The '45 with Dominion of... Part 2.

 A couple more engagements from the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion using Dominion of the Claymore etc. in 2mm. This time it is Clifton Moor and Falkirk Muir. The former is notable for being the last land battle on English soil.

First up Clifton Moor, which was fought in December 1745 on the road between Kendal and Penrith (the modern A6?) as the Jacobites retreated north to Scotland pursued by the Duke of Cumberland. This isn't one of the supplied scenarios so I designed this one myself, based mainly on Cassells 'Battles of Britain and Ireland' rather than the somewhat dismissive wikipedia entry.

 Cumberlands force consisted entirely of Dragoons and Mounted Infantry, and rather conveniently three Regiments (3rd, 10th and 11th) formed his front line dismounted, while the second line was two mounted regiments of horse and another 1000 Mounted Infantry which all translated neatly into six units.

The Jacobites under Lord George Murray had Glengarry Highlanders and the Edinburgh Regiment and held the village of Clifton as a rearguard, but as Cumberlands force approached, Prince Charles despatched two more Highland Regiments to aid the defence, Macphersons and the Stewarts of Appin. So the Jacobites had three units of Claymores and one of Line Infantry.

Battlefield from the south, the River Lowther is on the left and the Jacobites occupy Scalebarrs Hill (right) and Town End (left) with Highlanders while the Edinburgh Regiment is back in Clifton looting the village. Lord George Murray is back with his HQ and baggage train.

Cumberland reckoned the position was 'one of the strongest he had ever seen' as the entire position was fronted by enclosures and boggy ground, so I gave all the Jacobite units a Defence advantage. The Glengarries in Town End were actually set as an ambush and could put flanking fire across the front, so I rated them as 'Ambushers' instead of Claymores. 

Cumberland has a front line of three Line Infantry (dismounted Dragoons) with two more cavalry and another Line Infantry in reserve. These guys are all average and his HQ and baggage train are behind.

The action opened as historically with Cumberland making a direct attack up the road. This ended in catastrophe as the Glengarries ambushed the unfortunate 3rd Dragoons, they were replaced by one of the mounted Regiments, who in turn were routed by the Glangarries as well! Dear me. Ambushers get to fight first (even before muskets), but only hit on a 5+. The Glengarries rolled hot dice.

Cumberland then switched to the right flank and attacked Scalebarrs Hill. The musketry had no effect on the Highlanders and their countercharge routed the 11th. They were replaced by the other mounted Regiment.

Both sides now focussed on Scalebarrs Hill, and in heavy fighting the Appin were routed but so were Cumberlands cavalry. The Edinburgh Regiment took over but Cumberland had no reserves now.

He managed to rally one of the infantry who went on the right flank, then the Hanoverians attacked the Highland centre to no effect. The Glengarries once more made no mistake and routed their opposite numbers. Cumberland was in trouble now.  

Although one last attack by Cumberland did rout Macpherson, the Glangarries poured flanking fire into the redcoats and the Hanoverian centre collapsed. With all their rallies used, Cumberland was defeated. A historical result.

I tried it again but this time rated the Glangarries as a Claymore unit instead of Ambushers. The action this time started on the right, to no effect (lots of 1s and 2s!).

Next round Cumberland attack the right and the Glengarries the left. No effect, again. Well, the battle was fought in the dark, in the rain...

Same again, this is getting boring now.

In a shock development next round, both the Glengarries and Appin were routed, with no loss to Cumberland! The Edinburgh Regiment took over the Appins place. The Jacobites managed to rally one unit and put it back into Town End.

Cumberland attacked again and made no mistake, routing both the Edinburgh and Appin regiments. Game over for the Jacobites.

Historically although the Jacobites won, they just withdrew overnight so Cumberland was able to pursue his advance the following day.

I enjoyed that scenario and it worked well I thought, I particularly enjoyed experimenting with the Ambusher type units. It was good to have at least one historical result too, as the second game was marred by extreme dice, pretty much all 1s or 6s with little in between.

The other battle I did was Falkirk Muir which is one of the provided scenarios. It took place in 1746 as the Jacobites besieged Stirling Castle after winning the battle of Inverurie (covered in Part 1). An army under Henry Hawley marched up from Edinburgh to lift the siege.

Battlefield from the south. Stirling is a few miles north, and Falkirk is in the bottom right corner (the village model does indeed feature a Kirk). Otherwise the battlefield is bounded by a river on the left, 'Hawleys Enclosure' on the centre right and Torwood to the top right, There is actually a marsh southwest of the enclosure, and Hawley managed to bog down all his artillery in it prior to the battle.

Strangely the forces are very similar to Clifton, the Jacobites have three Elite Claymores and one Elite Line Infantry (the Franco-Irish Brigade) in reserve. As before, I swapped Elite status for a Defence advantage to better reflect the Scots high morale.

Hawley has two cavalry and three Line Infantry. The front line consists of cavalry and two infantry with the rest in reserve. The infantry on the right is Cholmondleys Brigade, who fought ferociously and are rated as Elite and Disciplined(!). The reserve infantry are our old pals the Glasgow Militia.

Fighting broke out in the centre and right, to no effect.

Right and left this round, in a shock development, Chomondleys Brigade is routed! (the Jacobites threw a 6). The left flank is indecisive. The Glasgow Militia take Chomondleys place.

Left and centre. The left is indecisive but the Hanoveran centre routs, to be replaced by the other cavalry unit. Still no Jacobite losses!

The Glasgow Militia fire ineffectively, but the Highlanders finally rout the Hanoverian left. 

Hawley manages to rally an infantry unit to fill the gap.

The Glasgow Militia manage to finally rout one of the Highlanders and the Franco-Irish Brigade fills the gap, but the Hanoverian centre collapses as the Jacobites counterattack.

It is pretty much game over after that. The Hanoverian right fails to rout the Franco Irish, and the Highland centre flanks the Hanoverian left and routs it. With no rallies, that is game over for Hawley and a historical result.

As before, I thought I'd give it another go.

This was a very different run. Cholmondley routed the Highlanders opposite and then on the left flank both the Highlanders ran but the cavalry vanished from the battlefield in pursuit. The Jacobites managed to rally a Highlander who filled in their right flank.

In fierce fighting Cholmondley routed the Irish while the Highland centre routed the Hanoverian infantry there. Cavalry filled the gap. 

With no rallies left, it was soon over for the Jacobites and the rest of their army was routed. Most certainly not a historical result and a hard won victory for Hawley. Medals all around for Chomondleys Brigade!

I really enjoyed both those games and I particularly enjoyed designing the Clifton scenario. These short games capture the essence of the event and really bring history to life.