Sir John Hurry - Major General (100 Pts)
Sir Mungo Campbell of Lawers' Regt - Foot (468 Pts)
16 Veteran Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (180 Pts)
12 Veteran Shot (144 Pts)
12 Veteran Shot (144 Pts)
Lord Chancellor's Regt - Foot (468 Pts)
16 Veteran Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (180 Pts)
12 Veteran Shot (144 Pts)
12 Veteran Shot (144 Pts)
Earl of Lothian's Regt - Foot (468 Pts)
16 Veteran Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (180 Pts)
12 Veteran Shot (144 Pts)
12 Veteran Shot (144 Pts)
Earl of Findlater's Regt - Foot (188 Pts)
16 Raw Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (68 Pts)
12 Raw Shot (60 Pts)
12 Raw Shot (60 Pts)
Detachment from Buchanan's Regt - Foot (152 Pts)
8 Steady Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (68 Pts)
6 Steady Shot (42 Pts)
6 Steady Shot (42 Pts)
Earl of Seaforth's Regt - Foot (212 Pts)
24 Raw Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (92 Pts)
12 Raw Shot (60 Pts)
12 Highland Rabble; Longbow (60 Pts)
Earl of Sutherland's Regt - Foot (212 Pts)
24 Raw Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (92 Pts)
12 Raw Shot (60 Pts)
12 Raw Shot (60 Pts)
Northern Levies - Foot (148 Pts)
16 Raw Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (68 Pts)
8 Raw Shot (40 Pts)
8 Raw Shot (40 Pts)
Sir James Halkett's Troop - Horse (224 Pts)
16 Steady Trotters; Leader, Cornet, Trumpeter, pistols (224 Pts)
Major Drummond's Troop &
Campbell of Lawers' Troop - Horse (176 Pts)
12 Steady Trotters; Leader, Cornet, Trumpeter, pistols (176 Pts)
Scots Government Army = 2816 Pts
Alternate List Options: The detachment from Buchanan's Regt could be fielded as shot only. Drummond's and Lawers' Troops of horse are combined in the list above but they could be fielded seperately. Lawers' Troop as a minimum size unit of Steady Trotters. I have listed Drummond's Troop as a small unit of Gordon Horse (borrowed from the Scots Royalist List), as this troop is thought to have been formed from the remnants of the Gordon Horse that remained loyal to the Government when the Gordon Horse defected to the Royalists after Inverlochy.
If both alternatives are used, the updated total points for the Government army is shown at the bottom of this post.
Detachment from Buchanan's Regt - Foot (160 Pts)
20 Steady Shot; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (160 Pts)
Campbell of Lawers' Troop - Horse (92 Pts)
5 Steady Trotters; Leader, Cornet, Trumpeter, pistols (92 Pts)
Major Drummond's Troop - Gordon Horse (176 Pts)
8 Gordon Horse; Leader, Cornet, Trumpeter, pistols (176 Pts)
Scots Government Army = 2916 Pts
Notes: I have used the Scots Government Army Lists in WECW as a basis for the points estimate and unit stats, except for borrowing the Highland Rabble and Gordon Horse from the Scots Royalist List. The unit size is based on the OOB below at a 1:10 figure scale and matches the basing suggestion below.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
WECW List for Royalists at Auldearn
Jame Graham, Marquis of Montrose (140 Pts)
Royal Standard (100 Pts)
Strathbogie Regt - Scots Foot (284 Pts)
16 Steady Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (116 Pts)
12 Steady Shot (84 Pts)
12 Steady Shot (84 Pts)
Gordon of Monymore's Regt- Scots Foot (204 Pts)
12 Steady Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (92 Pts)
8 Steady Shot (56 Pts)
8 Steady Shot (56 Pts)
Irish Companies - Irish Brigade (548 Pts)
12 Irish Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (164 Pts)
12 Irish Shot (192 Pts)
12 Irish Shot (192 Pts)
Irish Companies - Irish Brigade (372 Pts)
8 Irish Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (116 Pts)
8 Irish Shot (128 Pts)
8 Irish Shot (128 Pts)
Macolla with Lifeguard (380 Pts)
1 Alasdair MacColla (120 Pts)
13 MacColla's Lifeguard; Leader, Ensign, Piper (260 Pts)
Lord Gordon's Horse (392 Pts)
20 Gordon Horse; Leader, Cornet, Trumpeter, pistols (392 Pts)
Viscount Aboyne's Horse (392 Pts)
20 Gordon Horse; Leader, Cornet, Trumpeter, pistols (392 Pts)
Scots Royalist Army = 2732 Pts
Option: If you subscribe to the idea that Montrose had a full 600 Gordon cavalry at Auldearn then you can simply add a second unit of 20 horse under Viscout Aboyne. This would add another 392 Pts to the list bringing the total to 3204 Pts. However, with 400 Gordon cavalry (2 x 20 models) you will already have more horse than you know what to do with, and the points conveniently balance quite nicely with the Covenanter Army.
Notes: I have used the Scots Royalist Army Lists in WECW as a basis for the points estimate and unit stats. The unit size is based on the OOB below at a 1:10 figure scale and matches the basing suggestion below. I have not honoured the WECW list restrictions, but have tried to reproduce the historical OOB.
Royal Standard (100 Pts)
Strathbogie Regt - Scots Foot (284 Pts)
16 Steady Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (116 Pts)
12 Steady Shot (84 Pts)
12 Steady Shot (84 Pts)
Gordon of Monymore's Regt- Scots Foot (204 Pts)
12 Steady Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (92 Pts)
8 Steady Shot (56 Pts)
8 Steady Shot (56 Pts)
Irish Companies - Irish Brigade (548 Pts)
12 Irish Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (164 Pts)
12 Irish Shot (192 Pts)
12 Irish Shot (192 Pts)
Irish Companies - Irish Brigade (372 Pts)
8 Irish Pike; Leader, Ensign, Drummer (116 Pts)
8 Irish Shot (128 Pts)
8 Irish Shot (128 Pts)
Macolla with Lifeguard (380 Pts)
1 Alasdair MacColla (120 Pts)
13 MacColla's Lifeguard; Leader, Ensign, Piper (260 Pts)
Lord Gordon's Horse (392 Pts)
20 Gordon Horse; Leader, Cornet, Trumpeter, pistols (392 Pts)
Viscount Aboyne's Horse (392 Pts)
20 Gordon Horse; Leader, Cornet, Trumpeter, pistols (392 Pts)
Scots Royalist Army = 2732 Pts
Option: If you subscribe to the idea that Montrose had a full 600 Gordon cavalry at Auldearn then you can simply add a second unit of 20 horse under Viscout Aboyne. This would add another 392 Pts to the list bringing the total to 3204 Pts. However, with 400 Gordon cavalry (2 x 20 models) you will already have more horse than you know what to do with, and the points conveniently balance quite nicely with the Covenanter Army.
Notes: I have used the Scots Royalist Army Lists in WECW as a basis for the points estimate and unit stats. The unit size is based on the OOB below at a 1:10 figure scale and matches the basing suggestion below. I have not honoured the WECW list restrictions, but have tried to reproduce the historical OOB.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
WECW Basing for Covenanters at Auldearn
Here is a suggested basing plan for the Government Army at Auldearn. As with the Royalist plan, the figure count is based on the Auldearn OOB listed below at a 1:10 figure scale, adjusted for use with the Warhammer ECW rules. Pike to shot ratio is listed in the OOB - I have used 1:1 for raw levies, and 2:3 for government raised regiments.
A detachment of Buchanan's Regt was present at Auldearn (the rest of the regment remained on garrison duty in Inverness), and I have given that a pike:shot ratio of 1:1 to give a reasonable number of pike models. But this detachment could also be fielded as 20 commanded shot models with no pike.
Campbell of Lawers' Horse is too small at 30 troopers to field as a WECW unit at 1:10 figure scale. This would be only 3 models, so I have combined Lawers' Troop with Drummonds to give a single unit of 130 Troopers, or 12 models at 1:10 with 2 ranks.
However, if you prefer to field these two horse units seperately in penny-packets, as they were in reality, you could split them into two units of 5 and 8 models respectively, or even 6 and 7 models. This gives them at least some limited staying power to make a contribution to the battle using the WECW rules.
A detachment of Buchanan's Regt was present at Auldearn (the rest of the regment remained on garrison duty in Inverness), and I have given that a pike:shot ratio of 1:1 to give a reasonable number of pike models. But this detachment could also be fielded as 20 commanded shot models with no pike.Campbell of Lawers' Horse is too small at 30 troopers to field as a WECW unit at 1:10 figure scale. This would be only 3 models, so I have combined Lawers' Troop with Drummonds to give a single unit of 130 Troopers, or 12 models at 1:10 with 2 ranks.
However, if you prefer to field these two horse units seperately in penny-packets, as they were in reality, you could split them into two units of 5 and 8 models respectively, or even 6 and 7 models. This gives them at least some limited staying power to make a contribution to the battle using the WECW rules.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
WECW Basing for Royalists at Auldearn
Here is the basing plan I am using for my Royalist Army. The figure count is based on the OOB below at a 1:10 figure scale. The pike to shot ratio is based on those listed in the OOB with some rounding up and down where necessary to give complete ranks. Unit frontage for infantry is shown at the top of the plan.
Pike blocks are coloured purple and contain pike models (P) and command models; Ensign (E), Musician (M) and Officer (O). I plan to have two colours in each pike block, more on the regimental colours later. Shot sleeves are coloured yellow, highlanders are in green and cavalry is in blue.
Inspired by some of the ECW armies showcased online (links below) I will use predominantly multi-figure bases. 40mm x 40mm bases for 4 infantry models and 50mm x 50mm bases for 2 cavalry models. As will as avoiding problems with "ranking up" models in awkward poses, such as charging pikemen, it will allow some creative diorama basing with casualties etc.
As Warhammer English Civil War requires removal of individual casualties, each unit, sleeve or pike block will have at least two models based on standard single model Warhammer bases; 20mm square for infantry, 25mm x 50mm bases for cavalry. Remaining infantry models will be on 40mm x 20mm bases containing 2 models.
I want the 4 model command stands to be located in the centre of the pike block. To do this with 4 model wide pike blocks means that the command stand must be flanked on both sides by a 2 model 40mm x 20mm base.
I am basing my first couple of units just now, using Litko Aero wooden bases, and will post pictures of how they turn out as soon as they are ready. Covenanter basing scheme to follow soon.
In the meantime, some online inspiration...
David Imries ECW Scots
Phil Olley's ECW Showcase
Pike blocks are coloured purple and contain pike models (P) and command models; Ensign (E), Musician (M) and Officer (O). I plan to have two colours in each pike block, more on the regimental colours later. Shot sleeves are coloured yellow, highlanders are in green and cavalry is in blue.
Inspired by some of the ECW armies showcased online (links below) I will use predominantly multi-figure bases. 40mm x 40mm bases for 4 infantry models and 50mm x 50mm bases for 2 cavalry models. As will as avoiding problems with "ranking up" models in awkward poses, such as charging pikemen, it will allow some creative diorama basing with casualties etc.
As Warhammer English Civil War requires removal of individual casualties, each unit, sleeve or pike block will have at least two models based on standard single model Warhammer bases; 20mm square for infantry, 25mm x 50mm bases for cavalry. Remaining infantry models will be on 40mm x 20mm bases containing 2 models.
I want the 4 model command stands to be located in the centre of the pike block. To do this with 4 model wide pike blocks means that the command stand must be flanked on both sides by a 2 model 40mm x 20mm base.
I am basing my first couple of units just now, using Litko Aero wooden bases, and will post pictures of how they turn out as soon as they are ready. Covenanter basing scheme to follow soon.
In the meantime, some online inspiration...
David Imries ECW Scots
Phil Olley's ECW Showcase
Auldearn OOB
In the lists below, next to each unit name are the estimated unit numbers in (backets) , followed by a guess-timated pike:shot ratio for infantry units.
Scots Royalist Army
Commanders
Lt General James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose
Maj General Alasdair MacColla, "The Devastator"
Infantry
Macolla's Lifeguard (140), 0:1
Irish Mercenaries (600), 1:2
Gordon of Monymore's Regiment (300), 2:3
Strathbogie Regiment (400), 2:3
Cavalry
Lord Gordon's Horse (200)
Viscount Aboyne's Horse (400/200)
Scots Government Army
Commander
General Sir John Hurry
Infantry
Campbell of Lawer's Regt (400), 2:3
Earl of Loudon's (Lord Chancellor's) Regt (400), 2:3
Earl of Lothian's Regt (400), 2:3
Earl of Findlater's Regt (300), 1:1
Detachment from Buchanan's Regt (200), 1:1
Northen Levies (400), 1:1
Earl of Seaforth's Levies (500), 1:1
Earl of Sutherland's Levies (500), 1:1
Cavalry
Campbell of Lawers' Horse (30)
Major Drummond's Horse (100)
Sir James Halkett's Horse (160)
Notes
There is some uncertainty as to the exact numbers present in both armies at Auldearn. It is generally accepted that the Covenanters outnumbered the Royalists by about 3:2, however the overall quality and experience level of the Royalist army was better that the Government force, in which over half the infantry were poorly trained, recently raised levies. The Royalists also had recently acquired a formidable cavalry wing with the defection of Huntly's sons to the Royalist cause after Montrose's previous victory over the Covenanters at Inverlochy. The exact numbers in the 'Gordon Horse' is highly uncertain and could range from 200 to 600. Reid's interpretation of the primary sources proposes a whopping 600; 200 under Lord Gordon, and 400 under his brother, the Viscount Aboyne.
Scots Royalist Army
Commanders
Lt General James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose
Maj General Alasdair MacColla, "The Devastator"
Infantry
Macolla's Lifeguard (140), 0:1
Irish Mercenaries (600), 1:2
Gordon of Monymore's Regiment (300), 2:3
Strathbogie Regiment (400), 2:3
Cavalry
Lord Gordon's Horse (200)
Viscount Aboyne's Horse (400/200)
Scots Government Army
Commander
General Sir John Hurry
Infantry
Campbell of Lawer's Regt (400), 2:3
Earl of Loudon's (Lord Chancellor's) Regt (400), 2:3
Earl of Lothian's Regt (400), 2:3
Earl of Findlater's Regt (300), 1:1
Detachment from Buchanan's Regt (200), 1:1
Northen Levies (400), 1:1
Earl of Seaforth's Levies (500), 1:1
Earl of Sutherland's Levies (500), 1:1
Cavalry
Campbell of Lawers' Horse (30)
Major Drummond's Horse (100)
Sir James Halkett's Horse (160)
Notes
There is some uncertainty as to the exact numbers present in both armies at Auldearn. It is generally accepted that the Covenanters outnumbered the Royalists by about 3:2, however the overall quality and experience level of the Royalist army was better that the Government force, in which over half the infantry were poorly trained, recently raised levies. The Royalists also had recently acquired a formidable cavalry wing with the defection of Huntly's sons to the Royalist cause after Montrose's previous victory over the Covenanters at Inverlochy. The exact numbers in the 'Gordon Horse' is highly uncertain and could range from 200 to 600. Reid's interpretation of the primary sources proposes a whopping 600; 200 under Lord Gordon, and 400 under his brother, the Viscount Aboyne.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Why Auldearn?
Auldearn is a great place to start a foray into the Campaigns of Montrose, and not just because it is one of the most well know battles of the campaign. For the wargamer and modeller the armies that fought in this battle on both sides were incredibly diverse, as was the terrain over which they fought.
The royalists had the usual infantry core of Irish veterans, as well as a mix of lowland and highland regular foot. But what is most remarkable is that for the first time in the campaign the royalist could field a large force of good quality cavalry under Lord Gordon and the Viscount Aboyne (they had recently defected from the government).
The Covenanters brought several regiments of quality foot, including veterans from Marston Moor, as well asraw lowland conscripts and highland clansmen levies, some of which were bow armed. They also had some horse of variable quality.
The battlefield that was fought over covered some of the most interesting and varied terrain of all the battles in the campaign. There was the long narrow ridge and open killing ground of Garlic Hill, surrounded on 3 sides by boggy marsh, and along which the covenanters advanced towards the village of Auldearn. The village itself, on a seperate ridge, protected from advance by a narrow boggy stream and cluttered with the homes, gardens, walls and fences, as well as the old kirk, through and around which there was some desperate street fighting. The village is flanked at its northern end by the steep flat-topped stump of castle hill, the remnants of a long gone Norman motte and bailey fort, and the lofty position from which the royalists ploughed flanking fire into the covenanters attack.
Orders of battle and battlefield layout to follow...
The royalists had the usual infantry core of Irish veterans, as well as a mix of lowland and highland regular foot. But what is most remarkable is that for the first time in the campaign the royalist could field a large force of good quality cavalry under Lord Gordon and the Viscount Aboyne (they had recently defected from the government).
The Covenanters brought several regiments of quality foot, including veterans from Marston Moor, as well asraw lowland conscripts and highland clansmen levies, some of which were bow armed. They also had some horse of variable quality.
The battlefield that was fought over covered some of the most interesting and varied terrain of all the battles in the campaign. There was the long narrow ridge and open killing ground of Garlic Hill, surrounded on 3 sides by boggy marsh, and along which the covenanters advanced towards the village of Auldearn. The village itself, on a seperate ridge, protected from advance by a narrow boggy stream and cluttered with the homes, gardens, walls and fences, as well as the old kirk, through and around which there was some desperate street fighting. The village is flanked at its northern end by the steep flat-topped stump of castle hill, the remnants of a long gone Norman motte and bailey fort, and the lofty position from which the royalists ploughed flanking fire into the covenanters attack.
Orders of battle and battlefield layout to follow...
Welcome to Project Auldearn
I first became interested in the 1644-1645 Campaign of Montrose back in 2003, at around about the same time I was getting back into the miniatures hobby after a break of over 15 years.
It's a fascinating few years of Scottish history with which most wargamers are reasonably familiar, but which sadly the general public is not. This is even true in Scotland, where you will be lucky to find a person under the age of 40 who can tell you who Montrose was, or who can name any of the battles of this campaign. The battlefield sites themselves are often not marked, and if they are you'll find precious little or no on-site information as to what happened there.
However, the period has a special resonance for me as many of the battles (Justice Mills, Fyvie, Alford and Auldearn) were fought within an hour of my home town of Ellon in the Northeast of Scotland. Many of the men who fought on both sides were local northeast men such as the Marquis of Huntly's three sons, the Aberdonian mercenary commander Sir John Hurry, the loyal Forbes lairds of Udny and Tolquhon (Ta-hoon), who raised their tennants for the government fencibles, and the brave burghers of the Aberdeen Militia, regular citizens and part-time soldiers who volunteered to stand in defence of their city.
This blog will follow our progress as we assemble the armies and terrain to refight the battles of this campaign on the tabletop. Here we plan to post details, such as orders-of-battle, basing and painting guides, figure selections and table layouts etc, as well as just sharing the ups and downs of putting a project like this together. We hope to keep it interesting with plenty of pictures. So if the English Civil War in Scotland is your thing, bookmark this page and visit often.
It's a fascinating few years of Scottish history with which most wargamers are reasonably familiar, but which sadly the general public is not. This is even true in Scotland, where you will be lucky to find a person under the age of 40 who can tell you who Montrose was, or who can name any of the battles of this campaign. The battlefield sites themselves are often not marked, and if they are you'll find precious little or no on-site information as to what happened there.
However, the period has a special resonance for me as many of the battles (Justice Mills, Fyvie, Alford and Auldearn) were fought within an hour of my home town of Ellon in the Northeast of Scotland. Many of the men who fought on both sides were local northeast men such as the Marquis of Huntly's three sons, the Aberdonian mercenary commander Sir John Hurry, the loyal Forbes lairds of Udny and Tolquhon (Ta-hoon), who raised their tennants for the government fencibles, and the brave burghers of the Aberdeen Militia, regular citizens and part-time soldiers who volunteered to stand in defence of their city.
This blog will follow our progress as we assemble the armies and terrain to refight the battles of this campaign on the tabletop. Here we plan to post details, such as orders-of-battle, basing and painting guides, figure selections and table layouts etc, as well as just sharing the ups and downs of putting a project like this together. We hope to keep it interesting with plenty of pictures. So if the English Civil War in Scotland is your thing, bookmark this page and visit often.