Elizabethan Irish Wars - An undignified scramble to escape the enemy

In this scenario an English Army has been harried all the way from Dublin on its way to reach a defended fort 'up country'. The Irish have finally pulled together a big enough force to close on the English.

The English managed to escape across the river ford with the cavalry, a unit of shot and the majority of the baggage.

Of special note was the brave rear guard stand by some Dublin colonists, buying some vital time for the rest of the force to escape; the utterly cowardly actions of the English cavalry, who escaped across the ford as quickly as possible without helping their colleagues; and the ghastly, selfish behaviour of the Galloglaigh who, upon reaching the enemy baggage, spent two turns looting the train whilst ignoring the rest of the battle.

Irish Wars - Spanish Allies

In this encounter, the English force had to advance through a valley to capture the local Gaelic clan leader's stronghold. Facing them was an Irish rebel army, aided and abetted by some questionable Spanish allies.

Initially the English made good progress, but then they were confronted by a dastardly enemy trick - they were attacked by some Irish Kern, who had been hidden in hills and woods to their left flank. Nevertheless, these troublesome natives were eventually cleared from their positions. 

Then the Spanish made their appearance on the right flank. After the English soldiers recovered from the shock of seeing these strange men dressed, as it would seem, as ladies(!), the Spanish launched their attack. After some initial success, the Spanish sword and buckler men (or women) failed their morale check and routed. Following that, the Spaniards mainly resorted to shooting at the English from a safe distance.

Meanwhile in the centre the demi-lancers, pike and shot units proceeded to drive the outnumbered Irish from the field. 

Of note, was the inability (or reluctance) of the elite of Gaelic manhood - the Bonnachts - to engage the enemy. Instead they preferred to retire to the stronghold, before the battle was over, and remove all supplies and valuables, then taking to their heels in flight!

After the English captured the stronghold, they realised that anything of any value had been removed. This prompted them to burn the compound to the ground. And so ended another fun day of warfare in Elizabethan Ireland.

Irish Wars - A Rare Pitched Battle

The forces were drawn up for a traditional pitched battle in this game, using the Pikeman’s Lament rule set. In reality, pitched battles were not really a feature in this series of wars, save the final, climatic engagement - The Battle of Kinsale in 1601.

In our battle, The English eventually ground their way to a narrow victory. Both sides deployed Kern, which were pretty useless on the more open battlefield. The gentlemen volunteers from the Pale were probably the best performing unit, seeing off two units of Bonnachts. Also the English pike held their ground to the end to enable the English player to claim victory….well, just about.

Irish Wars Wargame

Nine Years War Wargame

Irish Wars - Battle of Curlew Pass, 1599

The English, under Sir Conyers Clifford, managed to flip history on its head by defeating the Irish, under Red Hugh O'Donnell, in this game, based on the Battle of Curlew Pass. 

In the opening stages, the kern in English employ managed to root out a number of Irish ambushes and see them off, before being routed themselves. The English had to deal with the dastardly Irish trick of creating blockages in the road by felling trees and logs to hinder their advances. Eventually the English managed to overcome these difficulties and push on through to confront the 'bare Irish' holding the higher ground.

Despite a group of Irish calivermen performing well, and a few downhill charges by mercenary Galloglaigh, the rebels were put to flight. Of special note was the English horse who spent the whole game trying to find a route through the broken countryside, only to arrive at the front just as the fighting broke off.

Irish Wars Wargame

Nine Years War - Gallowglaigh

Elizabethan Irish Wars Wargame