Donnybrook the Highlands

 We finally got around to playing a game of Donnybrook at the weekend, after a concerted effort to get some odds and ends of ECW figures painted up and based on washers.  Mine were a right mix of plastic ECW infantry bought in a rush of enthusiasm, when first released by Warlord, plus some Essex Miniatures Highlanders and a bunch of Redoubt armed civilians and "clubmen". Les set to with a will to base up a horde of Scots and Irish that have been appearing on the table since I was a wee lad!

The scenario was a peaceful Highlands farmstead, using the excellent Adrian's Walls Crofters Hamlet models, that would be raided by Government soldiers to prevent valuable supplies from falling into the hands of a Scottish force that was being raised in the area. The Scots would also be on the scene negotiating for the said supplies. And let the mayhem begin!

Initially there were only livestock (rather lovely Highland cattle from Warbases  and piglets from a local boot sale the day before!) Also a lone chap in a big hat brandishing a yard of Toledo steel... 

Nick had taken on the role of the Highland commander,  Lord Dumfries, and he had the following force:

2 units of Drilled Scots veterans (8 figures d8 dice, armed with muskets, broadswords and targes)

1 unit of Recruit Scots(12 figures, d6 dice, armed with muskets and dirks)

1 unit of Recruit Scots(12 figures, d6 dice, armed with pistols and broadswords)

1 unit of Recruit Irish mercenaries(12 figures, d6 dice, armed with muskets)

Nick was able to start with a unit in the settlement  - "negotiating" and the rest of his force lurked in the hills on the table edge. He sent in the Irish , gift off the gab being favoured  I suspect...

Les had a rather higher quality Government force:

2 units of Drilled horse( 6 figures, d8 dice, armed with sword, pistols and carbine)

2 units of Drilled musketeers( 8 figures, d8 dice, armed with musket and short sword)

1 unit of Veteran pikemen (4 figures, d8 dice, armed with pike and short sword)

The Government force was advancing from across the river.

Both sides also had 3 characters; a mix of musicians, pipers, drummers and sergeants.

Les (Colonel DuBois)  led his cavalry in a bold crossing of the bridge. Having the only cavalry would have  seemed to be a huge advantage but as we had never managed to get them to  do anything useful in previous games, it remained to be seen. The cavalry were confronted by a certain Senor Alatriste at the bridge who enquired about their business coming into the hamlet. Luckily he was convinced by the Colonel's spiel about being there for the protection of the civilians, and they passed each other by.

 

Meanwhile, the Scots were playing a cagey game. Abandoning their Irish comrades in the hovels, they formed up a close order firing line along the walls on the outskirts of the settlement and waited to see what would happen.

The first problem with Nick's strategy occurred when a large mob of armed civilians poured out of the walled enclosure where they had been observing the scene. Right onto the Scots' flank asking some very pointed questions about their intentions. (Mostly ladies wielding some pointy weighty and shooty objects.) Lord Dumfries gave an impassioned plea that they should join their fellow countrymen who would be their best protection. The locals were not convinced and headed off to stand guard on their most valuable livestock.

Meanwhile the bulk of the Government foot decided to try fording the river. (They either didn't fancy the ambush potential of the bridge or worse coming face to face with the disquieting tall, dark stranger, Alatriste  prowling around...)

Colonel DuBois was able to lead his cavalry past the Irish in the crofters cottages who let fly with a volley. This was singularly unsuccessful as out of the four men who could get a bead on the enemy, three suffered misfires, one of them fatally!  Barely noticing the single shot that whistled over his head Dubois went to try corralling some piglets, to deny them to enemy use,  Alatriste however did notice and went to have "words" with the Irishman who had the temerity to fire in his direction. The Colonel and his men gave up on the piglets and headed around the settlement to try and sneak into the rear of the enemy. 

Once the infantry were across the river (they took their time about it) they set about showing how piglet thieving should be carried out. This although more successful than their boss did attract the attention of the village mob who headed their way brandishing sturdy sticks and carving knives. The supporting unit of musketeers avoided this confrontation by assaulting the hovel that was sheltering the Irish. They had risked another volley, this time killing more of the enemy than themselves. The blue-coated detachment, led by a morale boosting musician charged the croft doors and attempted to batter their way in. The five brave Irishmen and their sergeant proceeded to show they were much more efficient using their muskets as clubs than using them in the conventional way. Some accomplished saving throws from Nick saw the last two musketeers running away after a long a bloody fight.

Meanwhile Colonel Dubois had brought his cavalry around to the flank of the Scots who only just saw the danger in time. One of the Veteran (drilled) infantry units was able to move across the block the cavalry from the vulnerable rear of the recruits. The cavalry charged, their Colonel at their head and there was much complaint by the Scots that they were not able to shoot them as the came in. The Scots instead had to fling their muskets to one side and fight with their claybeg and targe combo. Despite taking the first blows, as they were charged, the wily Scots were able to parry most of the attacks and proceeded the carve the cavalry detachment to bits. Poor Colonel DuBois was pulled from his horse and knocked unconscious.  Lord Dumfries did not make the same mistake, keeping his recruits in human shield formation around him for most of the game!

The patient dispositions taken up by Lord Dumfries eventually paid dividends when the supporting Government cavalry and pikemen entered the settlement they were met with a hail of musket (and pistol!) balls. The cavalry  were soon all shot down (as we had predicted) and the pikemen were only able to assist in turfing the Irish out of the village before they too were eliminated.

Despite the small victory over the Irish, the Government troops were far too few in number to achieve anything else and were soon fleeing back over the bridge. A sort of victory for the Highlanders then but the grand total of livestock procured by either side was zero so I have to think the villagers had the real victory of the day!