ECW Campaign Game 5

Game 5 of the English Civil War campaign has Parliament and Royalist forces facing off near the market town of Appleby. Rather surprisingly Parliament recruited well. Possibly excessive rents charged by landlords had created an environment for strong Parliamentarian support.

Opening positions

This was going to be an interesting battle. The smaller Royalist force, strong in infantry, was able to use a wood to protect its right flank and position most of its cavalry on the left flank.

The centre of both forces move forward to hold the centre hill

Parliament gained the centre hill and battle commenced in the centre. Parliamentarian cavalry were pushed forward. 

Royalist gallopers charged forward into the advancing Parliamentarian cavalry

Casualties start to mount in the centre

The move to occupy the centre hill provides an advantage when in melee, but not against musketry, and Royalist infantry were maintaining steady fire without running out of ammunition.

Unit losses were starting to appear in the Royalist centre

The Parliamentarian line looks fragile after losing units in the centre and cavalry flank 

The centres of both forces were begging to crumble as reserves are thrown in.

The Royalist reserve cavalry charge forward and shatter the Parliamentarian centre and resistance. 

A hard earned Royalist victory. Three areas that assisted their victory:

• A strong infantry centre and good use of the wood to protect a flank
• Not running out of ammunition meant Parliament could not take advantage of the hill
• Parliament forces had evenly split their cavalry each flank, rather than placing a larger group on the open flank

Battle moves