5. The Rising of 1745.

I have played Jacobite Scots against a British Army using an older version DBA-HX and enjoyed the game immensely. A replay of this game using 3.0  should have the Scots better utilizing their speed and mobility. In addition, the general’s characteristic or command quality option may bring this game closer to its historical setting.

For this replay, I selected the Battle of Prestonpans as model as numbers were nearly even and terrain was relatively unobstructed. The battle would follow a standard 12 element a side game but with one exception, the number of elements lost to determine a victor would be different for each side.

Map, battlefield of Prestonpans.

 Historically, the Government forces were recently formed, which meant not only the foot, but horse and guns were hampered by a lack of training.  For this battle, General Cope (cautious) would lose the battle after three elements lost while the Bonnie Prince (bold) would need four.

Opposing sides.

Government Force.

2 x Cavalry, 3 x Line Infantry, 6 x Conscript, 1 x Light Artillery.  

Scots Jacobite.

1 x Warrior Musket armed, 2 x Skirmisher Musket armed, 8 x Warrior claymore and targes (fast Wb), 2 x Warrior with Lochbhar (fast blade).

Battle.

Both sides were able to deploy their forces taking advantage of the pasture lands between the Firth of Forth (board edge) and the marshland area on the opposite flank. The Government troops were deployed in line with the mounted troops taking a reserve position. The artillery piece was deployed on the right flank.

The Jacobite troops formed their clans into three groups, two abreast and one as a reserve, and a fourth group positioned facing the artillery were comprised of all clansmen armed with muskets.

The first three bounds proved slow going (low pip score) the Scots as the Government troops did not move far from their original position. Anticipating a charge toward the centre, the main line formed a concave line to bring all their muskets to bear on an assault.

Despite the disjointed assault the Jacobite troops inflicted a loss, but the Government troops retaliated on their bound to bring the score even.

Turn five saw the battle come to a boil with the Government troops holding their line and taking out two elements of clansmen. A good pip score for the Scots enabled all troops not committed to fight to do so. This included the skirmishers supporting ongoing melees or flanking enemy.

This was a tense moment as one more loss for the Scots would see the Prince back in France. Fortune smiled and two red coated elements died sending the army to a state of demoralization.

Epilogue.

The actual battle lasted 10 minutes, but our re-play could not match that requiring 5 turns (1 ½ hours) to complete. Losses were heavier for the Jacobite army, but no doubt the ranks would be swelled when news spreads about the victory at Prestonpans.

Cheers,