The Battle of the A49 - English Civil War Battle Report

Less of a battle report this one, more of a few pictures with some background.  I normally try and put up a report a day or two after a game but circumstances conspired against it this time and its taken a bit longer.

The Battle of the A49 was a clash or two between the Royalists Lord Byron and Lord Flasheart, obviously disagreeing over who had the right of way at a traffic calming measure.  Lord Byron picked his side, and oddly went for the side without the hedgerows – obviously confident in his troops numbers (500pts to 400pts of Lord Flasheart).  Flasheart brought just infantry and ordinance (an entirely painted one!), which lined the hedges but lost the war of attrition against his enemy who advanced swiftly to pistol range and then engaged in a push of pike, with Byrons horse pushing Flashearts musketeers back on his right, and swiftly moving shotte sleeves doing the same on Flashearts left.  The defending ordinance fired 12+ shots between them before running out of ammunition, but missed all but one, and the confrontation was lost.

Flasheart wasn’t going to take this lying down, well, not while outside of a taverns 4 walls, and formed up his troops to defend the next  available junction in the short time that was left in the evening.  This time his foote marched swiftly into position, and fended off the enemy attacks long enough to claim victory.  The campaign rewards per side were an extra village (Ollerton) for Byron, and some tougher cavalry for Flasheart.

For those following the By The Sword Divided campaign, see here: http://btsdcampaign.blogspot.co.uk/

Sir Ralph Hopton's pike push back Byron musketeers, but the pike beyond will do the same to them.

The King's Lifeguard defending a hedgerow before the horse broke through the musketeers lines.

The main area of fighting, with Byrons horse having broken through in the foreground.

Lord Flasheart deploys once more - Stradlings foote tasked with holding the junction.