The two Mike’s played the Royalists against Darryl and Phil’s Parliamentarians.
The forces deployed with the 20cm boxes for FKaP.
To start Parliament kept a reserve of cavalry off table and the Royalists two units of Dragoons, intending to bring those over the hedge eventually.
The Parliament left flank began with an artillery barrage that was ineffectual and moved its infantry and cavalry forward. The right flank simply chose to move everything forward and save the artillery gunpowder for any breakthroughs that might occur later in the battle.
On each flank the Roundhead horse fared badly against the superior Cavaliers. Fiennes on the left initially held well and disordered Legge’s cavalry. Seeing them in disarray he ignored the wisdom of Lord Brooke and ordered a charge. Unfortunately the cavaliers countercharged and not only did they inflict more casualties they wounded Fiennes.
On the right flank Lord Grey’s horse were put to flight and Godwin’s reserve had to be deployed to support.
However Parliament’s strength was its foot. To the right Ballard was able to steady his troops and rally when hit. He also held off the cavaliers. In the centre his brave regiments pushed close to the enemy along the road.
Facing pursuing cavalry to each flank and ahead to infantry on each side of the Roundhead army formed hedgehog. Fiennes was killed and his cavalry routed on the hill to their left but their commander kept them holding firm. This unit fired about twenty times against the cavaliers and never hit once.
To the right Goodwin just about managed to hold against the Earl of Northampton’s horse and the infantry second line turned to face.
One unit to the left faced off against the cavaliers who charged but were disordered by defensive musket fire and the infantry regiment just about managed to hold.
To the centre the infantry reserve were brought forward against the Warwickshire trained bands and eventually put them to flight with a glorious charge.
Lord Compton found himself holding the road with just his still mounted Dragoons and outflanked and outnumbered. So victory was awarded to Parliament, who had successfully managed to force the Royalists to withdraw their remaining cavalry and Dragoons where they could. Thus the Roundheads were able to march on and relieve Coventry.
An interesting scenario with the royalists outnumbered facing a stronger force especially outnumbered in terms of infantry but with better troops generally. In the end the Roundhead infantry were able to hold together with the support of their commanders and clear the way to Coventry before the cavaliers could outflank them.
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