Monday 11 April 2022

Battle of "Craggie Burn" 1746.

Last night we had a 100% turnout for this "entertaining" game set in the Jacobite era.

Everyone looking very solemn!-Paul and  Brian were the "English" commanders,whilst Malcom and Graham(now recovered from a bout of Corvid!) were the Scots commanders.-The farm was,of course, called "Old Macdonald's Farm,and had to be defended.


The "English" are on the move-however Brian is moving away from the support of Paul's troops,and presenting his right flank to Malcom!!-will Malcom take advantage of this tactical error???-well,NO!! but Graham was moving troops across the Burn in an attempt to out-flank Brian via the woods!!


There go Graham's out-flanking troops-will Brian deploy his artillery and thwart this attempt??


Well,NO!-a charge by Brian's dragoons,against a unit of volunteer gentlemen Scottish dragoons,resulted in him getting well and truly beaten(and bitten,by Graham's "slew" hounds),and forced to retire(it's good being retired!)-in the background,Malcom and Paul are having a good old "ding-dong" of a game,with neither side willing to give ground-cracking stuff!

This is Malcom's flank-his first attack was beaten off by well aimed volleys-his cavalry fought Paul's dragoons to a standstill,and it looked like Paul's flank was on the brink of collapse,however Malcom's cavalry morale broke,and he was forced to stand and reform!!

A general view of the table at coffee break-Graham was making mincemeat out of Brian's troops,until a string of very poor dice throws turned the tables,forcing a general withdrawal-how does this happen???-Brian's troops were all over the place,with no lines and officers dropping like rainfall.Malcom's clans have had their hour of glory too,but alas they were on the verge of collapse-all looked set for an "English" hard- won victory.


One final shot,showing a vain attempt by the Scots CinC to rally his clans-what can you say?-a very entertaining game which could have gone either way-well done lads,roll on next week,for a surprise game,using the same terrain(well almost!)















































 

4 comments:

  1. Great to see you playing the '45. Did you get your mail from me...?

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    1. HI Chris,yes I did get the "mail"-absolutely brilliant-I read the handout over and over again,and believed it every time!!!!
      johnc

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    2. Anyone who has read any of Sheridan's books knows that they're to be fully relied upon ;-)

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  2. A similar looking engagement - Glen Shiel 1719. I've realised that it's not necessarily such a foregone conclusion as I thought (government troops attacking uphill, it could have all gone Pete Tong) and I can use my Killiecrankie collection. With the Spanish played by Irish. And use the Coehorn mortars I have for my '45 collection :-)

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