The Raid of Middleton - A Fictional Battle set during the Wars of the Roses

[KarwickWingmaker]

Part 1: The Belligerents

The following characters are all fictional with heraldry designed using heraldic clipart. Top marks to anyone who works out the connection between their surnames 



The Yorkist commanders:
Sir Richard Hayres of Matlock (red/blue) the Army Leader
Sir Henry Montagu of Eyam (red/white)





The Lancastrian commanders:
Sir Stephen Clifton of Middleton (white/blue) the Army Leader
Sir Peter Durkin of Grindleford (white/green)
Sir Arthur Bullmore of Farley (yellow/black)

[KarwickWingmaker]

Part 2: The Opening Turns

As the chill winds blow in the early hours, Sir Stephen Clifton of Middleton prepares his forces to defend his home against his bitter rival, Sid Richard Hayres of Matlock. His men anxiously await the arrival of reinforcements, but know that they will have to wait for quite some time for them to arrive.



Sir Peter Durkin deploys his men at arms and archers upon the lancastrian right flank ...



While Clifton deploys his men in the centre attempting to screen the entrance to the town on his left with some of his mercenary crossbowmen, hoping that they were worth the expense.



Clifton felt his stomach twist as he saw the Yorkists marching under the banner of Sir Richard Hayres coming towards his men. He was outnumbered and severely outgunned, the barrel of a cannon facing his poor archers.



The Archery duel began with both sides taking relatively small amounts of casualties, the Lancastrians slightly taking the upper hand.



That is, until the Yorkists brought even more men onto the field. Handgunners, far out on the Yorkist right flank, with mostly empty fields before them.

The archery duel was mostly inconclusive, with both sides attempting to chip away at the enemy from where the highest threat was posed. There was no avoiding it now, the Yorkists would have to advance upon the town.

[KarwickWingmaker]

Part 3: Manoeuvering and Opening Melee



The first of the Lancastrian reinforcements arrive in the form of mounted men at arms, ready to run down the handgunners on the Yorkist right. They remain behind cover for now, as the handguns can spook the horses or, if they are unlucky, tear a hole right through their small unit.



The mercenary crossbowmen move to the front as the archers have spent their ammunition. The Yorkists are kept at bay by the threat of the armour piercing bolts which could put down even their most heavily armoured men with relative ease.



The handgunners and a small unit of men at arms rush forwards down the Yorkist right flank, uncontested by their Lancastrian counterparts.




And what’s this? Clifton’s bodyguard in sight and range? The handgunners make an opening volley, managing to kill one of Clifton’s men at arms. A lucky escape for the Lancastrian leader.



Finally, Sir Arthur Bullmore arrives with the rest of the Lancastrian reinforcements, freeing up some of the archers who were preparing to fight in the melee when the Yorkists would make their charge into the town.




The horns sound as the Yorkist centre advances toward the town, the banners of Hayres and Montagu flying proud upon the cold winds.



The Lancastrian horse rushes out preparing to charge into the handgunners ...



... but are intercepted by a unit of Yorkist men at arms. Trapped in the tight lane between the hedgerows, the Lancastrian horse are forced back, luckily only taking light casualties.

[KarwickWingmaker]

Part 4: The Fight for the Town




The Lancastrian horse pull away from the melee and rush back into the town, unable to make any headway against the Yorkist men at arms coming down upon the Lancastrian left.



Crash! The Yorkist men at arms now take their chance to cause some damage to the Lancastrians ...



but yet again the tight alley favours fightin on foot and it is the Yorkists’ turn to be pushed back.



The Yorkist centre now collides with the mercenary crossbowmen desperately attempting to defend the walls of the town. Outnumbered and less well equipped for fighting hand-to-hand, the Lancastrians are pushed back, suffering many casualties.



The Yorkists cross the town walls and the desperate struggle for the town centre begins in earnest.




The Lancastrian horse race down their right flank, spotting an opening where they can threaten the Yorkist rear, with the right circumstances they could even run down Hayres’ men at arms, ending the Yorkist threat to Middleton.



Just as the Lancastrians seemed to be gaining the upper hand on the flanks, the unimaginable happens. Clifton has fallen! The Lancastrian centre collapses as the remaining leaders cannot control the routing men, the day is lost.

The Yorkists capture the town.

[KarwickWingmaker]

If you would like to try out these rules, they are called I Shall Call You My Lord and they are available for free here:  https://orriblelittlemen.wordpress.com/downloads

The scenario for this battle report can be found in the Campaign section under “Running the Battle” (page 26). It is called “Attacking/Raiding a Town or Village”

I used the same rule for the attacking Yorkist reserves as the scenario states for the defenders, though they could attempt to bring them on at the start of any turn, rather than from turn 5 onwards.

I hope you are all well and staying safe 

[Ninefingers]

Nice battle report - very St Albans. But considering the names, shouldn't it be set around Norwich?

[Captain Blood]

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing 

[Lord Raglan]

Cracking stuff buddy

[KarwickWingmaker]

Nice battle report - very St Albans. But considering the names, shouldn't it be set around Norwich?

Do you want me to dance for you?

[KarwickWingmaker]

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing 

Cracking stuff buddy

Thanks all! 

[mikos khan]

Awesome game & great write up. 

[KarwickWingmaker]

Awesome game & great write up.

Thanks!

Do you want me to dance for you?

Just realised how bizarre this response must seem for people who have never watched Alan Partridge 

[Ninefingers]

Do you want me to dance for you?

Have I got a second battle report?

[KarwickWingmaker]

Have I got a second battle report?

Whoooo? Whoooo do you think you are?

[MaleGriffin]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing! You're motivating me to get my WoR armies done!