Jackson Gamers' English Civil War game
Forward the King!


Photo by Ed Sansing

The Parliamentarian line looking from the Right Wing (Ed Sansing), Center is Travis Melton and far end is Jim Pitts' Left Wing. The game-master, Jay Stribling, can be glimpsed dimly at far FAR right.


Photo by Ed Sansing

The town in the center of the table was constructed by Jim Pitts. The houses are of printed cardstock on a foamboard base. It was occupied by a regiment of Royalist dragoons.


TPhoto by Ed Sansing

The Parliamentarian Left (Jim Pitts' forces). Each unit, of 32 minature soldiers, half with pikes and half with "shot" is a regiment. Three or four regiments make up a "tertia" or brigade which is usually one player's command.


Photo by Ed Sansing

The Royalist commanders during the game set-up. From left to right - Sean Pitts, Phil Young & Bill Hamilton


Photo by Ed Sansing

The Royalist lines, their Left Wing in the foreground. The road in the center of the photo goes from north (right) to south (left) and to take that road, where it exits behind the Parliamentary lines, and hold it for even one turn will bring the Royalists victory.


Photo by Ed Sansing

The Parliamentarian Right commanded by Ed Sansing approaches the Royalist Left under Bill Hamilton. Ed Sansing's forces are a pure example of a "tertia," three infantry regiments and an officer figure.


Photo by Ed Sansing

The Parliamentarian Center (Travis Melton) deploys to attack the town (held by Phil Young). Travis' forces consist of a tertia of infantry, supplemented by a "Snaplock" regiment (in white coats) every man armed an early version of the musket. Three guns are in the bottom right of the image. Once the guns set up and began to fire, they must stay in that position for the remainder of the game.

Two tertias of horse are to the left, beginning a movement up and around the town. This will eventually lead to a trememdout melee of cavalry.


Photo by Ed Sansing

On the Parliamentarian Left Jim Pitts launches a cavalry attack against the Royalist Right commanded by Sean Pitts his son. Here we have an example of how the struggle between the King and Parliament divided families!


Photo by Ed Sansing

Travis continues the assault on the town


Photo by Ed Sansing

Ed's Parliamentarian Right Wing approaches Bill's Royalist Left Wing


Photo by Ed Sansing

A large cavalry fight between Travis and Phil


Photo by Ed Sansing

The few units left at the end of the cavalry melee


Photo by Ed Sansing

The continuing fight on the Parliamentarian right


Photo by Ed Sansing

Cromwell's cavalry help push back the Royalist Left.


Photo by Ed Sansing

Cromwell, master of the Parliamentary horse, continues to push. Here he throws three Roundhead regiments of horse against one defending unit of cavalier foot. The light blue unit of foot in the Royalist rear came up in support and the horse was emporarily thrown back.


Photo by Ed Sansing

New troops arrive in the Royalist center - will they be enough to break through?


Photo by Ed Sansing

Travis takes the town


Photo by Ed Sansing

Travis, Jim, Jay, Sean, Phil and Bill (tucked into the corner) enter into a small discussion as fighting continues around the town. The town, being on the road, was something needed to win. Both sides went at it, hammer and tongs to posess the village. Actually, the game-master had not intended that the town be considered part "of the road" but both sides assumed that it was.


Photo by Ed Sansing

The Royalist morale breaks and the newest troops to arrive turn and retreat. We called it a Parliamentary victory a this point.

Parlimentary Players' victory conditions:

They shall not pass! You must hold the road to London.

A few historical notes on the English Civil War

English Civil War lasted from 1642 to 165I. Increasing friction between the English crown and Parliament flared into open warfare in1642. In the civil war, sometimes called the "Great Rebellion" King Charles I was supported by the episcopacy, while the Presbyterians and reformers took the side of Parliament.

The Royalists who began the war strong in the north and west of England, lost the north at the battle of Marston Moor in I644. After the Parliamentarian victory at Naseby the following year, Charles was forced to surrender.

The war entered a new phase when the king escaped and made an alliance with Scots. But the New Model army of Oliver Cromwell put down all Royalist uprisings and re-pulsed a Scottish invasion. King Charles was beheaded I649.

After opposition in Ireland and a Scottish in favor of Charles's cause and his son was crushed, the monarchy was abolished and a republic (called the Commonwealth) was established under the protectorate of Cromwell. Two years after the death of Cromwell in 1658, the monarchy was restored under King Charles' son, who took the throne as Charles II.

Royalist Players' victory conditions:

  1. Sieze the road to the Roundhead's rear.
  2. Exit a force of three units (preferably cavalry) off the table in the enemy rear to threaten their supply lines
  3. Sieze the enemy's roads to their rear
  4. [As always] Pilage the enemy baggage train

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