The final game in our Wars of the Roses campaign was Towton.

The Battle of Towton took place on 29 March 1461, near Towton North Yorkshire, and has the dubious distinction of being the largest and bloodiest battle fought on English soil.  The opposing armies may have totalled up to 80,000 men which was around 2% of the population at the time.  Casualties are estimated to have been up to 28000.

The night before the battle was cold and wet, nevertheless both armies were under arms by 9 am.  Following protracted negotiations the battle started at 11am when the Yorkists delivered telling volleys of arrows into the Lancastrian ranks.  The Lancastrians returned fire only to have their arrows, opposed by the wind, fall short.

Stung into action, the numerically superior Lancastrian army advanced to engage the Yorkists. An ambush launched from Castle Hill woods piled pressure onto the left of the Yorkist line.  Outnumbered as they were the Yorkist flanks began to give ground.  Things were looking grim for the Yorkists until the timely arrival of the Duke of Norfolk marching up the Scarthingwell Road.  Norfolk attacked the Lancastrian left causing troops to panic and flee northwards.  Disquiet began to spread throughout the Lancastrian ranks as more and more men fell back towards Towton and the River Cock.  Finally the Lancastrian army broke and multitudes were slaughtered as they fled the field across the Cock Beck.  Edward was subsequently recognised as the one true king and reigned for 22 years despite being required to defend his throne several times.

Remember this game is not intended as an historical replay. The aim is simply to kill as many of the enemy as possible.  This is our third historical “grudge” match and each unit destroyed will attract an additional campaign victory point. 

Both generals stuck with their previous armies. The Lancastrians (Adrian) raised a balanced force of archers and billmen including Welsh and Irish mercenaries.  The Yorkist army (David) featured a preponderance of missile troops including the new fangled bombards and handguns.

 

It was a battlefield of two halves. The Eastern half was very open and the Western half was characterised by low rolling hills on both sides of the battlefield flanked by Castle Hill wood.

 

The scouting battle was closely fought with both sides matching each other blow for blow (they both drew 10 chits!).  The small Lancastrian advantage in light cavalry therefore made the difference and the Yorkists deployed first.

 

The Yorkists (David) started the set up by deploying their static artillery under the command of Baron Fauconberg in a defensive position protecting the first of their camp.  The Lancastrians (Adrian) responded by deploying their right flank in Castle Hill woods.  This force was under the command of the Earl of Devon (Reg) and Owen Tudor

 

The Yorkists then occupied the hills in their right centre.   It was here that Edward Plantagenet (David) raised his standard, daring the Lancastrians to come against them. The Lancastrians countered this defiance by deploying a strong centre in the shelter of low rolling hills and under the personal command of Henry VI (Adrian).

 

The Yorkists (David) then refused their left wing.  This command consisted of two units of bills deployed on the Northern edge of the battlefield.  These troops and the adjacent missiles (artillery and longbows) were under command of Baron Bonville (Tony).

The Lancastrians (Adrian) opposed Bonvilles bills with his cavalry supported by longbows and bills. Jasper Tudor (Doug) and Andrew Trollope were in command.

 

Finally David deployed his right wing made up of longbowmen supported by bills and his handgunners. This flank was under the command of Baron Scrope (Paul) and Lancelot Threlkeld.

 

All however was not as it appeared.  The Lancastrians (Adrian) had hatched a plan to seize a forward position in Castle Wood.   The Earl of Devon (Reg) and Owen Tudor smartly moved their front line forward to the Northern edge of Castle Hill wood.

Not to be outdone the Yorkists also planned a surprise for their enemies.  Unknown to the Lancastrians a unit of cavalry under the command of Sir John Middleton was despatched on a flank march to threaten the Lancastrian left.

With the set up complete it looked like the decisive battle would be fought on the Western, side of the battlefield.

As battle commenced the Lancastrian left charged forward out of Castle Hill woods and engaged the leading line of Yorkist troops. 

The Earl of Devon’s (Reg) knights swept all before them destroying two Yorkist longbow units and forcing their second line to withdraw.  On their right the Yorkist billmen stood their ground disordering the Lancastrians as they charged to contact. Meanwhile on the Western side of Castle Hill wood Lancastrian longbowmen moved to a firing position in support of the main attack. Baron Scrope (Paul) was concerned.

Elsewhere on the battlefield the Lancastrian right wing, under command of Jasper Tudor (Doug), moved to their left closing up with their centre.  In the centre of the battlefield Henry VI (Adrian) ordered his troops to move forward with a view of engaging the main Yorkist line in a long range fire fight.

The Yorkists responded by counter attacking the Earl of Devon’s (Reg’s) leading units. 

Baron Scrope’s (Paul) troops threw the Earl’s knights into disorder with their ferocious firepower. While his billmen scattered their Lancastrian opposite numbers who had sallied forth from Castle Hill woods. 

Freed from the threat to their front Scrope’s longbowmen now turned to engage the rampaging Lancastrian knights destroying the Earl of Devon’s (Reg) personal bodyguard.

As the Earl of March (David) and his bodyguard fell back into their camp the rest of the Yorkist centre held their defensive positions awaiting the inevitable archery duel.  Their cannons opened fire on the Lancastrian right to little effect.

Under strict orders to fight a defensive battle the Yorkist left wing under Baron Bonville (Tony) fell back within the Yorkist defences

Henry (Adrian) now advanced his centre into longbow range of the Yorkists line beginning a lengthy but largely ineffective exchange of fire, and covering the withdrawal of the Earl of Devon (Reg) who had become dangerously overextended.  Jasper Tudor (Doug) continued to move to the left attempting to avoid the Yorkist cannon fire

Baron Bonville (Tony) continued to march in support of his centre.

The longbow duel was now beginning to spread disorder through the leading units of the Lancastrian centre as it came under fire from the Yorkist centre and right.

At this moment The Yorkists sprang their ambush and Sir John Middleton’s cavalry arrived deep in the Earl of Devon‘s (Reg) rear.

The Lancastrian right wing now forming a strong reserve behind Henry’s centre moved against the threatening Yorkist cavalry.  Archers in the Lancastrian centre also turned to face the emerging threat from behind.

With disorder spreading through both armies Yorkist handgunners moved into the northern end of Castle Hill woods

The Kerns valiantly dashed forward to harry the Yorkist line.  In view of the volume of fire now directed against them the lead Lancastrian archers fell back to their start line.

Baron Bonville (Tony) continued to march West taking up his new position in support of the Yorkist firing line.

Concentrated Yorkist missile fire from the flank and front shattered Henry’s bills who had moved in support of The Earl of Devon’s (Reg) knights. 

Forced to take cover in the face of overwhelming odds Sir John’s flank marching cavalry came under determined attack from Jasper Tudor’s (Doug) cavalry.

In a last throw of the dice, Edward Earl of March (David) charged his knights against the Earl of Devon’s (Reg) knights but failed to achieve sufficient impetus.  

 

As the last rays of sunshine sank beneath the horizon Yorkist pressure was being applied against the increasingly disordered Lancastrian front but Sir John and his gallant outflanking force was under severe pressure.

The  Lancastrians had lost two units of billmen (6), and  their bodyguard knights (2).  

Yorkist losses were two longbow units (6).

A singularly indecisive game.  The outcome was declared a draw.

At the conclusion of the campaign standings are

Rick  +39

Tony  +34

Paul +30

David +28

Doug/Reg +17

Adrian +16

The Yorkists won six battles and the Lancastrians only two.  Despite losing the war our Kingmaker is the Lancastrian Duke of Somerset (Rick). Whose brutal style showed him to be a formidable opponent in battle.

The Duke of Somerset (Rick) will now follow his king into exile mayhap to return under the banners of Queen Margaret, Prince Edward or even the Tudors…..

Huzzah!

Sharp Practice 2 – ACW, Combahee River Raid 2

 Union Forces: Dave & Mal

• Level 3 Leader + 3x8 Regular Infantry (Level 1 Leader) {Chit added in Turn 3}
• Level 2 Leader + 2x8 Regular Infantry {Chit added in Turn 2}
• Level 1 Leader + 6 Sharp Shooters
• Level 1 Leader + 6 Sharp Shooters

Confederate Forces: Rob & Steve

• Level 3 Leader + 3x8 Regular Infantry (Chit added in Turn 3}
• Level 2 Leader + 2x8 Regular Infantry {Chit added in Turn 2}
• Level 1 Leader + 6 Sharp Shooters
• Level 1 Leader + 6 Sharp Shooters

The 2^nd South Carolina volunteers were landing from the boats. It looked like the Union forces had stolen a march on the Confederates, and they were able to push their skirmish screen well forward and land the first two groups of line infantry, before the rebels started to appear in force.

The Rebel skirmishers dashed into the field of the plantation nearest their entry road and hotly engaged the Union skirmishers. The Rebel shooting was good and soon three of the Union sharpshooters were down and one of the sergeants knocked-out!

More Rebel skirmishers poured into the field, moving up to the snake rail fence, overlooking the Union forces, while first two groups of Rebel infantry skirted around the side of the field.

This caused the Union sharpshooters to split, with the group with the wounded leader, falling back to another snake rail fence, in the field behind them. The other Union sharp shooter group bravely pressed on, toward the bridge, engaging the head of the Rebel infantry column as they went.

This fire caused the first Rebel column to falter and the rapidly moving second Rebel column quickly become entangled with their rear.

As the Rebel commander attempted to unravel the mess and sort out the dressing, the main Union column marched up from the boats, quickly deploying into line.

There then commenced an odd firefight, with the Union line pouring fire into the confused Rebel columns, while the Rebel skirmishers plucked chunks out of the Union ranks. Suddenly a rebel ball felled the Union Captain. Disaster! However, the junior ensign stepped up (knew there was a reason to bring him?!) and encouraged the Union troops to keep firing!

The first Rebel column fell back, to try to make room for the main Confederate line to deploy, but smoke and confusion prevented the Rebel Captain from restoring proper order. Soon the main Rebel line were falling back and the Rebel Captain ordered the formation to break-up, to try to be able to return fire. The Union skirmishers, by this time on the bridge, then delivered the killing blow, felling two of the Rebel Captain’s group and causing the rest, with the Captain to flee in panic!

This was my first experiment with ACW Sharp Practice 2. I was worried that the extra range of the Minie Rifled Musket, would turn the game into one long range firefight, but some objectives (The Union could either burn the plantation houses or the bridge and the Rebels needed to seize the Union boats), plus some restriction on the deployment space, resulted in a reasonably fluid game. Now to finish the cavalry!

What a Tanker, France 1940

 

•  One Renault R35 & One Hotchkiss H35 (Phil)
• Two Hotchkiss H39s (Steve)
• One Panzerjager I & One Panzer II (Mal)
• One Panzer IVB & One Panzer II (Rob)

This was a small cluttered field. Phil’s H35 was first to enter, attempting to reach the shelter of a row of houses, on the left flank of the French table edge.

Rob responded by dashing his great Panzer IV forward to the centre of the table, opening ferocious, yet ineffectual fire on the small H35.

Steve then pushed one of his H39s up the road, splitting the attention of the Panzer VI. Over on the French right, the two German Panzer IIs started to manoeuvre for position, against the remaining Renault R35 and Steve’s 2^nd H39, but this was real ‘handbags’ stuff. Lots of dice rolling, but to little effect!

Back in the centre, the Panzer IV was beginning to suffer from the attentions of 2 then 3 French tanks, being reduced to 2 Command Dice. Even the support of Mal’s Panzerjager I was not enough to save the Panzer IV, which was forced to withdraw.

The Panzerjager I too was soon forced to withdraw and just snipe Steve’s 2^nd H39, on the far side of the crossroads, while the Panzer IV limped back from the centre of the table, only to be chased by Phil’s diminutive R35, pumping rounds into the exposed flank of the Panzer IV until it was burning.

Meanwhile the swirling fight on the French right, resulted in the positions of the two German Panzer IIs & French tanks being reversed. Steve’s 1^st H39, having driven off the Panzerjager I, dashed into the fight with the Panzer IIs, giving 3 fairly well armoured tanks, vs the lighter, auto-cannon armed German tanks. This was not going to end well, especially when Rob’s Panzer II failed to inflict significant damage from 2 rounds of fire into the rear of Steve’s H39!!

This left Phil’s H35 to deal with the damaged and demoralised Panzerjager I, closing on the tank destroyer’s flank at point bank range, until the white flag appeared!

 

The penultimate game in our Wars of the Roses campaign was based on the action fought at Ferrybridge the day before the decisive battle of Towton.   Our game was fought between Richard Duke of York (Tony) and Edmund Duke of Somerset (Rick)  

Despite a historical victory at 2^nd St. Albans Queen Margaret’s victorious army found the gates of London closed to them.  In the face of converging Yorkist forces under the command of Edward Earl of March and the Earl of Warwick, Margaret was forced to retreat North.

As the Lancastrians crossed the river Aire en route for York they made a half-hearted job of destroying the bridge at Ferrybridge. After a fierce fight Warwick captured and repaired the bridge.

The following morning the Lancastrians attacked Warwick’s bridgehead.  To steady his troops Warwick killed his horse in their view demonstrating his readiness to fight and die.  Despite this Warwick was forced to withdrew across the bridge and rejoin the main Yorkist army under the command of Edward Earl of March. 

Remember this game is not intended as an historical replay. The aim is simply to kill as many of the enemy as possible.  This is the second of our historical “grudge” matches and each unit destroyed will attract an additional campaign victory point. 

Confident following his victories at Blore Heath and Mortimer’s Cross, Somerset (Rick) stuck with his proven recipe for success and fielded an unchanged army.  The Duke of York (Tony) refined the aggressive strategy he had adopted at Wakefield by further optimising his army for hand-to-hand combat and favouring bills and heavy knights over missile weapons.

 The main feature of the battlefield was the river Aire separating the two armies.  On the day of battle the river was icy and fast flowing and so was deemed doubly difficult to cross.  A low ridge dominated the ground on the Yorkist right facing woods lining the river on the opposite bank.  Small woods dotted the landscape on the other flank.

 Despite Somerset’s (Rick’s) advantage in light troops the Lancastrians lost the scouting and were forced to start the set up process.   Somerset (Rick) decided to set up on the South side of the battlefield, deploying his retinue troops in the centre of the field opposite the bridge.  His centre was  under the command of Baron Hungerford (Rick) and Lord Audley. 

 Tony responded with a mixed force of shire levy holding the hills on his right centre and heavy infantry covering the road and the left centre The centre of the Yorkist army was under the personal command of the Duke of York (Tony) supported by John Fogge of Ashford. 

 Somerset (Rick) then deployed his left wing consisting of retinue and Welsh longbowmen with a stiffening of retinue bills and armoured men-at-arms.  This wing was commanded by the Duke of Somerset (Adrian) and sir John Roddam

York (Tony) faced off against this force with his retinue longbows and his shire levy bills.  The Yorkists deployed in defensive positions on the low ridge on the right of the army.  Thomas Lord Stanley (David) and sir John Melton were in command

Somerset (Rick) completed his set up by deploying his mounted troops and his kerns on the open Eastern side of the battlefield.  This battle was under the command of the Earl of Wiltshire (Doug) and Sir Thomas Whittingham.

 Completing the set up York (Tony) deployed his left wing consisting of his mounted knights and veteran billmen under the command of Edward Neville, Baron Abergavenny (Paul) and Baron Cobham.

Unknown to the Yorkists a unit of kerns had become separated from the rest of the Lancastrian army.   This unit would arrive at a random location on the board edge.

The Yorkists meanwhile had successfully infiltrated a spy into the body guard of a Lancastrian general with instructions to strike in the heat of battle.

With the set up complete it looked like the decisive battle would be fought on the Eastern, open side of the battlefield.

As battle commenced the Yorkist centre and left advance aggressively toward the river Aire. In contrast the Yorkist right stood firm defending their ridge.

    

In reply the Lancastrian left wing advanced to take advantage of the cover provided by the woods lining the river Aire

Slow to move off the Lancastrian centre (Rick) stood, awaiting developments at the bridge. On their right the Earl of Wiltshire (Doug) advanced his battle in good order covering the possible Yorkist crossing points

 

The Duke of Somerset (Adrian) on the left of the Lancastrian line pressed forward moving into the cover offered by the woods and bringing the Yorkist right under fire.

Inspired by his fellow generals Baron Hungerford (Rick), in the centre of the Lancastrian line, now stepped forward into longbow range.

Seizing his opportunity The Duke of York (Tony) unleashed a barrage of arrows putting an end to the leading Lancastrian billmen. 

 

Responding almost immediately Hungerford’s (Rick’s) longbows swept away the Yorkist billmen on the opposite side of the Aire.

Not to be outdone the Duke of Somerset’s (Adrian’s) wing, now in a favourable firing position, showered the Yorkist right wing with deadly fire wiping out the longbows on the extreme right, spreading disorder throughout the Yorkist ranks and forcing the entire wing to retire behind the cover of the ridge.

   

 As death came calling the Earl of Wiltshire (Doug) edged forward to challenge the resolutely advancing Yorkist left.

 Despite his infantry being stalled on the banks of the Aire Baron Abergavenny (Paul) boldly charged his cavalry across the river driving back the Irish kerns, shattering the Northern Border Staves and wounding the Earl of Wiltshire in the ensuing melee. Carpe diem! The Yorkist assassin struck but failed in his attempt to finish off the Earl of Wiltshire (Doug).

Pinned by the knights to his front Baron Abergavenny (Paul) now found himself outflanked by Sir Thomas Whittingham and his Currours.

Back on the Lancastrian left, having neutralised the immediate threat to his front, the Duke of Somerset (Adrian) decided to cross the Aire but not before despatching a unit of archers to forestall the threatened Yorkist assault in the centre. Fortune favours the brave and as Somerset (Adrian) successfully crossed the river in force the missing kerns appeared on the extreme right of the Lancastrian line.

The Yorkists preparing to cross the Aire in the centre of the battlefield now came under sustained missile fire.  Calamity! The Duke of York (Tony) was struck down by a lucky arrow.

On the Yorkist left the intensity of the battle raged unchecked as Baron Abergavenny’s (Paul’s) knights were struck in flank by Sir Thomas Whittingham’s Currors and swept from the field losing the army standard in the process.   Pressing their advantage the Lancastrian bodyguard, on the extreme right of the line, charged into the Yorkist Currors only to be devastated by a ferocious counterattack.  The Kerns, sheltering in the woods, on seeing this fled in panic.

On the opposite flank Lord Stanley’s (David’s) shire levy billmen turned to their flank driving off the troublesome Kerns from the table but inadvertently exposed their flank to missile fire from the main body of the Duke of Somerset’s (Adrian’s) troops.

Back on the Lancastrian right, the Yorkist bodyguard now aggressively charged into the Lancastrian Currors only to see their target evade away and be hit themselves by counterattacking Lancastrian knights who made short work of them.  Bravely leading the charge from the front, the Earl of Wiltshire (Doug) received yet another wound and was forced to leave the battlefield.

As these events played out on the Lancastrian right, the exchange of arrows continued across the bridge in the centre of the field but this time lady luck favoured the Yorkists as Baron Hungerford (Rick) was struck down by an arrow in the throat.

The Yorkist centre now started to cross the river.  In a cruel twist of fate the Lancastrians counterattacked only to be cut down and destroyed losing their army standard.

With the loss of this unit the Lancastrian army broke and “sauve qui peut” fled the field.  Another Yorkist victory!

The Yorkists have won six battles and the Lancastrians only two.  The Lancastrians are now battling for pride and the title of Kingmaker.  

The next battle will be Towton between Edward Earl of March (David) and Henry VI (Adrian).

WW1 Chain of Command, “The Patrol”

 

As we only had Steve and Mal today, I took the opportunity to retry WW1 Chain of Command, using the “Cocking Up the Mud & the Blood” supplement.

Steve took the Canadian platoon and Mal took the German platoon. (Note, this was the first outing for my WW1 Germans, so I hoped things would go well for them?)

Without specific objectives, the Patrol Phase was a bit of a ‘land grab’. The Canadians managed to secure a Jump Off point in the ruined house in the SW and another in some shell holes, just South of  the old trenches. The 3^rd JOP was pushed East along the board edge, past the belt of barbed wire.

The Germans managed to secure a JOP behind some roadside earth banks, just North of the old trenches and another in the ruined Chateaux, out to the North East. The 3^rd German JOP was also pushed along a board edge, but to the North West, but not close enough to the ruined wood in the NW. This almost proved pivotal?

The Canadians opened by deploying Red section in the ruined house, on Overwatch. The Germans responded by deploying their red section, behind the earth bank, just North of the old trenches. Thus opened a long range firefight.

In order to try to break the stalemate, the Germans deployed Yellow section from the board edge JOP in the North, but instead of going tactical, then making a dash for the woods, Yellow section decided to join the long range firefight against the house!?

In response, the Canadians deployed Blue section in the shell holes to the South of the old trenches. With Red section in hard cover, working the German Red section behind the earth bank (soft cover) and Blue section working the German Yellow section, in the open, things were not looking good for the Germans?! Yellow section was quickly pinned down and after Red section lost their 3^rd MG08/15 loader, nobody else wanted to join poor old Hans on the LMG!

However, the Canadians then got cocky! They pushed the Yellow section bombers forward into the trenches and the Green section rifle bombers, wide on the Canadian right flank.

The Germans deployed Blue section into the ruined Chateaux, to counter the flanking move by the Canadian rifle bombers and Green section moved up to support Red section in the centre, in tackling the close range threat from the Canadian Yellow section.

The German musketry then kicked-in! The Canadian Green section was quickly pinned down and reduced to lobbing the odd rifle grenade at poor Hans. The Canadian Yellow section was reduced to 2 men and then routed. The Lieutenant called the survivors over to the ruined house, but the pitiless Germans mowed them down before they could reach the walls (-4 points of force Morale)!

Canadian force morale crumbled, just when it looked like a slightly rash German deployment had been their undoing!

WW1 Chain of Command is different to WW2. No rolling 20 dice for a Panzer Grenadier section. This is steadier stuff. It still turned out to be a long range firefight, but this was fairly open terrain and the ‘Patrol’ scenario does lack objectives, which tends to discourage movement from cover. A firm reminder that a good scenario needs objectives and probably even a WW1 table needs some LOS blockers!!  Anyway, WW1 CofC will return, especially as there are bigger toys to play with!!