Battle of Redmond, an AWI scenario for Patriots and Loyalists.

Our game this week features Steve's collection of 25mm AWI figures.  Washington's army is in urgent need of supplies.  A convoy has been gathered by a local provision merchant, Jim Morrison, who has called in some 'favours' and secured the contract.  The wagons have begun their journey, accompanied by a brigade under the command of General Carter.  Last night they reached the small settlement of Redmond where General Burnside's brigade are quartered and today they will set out on the last leg of the journey to Washington's army.

Morrison's wagons in Redmond

Unfortunately, the British have got wind of the American plans and General Dalrymple has organised a force of three brigades, (generals, Arbuthnot, Beddington and Von Riesling ) to intercept the convoy, preferably capturing it, but if necessary, destroying it.  Just before he sets off from Redmond, General Carter received a message from Washington saying that intelligence reports suggest that a British attack on Redmond may occur and General Armistead's brigade has been ordered to march on Redmond rendezvous with the convoy and then escort it on to Washington's army.

No sooner had the messenger delivered his message than the heads of the British and Hessian columns were spotted approaching Redmond.  Burnside ordered his men forward to seize Laura's Hill and cover the road leading to Washington's army.  Carter put two battalions in the houses of Redmond and led the remainder of his force on a flanking march hoping to catch any British attack on the settlement in the flank.  Aides were sent to General Armistead requesting he advance at his best speed to help repel the British attack.

Beddington's brigade prepare to advance on Redmond

For the British/Hessians, Dalrymple had ordered Von Riesling (in the centre) to seize Laura's Hill and then advance on the road from Redmond to Washington's army, cutting off the convoy.  General Beddington (on the left), was to direct his attack on Redmond itself, whilst general Arbuthnot (on the right), was to advance with all speed to cut the road as per Von Rielsing and prevent any forces from Washington reaching Redmond.

In the centre, Von Riesling's Jaeger were beaten to the summit of Laura's Hill by Burnside's riflemen.  The two bodies of light troops exchanged fire, but neither could gain the upper hand.  Behind the Jaegers, Von Riesling was deploying his musketeer and fusilier battalions, once these had advanced into short range, the Jaeger pulled back and volleys began to whittle away the American unit.  Burneside's other units had been impeded by the fences, walls and buildings of Redmond and also by the desire of Morrison to get his wagons away from the conflict as quickly as possible.  The drivers urged their horses forward, blocking the road for any other traffic.  Eventually, one unit made it onto the hill, to be met by the riflemen coming the other way, having succumbed to the weight of fire from the Hessians.

The Hessian advance towards Laura's Hill

Beddington had made fairly slow progress towards Redmond, but he now had his first unit, the 6th Foot, deployed in line firing at the militia in Redmond.  The artillery was closing up and the light companies were moving past Palmer's Woods towards Green Ridge.  Around Green Ridge came Carter's riflemen, who began to skirmish with the light companies.  On the ridge itself Carter's artillery appeared.  Before they could deploy, the 21st Foot deployed into line and fired a volley.  Losses were heavy among the artillerymen and they abandoned their gun and fell back over the ridge.
Before Beddington could exploit this opportunity, two militia battalions appeared on the summit of Green Ridge and fired accurate volleys at the British line.  The firing between the light troops ebbed as both units edged towards Palmer's Woods, hoping to reduce their losses in the thick undergrowth.

The British advance was slowed by fences

On the British right. Arbuthnot's regulars were having a torrid time working their way through fences and other obstacles.  Progress was slow, but their light troops had managed to move into woods on the left of the road.  From here they were able to fire at the riflemen from Armistead's brigade as they moved off the road and towards the British lines.  The officers in the American unit struggled to get their men to deploy and by the time they did they were subjected to several close range volleys from the advancing British line.  To Armistead's dismay, his riflemen raced back to the road without even firing a shot.  There, they milled about deaf to the entreaties of their officers.  The next unit of Armistead's brigade were continentals.  They advanced with pace and quickly came into action, exchanging volleys with the British regulars.  However, they too succumbed to a combination of close range volleys and harassing skirmisher fire.  Suddenly there were two units attempting to rally and Armistead wasted no time in galloping over and haranguing his recalcitrant infantry.  Following up their success, Arbuthnot's light troops now moved into the wood bordering the road along which Armistead's men had to advance.  To oppose them Armistead sent in his next available unit, militia.

On Laura's Hill Burnside's continental infantry held their ground, issuing fervent prayers for their supports to come up quickly.  In front of them they could see that Von Riesling had completed his deployment and they were now faced by three units of Hessian infantry.  It was going to be hot work withstanding that amount of firepower, but they did their best.  As their numbers dwindled they became vulnerable to a flank attack and Von Riesling saw the opportunity and took it.  One of his musketeer units pivoted on their right, fired a volley and then charged the Americans.  The continentals did not contest the charge, seeing the advancing line of bayonets, they turned and ran back towards Redmond, pinning their tardy supports.

The Hessians capture Laura's Hill 

Burnside had ordered Morrison to get his wagons out of the way of his troops and on the road to Washington's army.  With the sound of battle approaching, Morrison needed no second warning he set off at his best speed, (unfortunately not fast as his wagons were heavily loaded).  Carter's men were doing a good job keeping the British away from the settlement, but Burnside seemed to be struggling to get his men forward.  As the wagons moved along they could see that ahead the road was blocked by Armistead's men who were still marching along it.  How were they going to get past them?  However, that was the least of their worries, as they neared the junction with the turnpike along which Arbuthnot had been heading they were spotted by the Hessian artillery.  The first round sailed just over the team of the leading wagon; the second struck home.  It demolished the front of the wagon, blocking the road with debris and provisions.  Morrison quickly got his men to break down the fence alongside the road and began to take his wagons across the pasture, hoping to avoid the British who seemed 'mighty close',

Get those wagons moving!

 

Desperate measures by Morrison as he takes his wagons 'off road'

  Arbuthnot had by now got all his units forward and was advancing on Armistead's brigade in a solid mass.  Armistead's fresh continental unit lined the fence bordering the road and attempted to stem the tide.  At first they seemed to be gaining the initiative, the British advance stopped.  In a moment of enthusiasm (later branded by Armistead as 'madness'), the colonel shouted to his men "They're wavering boys!  Go get 'em".  With a shout, the American line advanced, to be met by a devastating volley at point-blank range.  As they struggled to recover they were hit again.  All order was lost and the remnants of the battalion streamed to the rear.  Here they met the survivors of the militia battalion which had entered the woods where they had been met by Arbuthnot's light infantry.  With fire seemingly coming from all directions the surviving officers had lost control and the men had turned and run.  Armistead saw that he could no longer carry out his orders and get the supplies to Washington.  The wagons were getting bogged down in the fields and a brigade of enemy troops were on the point of capturing the road.  He therefore rallied what men he could and formed a rearguard to protect the rest of the brigade retreating back to camp.

Armistead's men driven back by the British volleys

In the centre Burnside was faring no better.  Most of his brigade was trapped between Laura's Hill and the road.  Above them, on the hill, the Hessian musketeers were firing volleys into the packed ranks of Americans.  On their flank were the Hessian grenadiers who were advancing, firing and advancing again, forcing them back towards Redmond.  The Hessian jaegers had now cut the road and were sniping away at the officers trying to restore order.  Only Carter was holding his ground, though he was too weak to force Beddington to retreat.  He had prevented an attack on Redmond and this at least gave the two brigades a chance of falling back and avoiding capture.  Morrison had decided that discretion was the better part of valour and suggested to his wagon drivers that a hike across the fields was preferable to a close encounter with the advancing British and Hessian troops.  So the supplies never reached Washington and Dalrymple's men dined well for some time on the produce they 'liberated'.

Burnside's men penned in by the Hessians

My thanks to Steve for devising a very enjoyable game.A very enjoyable game,   

Battle of Whalley, 20th April 1643; a scenario for Pike and Shotte

Another ECW game this week, but not in Kelhamshire for a change.  With the 375th anniversary coming round we thought that we would stage a re-fight of this encounter.  Battle is perhaps too strong a term for what occurred historically, but what do wargamers do best?, they like to try 'what if?' (or as other people might say 'tinker with the facts').

Tyldsley's Foot prepare to advance

At the beginning of April 1643 things were going quite well for Lord Derby, the Royalist commander in Lancashire; he had captured Preston and was now planning to move on the Parliamentary strongholds of Blackburn and Manchester.  His 'regular' forces, (c700 foot and 11 troops of horse) had been augmented by at least 2,000 clubmen (some accounts mention 5,000) from the Fylde area and the whole body had advanced east to Whalley.  Parliament could gather few troops to oppose them; colonels Shuttleworth and Starkie had only c400 foot and 60 cavalry at Padiham, but scouted towards Whalley to see what the Royalists were doing.

The musketeers await in ambush

Accounts of the encounter vary and the details are difficult to discern.  It is clear that some element (a reconnaissance?) of the Royalist force was ambushed as it climbed out of the valley after crossing Sabden brook at Read Bridge.  The leading unit panicked  and fled back towards Whalley carrying the rest of the advancing Royalists with it.  They were pursued by their ambushers (plus the remainder of the Parliamentary forces?) and at Whalley the routers panicked the clubmen, who decided to head back to Preston.  Those Royalists who attempted to stand were sniped at by musketeers from the hedges and bushes above Whalley and soon decided to join their comrades in retreat.  In a morning Derby's army had disintegrated and the Parliamentary position in Lancashire was secure.

Molyneux's cross the Sabden brook

To get a more balanced encounter (and possibly develop a participation game for the future), we decided that the ambush would take place adjacent to Read Hall ( a scenario for "Warr Without an Enemie" together with a map can be found here ).  The Royalist advance party consists of Tyldsley's standard sized veteran regiment with 1:1 proportion of pikes to muskets and a small unit of dismounted dragoons.  Arriving after the turn after the first musket shot are the 'main body' of Molyneux's musketeers, a large trained unit and a standard raw unit of clubmen.  All these units, except the dragoons, which start adjacent to the road, start on the road from Whalley to Padiham which passes north of Read Hall.  Cavalry (two standard sized trained units) arrive as part of the main body at the ford to the south of Read Hall (the route of the modern A road).

The Parliamentary cavalry sweep past Read Hall

The Parliamentary forces are Shuttleworth's large sized veteran musketeers; Clayton's standard sized trained musketeers and a standard sized dragoon regiment.  Two raw cavalry units, (one standard. one small) are to the rear of Read Hall.  The dragoons are in an enclosure to the south of Read Hall and the musketeers in two enclosures between the road and Read Hall

A rare victory for the Parliamentary cavalry

At the start of the game no Parliamentary troops are deployed on the table and the colonel of Tyldsley's regiment must decide whether to continue to advance along the road towards Padiham, or, to turn aside and go to Read Hall, whose occupant Mr Nowell was one of the few landed Royalist sympathisers in north east Lancashire and may have information on the whereabouts of local Parliamentary forces.

A failed cavalry charge against Tyldsley's

A roll of the dice allocated the Parliamentarians to Steve.  As Tyldsley, I decided to continue on the road, but then deployed into line facing one of the enclosures.  Meanwhile my dragoons were making slow progress through the woods alongside the road, checking for an ambush.  A slow advance keeping pace with the dragoons was brought to an end as a volley was fired from the enclosure ahead.  True to form, I had decided to advance against the strongest musketeer unit and suffered a loss of three strength points.  A second volley took me to 'shaken' and when I tried rallied the unit, a third volley felled Tyldsley (who was still attached). 

What of my reinforcements?  Well the cavalry arrived and just managed to deploy before they were hit by the leading Parliamentary cavalry unit, Shuttleworth's.  The melee did not go well and my unit routed, pinning the one behind it.  For the rest of the game my cavalry were in effect neutralised.  The dragoons meanwhile had rolled a 'blunder' and panicked, meaning they retreated most of the distance they had advanced.  On the road, Molyneux and the clubmen consistently failed order tests and refused to advance.  What of Tyldsley?  Well Clayton's musketeers now decided to join in the fun and added their fire to that of Shuttleworth's men.  As the casualties mounted on Tyldsley''s a break test was required.  Rolling a double one sealed their fate and they routed from the field.  My one consolation was that at least it was an historical result, a resounding Parliamentary victory!

An unequal contest between horse and dragoons

After no more than an hour's play it was time to have another go and Steve and I swapped sides.  As Tyldsley, he decided to head for Read Hall, leaving his dragoons to sweep through the woods to spring any ambush.  His approach brought him within range of Clayton's musketeers, who fired their carefully prepared first volley, to absolutely no effect.  Tyldsley's next move was to deploy into line and then charge.  Clayton's closing volley was ineffective and the resulting melee was a foregone conclusion, with the hapless musketeers turning round and racing for the road back to Padiham.  My cavalry had tried to advance quickly and repeat their exploits of the first game, but instead they found themselves fighting much nearer to Read Hall.  The melee lasted longer than the first game, but within a fairly short time the Parliamentarians were heading away in rout.  By now the Royalist main body had arrived and making good progress. Shuttleworth's were exchanging volleys with Molyneux and forced them back, but Tyldsley's now intervened, manoeuvring against Shuttleworth's flank.  This gave Molyneux's men long enough to rally and then advance.  Assailed from front and flank, Shuttleworth's broke and fled the field.  The result, as complete a Royalist victory as the Parliamentarian one in the first game.

The final position at the end of the third game.  The parliamentary musketeers
trapped in the enclosures , with infantry to front and flank and cavalry to the rear

Over lunch we discussed the scenario and decided to add a commander for the main body as we had both had difficulty getting them forward to take part in the battle.  A third run through in the afternoon resulted in a more balanced contest, with both sides suffering setbacks and providing a more satisfactory game.

Further examples of Battle of Whalley scenarios can be found here and in Steven Maggs'  scenario book, published by Partizan Press

Contemporary account from Stephen Bull's "A General Plague of Madness:
the civil wars in Lancashire 1640-1660".

Action at Kawa

This week's game was set in the Sudan.  The affair began with a thoroughly disgruntled Brigadier returning to his command after being summoned to headquarters.  "I told them" he said later in the mess, as the brandy was passed around.  "They can march and manoeuvre to a good standard.  The majority are decent enough shots, but they need more time.  Time to be 'steady' in action.  They are just not ready".  However, his protests had been overruled by the 'powers that be' and he had returned to his desk with the dreaded instruction, authorising, nay demanding, that the Egyptian forces should be sent out on a mission which would prove to the great Egyptian public that their troops were as good as anyone.  "It's a damned poisoned chalice", he moaned," and the damned thing is, that the Kawa report landed on my desk this morning, it's almost as if the damned politicians knew it was there".

The town of Kawa

The former representative's house in Kawa

The Kawa report detailed the events in that small town just over the border in Sudan.  A local Dervish leader, Emir Waffoor, had gathered together a small number of men and managed to kill the government representative and his bodyguard and declare the town for the great rebellion led by Emir Khat.  Action was required and with recent reports placing Emir Khat near Dongola, threatening the Nile trade, only a small force would be required.  So, the following day, the Brigadier summoned Sharif Pasha, the commander of the Egyptian forces to his office.  He laid out the situation to the Egyptian and suggested that 3 brigades should be sufficient for the task.  "Recapture Kawa, disperse the Dervishes and if possible capture this Waffoor character", he ordered.  "You should be back within a week".  Returning to his camp, Sharif Pasha passed the orders to Khaled Pasha and Ismail Pasha, his infantry brigade commanders and also to Sedki Pasha who commanded the cavalry.  A plan was drawn up with the two infantry brigades attacking the town frontally, whilst the cavalry were to loop around to cut off any escape.

Khalid Pasha's men on the Egyptian right

Ismail Pasha's men on the Egyptian left

Three days later, after an uneventful march, Sharif Pasha's force began their final approach on Kawa.  Having fully absorbed the instructions regarding the need for scouting ahead and avoiding ambushes, progress was slow.  However, the lack of opposition began to weigh on the minds of the Egyptians, were there any Dervishes out there?  The leading units now saw the town in the distance, they were almost there.  Suddenly the sound of artillery was heard and the head of one of Ismail Pasha's columns seemed to crumple.  Then rifle fire began from behind the town walls, they were in for a fight.

The rebel defenders of Kawa

The Egyptian columns moved smoothly into line and began to fire volleys back at the defenders of the town.  Sharif Pasha ordered forward his artillery to try and silence the enemy gun and over on the far left, Sedki Pasha was beginning his outflanking manoeuvre.  Sharif thought that another 15 minutes would be sufficient to get the cavalry in position then the push forward by the infantry could begin.  He then saw a rider peel off from the cavalry column and gallop towards him.  The rider brought a report which stated that a large body of enemy cavalry was approaching and they seemed to be accompanied by infantry!  Where the devil had they come from?  There was no time to waste, orders were dispatched to Ismail and Khaled Pasha to advance at once.

The Dervish cavalry and camelry

As the Egyptians advanced more Dervish troops emerged from Kawa, their line became more extended as they attempted to cover the threat to their flank.  As the advanced continued, the rate of fire from the Egyptians seemed to increase and then from Khalid's men ebb away.  For some reason their ammunition seemed to be running low.  Mules were sent forward to resupply them, but of necessity the attack stalled.  At least, Sharif saw, his men had adopted the firing line so loved of their British tutors.  The defenders of the town would be suffering from the volume of fire (even though reduced), that they were receiving.

The Egyptians deployed in line

Over on the left Sedki was doing his best to hold off the Dervish cavalry.  One of his units of mounted infantry had dismounted and prepared to drive off the enemy by rifle fire.  The others charged the nearest foes.  A fierce melee ensued and although outnumbered, the Egyptian cavalry fought with great determination.  They managed to drive off the first attack, but at heavy cost, and fell back to their own lines.

On their right, the Egyptian line was coming under increasing pressure.  Two units of Dervish infantry had issued from Kawa and were moving through areas of rough ground towards the Egyptian line.  Behind them could be seen the massed ranks of the Dervish reinforcements, jogging forward, eager to join the attack.  However, in Kawa the defenders were feeling the effects of the Egyptian fire.  Their artillery had been silenced by counter battery fire and their riflemen had suffered so many casualties that they had ceased to be a viable unit.  The walls seemed to be free of defenders and open to attack.  Then the Dervishes launched a heavy attack on the extreme right of the Egyptian line.  One unit attacked from some rough ground and a second charged out from Kawa straight at the Egyptian line.

The Dervish attack

The unit charging frontally was shredded by rifle fire supported by the machine gun.  Those charging from the rough terrain almost hit home, but a final desperate 'rapid fire' stopped them in their tracks.  However, the respite was temporary and not gained without cost, as both units were now low on ammunition.  One of the junior officers galloped off searching for the supply mules, whilst the two
units nervously awaited the next onslaught.  It was not long in coming.  A large column of  hadendoa came on at the run.  The feeble volleys failed to stop them, but the machine gun did manage to cut down most of the leading group, which happened to include the 'brigade' commander.  However, this did not stop the Dervish warriors who crashed into the Egyptian line.  One unit managed to beat off the attack, but the other was less fortunate.  Some men broke and fled leaving gaps through which the Dervish flowed.  A final stand around the colours delayed matters only slightly.  All that stood between the Dervishes and the Nile was the machine gun.  Firing feverishly, the gunners managed to hold the Dervishes back long enough for another battalion to come forward.

The hadendoa charge home

On the Egyptian right, the Dervish cavalry was massing for another attack.  The second column of Dervish infantry was moving forward in support.  Rising to the challenge, the weakened cavalry charged to meet the Dervishes.  They stopped the cavalry, but could not push them back.  Gradually the Dervish's greater numbers began to tell.  Groups of Egyptians began to be surrounded and then cut down.  A few managed to cut their way through to make for their own lines, but as a fighting force they were finished.  It all now depended on the mounted infantry.  Sedki Pasha joined them as they began to fire volleys at the enemy cavalry.  One unit was driven off with heavy casualties, but another appeared in its place.  Once again an Egyptian unit ran low on ammunition and before the supply camel could reach them, the mounted infantry were fighting for their lives.  Urged on by Sedki Pasha, the mounted infantry fought like demons, but against overwhelming odds they were doomed.  A group around Sedki were the last to succumb and with them died the Egyptian cavalry brigade.

The end for the Egyptian cavalry brigade

Ismail Pasha's men were trying to hold back the Dervish infantry, with assistance from the field gun.  Unfortunately, one unit seeing an enemy unit wavering after being hit by a volley elected, (against orders), to charge.  Although they charged home, they were outmatched in the melee and very few made it back to the Egyptian lines.  Ismail Pasha moved forward one of his reserve units to fill the gap and then had to use his other to cover his flank now that the cavalry had been destroyed.  One success was that one of Ismail's units had reached Kawa.  Driving back the defenders they began to move towards the representative's house.  On their right, the Sudanese from Khalid Pasha's brigade had also reached Kawa's walls and began to fire on the artillery that was attempting to move forward to support the hadendoa column attacking the Egyptian right.  The rifle fire from the Sudanese was  ineffective, whilst the artillery fire soon began to inflict losses.

Dervish infantry attack Ismail Pasha's brigade

Khalid Pasha was beginning to think that he should begin to fall back.  Yet more hadendoa were moving forward and his line was becoming perilously thin.  The unit on the extreme right was charged.  Its volley was ineffective and the shock of the impact of the Dervish unit broke through the ranks and the remnants of the line were chased off into the desert.  Just as orders from Sharif Pasha arrived ordering Khalid to fall back to establish a united front with Ismail Pasha one of his two remaining units was charged by a fresh body of hadendoa.  They needed to stand because they covered the flank of the Sudanese.  The first push by the hadendoa was held, but a second surge proved too much.  Another Egyptian unit had ceased to exist.  The Sudanese quickly turned to face this new threat.  They stopped a charge by rifle fire, but with all their attention to their front, they were totally unprepared for the charge from a unit to their rear which cut them to pieces.  With the exception of the machine gun, Khalid's brigade had ceased to exist.

The end of the Sudanese

Ismail Pasha was fairing no better.  He had also received Sharif Pasha's order, but had been unable to disengage.  The Dervish cavalry was threatening his flank and masses of infantry were preparing to attack his front.  One unit formed square and the artillery turned to cover the flank.  A second unit, in line, prepared to drive off the Dervish infantry with volley fire.  The Egyptian gunners definitely earned their pay that day.  Their fire destroyed one cavalry unit and sent back a second with very heavy casualties.  The square was assailed by camel troops and infantry, but managed to beat off both. 

The square holds firm

As mentioned above, one of Ismail Pasha's units had managed to enter Kawa.  However, they quickly discovered that fresh infantry were coming to attack them.  With all their ammunition spent and no hope of replenishment, their captain decided to fortify a group of buildings close to the walls.  His plan was to hold off the Dervishes long enough for a rescue mission to reach them, or to try and escape under cover of darkness.  However, before any adequate defensive perimeter could be set up the Dervishes were upon them.  One by one the buildings were overwhelmed and yet another Egyptian unit was destroyed.

The last stand in Kawa

With the cavalry driven off, Ismail Pasha decided to deploy his square into line and use his two remaining infantry units to cover the retreat of the artillery.  They would then fall back alternately, hopefully holding off the Dervishes with volleys.  He had reckoned without the effectiveness of the Dervish riflemen.  Their fire whittled away one of the units, whose reply was hampered by low ammunition (again!).  A concerted Dervish charge overcame both Egyptian units and few survived to reach what remained of the Egyptian force.  This now consisted of the machine gun and they field gun.  The two brigade commanders had joined Sharif Pasha and all three elected to stay with the guns, sending an aide back with the remnants of the Egyptian force which had gathered around Sharif.

The machine gun overwhelmed

The gunners fired off their ammunition against the attacking hordes, but could not stop their inexorable advance.  With pistol and sword, the gallant band fought as long as they could, but were inevitably  overwhelmed.

Sharif Pasha is cut down

When the pitiful remnants of the Egyptian force reached camp, the Brigadier listened to the reports with increasing despondency.  He knew that 'the powers that be' would need a scapegoat and he was first in line.  Would it be a posting to some forgotten corner of the empire, a desk in a cupboard-like office in some provincial garrison or being sent home in disgrace?

Another enjoyable scenario by Steve.  We don't usually fight on to the 'last man', but it seemed to happen in this game.  The Egyptians were hampered on this occasion by some particularly bad dice when it came to ammunition supply.   They seemed to spend most of the game with at least a third of their units low on ammunition.  However, on another day they may well prosper !

Back to Kelhamshire

After a lengthy break, we return to Kelhamshire this week for another instalment of the ECW campaign in that benighted county.  The Royalist forces in the port of Fairhaven are under siege and Sir Royston a Dammes, (victor of the affair at Richards Smithy ) has been ordered to advance quickly and raise the siege.  His scouts have reported that the Parliamentary cavalry have mostly been relegated to foraging expeditions and he is unlikely to meet serious opposition.

The Parliamentary siege force is under the command of Sir Francis Spencer, (Sir Victor Meldrew is currently engaged in protracted negotiations to retain some element of command in the county).  Sir Francis was not the first choice of the committee, but he hadn't ruffled any feathers and he was a good natured, if naive man.  The progress of the siege had been steady, if uninspired and Sir Francis was undoubtedly a good administrator, as the regular rations supplied to the troops testified.  However, he had yet to be tested in battle.

Having had word of who the opposing commander was encouraged Sir Royston to be bold, (in truth he needed little encouragement). He addressed his staff at a 'conference' at the well appointed White Hart Inn suggesting that the affair to come would be little more than a skirmish and several rounds of toasts were drunk to that belief.

The battlefield from the south

The field of battle (see photo above) was around the Red Post crossroads.  By the crossroads is the Packhorse Inn, and just to the west of it can be found Woodman's Copse.  Closer to Fairhaven the land is more enclosed, not ideal cavalry country, but this is where the two cavalry forces clashed.
Sir Francis was fortunate that one of his more experienced commanders, Colonel William Clegg was already in the area.  His force consisted of 2 units of horse and one of dragoons.  The dragoons had been deployed in Woodman's Copse whilst the cavalry were approaching along the road leading north east from the cross roads.  Sir Francis (with 3 regiments) was approaching the crossroads along the road from Fairhaven (ie from the north),  whilst a third brigade, also of three regiments, under Colonel Ralph Bates  was to arrive on the road from the north west.

Sir Royston ordered Sir Benjamin Havers to take his brigade (3 regiments) straight along the road to Fairhaven.  He expected Havers to run into some opposition, but he, together with Sir Thomas Linley's brigade (3 regiments) were going to advance over the more open country by Woodman's Copse and outflank any defenders.  Sir Royston ordered his dragoons to attack the White Horse Inn, expecting that his opponent would have placed any musketeers/dragoons there to command the crossroads.

The Royalists advance

Havers made good progress along the road, his leading troopers growing more apprehensive as they neared the Inn, expecting to be swept by musketry with no room to manoeuvre.  Surprisingly no musketry greeted them, but to their right they could see Clegg's troopers approaching.  Havers sent one of his units into the open ground to his right, but as they deployed they were charged by the Parliamentary horse.  Caught at the halt they were quickly bundled backwards in disarray with their opponents hard on their heels.

Sir Francis' troops near the battlefield

In spite of all Sir Royston's roaring, his regimental commanders seemed lethargic this morning, (perhaps too much wine the night before?), and their slow progress gave the dragoons in Woodman's Copse ample opportunity to snipe away at them.  The Royalist dragoons were also slow to approach the Inn; tired of waiting for their support Havers ordered his leading unit to gallop forward anyway.  The Inn remained silent, but his men did suffer casualties from pistol shot.  Clegg had deployed his remaining unit behind the hedges lining the road beyond the Inn and they inflicted several casualties as Havers' men galloped past.

Havers' men pass the White Horse Inn

Ignoring the fire from Woodman's Copse, Sir Royston led his brigade to the left around the western side of the copse.  Linley moved forward between the Inn and the copse.  His troops suffered yet more casualties as they crossed the front of the dragoons' position in the copse, the leading unit becoming so disordered it needed to halt to reform.

The delays to Linley and Havers allowed just enough time for Sir Francis and Colonel Bates to reach the battlefield.  Although the enclosures hampered a full deployment, they each managed to get one unit through the bottleneck and ready to charge.  Sir Francis sent his unit against Havers, who managed to get his leading unit into line before the Parliamentarian charge hit them.  Although all the advantages lay with the Parliamentarians, it was the Royalists who prevailed, pushing back their attackers.  When they followed up, it was the Royalists' turn to be repulsed.  Eventually, both sides fell back to reform.

The Parliamentary dragoons keep up a harassing fire from Woodman's Copse 

Colonel Bates was hoping to keep Sir Royston's forces bottled up near Woodman's Copse where the dragoons could continue to whittle away at their strength.  His lead unit managed to drive the nearest Royalists off in total disorder, but then found themselves attacked to front and flank.  They too were forced back, disordering their supports in the process.  Both Parliamentary units were now forced back and Sir Royston's advance continued.

The fighting in the centre was intense

Seeing the stalemate in the centre, Colonel Clegg led his nearest unit through a gap in the hedge to attack Havers.  Once again, although having the initiative, the Parliamentary cavalry were bested. and Clegg's men were driven from the field.  Clegg's remaining unit was just returning from destroying their opponents and seeing that the focus of the battle was moving north towards Fairhaven, he led that unit that way, hoping to reinforce Sir Francis.  Clegg's attack had given Sir Francis's units time to rally and now they returned to the attack.. Once again they swept forward, but once again, the Royalists prevailed.  The Parliamentary retreat turned to rout and in their haste the defeated troopers disordered their supports.  Only the close terrain, which hampered pursuit, saved the Parliamentarians.

On the opposite flank, Colonel Bates was also struggling.  With two of his units in need of time to reform, he deployed his remaining unit to cover the gap in the hedges through which Sir Royston's troopers would have to pass.  He assumed that Sir Royston would pause to gather his strength before attacking again.  However, the "Damned a Dammes" disdained such an approach.  Raising his sword aloft he ordered another charge and once again the Royalists swept forward.  To Colonel Ralph's shame his men put up only token resistance before they and their comrades turned, and raced for the safety of their own lines.  Sending one unit after the Parliamentarians to "keep them running" and with orders to "save any claret for me"; Sir Royston led his remaining men, plus Linley's depleted, but fairly fresh units, against the remains of Spencer's command.

Sir Royston orders the attack

Once again it was the battle for the gaps in the hedges that decided the issue, and once again the Royalists prevailed.  Sir Francis sent messengers to warn the siege lines of the coming Royalist attack and then joined a final charge against Sir Royston's troopers.  At first it seemed that the Parliamentarians may just turn the tide, but with Sir Royston hard pressed, Havers made a vital charge and completed the Royalist  victory.