English Civil War Campaign. Battle report 3, Parliamentarians attack East Anglia

 Game 3, Parliamentarians attack East Anglia

The Parliamentarians had the strategic initiative and lead by Sir Cooper the army moved into East Anglia to link up forces on the East Coast and strengthen the position around London. The Parliamentarian army had the little known Oliver Cromwell leading one of their cavalry wings, he brought extra cavalry to the battle but this was off set by a unit of cavalry been sent to repel a raid. The Royalist where more fortunate with their troop supply as Royalist Gentlemen flocked to the cause bring an extra unit of horse. The Parliamentarians being outnumbered put them on the tactical defence.

The battlefield was fairly open with the Parliamentarians choosing to deny the enemy the farmstead and the Royalist occuping a small enclosure. The armies deployed in usual manner with the infantry in the center and the cavalry on the wings.

John Hurry's lack of principals lead to his demise as before the battle the Royalist summeraly executed him for treachery. His daring deeds will missed on the battlefield. 

Parliamentarians on the left.

The battle began with the Royalist infantry on their right advancing in line with the left of this formation anchored on the enclosure, their cavalry advanced behind, not exposing themselves to musket fire. On the Royalist left the cavalry waited. The Parliamentarians opening move saw a general advance by the infantry to get into musket range. This was hindered in the center as the units manoeuvred around the farmstead. On their left a rather complex cavalry supported by musketeers and dragoons formation was attempted but this was dogged through out the battle by blunders.

The opening manoeuvres.  

The middle of the battle saw musketeers exchanging lead across the battlefield with both sides feeling the effect with units shaken on both sides. At one point two Parliamentarian musket units quit the field leading to a gap that needed filling by the cavalry. The cavalry on both sides manoeuvred cautiously looking for an advantage but not engaging.

The Royalist held their line as the one of the Parliamentary infantry battalia cleared the farmstead and pushed forward, exposed in the middle of the field they took casualties. A daring charge by one of parliments cavalry units on the Royalist left took out some commanded shot.

Despite it been a summer battle with it's long day, time was running out for the parliamentary army to claim the field and secure East Anglia for Parliament. As such General Sir Cooper launched a cavalry charge on his right flank, breaking two of the Royalist cavalry units but leaving his cavalry shacken and the battalia close to collapse. Through ralling the battalia was brought back to a fighting force but the danger for them was not over yet.

The Parliamentarian musketeers blunder into a charge on the enclosure.  

Whether enthused by the success of their cavalry or bloody mindedness the Parliamentarian musketeers blundered their orders and charged head long into the Royalist cannon and infantry holding the enclosure. All thought that this action would be disastrous for Parliament forces. As it happened the musketeers survived the closing fire of the cannon and beat the defenders back from the hedges. At the same time Parliamentarians pikemen got stuck in around the enclosure with two pike blocks charging a Royalish hedgehog.

Parliamentarian pike get stuck in.

The Royalist line started to show the strain with Parliamentarians in their faces across the line. There was a Royalist success on their left with the Parliamentarian cavalry battalia opposite circuming to the attrition of battle. On the right a Royalist cavalry charge with what was left of that battalia charged the commanded shot and dragoons supporting the enemies cavalry. The outcome was not as dramatic as hoped and the infantry held their ground and broke the Royalist cavalry battalia.

The battle ended with neither side knowing the outcome, it had been bloody with many shaken units just holding on and many fled the field broken. Both sides had lost a cavalry battalia. The final tally showed more Royalist units had broken and left the field meaning the Parliamentarians had won a narrow victory, their first!

Parliment has had it first success and taken East Anglia. The Royalist still dominate central and western England.

Note: there were not many photos as the photographer got too involved in the game.