English Civil War

Famous by my sword - the campaigns of Montrose

Background

1. Between 1644 and 1645, James Graham : 1st Marquise of Montrose, led the King's armies in Scotland in a campaign that criss-crossed the country. He fought seven major actions and defeated a number of Covenanter commanders. His most famous enemy though was perhaps Archibald Campbell: 1st Marquise of Argyll.

2. This campaign recreates that struggle and in particular focuses on two aspects:
·         Montrose often had the strategic and tactical initiative - fighting when and where he chose on most occasions.
·         Army sizes could vary greatly depending on morale, time of year, clan politics, and interventions to/from England.  

3. So in this campaign movement is somewhat abstracted, with success measures by territories loyal to each side not necessary occupied by each side. The system should also work as a solo campaign with some minor adjustments. 

Campaign Map

 
Campaign Turns

4. Each turn represents a month and is marked-off on the campaign calendar on the map. There are penalties for fighting in the winter. These are stiffer for the attacker than the defender as they will be further from their supply bases. 

5. Each month Montrose may launch an attack into any territory he does not control so long as it is adjacent to a territory he already controls. This could be either a neutral or Covenanter-held territory:
·         If the territory is currently neutral then the winner of the battle may claim it.
·         If the territory is currently Covenanter then Montrose claims it if he wins. If Montrose loses then he must sacrifice a territory he currently holds.
·         Argyllshire and Ireland are home territories for the two sides and may never be captured. Both sides also begin with a second territory

6. Optional Rule: Both sides could have two commanders. They are Montrose / Alasdair MacColla and Argyll / Lieutenant-General Baillie respectively. Both of the Royalists may launch an attack each turn. You might also allow both sides to attack alternatively if you want a more active Covenanter side. 

Territories

7. Each turn a player may "play" up to 3 territories to support his forces. Territories can confer both forces and a tactical / strategic advantage in the coming battle. These abilities are rolled-for the first time a territory is fought over and remain the same for the rest of the campaign.

Armies

8. Both sides will field armies that consist of core units and then are supported by various auxiliaries depending on the territories held. Core troops are refreshed for each battle and auxiliary troops are only used for that game. Dice for both type and quality of auxiliaries, only using outcomes for which there are figures available.
9. [Design note] These army lists reflect the figures we have available. They are probably over generous in terms of the numbers of mounted troops. All classifications are for Victory Without Quarter rules.   

 

Montrose - core forces	Covenanter - core forces
Montrose (Exceptional)  Irish Brigade - 3 * Vets Gordon foot Brigade - 1 * Trained, 1 * Raw Gordon Horse Regt - 2 * Trained Trotter Gordon Horse Regt -  2 * Trained Galloper Highland Brigade - 2 * Trained Highlander 1 * Medium artillery	Leslie (Average) Infantry brigade - 3 * Trained, 1* Vet Infantry brigade - 3 * Trained Horse Regiment - 2 * Trained Trotter, Horse Regiment - 2 * Trained Galloper 1 * Medium artillery
12.41 points	12.5 points

 

Roll	Covenanter	Montrose	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	Forlorn Hope	Forlorn Hope	Raw		Trained		Vet
2,3	Infantry	Infantry	Raw		Trained			Vet
4	Trotter	Trotter	Raw		Trained
5	Galloper	Galloper	Raw		Trained
6	Light gun	Light gun	Trained
7	Medium gun#	Highlander*	Raw*	Trained			Vet*
8	Dragoon	Dragoon	Raw

*  = Montrose units only, Covenanters are always Trained
# = max 1 per army. If no highlanders available Montrose may take a medium gun
If the correct figures are unavailable them roll again.

Tabletop Battles

10. To avoid all the battles being head-to-head slugging matches two elements of randomness will be introduced to the action:
·         Firstly a scenario will be selected which specifies the deployment, victory conditions, and terrain type for the battle.
·         Secondly terrain will be determined by drawing an appropriate card from the terrain deck. We are using the excellent cards from Perfect Captaine. 

Scenarios
1,2,3	Pitch battle. A classic encounter.
4,5	Meeting engagement. Both march to the sound of the guns.
6	Flank attack. You have out-foxed by gad
7	Reinforcements. My enemy is near but so are my friends
8	Rear guard action. Hold them while the baggage escapes
9	River Crossing. Seize the ford my good man .
10	Fortified position. It's a siege by god sir.

Weather and time of year

11. The weather in Scotland can by notoriously changeable, so roll before each battle to see what mother nature has in store for you.

	1	2	3	4	5	6
Spring / Summer	Grey & overcast				Rain
Autumn	Grey	Rain		Heavy rain		Snow
Winter	Rain	Heavy rain		Snow		Blizzard

1. Grey & overcast - No effect. This is as good as it gets, so enjoy it!
2. Rain - No-one counts as volley fire.
3. Heavy rain - As rain but fords become impassable and streams count as rivers. Guns may not fire except at short range. No charges, must advance to contact.
4. Snow - Movement reduced to 3/4 usual speed.
5. Blizzard - As snow plus no visibility beyond 4" and no charges allowed, must advance to contact.

12. It is assumed that the attacker would suffer greater attrition in the winter than the defender who is tucked-up in his warm hovel. If Montrose attacks in the winter both sides dice to see if their morale is reduced for that battle. On a 5 per unit Montrose lose 1 morale class and on a 6 by 2 morale classes. On a 6 the Covenanters lose a morale class.  The battle will always be a flank attack and Montrose will be the attacker.   

Solo Supplement

13. The structure is inherently suitable for solo play as only one side will be attacking strategically. So the solo player will take the role of Montrose.

14. Armies: As a solo player you could model the gradual growth of Montrose army as he won battles and rely on the inherent weakness of AI to counteract the bigger  Covenanter forces. You should start with the Irish and Highlanders only. Add the Gordon foot after 1 win and the Gordon horse after 2 or 3 wins.

15. Territories: If the Covenanters acquire neutral territory then choose it randomly. If they have more than three territories then roll to see which they use. 

16. Battles: Use your favourite AI to model the Covenanters deployment and movement. You may find the original Victory without Quarter to work better for solo play as the card based activation system gives natural friction and works well for the solo player.  

Territory Effects

Roll separately for both reinforcements and strategic effects.

Roll	Reinforcements	Effect
1	0.5 rolls	Special Event: Roll for a special event affecting a both players. Reroll effect.
2	0.5 rolls	Well-fed recruits: +1 on the quality dice.
3	0.5 rolls	Going to the chapel: A preacher joins you adding +2 moral to the unit he is with.
4	0.5 rolls	Magazine: The additional powder means D3 units may ignore their first reload marker.
5	1 roll	Arsenal: You may field an additional light artillery.
6	1 roll	Loyal town: You receive an additional reinforcement of Raw infantry as clubmen or similar.
7	1 roll	Excellent road network: +1 on initiative when determining who is the attacker in a scenario and +1 on troop arrival dice.
8	1 roll	Port (coastal only): You may count any other coastal territory on the same side of the country as adjacent for movement.
9	1 roll	Well defended: You may field hard cover for D3 units.
10	1 roll	Down from the hills: You an additional reinforcement of Raw trotters as the local nobility turn out to help.
11	1 roll	Commanding views: You may add an additional small hill to your side of the battle field.
12	1 roll	Brewery: One unit is suitably fortified and receives +1 morale.
13	1 roll	Fortified manor: You always defend if a fortification scenario is selected.
14	1 roll	Drill square: Your infantry still test to form hedgehog if charged from less than half way, but at -1 morale.
15	1 roll	Siege Train: Always attack in a fortification scenario. You receive a mortar - this ignores the effects of hard cover and may start a fire on 6 (D6) when it hits.
16	1 roll	Powder Factory: The additional powder means 1D3+1 units may ignore their first reload marker.
17	1.5 rolls	Supply dump: You receive an additional reinforcement unit.
18	1.5 rolls	Manor: You may field a member of the local gentry as an additional brigadier.
19	1.5 rolls	Library: Studying the great commanders sharpens your mind. Your commander counts exceptional (or double exceptional if Montrose)
20	1.5 rolls	Spy Network: Roll for an espionage event each turn. Reroll effect if the territory is captured.

Espionage Events
1	Counter Espionage: Your spy-master is caught and the network unravels. Reroll the territory.
2	Assassins: Roll D6 for a nominated Brigadier. On 3-6 he dies before the battle.
3	Sabotage: Your spies get amongst the enemies horses. Roll for each mounted unit and on 6 (D6) they begin with 1 casualty.
4	Bribery: An enemy officer is in your pocket. Nominate a non-Veteran enemy unit at the beginning of the game: for the rest of the game it must roll a D6 at the start of each turn: on a 6 it is Shaken.
5	Stolen plans: knowing your enemies dispositions gives you an edge. Redeploy up to 3 units after deployment.
6	Poisoned Wells: Your spies disrupt the enemy badly. Roll per enemy unit and on a 6 (D6) each starts the battle Shaken.
Special Events
1	Bring out your dead: Plague stalks the land. People are flocking for the hills so reinforcements are halved.
2	Stand and deliver: Dandy highwaymen disrupt the roads. Spy networks and excellent road networks are unavailable this turn.
3	Rotten harvest: The harvest is poor so you must forage further afield. Armies must start with their cavalry off-table dicing as flank marchers.
4	Peasant revolt: One of the territories you control rises and must be quelled. Dispatch a unit and roll D6 each turn until its under control -  Shot=5+, Pike=4+, and Horse= 3+.
5	Storms grip the country: whatever the season the weather counts as storms
6	Burn um: Witches are abroad. Roll 1D6. 1/2= one cav unit is missing on  wild witch chase, 3/4= everyone is spooked, a unit starts Shaken, 5/6=one inf unit has +2 morale having killed a suspected witch.

Battle setups

17. Games are played on a 10' table with a 4' wide centre, 2' wide wings, and 1' flanks. Water counts as streams  / marshes unless otherwise noted. Units are Brigades, regiments, or unbrigaded dragoons NOT artillery.

Pitch battle

Terrain: Choose any except rivers and strongholds.   Deployment: Both deploy up to 12" in and not within 12" of the edge. There must be more mounted on each flank than in the centre and more foot in the centre than on both flanks combined. Guns, dragoons, and forlorn hopes deploy anywhere. Both deploy behind screens. All zones must have at least one unit in.   Victory: Route the enemy be reducing to 50% of forces. Each side nominates a victory objective that counts as a routed unit if held by the enemy.

Meeting engagement

Terrain: Terrain: Choose any except rivers and strongholds.   Deployment: Both sides establish an order of march in brigades / regiments / unbrigaded units. The first must be mounted or dragoons. Units then arrive down the centre (or a suitable road as per the map) one at a time in column of march. If there are mutliple roads then foot / guns will arrive down the one closest to the centre but mounted arrive on random roads (roll before the game)     Victory: Route the enemy be reducing to 50% of forces. Each side nominates a victory objective that counts as a routed unit if held by the enemy.

Flank attack

Terrain: Choose any except rivers and strongholds.   Deployment: Dice for initiate, higher score is the attacker, remembering exceptional and poor commanders. The attacker selects up to 1/3 of their force to flank march. The attackers selects a flank to attack. Both sides then deploy as for a Pitched Battle except the attacker may ignore a flank deployment zone if they wish. The flankers arrive in the enemies flank (roll for which 1' square) on a 4+ in turn 2, or automatically in turn 3.   Victory: Route the enemy be reducing to 50% of forces. Each side nominates a victory objective that counts as a routed unit if held by the enemy.

Reinforcements

Terrain: Choose any except rivers and strongholds.   Deployment: Roll to see who is the defender - they choose sides. The defender deploys half their force as though for pitched battle but up to 24" in and may leave one wing unoccupied. The attacker then deploys as for pitched battle. The remaining defenders arrive down a random road on a 4+ in turn 2 or automatically in turn 3.    Victory: Victory: Route the enemy be reducing to 50% of forces. Each side nominates a victory objective that counts as a routed unit if held by the enemy.  The attackers objective must be the defenders half.

Rear guard action

Terrain: Choose any except rivers and strongholds.   Deployment: Roll to see who is the defender - they choose sides. The defender deploys half their force as though for pitched battle but up to 24" in and may leave one wing unoccupied. The attacker then deploys as for pitched battle.   Victory: The game ends when the end-game total is exceeded, thus indicating the baggage etc has escaped. Roll D6 at the end of each turn. When the cumulative total exceeds 23 the game is over.

River Crossing

Terrain: Choose a river card, with two bridges added. Terrain will be adjusted to provide a fair race to the river crossings.   Deployment: Both sides deploy as for a meeting engagement. In addition to the bridges there may be a ford. Troops may search each section of river and on a 6 (D6) they discover a ford.   Victory: Whoever holds both bridges at the end of the game is the winner.

Fortified position

Terrain: Choose a stronghold   Deployment: Dice to see who is the attacker unless either has the Fortified Manor or Siege Train. The defender only uses 1/2 their force. 1/4 deploys on table as a garrison. The attacker then deploys as for a Pitched Battle. The remaining defenders arrive down a random road on a 4+ in turn 2 or automatically in turn 3.   Defences provide all-around protection and infantry can count as firing from any side, guns must fire forwards only. When 3 sections of defences have been destroyed then it only counts as soft cover.   Victory: Whoever holds the fortification at the end of the game has won. This must be by an unshaken unit.

 

Territory Value Record

Territory	Reinforcements	Effects
Sutherland, Caithness
Ross and Cromarty
Perthshire
Inverness-shire	1	Arsenal
Moray, Banffshire, Nairnshire
Angus, Kincardineshire
Aberdeenshire
Argyllshire	1	Powder factory
Bute
Fife, Kinross-shire
Stirlingshire, Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire	1	Excellent roads
Ayrshire
Lanarkshire
West Lothian, Midlothian, East Lothian
Selkirkshire, Peeblesshire
Dumfriesshire
Kirkcudbrightshire, Wigtownshire
Berwickshire, Roxburghshire
Ireland	1.5	Manor

 

 

The English Civil War campaign - Borsetshire

It is the summer of 1644 and both Parliament and The King are making a play for the strategically important county of Borsetshire. The Royalist are ensconced in Felpersham and the  Parliamentary forces in Borchester. Battle is set to be joined over the country side in between these two important hubs.

Each player controls one of three armies. The forces of the King are played by John, Richard, and Roy. Those of Parliament by Stu, Stuart, and Mike

 

 

The Borsetshire Campaign map

Turn 1

Hallbury Down

Both sides advanced promptly seeking good ground to bring the enemy to battle. In the south forces commanded by John and Mike met at Hallbury down

The Royalist forces launched a cavalry assault on their right which met with initial success driving much of the Parliamentary horse from the field and capturing two guns. However they met with tougher resistance from the foot and were driven back in several places. As darkness fell honours were even with both armies having lost 6 units.

 

Turn 2

Trewes Castle

The Parliamentary forces deployed behind a strong defensive position based on the river Am. Stuart and Roy were in command in a battle close to the Parliamentary base at Borset.

The Royalist sent a cavalry brigade upstream in search of a crossing point to flank the Parliamentary defences. Uncertain of its fate they launched a cautious attack with infantry against the bridges fords spanning the Am, with support from dragoon and artillery fire. Suffering heavy losses they made progress but could not establish a foothold on the far bank. The flanking attack eventually arrived but were unable to make much progress against the Parliamentary forces. As darkness fell the Royalist commanders called-off the attack.

Hathlom Hall

The Parliamentary forces were without half their cavalry as they were off foraging, but managed to supplement their forces with some locally raised foot. Stu and Richard in command.

The Royalist forces launched a strong cavalry attack on their right with a weaker pinning attack on the left. Despite their numerical advantage and initial success the attack was largely halted. Things faired less well for Parliament when the infantry clashed the Royalist fire repeatedly proved more deadly with the central roundhead brigade largely destroyed for no Royalist losses. Under mounting losses the Parliamentary forces withdrew.

2nd Hallbury Down

Both sides returned to the site of the previous battle slightly depleted. The Royalists were without a regiment of Foote and a squadron of Horse. The Parliamentary forces initially lacked an entire Foote brigade but these eventually made the field.

The battle began with a large cavalry melee on the Parliamentary left, with honours fairly even. One unit of Royalist Horse charged the Parliamentary foote but were repulsed. In the centre an attritional infantry fire-fight ensued with morale ebbing and flowing on both sides. With night approaching both sides seemed close to exhaustion when eventually the Parliamentary Horse's morale waivered and the army withdrew.

Turn 3

Mab's Knoll

Both sides deployed their infantry in a defensive position opposite the central ford. The Parliamentary forces being strong in cavalry advanced on both flanks and send a force upstream in search of a ford under Lord Asquith. Perhaps being unwell and unsteady in the saddle he was not seen for the remainder of the day  but did force the Royalists onto the defensive.

On the Royalist right the Ironsides advanced boldly and outnumbered the Royalists horse 2-1. The result was inevitable with the Cavaliers scattered, but the Ironsides lacked the infantry support to force a crossing. With the light fading, and the non-appearance of Lord Asquith, a draw was declared.

2nd Trewes Castle

 Parliamentary forces once again adopted a strong defensive position behind the river. with part of the cavalry force away foraging they deployed some of the new arrived Scottish troops of their left.

A strong force of Royalist cavalry once again located a crossing and arrived on the Parliamentary left. Despite being outnumbered the Ironsides attacked smartly and caught the Cavaliers at the halt. After a short struggle the Royalist horse was driven from the field. The Parliamentary foot held firm in the centre and so the battle ended with a draw.


The Campaign Ends

With the line stabilised along the river Am the campaigning season has drawn to a close.

On reflection it may be we had too many rivers and as well as being hard to attack they also prevented the defender launching a meaningful counterattack. Next time we will opt for more open terrain and restrict rivers to part of the frontage.