September 13 1547
This is a wargame fought between Les Howie and myself on 13 Sept 2007 using 40mm figures and the rules Rough Wooing. The scenario, based on C.S.Grant's Sawmill Village scenario, was that French & Imperial forces were both given orders to advance and seize a vital road junction prior to a siege somewhere near Boulogne. Each side was given a list of available forces and allowed to choose 12 companies including 2 Captains. Given the selection of troops available, a sizable presence of English and Scots allies and mercenaries was evident. The forces chosen were as follows:
Imperial Forces (Les)
1st Battle: Captain of lancers, 1 lancer, 1 light horse, 2
Mounted Arquebusiers
2nd Battle: Captain of pike, 3 pike, 2 arquebusiers, 1 light gun.
3rd Battle: General von Howie (gensdarme)
French Forces (Ross)
1st Battle: Henri Coq, Sieur de St. Hubert, Captain of
light infantry (swordsman), 2 arquebusiers
2nd Battle: Sieur de St. Lambert (general, gensdarme), 2 lancers
3rd Battle: M. Albion, Captain of Pike, 5 pike, 1 arquebus.
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The game begins. Both sides had to march down the road in column until the enemy was spotted or the objective was reached. At the end of turn 1, the Imperial cavalry has clattered past Hubley Mills to confront the French forlorn hope. |
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The French light infantry, nimbly scoots into the houses and woods while their cavalry deploys to sweep away the Imperial light horse so that the pikes can deploy in safety. |
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The Imperial light horse try to swing around the French lancers but are driven off. The rest of the Imperial cavalry deploys for a confrontation. The French pikes drag their feet. |
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A vicious seesaw battle has begun for the mills. Fire is poured into the French garrison driving it out but St. Hubert leads his own company in and repulses charge after charge of pikes. |
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After some hard fighting, the Imperial Landsknecht commander is struck down and both sides settle down in their 1/2 of the town to await events elsewhere. |
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In order to clinch his victory, St. Lambert leads his lancers in a gallant charge. Alas he leads from too far ahead and a lucky blow from a German cavalier lays him low. M Albion refuses to bring the pikes forward. An Imperial counter attack reduces the French cavalry to 1 company out of 3 and thus, under the rules, they are shaken. In the village, M. de St Hubert has taken heavy losses. Things look bleak but it is not yet twilight and Von Howie is not ready to let the French retire gracefully. |
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In an act of desperate courage, the remaining French lancers, having passed their control check, launch a charge driving back 3 times their numbers of Imperial cavalry and laying the enemy Captain low. Von Howie himself joins the fight but is in turn struck down by the dying blows of the last French chevalier. Suddenly, both sides are leaderless with a shaken battle. The Imperial forces, however, are 1 hit away from 50% losses and defeat. |
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Undaunted, the Imperial pike surge forward driving St. Hubert from the
town for the 3rd and final time. Their moment of glory is short. M
Albion finally rises to the moment and sends his pikemen and arquebusier
forward and minutes later the Imperial forces are streaming back down
the road.
Final losses: Imperials: General, Capt of Lancers, Capt of Pike, lancer, light horse, arquebusier, pike. French: General, 2 lancers. The game took under 3 hours, start to finish, and consisted of 11 turns in total. Despite the statistically improbable number of leader deaths, it was a fun, see-saw battle.
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