Rising of the Clans After Action Report: Turns One through Four

This has definitely been one of the best gaming experiences I have ever had in the realm of solo gaming. Over the course of a week I was able to play through 16 turns. The result was in doubt right up until the final turn. You can't ask for more than that. The scenario was fictional. The Duke of Cumberland had taken up a defensive position along a small river in the north of England in order to stop the adavance of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his jacobite army. Each side was allowed to draw three cards to place those elements on the table before the game started. Cumberland was able to place Mordaunt and Lascelle's brigades along the river. It was a thin line, but it was hoped that these six regiments would hold until the rest of the army came up. Before the start of the game dice were rolled for all of the remianing cards in the deck to determine when (turns 1-6) and where (one of three entry points for each side) each element would arrive. On the Jacobite side, Lord Drummond entered prior to turn on on the extreme right of the Jacobite army and extremely close to a ford that was critical to both sides. On the other extreme flank, Prince Charles entered with John Macdonald's cavalry and John Roy Stewart's infantry. And now let us begin the account of the battle along the river. Turn 0ne: Macdonald's horsemen raced through the small village to scout out the terrain and make sure there were no enemy units on the Scottish side of the river. In their wake, John Roy's highlander headed directly towards the river and the British right flank. Cumberland, from his vantage point on a hill occupied by a stone church, nervously watched events unfold.

The British preliminary positions:

It didn't taake long for the battle commence as Drummond wasted not time in attacking Mordaunt's men defending the ford.

Lascelle's battery opened fire on Stewart's infantry, causing casualties.

At the end of turn one, Murray's brigade enters where Stewart and Macdonald had. Cumberland is still waiting for his reinforcements to start showing up.

Turn two: Lord Murray rolls poorly and moves very slowly when events would prefer a more rapid pace. At the ford, Drummmond tries to keep the pressure on Mordaunt's redcoats, but their fire is ineffective. In these rules, all highland units fire as conscripts regardless of their rating.

Roy Stewart also proves to be indecisive at a critical moment. In trying to unlimber his battery he rolls an "11", which in this rules system means the order fails and he loses his intitative. Lascelles takes advantage of this lapse by preparing the 8th Foot to charge the disorganized clansmen. His battery is able to reload and fire on the vulnerable Jacobite battery. Even at long range, he is able to score a hit. The battery is now "worn" which will cause a negative modifier on its firing.

At the conclusion of turn two, much to the relief of the Duke, Cholmondeley's brigade arrives on his right flank. For at least the short term, he will have a numerical advantage here.

Turn three: Both Murray and Cholmondeley show no urgency in getting their troops into the fight (poor command rolls).

At the ford ,Mordaunt and Drummond continue to fight it out, with both sides taking losses.

At the bridge, once again Steart rolls poorly, and his men languish at the edge of the river. Lascelle orders the 8th foot to charge, catching Stewart's men by surprise and driving them back with heavy losses.

When Macdonald's card is drawn, he takes immediate action and orders two of his small units of horse to counterattack. They are able to hit the 8th Foot in the flank, but are disordered crossing the river. In the end, both sides suffer losses in the resulting draw. However, the 8th is now disordered and in a vulnerable position.

The turn ends with Legonier's cavalry brigade of four regiments of dragoons enters behind the British center.

Turn four: Legonier maneuvers his calary towards the ford to support Mordaunt. Drummon tries to force the issue by having Clan Glengarry charge, but he is disordered by the river, loses the mele, and has to pull back to reorganize.

Lord Murray is inexplicably dilatory in getting his brigade into the battle.

On the Jacobite left, Roy Stewart has been stirred into action by his reverse. He rallies his men and prepares them to advance. Macdonald's fiesty cavalrymen charge the 8th Foot once agian, this time getting the upper hand.

As the turn ends, both sides are dismayed to see that no reinforcements will arrive.