The Second Battle of St Albans - 28mm wargame - part 2

Welcome back to the continuing Shed Wars War of the Roses campaign.

For part 1 of the second battle of St Albans detailing the orders of battle etc please head HERE

With the forces set up Mark K and John would command the three Yorkists battles whilst myself., Mark F and Alastair would lead the Lancastrians. A quick discussion was had by both sides on how the game would play out (we all expected a resounding Lancastrian victory) and we went straight into the game. There was no maneuver phase as described in part 1.

The Lancastrian objective was simple rescue the king and hopefully victory would follow.

The object of the Lancastrians - King Henry VI reading his bible under the trees

From their vantage point in the town the Lancastrians could see the lines of Yorkists across the field.

The Yorkists biggest issue was that there forces were all in disarray and facing the wrong direction !

Only one of their units was turned and ready for action

The Yorkists also had a number of cannon but as per the specific games instructions these could only pivot on the spot and not move. Time would tell if they came into action

As the game kicked off Lancastrian forces could be seen surging out of St Albans...

The left wing commanded by Essex began the slow process of turning to face their enemy

Behind the Yorkist lines lay the northern road and a landscape of hedgerows and fields 

The king waited patiently for his rescue

As the Lancastrians marched onto the field their tails were up recognising that they had caught their enemies dozing.

A few brave Yorkist skirmishers broke from the main battle line to try and stem the Lancastrian advance.

It was at this point the Earl of Essex (Yorkist) left his command and raced towards the King - hoping to snatch him from the advancing Lancastrians.

More Lancastrian troops emerged from the narrow streets

Spurring his horse forward Essex galloped towards the Royal party

This was going to be nip and tuck as the the Duke of Somerset's forces closed in on their target.

The Yorkist handgunner's fire was both sporadic and ineffective 

By now hundreds of Lancastrians were flooding onto the field (from bottom of picture) and were beginning to edge forwards

Single units of Yorkist defenders were thrown forward

Archery duels and melees broke out along the road...

but the shear number of attackers were driving Warwick's men back 

Commiting himself to battle Warwick threw forward his men at arms

Ever so slowly more Yorkists were joining the lines

Essex managed to reach the King first but before he could whist him to safety Somerset's men at arms charged forward. A turn earlier the Yorkists had drawn the special card for hidden terrain. As the Lancastrian knights stumbled forward to their horror they encountered a ditch preventing them from seizing the King. To make matters worse they then came under a sustained barrage of archery fire.

Across the field the fight was becoming very bloody

Lancastrian units forced their way up the road and in quick succession two units were routed. With a domino affect a further two units fled the field. Things were starting to go wrong for the perceived victors.

As the battle raged across the table more units on both sides were funnelled into the action. A bloodbath was emerging

As the King was hastily bundled into the care of Essex,  Somerset's men could only watch and take the pain of the arrow storm.

By now the Yorkist right battle (closest to the town) was almost wiped out but they had succeeded in bringing up their reserves and started to push back.

A firce fight broke out across the hedges between Arundel and Clifford

The third Lancastrian battle had now joined the fray including the mercenary pikes lead by Percy. As they pushed forward onto the road half their number were cut down by Yorkist arrows. The unit fled taking another three units with them. The Lancastrians could not believe their eyes. The army was disintegrating in front of them.

Arundel won the hedgeline routing the opposition. These Lancastrians are going to need to toughen up.

With a fanfare of trumpets the final Yorkist battle on the far end of the table reaches the fighting.

Slowly and steadily Trollope's(Lancs) forces were gaining the upper ground on the Yorkist flank. Well and truly defeating the first Yorkist battle.

As these forces moved forward their skirmishers began to harass the Yorkists in the rear. But was it all too late?

The morale tokens were stacking up on both sides - more units routed for both sides

With a big push the Yorkists once again charged their men in steel.- 

Supported by fresh archers and bills

They quickly despatched the Lancastrians lingering behind the hedge

The Lancastrian command could only watch as more units fled the field taking others with them. The failed morale saves of the Lancastrians when observing friendly routs quite possibly counted for 30-40% of lost units

With time running out the Lancastrians conferred and agreed that they could not win the game and conceded victory to the Yorkist commanders. Unlike the real battle the Yorkists scored a major victory.

and they retained the King - thanks to the Earl of Essex...

What's next I here you cry - just the prelude to our big Towton game

The battle of Ferrybridge