Boldon Hill; an ECW scenario

This week's game is based on the Battle of Boldon Hill scenario available for the In Deo Veritas rules written by Philip Garton and sold by Helion (link).   Set in 1644, the action represents the attempts by the Marquis of Newcastle to disrupt the siege of Sunderland by the Scottish Covenanter army.  He pushed forward a small force to threaten the supply lines for the besiegers and the Scots sent troops to counter this.  The action at Boldon was a result.

The scenario gives two options one with a fairly open terrain, a second where the Royalist forces have the benefit of a couple of enclosures near the village of Boldon.  I chose the second option, but in either case the objective is control of the road passing through Boldon.  In the scenario the Scots have more infantry, the Royalists an advantage in cavalry, giving the Scots the decision of how much infantry to devote to cavalry support whilst maintaining sufficient force to carry the enclosures and village and thus secure the supply lines.

Both commanders deployed their cavalry on the more open terrain, leaving the infantry to contest for control of the enclosures.

The battle started with a Royalist cavalry advance, not as rapid or co-ordinated as would have been wished, but at least taking the fight to the Scots.  Indeed one unit advanced further than was prudent and suffered quite heavy casualties from musketry fire.

The Scots infantry support their cavalry

Therefore, when charged by the Scottish cavalry the Royalists were defeated, but managed to inflict sufficient casualties on their opponents to prevent them following up their victory.  As more cavalry units entered the fray the action swayed back and forth, both sides gaining an advantage only to be driven back by counterattacks.

The Scots infantry were now nearing the enclosures.  The defenders fired one volley which caused some losses and disorder but did not prevent the Scots charging home.  A closing volley caused more casualties among the attackers and they were unable to make any progress in the ensuing melee; both being driven back in considerable disorder. 

The first attack on the enclosures

The first attack repelled

However, there was no time for the Royalists to celebrate, before they could recover from their efforts the second line of Scottish infantry charged home and the battle for the enclosures resumed.  This attack proved more successful for the Scots and one of the defending units was routed, eventually rallying in Boldon village.

The Royalists rout

Unwilling to advance further until support arrived the Scottish infantry halted, contenting itself by firing volleys into the rallying Royalists.

The cavalry battle seemed to be moving in favour of the Scots.  One unit of Royalists had been routed and almost driven from the field, another was being driven back by the remorseless advance of a unit of infantry supported by the light gun.

One of the Royalist cavalry units rout

Just in time, the Royalist reserve infantry unit came into action.  It had originally been positioned in the village, but the developing crisis on the Royalist right had resulted in it being moved there.  Once in position it began to fire at the Scots infantry unit supporting the cavalry and forced it to the new threat.  As the Scots manoeuvred the Royalists were given the order to charge.  Somehow the order was not received.  It was issued a second time, but once again nothing happened.  By this time the opportunity had been lost and a devastating volley from the Scots infantry was enough to disorder the Royalists.  A second volley, supported by fire from the light gun drove the remains of the unit from the field. 

An overview of the cavalry wing

Deprived of their infantry support, the Scottish cavalry had struggled.  One by one their units had been routed.  As the remnants attempted to rally in the rear of the field they could see their opponents advancing to deliver the coup de grace.  

One of the Scots units routs

 In the enclosures the balance seemed to be edging in favour of the Royalists.  The unit in Boldon had rallied and was getting the better of the musketry exchanges with their Scottish opponents.  In the other enclosure the Royalists had held another Scottish attack, but with the reserve unit routed their flank was now unsupported.

With his cavalry all but destroyed, the Scottish commander ordered his infantry to fall back to prevent them being enveloped by the Royalist cavalry.  For his part, the Royalist commander, although satisfied with his troops showing, realised he could not hold Boldon much longer.  When a messenger arrived with orders for him to pull back he was only too happy to comply.

A nice little scenario which played out well under the rather limited conditions imposed by having to game over Skype.  I upgraded the Scots cavalry from the values given in the "To Kill a King" supplement to Pike and Shotte, giving them the same factors as the Royalists.