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HORSE : In all somewhere in the region of 2,500 horse were available. They consisted of four and a half New Model Army regiments, and one of the Northern Association. It is suggested that organisation should be as follows. Commander: Major-General John Lambert (LV2) Oliver Cromwells Regiment : (Major Blackmore, a godly man and a good souldier) Formerly Vermuydens, but taken over by Cromwell on the eve of Naseby, this was a highly experienced unit. 480 men (14 figures) rated: cavalry gallopers, Veteran/Elite. Thomas Harrisons Regiment : Formerly commanded by lames Sheffield, this was another veteran New Model unit. Harrison had been wounded prior to Preston, and the regiment was temporarily led by Major William Rainborowe, with Captain Henry Cromwell, the fourth son of Oliver Cromwell, among his officers. 400 men (12 figures) rated: cavalry gallopers, Veteran. Phillip Twisletons Regiment : Commanded for much of the First Civil War by Edward Rossiter, this was another experienced unit. 450 men (13 figures) rated: cavalry gallopers, Veteran. Francis Thornhaughs Regiment : Raised in Nottinghamshire, where it had seen considerable action during the First Civil War. Thornhaugh had been seriously injured at the Battle of Rowton Heath in 1645, but his luck ran out in the pursuit from Wigan. At Winwick the Regiment was commanded by Major Thomas Saunders. 450 men (13 figures) rated: cavalry gallopers, Veteran. Adrian Scroopes Regiment : Formerly commanded by Richard Graves, this unit was not present at Naseby, and had not particularly distinguished itself during the closing campaigns of the First Civil War. Scroope and part of the Regiment was operating in the South of England, and only three troops, under Major Barton, were with Cromwell. 240 men (I I figures) rated: cavalry gallopers, Veteran. John Lamberts Regiment : Part of the Army of the Northern Association, this unit had seen considerable action in the North during the First Civil War, including Marston Moor, and had distinguished itself in the earlier stages of the 1648 campaign. 450 men (13 figures) rated: cavalry gallopers, Veteran. Robert Lilburnes Regiment : Another Northern Association regiment, with a record similar to Lamberts 450 men (13 figures) rated: cavalry gallopers, Veteran. DRAGOONS : John Okeys Regiment : Two companies. 200 men (6 figures) rated Veteran. May fight mounted or dismounted, but count at only half strength if engaging in combat whilst mounted. FOOT: Commander: Colonel Thomas Pride (LV2) Lord Fairfaxs Regiment : (Lieutenant-Colonel William Cowell). Formed early in 1645 from troops of the Army of the Eastern Association. Fought at Naseby. 750 men (23 figures) musket/pike ratio 2:1. Rating: Veteran. Robert Overtons Regiment : (Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Reade). This unit traced its origins back to the Army of the Earl of Essex during the First Civil War. Only six companies took part in the Preston campaign. 450 men (14 figures) 2:1. Rating: Veteran. Richard Deanes Regiment : (ex Thomas Rainsborowe). Fought throughout New Model campaigns of First Civil War. 750 men (23 figures) 2:1. Rating: Veteran. Thomas Prides Regiment : Possibly the strongest of Cromwells Foot Regiments. Pride, according to some versions, originally a brewers apprentice, was one of the most capable Parliamentarian infantry commanders. 800 men (25 figures) 2:1. Rating: Veteran. John Brights Regiment : A Northern Association unit, which had fought alongside the Fairfaxes throughout the Northern campaigns of the First Civil War. It had done well at Preston, and its ranks my have been somewhat depleted as a result. 700 men (21 figures) 2:1. Rating: Veteran. The Parliamentarians had no artillery. The Scots Army The actual Scots Order of Battle at Winwick is much less easy to construct than that of their opponents. The Army which invaded England in 1648, was built around the core of the remodelled army of 1647, expanded by a large number of newly levied units. Most of these never reached their intended strength, and had been reduced still further by the time of the battle by casualties and attrition. The Scots Army as a result, consisted of a large number of weak units brigaded together in a fairly ad hoc arrangement, to create viable fighting formations. As there are no surviving details of the composition of any of these `brigades, the arrangement given below, whilst based on regiments known to have been present, is otherwise hypothetical. General: James, Duke of Hamilton (LV 1) : Hamilton proved himself an almost entirely ineffective commander during the Preston campaign, and there is no evidence that he was actually present during the action at Winwick, most probably being in Warrington or already preparing to head south. The same applies to his second-in-command, the Earl of Callendar. (LV I) If players wish to include either of these gentlemen, whose absence Major-General Baillie probably rather welcomed, they should be rated as above, and allowed to command only horse. Instead, Middleton and Baillie should be rated separately in command of the horse and foot, with cooperation between them dependent on a dice throw. Scots units are deliberately rated generously to allow for the particularly stubborn fight, born of desperation, which they put up at Winwick. HORSE : Commander: John, Earl of Middleton (LVI). Middleton was normally a slightly more effective commander than this rating suggests, but at Winwick he was evidently working to an agenda which saw the preservation of his cavalry as paramount. Allowing for troops left in Warrington, there were probably about 2,500 horse theoretically available at Winwick, drawn from a large number of regiments well below their paper strength of 180 men each. For the purposes of the game, I have organised them into three brigades of approximately 800 men each, under commanders known to have been present on the campaign. Lord Cranstons Brigade : 800 men (24 figures). Cavalry trotters, rating: raw. Colonel Robert Innes Brigade : 800 men (24 figures). Cavalry trotters, rating: raw. Earl Marichals Brigade : 800 men (24 figures). Cavalry trotters, rating: raw. FOOT: Commanders: Major-General William Baillie (LV2) Lieutenant-Colonel Ogilvie (LV2). The comments made above regarding the organisation of the horse also apply to the foot, with the proviso that details of the units which surrendered at Warrington provide a reasonably full list of the regiments present, with some indication oftheir strength. Once again, brigade organisation is hypothetical. Figures in brackets are the numbers from each unit captured at Warrington : William Baillies Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel William Ogilvie) William Baillies Regiment (5 officers, 4 sergeants, 120 men, 3 colours) Earl of Atholls Regiment (9 officers, 5 sergeants, 155 men, 7 colours) Lord Barganys Regiment (6 officers, 4 sergeants, 80 men, 2 colours) General of Artillerys Regiment (3 officers, 5 sergeants, 46 men) George Keiths Regiment (9 officers, 4 sergeants, 130 men, 5 colours). Total 1,000 men (30 fig) 2:1, rating: Trained. Lord Carnegies Brigade (James, Lord Carnegie) Lord Carnegies Regiment (11 officers, 8 sergeants, 140 men, 4 colours) Sir James Drummond of Meccans Regiment (8 officers, 2 sergeants, 90 men, 4 colours) William Earl of Dumfries Regiment (8 officers, 4 sergeants, 44 men, 1 colour) Sir John Greys Regiment (3 officers, 2 sergeants, 32 men, 1 colour) Colonel Harry Maules Regiment (5 officers, 3 sergeants, 119 men, 2 colours).Total 1,000 men (30 fig) 2:1, rating: Trained. Duke of Hamiltons Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel Claude Hamilton) Duke of Hamiltons Regiment (18 officers, 19 sergeants, 360 men, 8 colours) Colonel Richard Douglas Regiment (10 officers, 7 sergeants, 124 men, 10 colours) Lord Hay of Yesters Regiment (19 officers, 12 sergeants, 50 men, 7 colours).Total 1,000 men (30 figures) 2:1. Veteran. Earl of Homes Brigade (James, Earl of Home) Earl of Homes Regiment (13 officers, 14 sergeants, 250 men, 4 colours) Marquis of Argyles Regiment (10 officers, 5 sergeants, I colour) Alexander, Earl of Kellies Regiment (5 officers, 5 sergeants, 100 men, 3 colours) Robert, Lord Roxburghs Regiment (3 officers, 3 sergeants, 30 men, 1 colour) James, Earl of Tullibardines Regiment (3 officers, 11 sergeants, 116 men, 2 colours) Sir James Turners Regiment (5 officers, 7 sergeants, 120 men, 3 colours).Total 1,000 men (30 figures) 2:1. Rating: Trained. Unbrigaded: Sir Alexander Frasers Firelocks (6 officers, 4 sergeants, 150 men, 2 colours)(dismounted dragoons), rating: Veteran. Artillery: Evidence of cannon shot suggests that the Scots may have had some of their famous frame guns at Winwick. For game purposes it is suggested that each brigade should be accompanied by one Ultra Light Gun and crew. Other Considerations: Terrain should be laid out as in the map. The Scots foot begin the game deployed on the table, the horse arrives on the south edge as the result of a dice throw made at the start of each Scots game turn. On the Parliamentarian side, Lamberts horse and Brights Foot appear on the northern edge of the table on Turn One, and other units are diced for individually at the start of each Parliamentarian game turn, with an increasing probability of their appearance. The game should begin at 12 noon, and end at dusk (c.8.00pm). The Scots gain a victory by succeeding in their delaying action by retaining organised troops on the table at the end of the game, the Parliamentarians by routing the enemy and obtaining complete possession. Points may also be scored for casualties inflicted. Sources: Gary Ashby, Winwick Pass, in English Civil War Notes and Queries, Issue 13. Peter Berry and Ben Wilkins, Forlorn Hope, 2nd Ed. 1991. Ernest Broxap, Great Civil War in Lancashire, 1910. Stephen Bull and Mike Seed, Bloody Preston, 1998. Edward Furgol, Regimental History of the Covenanting Armies, 1990. Stuart Reid, Scots Colours, 1990. Last Stand of the Blue Bonnets: Miniature Wargames Magazine march 2001 The Battle of Winwick Pass, 19 August 1648 by John Barratt Reproduced Courtesy of Miniature Wargames Magazine http://www.miniwargames.com http://burtonwood.net |