Battle of Worcester 1651

A few shots of the game on Saturday.  Phil took the Royalists whilst Russ commanded the forces of Parliament.

I've used the old pictures from the game I played last year against  Mark.

King Charles I is dead, executed by Parliament which is dominated by the army under Cromwell.  However, the country is ill at ease, and his son has returned to Edinburgh, accepted the covenant of the Scottish Kirk and been crowned King of Scotland.  With command of the army of the Solemn League and Covenant he heads south, hopeful of Royalist support in England and Wales, and with the intention of securing his father's crown and punishing the regicides.  However, Cromwell is determined that there will be no return of the king, shadows the Scots army and forces them to battle at Worcester.  The future of Britain is about to be determined.

Worcester at the top, with the Severn stretching southwards

Phil's outclassed and out numbered Scots held Worcester under King Charles, whilst a detachment under Montgomery held crossing points across the river Teme to the south of the city.  Cavalry under Leslie were kept in reserve to support either flank

Fleetwood manoeuvres towards the Teme whilst Cromwell advances in support from the right.

Russ' troops were divided between three contingents.  Lambert held a besieging force close to Worcester along the high ground astride the Stratford Road.  Fleetwood was positioned to the south of the Teme whilst Cromwell with the main Parliamentarian force was between both commands with a pontoon across the Severn ready to intervene against either Royalist flank.

The Scots fight hard to prevent the Parliamentarians from crossing the pontoons.

Phil, aware of his weaker position, had resolved on a bold plan.  He placed Montgomery in a forward position at the confluence of the Teme and Severn, hoping to encourage Cromwell's force to actively support an attack with Fleetwood.  Once Russ had committed Cromwell, Phil would then order Charles supported by Leslie to attack Lambert and win the battle outside the walls of Worcester.

Fort Royal protects the main gate to Worcester.  The Royalists attack Lambert with artillery support from this advanced stronghold.

Russ took the bait, but his organised and methodical attack annihilated Montgomery, despite a tenacious defence.  Cromwell's support enabled Fleetwood to cross the Teme and threaten the southern approaches to Worcester.

Meanwhile, Phil took the opportunity to march out of Worcester and smash Lambert.  This was exactly the approach Charles took in the real battle, but unfortunately for him Leslie refused to support the attack and as a result he wasn't able to exploit his initial successes before Cromwell dashed north to intervene.  Phil suffered no such misfortune and by the end of the day the road to Stratford was open. 

The result of our game was a draw.  Phil still had two roads open for his army to retire along and his main command was relatively intact.  Russ had destroyed the Scots along the Teme and was confident that another day of battle would lead to success. 

A great game intelligently and boldly played by both sides.