought at Erik's three or four times and each time the armies and terrain keeps getting better, this battlefield was a real joy to play on, I suspect he will need another room if he keeps this up. 

I have a busy week next week, Ed on Wednesday night and Matt on Thursday, not sure about the club yet on Tuesday. There may also be a visit from GHQ's David Bickley, I must break out the chocolate biscuits, a present to our troops in Mafeking.