I had a chance to get my new English Civil War siege gun bases onto the tabletop as I played out the latest scenario in my North Wessex campaign using the For King & Parliament campaign.

Both sides have withdrawn from the field of their last encounter at Pinkney’s Court, with the Royalists now looping round to try and outflank the Parliamentarians. As a desperate excuse to justify the use of siege artillery, the Royalists receive a couple of huge cannon as a gift from the King. Keen to try them out, they set them up across open fields and prepare to fire off a coupe of shots. As they do so, the Roundheads appear on the other side of the field and battle is joined.

Here’s what happened:

The Battlefield

Royalists on the far side, Parliamentarians nearest to us.

The Royalists

With siege guns in position for testing!

The Left Flank

Parliamentarian horse moves forward rapidly to assay an assault on the Cavalier right flank. The lead battalia in the Royalist column on the road would move quickly over the hedge to block them.

Battle is Joined in the Centre

Parliamentarian Infantry

Lots of cannon fire at them, but very few hits.

Roundhead Dutch Horse

The 1st Cavalerie, led by Sir Christopher himself, would smash through the Royalist line, but then disappear off over the horizon in pursuit of the routers before them.

Mass Melee on the Left

Blocked by the single Royalist infantry battalia in front of them, the surviving Roundhead Cavalerie turn to face an enemy infantry column coming in from the right. Dragoons assist.

But the Royalist Infantry were really needed elsewhere...

As the Roundheads in the centre have cleared it of Royalist cavalry

Artillery Taken!

The game ends as one of the siege guns is overrun

This was a tricky battle for the Royalists as they start the game in a very awkward position. In addition, their siege guns just couldn’t hit anything and, when they did, my units saved time and time again.

A workmanlike Parliamentarian victory.