At our wargames club we have entered into an ECW campaign. We are using Steven Thomas campaign system and can be found here https://balagan.info/download-populous-rich-and-rebellious-english-civil-war-campaign
The Campaign has been written to be played with Steven Thomas own rules but we are playing with Warlord Games, Pike and Shotte rules.
To keep the campaign manageable we have decided to play two games for each year in the campaign 1642 to 1646, so ten in all.
Game 1 The Parliamentarian’s attack on East Midlands
The Campaigners have chosen their sides, Steve and Andy for the King, Ash and Phil for Parliament. The Parliamentarians took the strategic initiative and decided to attack the East Midlands with the hope of strengthening their position around London. Both sides drew campaign cards with the effect of both sides loosing a pike and shot regiment from their order of battle due to forces been diverted to put down Clubman risings and trouble in Ireland. The Royalist did gain the advantage of one unit of horse ignoring the effects of shooting and Parliament gained the dubious advantage of John Hurry a brave commander but lax in political principles.
With the armies been even in size the Parliamentarians were the tactical attackers. The Royalist been the defenders got some say over the battle field terrain and chose to place a steep hill in the center of their sides to aid their defence.
The battle opened with a swift advance by the Parliamentarians on their right with the hope of delivering a knock out blow before the Royalist had time to react. The Parliamentarian’s cavalry did hit the Royalist commanded shot but did not break them. The Royalist did take the hill and manoeuvred some pike and dragoons to check the cavalry attack. With the Royalist pike diverted the Parliamentarian foot thought they had the advantage and attacked with shot and pike but while they did drive the Royalist off the hill they where unable to break the stalwart defence and in turn where broken themselves.
On the Royalist right where they had positioned all their cavalry in good open terrain a cavalry action took place headed by both sides cuirassier heavy cavalry. The Parliamentarians cuirassier lead by John Hurry put up a good fight but were caught in a clever flanking maneuver and broke. What happened to John Hurry? He did not return to the Parliamentarian lines. I expect we will see him on the Royalist side in the next clash.
The Parliamentarian foot on this side of the field blundered back but recovered to deliver what they hoped to be a devastating salvo upon the Royalist cuirassier only to be dumbfounded by them been impervious to shot! The Royalist cavalry's job been done they retired behind their foot.
With the Parliamentarian center devoid of foot and the cavalry shaken the field was conceded to the Royalist.
With the Royalist glorious victory the area of East Midlands has fallen under their control leaving London looking rather isolated.
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