Little Easing, (or did you ever have one of those days): an ECW scenario for Pike and Shotte

We return to Kelhamshire for our game this week and the continuing struggles between Sir Victor Meldrew and Lord Melchett.  Once again it is caused by search for quartering areas for their troops.  Up to now the area around the river Dash has been fairly quiet but that is about to change.  Sir Victor had hoped to be across the Dash before Lord Melchett's forces were alerted, but that was not to be.  As his vanguard formed up to cover the bridge, scouts reported enemy forces beyond the small village of Little Easing.

The battlefield from the Royalist position

There are only two viable crossings of the Dash, the bridge and an abandoned ford.  The latter may disorder units using it.  Forces were fairly evenly matched;  both had 1 large and 2 standard sized cavalry regiments and a standard sized dragoon regiment.  In addition the Royalists had 2 small regiments and the Parliamentarians 1.  For foot, both had 1 large and two standard foot regiments, though the Parliamentarians had a slightly higher percentage of musketeers and an extra unit of commanded shot.  Both sides had a small gun.  For victory a commander needed control of the bridge and the village, a tall order.

Lord Melchett deployed conventionally with horse on the flanks and infantry and artillery in the centre.  On the right was Sir Royston with the large and standard regiments of horse.  Sir Hesketh Fleetwood commanded the two small cavalry units and the dragoons on the left.  Lord Melchett accompanied Colonel Saville who commanded the infantry.  Caught crossing the river, Sir Victor had Sir Norman Fletcher's vanguard of the large cavalry regiment and one of the standard regiments plus the dragoons covering the bridge.  On the road behind were Colonel Wanless' infantry and the artillery.  Sir Andrew Goldshaw was leading the remainder of the cavalry across the ford.

Sir Royston ready to advance

Sir Andrew's men cross the ford.  In the background the vanguard cover the infantry advance

The battle opened with both commanders trying to establish a foothold in the village with their dragoons. It was a close race, but Fleetwood's dragoons managed to get there first and establish themselves in the house to the right of the crossroads.  Meanwhile, Sir Royston was attempting to get his units up to the road to the right of the village.  On the Royalist left it was originally intended that Fleetwood Hesketh's horse were to advance to cover the gap in the hedge and then charge any columns of horse attempting to pass through it.  Seeing the opposition horse  hindered by the old ford, Fleetwood Hesketh decided, rather rashly, to go through the gap himself and then attack the enemy at the river.  This did not go as planned.  Once committed to the move his units moved slowly and Goldshaw's men were able to cross the Dash, form up and advance to meet him in the open.  Even worse, they received support from Wanless, who directed one of his regiments towards the enclosure.  

Fleetwood Hesketh's men were outnumbered and his leading unit was quickly routed.  As it poured through the gap in the hedge, the other unit was hit by a volley from the infantry.  This left them easy prey for the pursuing Parliamentary cavalry and they too were soon routed.

The first Royalist setback

Sir Royston had now reached the road and seeing the leading unit of Fletcher's vanguard, ordered a charge.  His men were not ready and there was a delay before he could get them to advance.  When the Royalists did charge it was not crowned with success.  In an even contest they lost heavily and were routed.  Fletcher's men followed up and crashed into the supporting unit defeating them as well.  Shaken by their efforts they were then hit by a volley from an infantry unit rushed to the spot by Saville and forced to retreat.  Sir Royston's third regiment stood firm while Sir Royston and Lord Melchett struggled to rally their fleeing horse.  For the moment the Royalist right was secure.

In the village, the Royalist dragoons had settled in and were getting the better of the musketry exchange with their opposite numbers. The large infantry regiment had deployed  by the crossroads, but found that half it's musketeers were masked by the buildings.  To their right, the light artillery had been engaging the enemy horse, but had now turned its attention to the infantry that were moving towards the village. 

Lord Melchett had personally led a foot regiment over to the enclosure to aid the left wing before galloping over to help Sir Royston.  This regiment was now attacked by one of the Parliamentary foot regiments and although it held it's ground, the attackers did retain their advantage.

More of Sir Royston's cavalry are driven back

More Parliamentary infantry enter the fray

Lord Melchett surveyed the battlefield; the situation was bad, but not beyond recall.  Fleetwood Hesketh had rallied one of his regiments and it could charge any unit passing through the gap in the hedge.  He and Sir Royston had managed to rally Royston's routing units and the one sound regiment should be able to hold back the enemy horse long enough for Sir Royston to reform his regiments fully.  The centre seemed to be holding, denying the village to Sir Victor was vital and Lord Melchett moved over in that direction.

Smarting from his earlier setbacks, Sir Royston was keen to take his revenge on the enemy horse opposing him.  Galloping over to his remaining unit he ordered it to charge.  Inspired by their leader the Royalist horse surged forward, to be met by an equally resolute opponent.  The two sides were evenly matched, but it was the Parliamentary horse who prevailed, though at considerable cost.  As the last full strength unit of Royalist horse streamed from the field, Lord Melchett's attention was drawn to the left, where the infantry holding the enclosure were also streaming back in rout.  Finally, from the village the remaining dragoons tumbled from the houses, jumped on their mounts and retreated in disorder.  The enemy dragoons had been reinforced by a unit of commanded shot and then the light artillery and the combined weight of fire had proved too much for them.

Sir Royston's last throw of the dice defeated

The Royalist infantry in the enclosure routed

The only option now was to pull what remained of the army back.  Covered by the remains of the cavalry the infantry and artillery trudged back down the road they had marched up that morning.  No doubt muttering about the dismal show from the cavalry and how their commanders seemed outclassed by their opponents.  For Sir Victor it was a glorious day.  Not only had he secured a crossing over the Dash, he had opened up a new area for provisioning the army and inflicted a punishing defeat on his old adversary.