ECW - The Battle of Stoke Lane, 1st July 1643

This is the next scenario in the "English Civil War Campaign Scenarios - The 1643 Campaign for the South-West" book.

It is more of a large skirmish than a fully-fledged battle with around 450 involved in total. 

Sir William Waller planned a raid (known as Beating up Quarters) on the Royalists occupying the village of Stoke Lane. The Royalist commander, Sgt-Maj General Sir James Hamilton quartered his cavalry in this village with his dragoons farther to the east.

The Parliamentarian force was commanded by Major Francis Dowet of Waller's regiment of horse. Originally intended to attack just before dawn they were delayed arriving as daylight broke. Luckily for them there was an early morning mist allowing them to approach the village undetected. This is where the game starts.

Rules: Forlorn Hope by Pete Berry

Scale: 6mm Baccus

Table size: 3'9" x 3'0"

Figure Ratio: 1:2

Orbats:

Parliament

CinC Maj Francis Dowet  LV:2
Dowet's Troop                    27 in 2 sections
Capt Pickering's Troop      24 in 2 sections
Capt Richard's Troop        24 in 2 sections
Troop of Dragoons - Maj Edward Carr LV:1
5 sections                          51 in total

Royalist

CinC Sgt-Maj General Sir James Hamilton  LV:2
Hamilton's Troop             24 in 2 sections
Lt Col Carre's Troop        24 in 2 sections
Maj Blunt's Troop            18 in 2 sections
Capt Colt's Troop             18 in 2 sections
Capt Walsh's Troop          18 in 2 sections
Troop of Dragoons - Reynolds LV:1
3 sections                          30 in total

Walsh's troop are dismounted and acting as sentinels with each section covering the opposite ends of the village. The other 4 troops occupy 4 buildings, 3 at random with one in the inn. Historically, the royalist dragoons did not come to their comrades' aid when they learnt of the raid. I have decided to use the optional reinforcements rule and they will dice for arrival along Stoke Lane from turn 6.

The Parliamentarians will be strung out along the road running to the north east corner of the map and initially confined to the roads. 

Continued -

Horses of the 5 Royalist troops are grazing in the surrounding fields. Not having any loose horses I have used horse-holders to designate which fields.

 

A lack of suitable buildings has meant having to improvise. The rather large keep in the centre of the photo is just a building for the purpose of this game.

One of Walsh's sections at the barricade on the north side of the village.

The other section is spread out behind the 3 barricades at the south side.

Parliamentarian horse move towards the village. At present they are cloaked in mist leaving the Royalists unaware of their approach.

Walsh's dismounted section covering the north end of the village are horrified to see a column of Roundhead cavalry looming from the clearing fog.

A detachment is sent to awaken the sleeping troops. They begin with the Inn.

Walsh's section guarding the south end of the village are still blissfully unaware of the events unfolding at the opposite end of Stoke Lane.

Dowet's troop leading the Roundhead column gallop past the Royalists guarding the barricade and head for the grazing horses in an adjacent field. The handful of Walsh's men fire a volley at the passing Roundheads successfully downing a trooper.

The view from the south end of the village as the clearing fog reveals a seemingly endless column of Roundhead cavalry and dragoons.

Walsh's second section immediately respond with a detachment rounding up their horses. Another detachment begins to rouse the sleeping troops and in the background of the photo, the occupants of a building awake to the sound of commotion and gunshots. 

Having alerted Hamilton and his troop in the Inn, the detachment from the first section crosses the road to rouse another troop.

Dowet's troop rode past the north barricade and immediately made for the horses loose in an adjacent field.

Realising the Royalists were in danger of losing their mounts, Walsh abandoned the barricade intending to retrieve their own mounts. This was a risk given the close proximity of Roundhead cavalry.

Walsh's second section have successfully alerted Colt's troop on the upper right and begin to move towards their mounts.

On seeing Walsh running towards their mounts, Dowet lead his first section to intercept them leaving the second section to round up the horses (bottom left).

In the middle of the photo, Capt Pickering leads his troop towards the barricade that has now been hurriedly manned by 3 figures of Walsh's 1st section. A brief exchange of fire resulted in one loss to the Royalists.

A disturbing sight for the Royalists as Roundhead cavalry and dragoons fanned out towards the east side of the village.

Walsh's second section prepare to mount.

It is now turn 6, the first turn in which the Royalists can test for the arrival of their dragoons. No sign of them yet!

Walsh's first section successfully avoids the pursuing Dowet's troop who are delayed at the wall.

At the opposite end of the village, Walsh's 2nd section mount up and hurry to intercept the rampaging Roundhead cavalry. Blunt's troop pour out of the building in the middle of the photo hoping to recover their horses before the Roundheads interrupt.

Roundhead dragoons swoop towards the southern end of Stoke Lane.

Walsh's troopers defending the northern barricade routed when charged by Pickering's troop and were quickly caught. The Roundheads showed no mercy and wiped out the panicked Royalists.

Dowet attempted to rally his pursuing troop but failed. As they crossed into the Inn's walled yard they came under fire from the Inn's occupants and the rallied Walsh's troopers. They lost a casualty generating a morale check which they passed.

Walsh's second section, now mounted, advanced towards Pickering's troop who came under fire from the Inn and losing a casualty.

It is now turn 8 and still no Royalist dragoons in sight. Dowet's troop in the Inn's courtyard charge the dismounted Royalists of Walsh's troop who once again rout and thus save their skins as the Roundheads struggle to make contact among the village buildings.

Pickering's troop charge Walsh's 2nd section who counter-charge. The ensuing melee results in a draw and will continue the next turn. 

Pickering's 2nd section have dismounted and now assault the occupants of the Inn. They succeed in breaking in pushing back Hamilton's troop further into the building.

Richard's 1st section have dismounted and open fire on the occupants of another village building from the cover of a stone wall. They lose a casualty to the accurate fire from the windows while another trooper prepares a grenadoe to unleash on the occupants.

Bottom left and more horses are lost to the marauding Roundheads. Hamilton's troop within the Inn fight hard and push out the intruding enemy securing the doors.

Another section of dragoons dismounts ready to check another building for Royalists.

At the southern end of the village the Roundhead dragoons seek to cut off the Royalist line of retreat along Stoke Lane. In the left bottom corner, Colt's troop have mounted up with the intention of making their escape. 

It is now turn 10 and Pickering's troop finally defeats Walsh's 2nd section routing them from the field. They initially pursue the routing Royalists but fail to maintain contact and are faced with one of Blunt's sections drawn up ready to intervene. Unbeknown to Pickering the Royalist troopers are unnerved by the sight of Walsh's cavalry fleeing past them. He successfully rallies from pursuit ready to engage the Royalists in an organised charge.

Seeing the road through the village momentarily clear, Hamilton chooses his moment to attempt an escape. Hamilton's troop pour out of the Inn with one section forming a firing line on seeing Dowet's troop on their flank. The latter, in the process of reforming, immediately turn to challenge the Royalists. A hasty firefight breaks out with each side losing a casualty.

With the Grenadoe prepared, it is lobbed into the building with minimal impact. The small amount of smoke it generated quickly dissipated leaving the Royalist occupants in situ. In the bottom left another building is searched to be found empty.

Carr's troop having quickly recovered from the shock of the Grenadoe engage another newly dismounted Roundhead troop in a firefight with neither side suffering any casualties.

On the left, Colt's troop forms up in their 2 sections ready to make their move. Roundhead dragoons deploy in readiness.

Staying with the south side of the village, in the foreground, Blunt's 2nd section successfully rallies from rout. However, it is disordered as the pursuing Roundhead cavalry of Pickering approach (far left).

In the far right of the photo, Colt's troop make a bid to escape. They prepare to charge the newly dismounted dragoons having crossed a stone wall. More dragoons approach their left flank and they realise this is probably the only chance they will get. 

Still in the process of reforming, Blunt's cavalry hurriedly turn to face the oncoming Roundhead troopers. The better trained Roundheads plough into the disordered Royalist line and after a brief melee, the latter's morale broke. Losing all cohesion they fled the field with no prospect of rallying.

Colt's gamble proved disastrous. His first section failed to charge home but the 2nd section was more successful (middle right). The dragoons had become disordered in the face of the Royalist charge and fired off a ragged volley inflicting a casualty. The dragoons held steady though as the cavalry struck them through the hedgerow. Fighting fiercely, the dragoons held the Royalist charge leading to a collapse in morale among the raw troopers. They routed with severe loss.

The first section had been taking casualties from the dragoons positioned behind the barricade and also from the nearby building. On seeing their fellow troopers routing they joined them with more loss. Colt's troop in one turn had lost over half its men.

Carr's Royalist troop that had been occupying the red roofed building at the top of the photo, decided to make a break for it. Seeing an opening they ran from the building hoping to circle around the west side of the village and find some mounts. Seeing the Royalists spill out onto the road, the nearby dismounted Roundhead cavalry immediately charged them. The panicked Royalists were routed.

Carr failed to rally his troop despite the pursuing Roundhead having broken off to remount. They were now faced with an approaching Roundhead troop approaching from their left (to right of photo).

In the centre of the village, Hamilton directed the fire of his 2nd section at the dismounted troopers of Pickering's Roundheads who were in the process of reforming. Another casualty was inflicted but they held their nerve.

Dowet's 1st section charges Hamilton's 1st section who had positioned themselves astride the road. The Royalists held them to a draw and the melee would continue.

The Royalist luck evaporated as Dowet's troopers decisively defeated them in the 2nd round of melee inflicting heavy casualties.

In the background, Hamilton's 2nd section now came under fire from dragoons occupying an adjacent building and from Pickering's troopers ahead of them. 

It is now turn 13 which proves to be unlucky for the Royalists. The dismounted Carr's troop fails to rally from rout and are caught by the Roundheads. The end result - Carr's troop ceased to exist.

Having routed Hamilton's 1st Section, the pursuing Dowet's troop plough into the flank of Hamilton's 2nd Section with Hamilton attached. At the same time, Pickerings dismounted troop charged the front of the Royalists leading to their destruction.

Another view from the rear of Hamilton's troop. To make matters worse for them a section of dragoons spilled out from a building to their rear (bottom of photo).

The centre of the village has now been cleared of Royalists.

Colt's 1st Section successfully rallies from rout (middle right) but his battered 2nd Section has had enough and flees the field. In the foreground Pickering rallies his troop from pursuit keeping them on the field.

3 sections of Roundhead dragoons had now well and truly sealed the exit from the village.

An overview at the end of turn 13. The figures circled are all that remain of the Royalists and one of those is routing). With still no sign of Royalist dragoon reinforcements and little prospect of the surviving Royalists making a break out, I called it for the Parliamentarians. A decisive victory for them and a disaster for the Royalists.

A fun little game and one that is very difficult for the Royalists. In hindsight the two troops occupying buildings (Carr's and Hamilton's - the latter in the Inn) would have had a greater chance remaining where they were especially having lost their horses. They may have been able to hold out until reinforcements arrived although it would still have been difficult for them.

I am off away on my holiday tomorrow so there will be a break of 2 or 3 weeks and no doubt I will get some inspiration while I am away of the next game to hit the tabletop.