We have finally managed to complete the last in our series of English Civil War fights, doing one per year for the duration of the first Civil war from 1642 to 1645. With the scores at one win each and one drawn this was to be the decider. Would the Royalists change history and defeat the New Model Army ? They had shown promise in 1644 by seeing off the Northern Association allied with the Covenanters, so how would they do against the New Noddle ? As usual I took the King's party, whilst my colleagues Crafthole and Foreman took up arms for Parliament.
Unsurprisingly given the relative aggression factors (NMA 3, Royalists 1) the New Model was attacking. Initial dispositions revealed some surprising choices by the New Model, they had left their heavy artillery in garrison to field more infantry, instead bringing two pontoon trains (because they wanted to use up the points...)
The Royalists deployed with the small village of Scraesdon anchoring their left flank and a wood to their right. The New Model with an area of rough ground on their right and a river to their rear on their left.
Fearing an ambush from the village the New Model used their first move to extend a considerable force to cover this whilst advancing along the rest of the line. This proved to be a mistake as in fact there was nothing in the village and this deprived the New Model of a large part of their wing on this side for much of the battle.
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| After the first move, Royalists to right |
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| After the initial exchange of volleys was going the shot-heavy Royalists way the New Model closed quickly. |
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| On one flank the Cavaliers are dangerously exposed as the NMA charge in with commanded shot |
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| In the centre the New Model CinC cuts down the Royalist CinC crippling the Royalist command structure |
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| Meanwhile on the other flank the NMA have yet to close | | |
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| However the Cavaliers cut their way through on the next round. |
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| After a truly poor command roll the surviving Royalist sub-commanders get carried away leaving themselves dangerously exposed. They have now lost two out of three of their commanders |
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| In the centre it comes to push of pike, but the Superior Irish Firelocks keep the New Model CinC at bay |
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| The New Model left flank break, some flee across the Caster Bridge to their rear, whilst others are steadied |
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| Despite a lack of command control the Cavaliers impetuosity wins the day before they are rolled up breaking the other New Model flank. |
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| Prince Rupert, for once surviving the battle not only unscathed but as the only Royalist Commander unscathed, surveys the field of victory. The last Parliamentary field army has been defeated and a negotiated peace may be the only way forward after four exhausting years of war. |
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