Wars of the Roses battle fought yesterday.
The Yorkists advancing from the north divided into two battles, the right flank under Damas the left flank under Silent Invader. Total muster: 128 foot, 20 horse, two guns with 8 crew.
The Yorkist deployment along the northern edge of the field.
The Lancastrians advancing from the south in three battles, the right commanded by Jimbibbly, the Centre by Malamute and the left by myself. Total muster: 123 foot, 27 horse, two guns with 8 crew.
The Lancastrian deployment along the southern edge of the field.
Lancastrian artillery commanding the bluff with a view across the river
Yorkist artillery directly opposite on a low knoll. Looks like an artillery duel is in prospect.
The right of the Yorkist line – mercenary cavalry, Burgundian guns, the tawny & cream livery of Henry Pierce of Hackneye, and Milanese mercenary foot.
The centre of the Yorkist line – the apple and cherry sours livery of Edward Woods of Hockleye and the powerful retinue of Sir Edward Mortimer of Rocheforde
The left of the Yorkist line – the mercenary company of the Red Feather and the prickers and scurrers of Tyrell of Halstede…
Strangely, the Lancastrian commanders have subverted military theory by grouping their cavalry in the centre of their line facing the impassable fast-flowing section of the river, and placing large bodies of infantry on either flank… Hmmm…
On the Lancastrian left, the Howard cavalry are thrown forward at once to sieze the western footbridge…
Whilst on the Lancastrian right, the Tenchley cavalry race for the eastern ford…
As their longbows follow up, the Howard horse take shelter behind a spinney as the Yorkist guns begin to rain stone cannon balls on their advance, slaying Sir Thomas Howard’s page…
Meanwhile (reverse angle shot!) the Tenchley cavalry meet a nasty surprise as they splash across the ford… Mortimer has raced forward his large body of infantry to greet them. A fierce hand to hand engagement ensues…
Sir Robert Tenchley of Staffhurst urges his men forward from the rear – this did not stop him becoming an early casualty of enemy longbow fire from across the river…
The Howard infantry are over the western footbridge and advancing on that strategically important cabbage patch…
Under the covering fire of the Lancastrians’ Savoyard guns high on the bluff, their mercenary Scots pikemen cross the western ford…
The Howard foot bravely advance on the cabbage patch, taking heavy casualties from the Burgundian guns to their front all the while…
Little do they know the strength of the reception committee that awaits them in the sunken lane behind the hedgerows and fences…
Meanwhile, the Yorkists throw forward the fast-moving prickers and scurrers of Percy Tyrell of Halstede…
The Mortimer longbowmen of sieze the vital heights of Middle Hill…
As the Scots pikemen on the north bank of the river advance towards Middle Hill, they are faced by the dispiriting sight of the Tenchley cavalry, minus their Lord, fleeing back along the south bank to where they started from…
Brave Scottish fellows, they push on regardless…
Meanwhile, Sir Thomas Howard unleashes his cavalry through the cabbage patch against the men of Hackneye defending the fence. This proved a costly mistake – especially for Sir Thomas, who promptly bought it! Yes, still early in the day, and already the commanders of two of the three Lancastrian battles are dead! Going well then…
Luckily, the Howard foot and the Stafford bills of the Duke of Buckingham (handily arrived just in time from eBay) are rushing forward to reinforce the desperate situation…
The Scots pause to assess their chances of dislodging the Mortimer longbows from the top of Middle Hill… An inquisitive cow looks on.
The battle of the cabbage patch is joined in earnest, as the battered Howard cavalry give way to their supporting infantry…
The eastern end of the field. Not quite sure what’s going on here… Bibbly seems to have thrown his forces into a defensive perimeter… The Foyles of Crowhurst at bay…
The host of Mortimer of Rocheforde tramp across the eastern ford…
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May 06, 2011, 05:02:25 AM