Battle of Auldearn, 1645 - Montrose finest hour?

As we've completed our own Montrose campaign we're delving into the history books to play some real battles. The first is a battle of Auldearn where a surprised Montrose makes a rapid recovery to save the day. The Internet describes it as his greatest victory but how will our refight go? 

The Covenanter approach was a cautious one has they knew that Gordon's Horse would arrive at some point in their flank or rear. They sought to use shooting pressure against MacColla and deploy their rear rank to ward off Gordon.

The first few moves followed history fairly closely with MacColla charging the leading Covenanter foot and being thrown back after a bloody struggle. The Covenanters then poured shot into the Irish, causing serious damage. 

Long shot from behind Montrose lines

MacColla on Garlic Hill

MacColla is thrown back

The decisive action came though from the chance cards. In turn 3 a heavy mist descended on the battle field limiting shooting ranges and effect. This could not save the unfortunate MacColla from being wiped out but allowed the other Royalist to launch a successful counter attack and secure Garlic Hill. This was aided by the Gordon Horse's arrival routing the Covenanter unit holding the left flank exposing the main line to attack.  

Garlic Hill secured 

The game ended in a clear win for Montrose as he held both Auldearn and Garlic Hill. Not quite following history though as it was the weather not Gordon's Horse that swung the side for him.

 

Montrose - Turn 9

Turn 9 begins with the Covenanter / English forces in a dire position. They now only control 3 territories and the Covenanter home territory is under attack.  As they are on the defensive we fought the "stronghold" scenario on both tables. Both sides score for kills with the defenders fortified stronghold counting as 4 VPs.

Game 1 - Montrose vs English

In the first game the Royalists went for a "bulls horns" inspired plan with Irish up the middle, Highlanders to their right and Horse to their left. The lowland militia supported the centre. 

English stronghold

    

The Horse and Highlanders made good progress whilst the Irish looked to grind out a win against the stubborn English foot. Irish fighting prowess eventually prevailed pushing the English back and allowing them to take the tower. Royalist Win. 

Irish attack

Game 2 - Montrose vs Covenater

Game 2 was slightly different in setup. Once again the Irish held the centre with Horse to their right supported by Highlanders. The lowland Militia held the left with guns setup to bombard the stronghold.

In the pre-game phase the Covenanters quickly manoeuvred some Horse to attack and rout the Royalist artillery, thus curtailing the expected bombardment. This prompted the Royalist to switch plans and quickly attack with the Irish.    

Although the Covenanters had scored a win with the routing of the enemy guns it did leave them short handed and at a disadvantage in a protracted cavalry combat on their left, which was eventually won by the Royalists to expose their flank. The Covenanters also lost a general mid game which hampered their ability to issue orders.

Irish take the stronghold

In the centre, Irish were able to take the stronghold and turn the flank of the Covenanter foot, with the Lowland Militia putting pressure on the advancing reinforcements. Royalist Win

Covenanters badly fragmented

Campaign Situation

With two more wins we declared that Montrose was victorious having captured all bar the English home territory. Thus the Kings dominance over Scotland is complete and Cromwell has lots to worry about. 

As with the real battles the Irish were often the decisive factor in the battles. They can generally be relied on the beat the first unit they attack and if they are lucky on the casualties perhaps a second one too. The Highlanders are effective in combat but easily spooked by shooting causalities, and  so need careful husbanding. 

With the main campaign complete we'll do a few historical battles while we finish preparations for our next campaign - ACW in 28mm using Osprey's "Rebels and Patriots".    

Montrose Turn 8

I accidently deleted the material for Turn 7 but I can report it was a win and a draw for Montrose. So the Royalist forces began Turn 8 in a strong position with attacks on the English home territory and one of two remaining Covenanter territories. 

Game 1 - English vs Montrose

In this game both armies are rushing to control three river crossings. The English deployed a force against each bridge but the Royalist plan was more risky with Irish sent on a flank march to crossing further west in the hopes of out manoeuvring the enemy.

Things began poorly for the Royalist as one of the two Highland units attacking the eastern bridge fled at the first artillery fire, leaving only a tiny force to contest that. Luckily on the western ford the Royalist  advanced squadron horse were able to convince two units of English troopers to pursue them off the table, leaving their compatriots to capture the ford. 1-1 early doors with the centre contested.  

Mid-game the English were able to seize full control of the eastern bridge and push the Royalist levies back from the centre bridge - it all now rested on the Irish arriving in time.

Eventually the Irish did arrive and launched an attack but too late to push the English off the centre bridge. So it was an English Win 2-1.

Game 2 - Covenanters vs Montrose

In this game the Royalist were looking to lift a siege and gain control of a vital town. They deploy in the south east quarter and must get units into the north west quarter. The Covenanter defenders begin in the other two quadrants and must rout enemy units to win.     

The defenders split with their infantry in the south west and cavalry / guns in the north east. The Royalist had a roughly matching with the Highlanders supporting the horse.  

The Royalists attacked fiercely and were able to break through for a Montrose Win.  

Campaign Situation

The Covenanters are now down to their home territory and the English have managed to push back but will face renewed attacks next turn. Things still look dire for the forces opposing Montrose with most of Scotland loyal to the King. 

Montrose Turn 6

Just the one game this week but an interesting one - Montrose is encamped around a small hill when he is surprised by a force of English troops. Montrose starts with a risk of Disarrayed troops and must try to kill the enemy. The English are trying to get units into the camp area marked by the stream. 

Royalist camp

English Horse deployed in column

The manoeuvre phase was short with Montrose not wanting to face a long bombardment. So they quickly attacked with their Horse and expanded their perimeter with their infantry. 

Irish attack

The cavalry attack went in favour of the English but did create the space needed for the Irish and Highlanders to attack the English infantry, pushing them back. With casualties mounting, both sides lost units and began to run low on morale coins.

   

Highlanders press forward

The last turn was a tight one with the Irish seeking to push enemy units off the table while the English looked to get their Horse and Dragoons into the Royalist camp. After 5 turns it ended as a 3-2 win for Montrose.

Campaign Situation

With a win for Montrose he continues to expand his territories and now threatens the English and Covenanter starting zones.  

     

  

Montrose Turn 5, August 1644

Following a mixed July Montrose, renewed his attacks on the Covenanter heartlands in Ayrshire and Fife. The setup for both games was a simple one - both sides had to hold their camps whilst trying to secure a hill and raid the enemy camp. 

Game 1

The Covenanters were strong in artillery so formed a battery to dominate the central hill objective. This led to the Royalists focusing their attacks in the west and lurking behind the hill in the hopes of nipping out late game to take it. 

Covenanter battalia holding the camp 

Lowland Militia

The Irish pushed-up the centre and tracked around the west side of the hill with support form the Lowland Militia. Facing a strong Covenanter line they charged-in causing the defenders to fire too soon and do limited damage. Bad news for the defedners!

Irish attack

After some hard fighting the Irish crashed through 2 lines of Covenanters pushing them back. With the centre in trouble the Covenanter's resistance collapsed for a Montrose Win on morale points.   

Game 2

In the game both sides deployed with fast troops in the middle and the face-off meant a clash of English Horse against Highlanders was on the cards. An interesting twist in this game was that the English had a unit of Dragoons on flank march, so they could threaten the Royalist camp. 

Irish attacking

English musketeers hold the camp

The Royalist's attacked quickly with Highlanders and Horse towards the central hill and the Irish skirting to the west to threaten the English camp. A single highland unit guarded the Royalist camp. The Highlanders did well and routed two enemy before becoming exhausted with a major struggle over the hill ensuing. 

Large attack on the hill

The English Dragoons arrived early and set too sniping the Highlanders from range rather than risking contact.   

Royalist camp

The game ended after 4 turns with both camps under threat but not captured the Royalists with slightly greater numbers on the hill. So a close Montrose win 3-2.

Campaign Position

With Montrose winning both games some more yellow is added to the map. Summer 1644 has been good for the Royalist cause.

Poltava - what if?

Poltava (1709) was one of the key battles of the various wars that raged across northern and central Europe in the early 18th Century. It was the first time the all conquering Swedes would lose to the Russians and led to Charles XII of Sweden fleeing into an unhappy exile in the Ottoman Court. 

In history Charles was wounded in the battle and did nt return from exile until 1714. Suppose though he'd been unharmed and had persuaded the Ottomans to attack immediately, while the Russians were recovering from the battle? That's the stage for our "what if" 

Both sides deployed as the attached diagram with the Ottomans attacking as swiftly as they could. With so much calvary on both sides a swirling melee quickly ensued on the east of the field with the Ottomans gradually pushing the Russians back. 

Janissaries assaulting the redoubt at the top 

Russian dragoons ready to attack

In the west the Ottoman infantry advanced. A mistake on how artillery misfire rule should work for large batteries robbed the Russian guns of some of their impact early on, with the gunners not finding their mark until about half way through the game. 

Ottoman eastern flank

With the Russian Horse under pressure the Janissaries assaulted and captured a redoubt after a couple of goes, pushing the shattered defenders out and routing them.  

Russian guns preparing to fire 

We ended the game at the point the Ottomans held one of the redoubts and had cut the road to Poltava. Charles was still alive having mostly chased evading Russian dragoons around the ruins of the old Swedish camp. So a win for the Turks with limited input from Charles.