Battle of Mortimer's Cross

After unplanned delays, the Mortimer's Cross battlefield, laid out on table for a couple weeks now, saw its first action.  Vol (A Miniatures Hobby Room) came round on Wednesday to catch up and have a game.  While Vol came by the house a few weeks ago to drop off some 3D printed vehicles (thank you!), we had not faced each other across the gaming table in a very long while.  I would have to dip into the archives to confirm but I bet it has been at least a year.  Anyway, good to see Vol at the gaming table to test out the latest iteration of rules.

As a reminder, the two armies are arrayed for battle as shown in the photos below:

Armies deployed for battle.

Army deployments

Vol chose to take command of Pembroke and the Lancastrian Army (blue dice) leaving me with Edward and the Yorkists (red dice).  Since today's game saw me playing with a live F2F opponent, opportunities for photos were reduced.  I find that F2F games offer much less down time for photo ops than do the remote games.  That explains the fewer photos presented in this battle report.  That is my story, and I am sticking to it!  Anyway, on to the game.

Both armies begin by advancing toward the enemy.  On the Lancastrian Right, Tudor's archers manage to drive Herbert's archers away as the Yorkist archers fall back through their own melee line.  Edward's archers in the center pull off a similar successful volley into Pembroke's bowmen.  Pembroke's archers must have been stunned by the incoming missiles.  They turn and break for the rear.  Luckily, they do not disorder any of Pembroke's melee troops as they rush through.  I think I heard a gasp of despair from Vol as his archers turned and ran so early in the contest.      

Armies move forward.

No time for despair, though.  Edward's melee line of MAA supported by a body of billmen passes through his bowmen and crashes straight into Pembroke's MAA.  Pembroke's MAA are similarly supported by billmen.  While the hacking and slashing continues in the center, both wings move forward to engage.

Edward v Pembroke fighting in the center...

while the wings close to engage.

Striking first on the Yorkist Left, Herbert smashes into Tudor.  In a hard-fought melee, Herbert gains the upper hand.  Tudor recoils.  Herbert presses on but Tudor slips away to lick his wounds.

Herbert smashes into Tudor!

Tudor slips away from Herbert as Herbert presses on.

On the other wing, Devereaux and Wiltshire collide.  In heavy fighting with casualties high to both, Wiltshire retires.  Exhausted, Devereaux does not pursue.

Wiltshire and Devereaux bash each other
on the Yorkist Right.

Back in the center, the melee between Edward and Pembroke continues.  Edward is getting the stuffing knocked out of his main melee line.  Before Pembroke can deliver the finishing blows, Edward's MAA fall back behind the archers and household knights.  Edward needs time to recover. 

Edward getting a pounding.

In a counterattack, Edward's bowmen let loose a volley into Pembroke before Edward's Houshold steps forward to join the fray.  In wicked hand-to-hand fighting, Edward's Household troops are destroyed as are Pembroke's MAA.  Pembroke, himself, goes down in the action with a severe wound.  In the chaos, Pembroke is captured and carried from the field by the enemy.  While Edward loses his Household in the fight, this prolonged clash allows enough time for Edward to rally his main melee line and bring them back to the action. 

Edward recovers and moves back toward Pembroke.

Edward faces Pembroke's archers.

As news of Pembroke's fate spreads, the Yorkists renew the pressure all across the battlefield.  The Lancastrians are driven back taking losses all along the path of retreat. 

The Lancastrians fall back with Yorkists in hot pursuit.

Lancastrians fall back.

As the Lancastrian Army is pushed back, first Wiltshire's Battle breaks and then Tudor breaks.  With two of three Battles broken and in flight, the Lancastrian Army dissolves.  This battle is over.

Lancastrian Army breaks!

Lancastrian Center still clings on but all is lost.

Edward and his Yorkist Army are victorious.  Not only has the Lancastrian Army been beaten but Pembroke, himself, is lost.  His fate is in Edward's hands.

Butcher's Bill

The Butcher's Bill is high for the Lancastrian Army but total losses do not illustrate how close this battle actually was.  There were times when I thought Edward's Center was done for.

While Vol and his Lancastrian Army saw defeat, Vol put up a good fight.  Very enjoyable contest too!  Vol is looking forward to another battle in which he attempts to turn the tables.  Game lasted around two hours and ended in an historical result.

Great fun!  Thank you, Vol!

With one Mortimer's Cross Battle Report finished, time to think about getting to work on the second Battle Report.  That report will chronicle my action with Peter on Thursday.