Retraining

All the firearms are gone (to the dismay of the Turkish cavalry) and half the Spahis are now rearmed and practicing with their new (old fashioned) weapons. 

Once my new pack of really thin drill bits (oops broke another one) gets here in a day or so, I'll finish them off and add some Elastolin Janissaries and cast some more ordinary Infantry.....and shields....and gunners......oh!....and guns....and..............

The First Encounter

Well..... its been "one of those"  weeks, well, two weeks to be honest. (it's June! Spring is easing into summer and there's planting and mowing and well,...."WINTER IS COMING!"...so there's firewood to be cut down, split etc). That's why the 12 turns I played took me 2 weeks despite each turn taking 5-10 minutes! 

Anyway, my late 18thC Mamluks have had experience of combat with infidel soldiers and they are keen to do it again, but in the mid-16thC now. They just need to rearm the cavalry with bows instead of firearms,  recruit some more troops and.....and....and, well, you know. 

However, both the Sultan and the Holy Roman Emperor are now determined to continue the fight. (What can I do to stop them?) I suspect some recruiting will end up being done by both sides.

Now, here is the brief illustrated news about this first clash (previous pictures not repeated...I think...).

________________

Rumors had started to appear about Turkish raids over the Emperor's lands and so a force was recruited and marched to the border. They managed to arrive in the nick of time as the Turks arrived at the little Blutaip river where there was a very small border guard at the main ford. (see previous posts for the early moves)

The Imperial forces arrive just in time to dispute the crossing.

The Imperial reinforcements pushed on while the Turkish light troops searched for fords and probed the strength of the defenders along the line. 

There were just enough Imperial troops to dispute the handful of river crossings but the Turks also had just enough troops. They sent their cavalry and skirmishers to probe for fords while the bulk of the Turkish infantry and artillery marched forward and began to deploy.

The Turkish light cavalry managed to cross the river on each flank, but not with enough strength to clear the Imperial cavalry and flank the Imperial infantry. Meanwhile, the infantry at the main ford fought a long bloody fight across the river, muskets, pikes, sword and shield and whatever was at hand.

At last, in the center, the Turks got their powder wet or they ran out of it, we'll never know for sure but the Imperial arquebusiers fired a deadly volley as the pikemen and halberdiers  pressed forward and some of the Turkish infantry broke.

With the sun sinking low, the Turkish commander recalled his cavalry. Time for a Truce.

 

"Home Boys Home"

The English leaders were stirred to revenge the Scots ambush last summer (see Ambushed!)  and so sent out a force of cavalry backed by some bills and bows. After causing havoc and destruction, they turned to head back to Haddington but they were on the far bank of the Blutaip River. Scouts reported that there was a nearby village with two bridges and a small garrison. 

So it was that the English raiders sent a company of archers to make their way to a wood by the northern bridge during the night, ready to surprise the Scots at dawn.

Dawn breaks!

The English archers soon forced the Scots picquet from their post and the cavalry moved to cross the bridge. Alas for the English, the infantry commander missed the order to advance while the mounted arquebusiers were slow to finish their breakfast and join the column of cavalry. 

The archers' arrows were too much for the Scots pikes and they fell back. The Scots cavalry rode forward to repel the English cavalry but they were also forced back. The road over the bridge seemed open.

The English infantry was not as fast as the cavalry, and the eager Highlanders were soon locked in hand to hand contact with the Sassanach while Scots pikemen marched forward to block the English escape.

The fighting was fierce but the Bills & Bows did their work.

The Border Horse were first to cross the bridge while the rest of the English moved as swiftly as possible to cross the bridge and resume their march back to camp. It seemed to be all over until there came the roar of canon!  A battery of guns had been established on the river bank, pointing across the river, but the gunners had slowly dragged a gun through the streets of the village until they had a line of sight.
(Rumours that the Scots commander forgot about the artillery until the game was almost over, are firmly denied by the Scots commander.) 

The Scots were not strong enough to stop the remnant of the English raiders but they inflicted heavy enough casualties to dissuade their commander from trying it again. 
( The scenario was #35: "Surprise 2" from "Scenarios For All Ages" by Charles S Grant and Stuart Asquith.  The goal for the English was to escape without losing more than 3 stands, but they lost a 4th on the last turn!) 

Halfway To Home

 I managed to start the 1st game today......

Early in the day.....

and after nearly 2/3 of the 'day', the end is still undecided but we should know tomorrow.........  

Ambushed!

It was a hot August day in 1548 when an English Magistrate approached Haddington after a long journey from the border.  The town was not under siege at the moment, nor was there open warfare, but a strong escort had been provided for his safety, and it had been needed!  

(Note: click once on the pictures for a closer look, then click on the magnifying glass symbol for an even better close up.)

As the convoy approached a bridge over the river running through a valley, a flurry of arrows flew from a patch behind cover and bands of Highland warriors raced down from the hills, screaming their war cries. The escort infantry deployed to face the enemy while the cavalry spurred ahead to ensure a safe passage to and over the bridge.

Artist's impression of an eagle's view of the skirmish.

With light cavalry and archers threatening any attempt to cross the bridge, the head of the column stopped and waited for infantry to come and clear the way rather than risk exposing the convoy. They just hoped that if the enemy attacked first that the Demilances, and Border Horse, could see them off. 

The English commander had not considered that the fleet footed Scots might wait for the convov to pass  and attack it from the rear. (and I've played this scenario again and again since I got the book in '82! As it was I used 2 blind markers per unit, one real, one false and deployed them facedown until spotted.)

 

The English infantry must have been tired after all that marching because their dice were awful! The fighting was prolonged but the English kept backing up, hoping to catch up the the convoy so as to protect its rear, and maybe improve their dice rolling. 

The sun was getting low in the sky but the wagons were getting close to the bridge and safety and the Highland swordsmen were too far away even if they could break the English biillmen. The Earl of Lennox  decided to risk throwing his border horse and the English Demilances and border horse.
If the charge worked, the wagons would be run over. 

The cavalry charge was a close fought affair, but the Scots cavalry were driven back by their heavier foe. Behind the convoy, the English billmen had suffered horrible casualties but they continued to do their duty and retreat slowly. It looked like the convoy would make it to the bridge.

What either commander hadn't contemplated, was the desire of the Highland archers to be first to reach the loot.  After a lengthy exchange of arrows, they drew  their daggers, swords, whatever they had, and screaming their battlecry, rushed the English archers and, taking them by surprise, scattered them. It was enough, with over 1/2 of the English companies scattered or out of action. the rest of the English soldiers scattered, running for safety. The English Lancers managed to rescue the Magistrate but the rest of the convoy was now loot.   

Rules were used by the latest draft of the updated "Rough Wooing". As soon as the one page Quick Reference is rearranged to give all of each troop type's stats in one place, I'll make it available. 

ps: Any relation to the ambush scenario in CS Grant's "Scenario's for Wargames" is because that was what it was.

How Went The Battle?

 Well, my dear, fetch me a dram and I'll tell ye.....

to be continued....

What Report From The Scouts?

 "Milord! They have just reported that the road to the bridge is clear."

But is it? or are those sneaky Scots hiding in those hills?  

Stay tuned!

Come On Ye Sassenagh Sissies!

 That didn't take as long as I expected.

40mm: 2x3d printed (1 highlander, 1 viking), 1 homecast Prince August Viking, with minor tweaks.

The gathering of the clans. 
(Is that it?? Should I recruit more?)

Now, I need a scenario, maybe for these guys, or maybe for the West Indies in the 1790's, after all, we've been suffering temperatures over 30C so it would feel more authentic than usual.

More Highlanders?

 Yup, I think this may be the last stand for my 40mm 16thC Highlanders. 

The silvery guy is a Prince August Viking with a head and targe off of a very tall medieval Scot pikeman.

.

I was going to have 2 of the swordsmen but one of them chopped his own leg off while trying to insert a pin in his foot to secure himself to the base. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

There's a feeling in the air that those dastardly English (sorry Mom) are about to come poking over the border again ere long......or there may be one of those annoying Scottish civil wars like Queen Mary vs her 1/2 brother the Earl of Moray, Catholics vs Protestants etc. Its a little bit later than my armies but little but fashion changed and besides, its the only Scottish battle that I've found where the Macfarlanes (on the Earl's side) played an important role by appearing late (an inherited gene), and in the rear of Mary's army, not that its often mentioned in the rare modern summaries of the battle.  

Anyway, I'm not going to reenact Langside, just some generic scenario, once these guys are fully dressed.  

The Clans Are Gathering

 One more stand is table ready. The current plan is to have 12 stands of Highlanders in my Scots army. 
This brings me to 9.

1/2 way there for Lennox's Highland levies.

Highlanders, always looking for another angle.....

Hold The Pass!

It was winter in 1544. France and England were once again at war and King Henry VIII had laid siege to Boulogne.   When word came of an approaching relief force, the Earl of Belmont was sent out to stop them. 

The English scoffed at a bunch of Frogs and Germans but then scouts reported a contingent of Scots, eager to seek revenge for Flodden. Well, the English were used to beating Scots as well Frogs. The Duke deployed his army on a ridge at the head of a pass through a hilly, wooded stretch of land.  

The French, their allies, and mercenaries, pressed quickly forward on a broad front. The main force consisted of three blocks of pikemen one French, one Landsknecht and one Scots. A screen of light cavalry and shot covered the gaps and did their best to weaken the English archers, 

The French and Mercenary pikes were held by the Billmen but there were not enough of them and the Scots rolled over a line of Bowmen and a handful of billmen.

Both the French and Landsknects were forced back but the Scots were now unopposed as they wheeled to pursue. The sun was sinking and the Earl began to feel that he could still hold out if he was careful. 

While the French were reforming and renewing their attack, the skirmishing by light troops resumed and numbers began to tell. The Duke decided to pull back slowly hoping the French would stop at dusk but his casualties had been heavier than he thought and his army was ready to break, so he sent over a herald to request a meeting while ordering his army to retreat quickly but in order, ready to fight.

There would be another place and another day for him to stop the French.  

Note on the figures: These armies are 40mm, about 2/3 are home cast most original sculpts but some based on conversions of Meisterzinn homecast figures The rest are from here and there including a number of slightly smaller Elastolins, many from kits rather than the original factory painted ones. I included the smaller figures because they are so wonderful. The armies were started for a game co-hosted with Rob Dean at Cold Wars 20 years ago.

How Went The Battle?

 It was a long and bloody affair. Check in on Friday to find out more.

__________

"Just a roll on the drum and the war has begun"

Well, this war actually started 20 years ago, but I have high hopes of the game being finished tomorrow.

Note: Post title from lyrics of Fairport Convention "Sloth" (Full House album.) Ahh the 70's!

"The trumpets to the cannons, the cannons to the heavens"

In other words, the battle has begun!

The English have taken up a position on a ridge across a pass in some hilly ground and defied the French to dislodge them. As the French begin their attack, the English cannon open fire. 

40mm figures. About 60% are original homecast figures, the rest are a mix including Elastolins, Mertan,  a handful of modified Irregular, a couple of Perry's and a few odds and ends.

To be continued....

Meanwhile, Back in France....waaay back.

The table is reset, the rules have been slightly revised, (one page rules here), a scenario designed, and there is no other plan for the day. 

What are the odds that something will interfere? I think I'd rather not know!

The French army finds the pass blocked.

These 40mm armies are mostly original homecast figures,  reinforced by various commercial figures and some Elastolins.

To be continued.....

Vorwärts!

 After a short council to decide what period should be played next, a 2:1 vote decided on the 16thC.

Just A Roll On The Drum
Aug 2021
An old chestnut of a scenario from a well known wargame book. My American hardcover was published in 1970, my 2nd book on wargaming, bought with one of my first paychecks from Her Majesty. 

But, before I play the game,  I need to pick, or make up, a scenario, make some repairs (esp dropped weapons)  AND. maybe even a new stand or so, maybe. 

It'll be a few days before the game hits the table.

Make For The Bridge! We'll hold them off!

Previously, the Duke of Belmont, recently appointed commander of English garrison at Cheverie, aware of the constant threat of being besieged by the French, had sent out a foraging party under Captain Smith. A short way from the town, there was a stone bridge over the Petite Riviere Bleu where the Duke had established a permanent post. Once the returning party crossed the bridge, they would be safe but the Duke dared not risk more of the garrison beyond the bridge. 

When word came that the convoy was in sight, the Duke himself rode down to the bridge. All seemed clear until the advanced guard neared the little village at the crossroad and the calm was split by the roar of arquebus fire and clouds of smoke.  An ambush!  

Soon French cavalry and mercenaries appeared, the convoy would have to fight their way through. 

(Note: click on the pictures for a larger view)

Quickly Captain Smith deployed his cavalry to screen the convoy and sent some of his infantry to see if they could clear the road through the village. It was clear that the French infantry was arriving more quickly and in greater numbers than his escort could handle.

French cavalry was already deploying in the open fields.  He needed a new plan NOW! The speed of the convoy would be halved if they tried to move cross country but it was probably a better chance then trying to fight through the town.

Charge followed charge and the number of Lancers was smaller after each charge but the English archers seemed to be holding their own against the French light cavalry. There was a tremendous thunder of arquebus fire in the town but the French were being slow to notice that the convoy was avoiding the town and making the slow trek across the fields. They might pull through yet.

Now the English artillery opened up! The French must have worked through the town and be attempting to cut off the convoy from the bridge. Most of the English archers had finally been scattered by the French cavalry and only a few Billmen remained to guard the flank and rear of the slow moving carts. Well, it was beyond Captain Smith now to do anything but hold back the French lancers and hope for the best.

When Captain Smith awoke, he felt a tremendous sense of failure, but then he raised himself and looked around. His lancers were scattered, wounded or dead but to his surprise his French opponents were also out of action and the remnants of the French  light cavalry had pulled back.  All that remained of the rearguard were a few archers taking cover in the small Hamlet they had passed through earlier. Startled by another volley of artillery fire, he twisted around and to his amazement and great joy saw the convoy beginning to cross the bridge with a body of Billmen formed behind them, daring the German mercenaries to do their worst.

Mission accomplished.

(Rules used: Rough Wooing)

Who Didn't See This Coming?

 If tomorrow is less busy than today, there'll be a battle report by Tuesday morning!

(click picture to enlarge)

For the curious: these are 40mm figures, a mix of homecasts and commercial figures. 

The landsknechts are a mix of plastic Elastolin and Merten figures from the 50's/60's and some metal figures from Doug Miller's superb metal range, (https://1525miniatures.net/shop/), and one of my own originals.

The English and the French light cavalry are homecast from my severe conversion of a Meisterzinn late 18thC casting to a mid-16thC master for drop casting. The horses are various Zinnbigade homecast horses and one Elastolin. Last but not least, the English foot and many of my not-yet-on-table Landsknechts were homecast from some of my first original sculpts, some 20 years ago.

To be continued.....

One Spring Day in 1547, On The Road To Boulogne.

 There's the bridge!  Looks like the Duke of Belmont is there to see what we've gathered.

I thought for sure the Frenchies would be between us and the bridge sir.

To be continued.......

First Battle of Edgeton

It was easy enough for the English under the command of the Earl of Belmont: "Gentlemen, we have no need to concern ourselves with some Scots on a hill, we will go straight at that town and those guns.  For the King, for England and St. George, FORWARD! 

But for the Scots, with three  prickly Dukes, each with their own contingents and their own idea of who should have been appointed commander of the army, it was more problematic. Everyone had agreed that the guns  should be placed beside the town with a clear field of fire and that a town was no place for cavalry. Argyle argued that Douglas's pikes would be the best defenders for the town. Their long spears turning the hedges and improvised barricades into an abatis while their armour would help protect them in hand to hand combat. Douglas naturally answered that the terrain would disrupt the pike's formation and make then vulnerable, especially if the treacherous English flanked the town and that if the Highlanders did not have the discipline to hold defences, perhaps the barricade could protect the archers while they shoot down the English until relieved. Home backed that suggestion and offered to move his cavalry against the English first but Argyle insisted that if his men were first to the fray, Douglas's men should at least be second.       (For those not familiar with the scenario, the Scots may only activate 1 unit on the hill, until it is destroyed, then another unit may be activated.)  

On such infirm ground was the Scots plan rooted.

Douglas, reluctant to risk all of his men at once, led his own schiltron forward to tangle with twice his number of enemies.

At first, all went well. Argyle's archers shot true and though lightly armed, they held the barricade against twice their numbers, confident that the main body of Highland warriors would soon relieve them. However, across the field, despite having fought bravely for so long, Douglas's men were reaching their breakpoint and the gunners which had done such damage had at last succumbed to an arrow storm.

With loud cries of "Huzzah" and "Saint George" the White Coats finally surged over the barricades and chased the last archers from the town. Hoping still that he was in time, Argyle finally led his clansmen forward.

The Highlanders fought hard but already the sun was sinking, earlier than anticipated (wild cards shortened the game) and the order came to fallback, leaving the Lowland town to the English.

--------------

I've only played the scenario once before, back in 2015 when I had been gifted with a copy. I decided not to look at that after-game report until this game had been played. (see: ACW Botched Relief Game, 2015). I couldn't even remember if that had been a good game or a flop, turns out I had enjoyed it.)

This time around, the game started off quite slow after the heated solo debate over which reinforcement unit to activate (see above). A fairly prolonged melee, and an artillery bombardment were the only active thing until the English white coats got to the town, then stalled. The Scots pike were doing better than expected (darned dice) and suddenly I realized that the Scots pike units were not only the slowest units, they were also the toughest units, meaning their prolonged fight was pinning all of the other units on the hill.  By the time they were finally broken, the Highlanders (rated as light infantry for speed) barely had time to reach the village  and make one desperate try to retake it when the game ended, (two turns early thanks to 2 "turn over" chance cards, ie jokers). 

That left me wondering if my original plan of putting the Highlanders in the town and sending out the cavalry first, might have been better? Well, there's only one way to settle that sort of question..........