Fyvie (1644) with Baroque (modified for solo play)

[d_Guy]

Fyvie with Baroque (modified for solo play)

I played though parts of this several times learning Baroque. This is a report on the last full game.

The complete battle report can be found here:
https://inredcoatragsattired.com/2016/05/20/fyvie-the-wargame/


Fyvie (October, 1644) was a series of indecisive skirmishes fought over three days between the (Covenanter) Marquis of Argyll and the (Royalist) Marquis of Montrose. The fighting occurred primarily on the steep slopes above Fyvie Castle in the valley of the River Ythan. Montrose,surprised by Argyll's approach and substantially outnumbered, took up strong defensive positions and awaited events.

Argyll had about a three to two advantage in foot and a whopping twelve-to-one in horse. Neither side had guns (artillery). Argyll's mission was to end Montrose's threat to the Lowlands by either dispersing or destroying his army before the onset of winter. Montrose (with Alisdair MacColla off with part of the army elsewhere) simply needed to remain an army in being.

In wargaming Fyvie it is normally turned into a set-piece battle to be fought as a single action and this is how I chose to play it.

The view from Montrose's camp toward Fyvie Castle with the Covenanter foot drawn up in the distance:


A bird's-eye view looking toward Montrose's position. Because his flanks are well-protected by steep and wooded slopes, Montrose is deployed in depth in the center.  He holds his strongest foot regiment, laghtnan's, in reserve:


Lord Lothian begins the Covenanter assault with a collection of levies, militia, and regulars. In the foreground, Lord Dalhousie, at the moment on the wrong side of the River Ythan, leads his strong cavalry force (veterans of Marston Moor) toward a ford he understands is somewhere ahead:


The first of three Covenanter infantry assaults is now well underway. The Covenanter horse on both flanks is slowly struggling through rugged terrain of multiple types (while burning off the ears off their Presbyterian preachers):

After substantial casualties on both sides Argyll begins his attack with the Covenanter reserve. Montrose,with his men running out of powder and shot, and with several of his units barely affective, begins to pull back to the higher ground behind him. To assist in an orderly withdrawal, he commits his own reserve.

In warfare timing is often everything. Montrose's was severely off on this occasion. With virtually all of his forces attempting to gain the higher ridge near his camp, they are moving through the open ground of a narrow swale when they are attacked on both flanks by the long-suffering Covenanter horse:


It was then over rather quickly. The left flank totally collapsed, the baggage train was captured, and the Royalist remnant  encircled. I simply call the final picture Montrose's Last Stand (six years early):

[pierre the shy]

Obviously the Covenanters didn't read the script 

Looks very interesting indeed. Thanks for making your amendments and notes on the battle available on your blog...well done 

[Steve J]

Great looking game and the back drop is very effective .

[Bodvoc]

Looks good

[Leman]

Looks very good. Refreshing change to see an autumnal battlefield.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Great looking game! 

[Westmarcher]

Agreed. Also, reassuring to read that you are enjoying Baroque.

[Techno]

Great looking game and the back drop is very effective .

Hear, hear.

Looks great, Guy !

Cheers - Phil

[Womble67]

Great looking game

Take care

Andy

[d_Guy]

Thanks for the comments and visits!

Obviously the Covenanters didn't read the script 

In my post I mention right at the outset that Montrose does not want to get caught by horse in the area where he was caught!
I play both sides,  but Baroque (plus the solo play addition) prevent hard and fast calculations of time, distance, and execution order.
Got so wrapped up in defeating the infantry attacks (and relying a little two much on the terrain and Covenanter's bumbling command struck)
That I acted too late! It's bad when you know what to avoid but hit it anyway - like driving a dirt bike - you don't want to look directly at the thing you are trying to avoid! 

[jchaos79]

Nice table!

[Westmarcher]

IKEA ... ?

[Ithoriel]

Good looking game and it sounds fun to play too.

[d_Guy]

IKEA ... ?

It's a furniture store, but that's not important now!

Sorry - it be quite a while - but motorized - Honda Tail 90.

[Leman]

Hahaar! d_Guy reverts to pirate-speak again.