Convoy: an ECW scenario for Pike & Shotte

Following on from the action at Long Furlough (link), the Parliamentary forces needed to regroup.  Sir Victor was assembling forces in the vicinity of Sandminster and a convoy of supplies was heading in that direction.  The Royalists had got wind of the convoy and were determined to capture or destroy it.  Lord Melchett ordered Sir James Fotheringay to take his brigade of infantry and Molyneux's brigade of horse to intercept the convoy.

Sir Victor Meldrew had taken the precaution of providing an escort for the convoy, three regiments of foot, four of horse and one of dragoons.  Early morning found the convoy making it's way along the Sandminster Road, near the cross roads to Walton.  Fotheringay had deployed his infantry, three regiments of foot and a unit of commanded shot in the centre, with two units of horse commanded by Sir Royston a'Dammes on the right and a further two units of horse, plus a unit of dragoons commanded by Colonel Francis Loughton on the left.

The starting position.  Sir Charles Lonsdale, the Parliamentary commander, is in the centre of the convoy.  Colonel John Thursby commands the leading cavalry regiments and Colonel Thomas Bannister the cavalry at the rear of the column.  On the hill between the Royalists and the road is a small unit of Parliamentary dragoons.  To be successful, Sir Charles needs to get the convoy and the majority of his troops off the table in the direction of Sandminster.  If the wagons are forced to take the Walton road, that is a draw.  Capture or destruction of the convoy and dispersal of the accompanying force is a Royalist victory.

The rear of the Parliamentary column

Loughton's first task was to clear the Parliamentary dragoons off the hill on the flank of the Royalist advance.  His own regiment, supported by that of Stanley advanced quickly straight towards the hill; whilst the dragoons moved round to the left towards the road.  Faced by two regiments of horse, the dragoons fell back towards the road.  An understandable response, but it made it difficult for Thursby to get his regiments in a position to attack the Royalists.  The situation was not helped by his own regiment continuing along the road in defiance of his order to halt and redeploy.  Thursby's other regiment, Clayton's, was also slow to respond, meaning that the melee, when it came was next to the road.

The dragoons retreat

On the opposite flank, Sir Royston had wasted no time in getting his regiments forward.  He moved between the wood and hill and was met by Bannister's own regiment.  Fotheringay had hoped that the commanded shot would be able to inflict some damage on the Parliamentary cavalry before their inevitable melee with Sir Royston, but the Royalist advance had been too swift.  The cavalry melee was a fairly even affair with the advantage flowing back and forth, but Sir Royston committed his second regiment, Tyldsley's, before Bannister could bring forward his reinforcements and this decided the affair.  Bannister's regiment routed, but Sir Royston was unable to sweep forward because his leading regiment, Molyneux's, had taken too many casualties and needed to rally.  In addition it blocked the progress of  Tyldsley's regiment.

Fotheringay's foot regiments had been advancing in the general direction of the enclosure and the gap leading to the crossroads.  Hoghton's was on the right, Chorley's the centre and Smethurst's the left.  The latter regiment was rather under strength and also without its regular commander.  Sir Augustus had recently succumbed to gout and had retired to his lodgings.  In his place was his 'nephew' Captain Jonathan Field, who had quickly earned the nickname 'Jonah' from his men. Over the last week the regiment had always seemed to get the worst lodgings, the wettest bivouac and the longest marches.

Sir Royston triumphant

Chorley's regiment had been the first into action.  Lonsdale had ordered Bentham's regiment to pass through the gap in the hedge and prevent any Royalist advance towards the cross roads.   Once again the movement was sluggish and Bentham's regiment was barely deployed before they were hit by a volley from Chorley's regiment.  Although they took casualties, Bentham's stood their ground and gave a lively reception to Chorley's when they charged.  Ignoring the fire, Chorley's closed to contact and a bloody fight ensued.  It was vital that the Parliamentarians stood their ground; if they fell back the wagons would be exposed to attack.  Their resolute defence proved just sufficient to save the day and Chorley's had to retreat.  Both sides now paused to rally their ranks.  Bentham's recovered first and now charged Chorley's regiment.  The Royalists stood their ground, firing a telling volley and then got the better of their opponents in the melee.  Bentham's now routed. Chorley's regiment were too battered by their fight to pursue, but Smthurst's stood nearby and were fresh.  Fotheringay gave the order for them to attack and was dumbfounded to see the regiment about turn and retreat, becoming disordered in the process! 

Hoghton's regiment was by now engaged in a fire fight with Leck's regiment which had occupied the enclosure.  The commanded shot had added their fire to that of Hoghton's and losses had increased rapidly in the parliamentary unit.  Observing a wavering in the opposition ranks, Fotheringay ordered Hoghton's to attack.  This they did; ignoring the desultory closing volley from the defenders and they began to try and force their way through the hedge into the enclosure.     

Bentham's eventually crack

Loughton's men had by now closed to melee with Clayton's regiment.  The Parliamentarians were at a disadvantage, with their backs to the hedge and no room to manoeuvre.  However, they managed to get the better of Loughton's regiment, forcing them to retreat and rally.  Fortunately, Stanley's regiment now came to the rescue, charging Clayton's and, after a tough struggle forcing the Parliamentary cavalry to retreat.  They too now had to pause while they reformed their ranks and fighting in this sector dwindled to the two units of dragoons skirmishing with each other.

Lonsdale had by now got his wagon train up to the cross roads and had to make a decision whether to continue on the road, turn right to Walton, or, attempt to make their way across the open ground towards Sandminster.  The latter was necessary because Thursby's regiment of cavalry and the dragoons were occupying the road towards Sandminster and therefore there was no room for the wagons.  Lonsdale chose the third option and the wagons made their slow, jolting progress across the open ground.

At the rear of the column, Bannister had managed to rally his regiment of horse and had brought forward Mytton's regiment of foot to provide some much needed fire power.  Sir Royston now faced a problem.  He was struggling to rally Molyneux's regiment of horse which was still milling about after their melee.  Tyldsley's, his second regiment could not move forward because of the leading regiment and his direct route to the rear was blocked by the commanded shot.  Galloping over to Molyneux's he brandished his sword above his head and bellowed "Follow Me!" and set off to the left through the gap between the hill and the enclosure.  Fortunately his men followed and the way was open for   Tylsdsley's to advance.  This they did, charging Kippax's, (Bannister's second regiment) and routing them.  Once again an opportunity to reach the wagons presented itself, but once again it went begging because the Royalist unit needed to rally before it could advance.  Tyldsley's were not given this chance.  A volley from Mytton's swept through horsemen and forced them to retreat.

The retreating Hoghton's receive a final volley from Leck's regiment

At this moment Hoghton's regiment, which had been valiantly struggling to drive back the equally determined Leck's regiment were forced to retreat.  As they fell back Leck fired a volley into them and the retreat became a rout.

Fotheringay had only the reformed Smethurst's regiment of foot and the commanded shot  in a state to continue the fight.  Chorley's and Hoghton's were both battered and weary.  Of the cavalry, three regiments had taken significant casualties and the remaining one was wavering.  All chance of intercepting the convoy had been lost and therefore he ordered a retreat.  For his part, Lonsdale breathed a sigh of relief.  His force was almost spent.  Of the infantry, only Mytton's was in a fit state to continue the fight and as for the cavalry only Thursby's, which had spent the entire action penned in the lane, could be relied upon.

That evening, back at Royalist headquarters, Field was called to Fotheringay's room to explain his actions (or lack thereof).  To his credit he didn't try and shift the blame, simply saying that  he must have misunderstood the order from Fotheringay.  Struggling to contain himself, Fotheringay ordered the young man to return home forthwith "to learn how to read".  "If he could demonstrate in due course that this had been achieved, perhaps a place in his 'uncles' regiment may be available"   With a curt nod from the commander the interview was closed.