The scenario was based on one published some time on Kevs wargames cabin blogspot and whilst his was designed for use with Blackpowder I amended it for use with the Honours Of War rules.
There has been a '45 amendment sheet posted on that particular forum and I used this as a core but found the need to tweak it both before and during the weekend.
In essence the scenario was
17th January 1746
After the hapless Cope was defeated at the battle of
Prestonpans on the 21st September 1745.
Charles Stuart’s jubilant army had invaded England.
But disparity in the Jacobite command and the thought of
facing fresh Govt troops under Cumberland had
forced the tired army back into Scotland.
The Jacobites knew time was running out, not enough help had
arrived from France.
They were short on everything, although their numbers had
swelled from the march into England,
powder, muskets and food were now the main concern.
News arrived at Charles Stuarts camp that Cumberland
had been re-called to London.
This was to organise the defence of the capital as rumours
of a potential French invasion were rife and London was in a panic.
The command of the Govt troops had now fallen to Lieutenant
General Henry Hawley.
Hawley advanced with fresh troops to Edinburgh where he met with Generals Cope and
Wade.
Hawley, also had a problem, he needed to garrison his supply
route to Edinburgh
if he was to advance against the Jacobite main army.
He knew the Jacobites were massing at Perth
and had now begun the siege of Stirling
castle.
He decided to move most of his army to Falkirk in an attempt
to relieve the Siege at Stirling.
He sent what was left of Cope’s force to occupy Falkirk and prepare the supplies for his arrival.
General Wade was sent North of Falkirk to clear the area of
Jacobite sympathisers.
Hawleys force was spread out, he had no intelligence to say
that the Jacobites had moved from their siege of Stirling.
Wade’s Dragoons were camped and had spent the night in
Polmont, enroute to Falkirk.
Hawley would arrive later in the day.
This was indeed good news to the Jacobite command.
Hawleys army was divided.
The weather had been bad, but much needed supplies were
available and news that Cumberland was now on
his way back up to Scotland
with a large force of veterans from Flanders
had just been confirmed.
The Jacobites needed to strike now.
If the Govt troops could be destroyed, it would leave Edinburgh open once again
to a Jacobite entry to the capital.
This would certainly bring the French into full support of
the Stuart cause and a French invasion of England would be a real
possibility.
and so the scene was set
I
ran the game three times over the two days with three players on the
Jacobite side and two on the British and it was fascinating to watch the
different approaches to the game, in essence in game 1 the Jacobites
won a marginal victory despite having 4 of their 6 commanders as
'dithering' they managed to take Falkirk and prevent Hawley's
reinforcements deploying en masse.
The
other two games saw the Jacobites run out of steam just as victory was
in their grasp. What was 'entertaining'! that in both of these games the
Jacobites faltered ( threw a 1 on their command roll) at critical times
in the game on some occasions repeatedly! Who said there are no dice
gods. In the last of the games the Jacobites had thrown well having only
two unreliable commanders and yet Lord Elcho and the Jacobite horse (
dependable commander) threw a 1 two bounds in a row and halted aloowing
the British 3 pounders to throw shot down their line and rout Pistligo's
horse and weaken the command before they could engage with the British
dragoons.
At
the same time having caused morale failures on the British in Falkirk
and leaving the best part of the town open to be occupied the Jacobites
failed to advance two bounds in a row again resulting in them being hit
by grape from a British 6 pounder
Photos from game 1
 |
| The Jacobite cavalry engaged 'inferior' British Dragoons |
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| Jacobites close in on Falkirk - Irish piquet hold the left flank |
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| Falkirk under pressure as the British fall back |
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| Jacobite deployment game 2 |
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| Falkirk falls |
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| General Wade threatens the Jacobite flank |
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| British dragoons run back to their horses as their camp is over run |
All in all a most excellent weekend, great games, superb company and hospitality. Here's hoping we can reunite next year.
