Long Furlough, an ECW scenario for Pike and Shotte

After a three week break, Steve and I managed to play a game this week.  Not, I hasten to add in person, but by the wonders(?) of technology, ie Skype.  Steve set up the game and moved all the troops whilst I viewed the table via a webcam and issued orders to my units and rolled dice when required.

A view of the table from behind the Royalist force.

The Royalist commander, Sir Edward Colville, had a mixed force of 3 units of cavalry, Ashton, Catlow, and Bracewell; Harrington's regiment of foot, a unit of commanded shot and Widdop's dragoons. His task was to drive off the Parliamentary troops billeted in the area of Long Furlough, (the edge of the village can be seen at the far end of the table).  Nearer to him was Locke Farm and beyond it Locke Down.  Facing the cavalry was Barren Fell, with Wayste Wood beyond.  The dawn attack is to disrupt and drive off any enemy forces and then withdraw before reinforcements arrive.  Colville has two subordinates, Colonel Alexander De Lisle to command the horse and Colonel William Bradshaw for Harrington's foot, the commanded shot and the Widdop's dragoons.

Steve commanded the defenders and these were activated by die roll.

My plan was to send the cavalry forward over Barren Fell towards Long Furlough, identifying any enemy forces in the area.  Bradshaw was to clear the enclosure and then take Locke Farm with the commanded shot and Widdop's dragoons, leaving Harrington's foot free to advance towards Long Furlough.  All began well.  Widdop's rode up to the enclosure and found it unoccupied and the commanded shot then moved up to the track junction near Locke Farm.  Bracewell's unit of horse galloped up onto Barren Fell, found it unoccupied and then set off at speed towards Long Furlough.  Unfortunately, Catlow's and Ashton's horse seemed reluctant to follow them and it took a personal intervention from Sir Edward to get them moving forward.  Harrington's were also reluctant to move forward and Colonel Bradshaw had to come back to almost shame them into advancing.

The first enemy resistance was met at Locke Farm.  Sir Nicholas Starkie, the local Parliamentary commander, had billeted a unit of dragoons at the farm and they had had a 'convivial' evening, having liberated the farmer's stock of ale.  They were rudely awakened by a volley from the commanded shot.  Bradshaw had instructed the commanded shot to fire volleys at the farm, but the lack of reply and Bradshaw's absence, encouraged the commander of the commanded shot to order a rapid advance toward the farm.  As they tried to enter the farm buildings they were met by the determined resistance of the Parliamentary dragoons, who had had just enough time to organise a defence.  A fierce melee ensued in which the commanded shot came off worst and they had to fall back to rally and recover.

The commanded shot approach Locke Farm

And are repelled

Near Long Furlough, Bracewell's horse had not found any enemy troops and De Lisle ordered them forward into the village to see if it was occupied.  As Bracewell's entered the village they came under fire from the houses and had to fall back.  As they fell back, Ireby's regiment of foot and the Parliamentary commanded shot emerged from the buildings and formed up.  What Colville needed was Harrington's regiment of foot, but that was blocked behind Ashton and Catlow's horse.  It required some manoeuvring, but eventually Harrington's were in a position to advance on Long Furlough.  However, by now Starkie  had Clayton's regiment of horse available and a light gun.  Sir Royston A'Dames had also arrived with Clayton's regiment and he was given command of them and also Bannister's horse which were approaching the field.  Sir Royston ordered Clayton's to advance and oppose Catlow's regiment, preventing them from attacking the commanded shot.

On Locke Down, De Lisle saw that Bracewell's were well placed to attack the commanded shot and ordered a charge.  The commanded shot managed to fire a volley, but the horse still charged home and almost broke through.  The gallant infantry fought like tigers and against the odds drove off the cavalry with heavy losses.

Bracewell's are driven off by the commanded shot

Bannister's horse were now arriving and Sir Royston sent them to the left of Long Furlough, ordering them to take up a position on the flank of any attack on the village.  He then led Clayton's regiment in a charge against Bannister's horse which were attempting to rally on the top of Locke Down.  Also on the top of Locke Down were Widdop's dragoons.  They had ridden there from the enclosure with the intention of dismounting and then firing on the defenders of Locke Farm.  Now they found themselves supporting Bannister's regiment.  Caught at a grave disadvantage, Bannister's had little chance of resisting the impetus of the charge and they were soon routing from the field.  In their flight they barged through Widdup's and they too were swept away.  Sir Royston ordered the cornet to sound the rally, but the troopers thought they heard the call to pursue and they galloped off, chasing the fleeing Royalists.

The removal of half the Parliamentary cavalry gave Sir Edward a chance to attack the village.  Harrington's regiment fired a volley at Ireby's regiment which decimated their ranks.  He followed this up with a charge.  As the Royalist's swept forward they came under fire from the gun to their right and the commanded shot to their left.  Undeterred they closed with Ireby's, which broke and routed.  Catlow's regiment of horse charged the Parliamentary commanded shot and swept them from the field. 

Ireby's rout

Catlow's rout the commanded shot

Sir Nicholas now had a single regiment of horse, Bannister's, a light gun and a unit of dragoons on the field and the latter was still exchanging fire with the Royalist commanded shot.  Against this, Colville could field two units of horse and a regiment of foot.  Sir Nicholas had little option but to cede the field and pull back towards the main force. 

After a few teething troubles with the technology this first 'skype' game worked very well.  Communication between Steve and I was straightforward and the picture quality enabled a good view of the battlefield.  The fixed view meant that it was perhaps a more realistic representation of what a commander on the spot could have seen, rather than the 'all seeing eye' of the gamer who can walk around the table.  We both enjoyed the experience and although it lacked the full level of interaction  of our usual games it is far better that no game at all. With the 'lock-down' due to continue in all likelihood for a few weeks yet at least there could be more games of this type.