The Battle of Cheriton 1644

 This weeks 6mm ECW game was based around the battle of Cheriton in 1644 as outlined in the 'To Kill a KIng' supplement. Ian and Phil took on the role of the Parliamentarians trying to stop the Royalist advance on London (Pete and myself were in command of the Royalists).  This was quite a large battle with over 20 units per side.

Setting the battlefield up as close to as suggested in the supplement it looked like it would be hard work for the Royalists as the Parliamentarians lined a central hedge with their foot and cannon with both wings being very strong in cavalry. In response Pete and I matched our foot against theirs and also put our cavalry on either flank. Pete's cavalry flew down our right flank but were hampered by the hedgerows and small village next to the Parliamentarian lines. I also sent my cavalry forward only to be repulsed by Phil's well placed cavalry. 

In the above photo's you can see my cavalry advance and  Phil's cavalry just waiting for me. 

Here is the cavalry clash mid-battle. 

In the photo you can see some of Pete's cavalry closed in by the hedges and the villages. Phil had a unit of Dragoons positioned in the village and more musketeers lining the hedge giving Pete's cavalry as warm welcome. Despite a pause for a pub lunch nothing changed, the Parliamentarians always seemed to have the upper hand. 

Passing and failing various command rolls saw a staggered advance in the centre. Even where we broke through in the centre we did not have enough troops left to hold that position and we were pushed back. So the Parliamentarians easily held us off with a combination of musket then pike and a few well placed rounds of artillery fire.

Overall the scenario proved too difficult for the Royalists to prevail so history was repeated with a Parliamentarian victory but we all really enjoyed the game and plan to play another one next week. 

I also finished another retinue of longbowmen for my 28mm Wars of the Roses forces for 'Never Mind the Billhooks', I just have the mounted Knights to do now.