Battle at Leicester
1455
Thus, the decisive battle of Leicester took place bringing fate to the first test campaign. As our passionate observers remember the main Yorkist forces were situated near the city of Leicester thereby blocking the passage for Lancastrian to the city which was one of the main Lancastrian campaign goals. So, main Lancastrian forces approached battlefield from the south while Talbot’s battle did the same from the west. The rest of the opposing parties’ forces didn’t take part in the battle. Norfolk’s and Bursch’s forces were in London, Oxford and Cambridge. Initial disposition of opposing forces before the battle start was like this (battles / companies):
Yorkists:
Mainward:
1-1: Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York (ComWard)
1-2: John Neville, Marquess of Montagu
Vanward:
2-1: Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury (ComWard)
2-2: Henry, Lord Fitzhugh
Rearward:
3-1: Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick (ComWard)
3-2: Walter Devereux, Baron Ferrers
Reserve ward:
4-1: John Clinton, Baron Clinton (ComWard)
4-2: Edward Plantagenet, Earl of March
Lancastrians:
Mainward:
1-1: Edmund Beaufort, Earl of Somerset (ComWard)
1-2: Tomas Clifford, Baron Clifford
1-3: Tomas Courtenay, Earl of Devon
Vanward:
2-1: Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham (ComWard)
2-2: Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland
2-3: Thomas Grey Lord Grey of Rougemont
Rearward:
3-1: John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury (ComWard)
3-2: John Skydmore of Kentchurch
The original Lancastrian plan was as follows: tie the right flank and the center of the Yorkists and outflank Yorkist army by the second most powerful Stafford battle. As it’s became known afterwards, Yorkists were going to attack the Lancastrian left flank to prevent Talbot’s battle from crossing the river. However, all their plans were destroyed by the fact that Talbot’s battle was all mounted. I (Lancastrian) was almost sure that Yorkists would be totally defensive, fence out with their sticks and so on. But their over-self-confidence turned against them later. By the way, Lancastrian’s James Butler was absent during fighting (I plainly missed him when composed army list) but… but… rumour has it that he’s secret Yorkists’ agent.. So, Yorkists started the fighting with already present verse in the chronicle: “Indolence of our King…”
First Turn:
All companies of the Lancastrian moved forward. The first bell for the Yorkist was the removal of apathy with Beaufort, he came to himself, and with the help of the Yorkist themselves. Tactics in all wards were selected offensive. At the Battle of the Salisbury advanced to the foot of the hill. The rest of the battle approaching fired Lancastrian.
The second Turn:
In the Turn beginning the gale-force wind has risen, and all shooting passed with the reduced intensity already till the end of battle (weather and was not adjusted).
Ward of the Talbot has been fired, but, eventually, was linked in hand-to-hand to a company of Devereux and with a company of Salisbury on a hill.
Other wards of Yorkists have decided not to hasten and use shooting tactics before the basic blow. On the right flank powerful firing which is unexpected for all was fastened had fatal, practically solving consequences for army of York.
In firing John Neville, Marquess of Montagu perishes. Improbably, but the fact. The company is accepted by the anonymous captain, the test for courage ruins and in army of Yorkists is carried by, for the present whisper, disappointment grumble …
The third Turn:
On the left flank of Lancastrians the company of the Talbot takes down a company of the Devereux, and last, is taken prisoner. Grumble in army of Yorkists accrues …
People of John Skydmore have pushed aside from a hill a company of Salisbury (hot cabin with variable success).
People of Devon have been attacked by company of Fitzhugh from fight of Salisbury, all hill has appeared is covered by the battling.
In the centre firing, but a company of victim Montagu, under a command of the worthless captain proceeds, having had by loss, leaves. That has in turn affected courage of the others and has mixed all plans of Yorkists at which current tactics … were gone
In completion to all failures and as I consider, it became a turning-point in battle, the shot in a head had been killed the commander of reserve fight John Clinton, Baron Clinton, that in a compartment with other losses has led to flight of all fight, courage fall in all army and to two more verses in the chronicle …
The fourth Turn:
The company of Devereux has been definitively disseminated. And Warwick has decided to recede and try to keep the rests of the people.
Fight of Salisbury has been overturned, the company of the Salisbury is disseminated, and company of Fitzhugh has left having left in perplexity heroically swinging on a hill halberds billmens of Devon which bowmens have not become puzzled and have fired at people of York who in turn continued to fire at wards of Beaufort and Buckingham. In the chronicle of Yorkists one more verse … was added
The fifth Turn.
In ward of Warwick the dysentery attack has begun! In addition he has chosen not successful tactics for the hand-to-hand. As a result the company has been disseminated, but the count managed to disappear (probably sat in bushes …). It has added one more, last verse in the chronicle of Yorkists that has in turn led to full frustration and flight of the rests of army of Yorkists.
Result. Devastating defeat of Yorkists has led to critical loss of confidence of all campaign. And survived party leaders of Yorks have gone to exile. The first test campaign for Wars of Roses «1455» has come to the end with a full victory of Lancastrians!
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June 18, 2013, 04:06:45 AM