"Waller as commander? Any accounts / books?" Topic

Waller seems to be an interesting character, lots of successes and obviously a clever fellow. He seems a bit like Montrose, one of the better commanders of the war despite some flaws.

Any opinions?

Also, are there any detailed accounts of his forces, campaigns, units, etc?

Thinking of doing up a Waller army and his opponents, perhaps a little campaign on the more interesting battles.

Anyone who's done this – thoughts especially welcomed.

overall, the Southwest seems like a nice little place to fight, a bit like the Shenandoah campaigns of Jackson.

I haven't done it, but I agree that the Southwest makes a tempting little mini-campaign.

I enjoyed John Adair's "Roundhead General: The Campaigns of Sir William Waller", which sits proudly on my ECW shelf. A fairly balanced account, in my opinion.

link

Jeff

In the "Battlefield Britain" series by Pen & Sword Military Books, John Barratt wrote "The Civil War in the South-West" (ISBN: 1-84415-146-8 copyright 2005).

I have not yet had a chance to read it due to my eyesight and medical problems, but it looks like it would be of great interest to you. It isn't strictly about Waller but covers many of his battles and campaigns.

The UK price listed on mine is 10.99 pounds . . . but I think that I got it through Amazon for less . . . but that was a few years ago.

-- Jeff

I just checked Amazon.ca (Canada) and the book I just mentioned ("The Civil War in the South-West" (ISBN: 1-84415-146-8 copyright 2005) is available there for about $25 USD CND from Amazon or about $7 USD plus shipping from other sources and less than $5 USD for a Kindle edition.

I suspect that the US, UK and other Amazon sources will also have it available . . . worth checking it out (particularly if you use Kindle).

-- Jeff

Laurence Spring's "Waller's Army" published by the Pike and Shot Soc eg at Amazon here link is a very detailed list of the units and officers in Waller's army of the Southern Association.

Morris' "Lansdown and Roundway Down" link covers Waller's earlier Western Association forces.

Peachey & Turton's immensely detailed series "The War in the West" link is worth a mention too but only if you're really very interested in the details. Also on the same page is Spring's "campaigns of the Southern Association" which is more of a narrative.

For the view from the other side, Hopton's own memoir, "Bellum Civile" is available as a free ebook link

The John Adair one War Artisan is the one that springs to my mind as well.
Saw him lecturing on Cheriton at the time he was writing it at the Tower of London years back.

OK, thanks for the books!

John Adair's "Roundhead General: The Campaigns of Sir William Waller",
and
In the "Battlefield Britain" series by Pen & Sword Military Books, John Barratt wrote "The Civil War in the South-West"
are ordered, got good prices at Amazon.

LANSDOWN & ROUNDWAY, Battles of: * Morris. 48p. Maps. good regimental detail
WALLER, William : CAMPAIGNS OF WILLIAM WALLER's SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION: 60p
I'm getting from Caliver.

Waller's Army is a bit later than I _think_ I might want, as I'm interestedin Lansdowne and Roundway Down, but I'll see, maybe later.

Any additional thoughts keep coming. If I devise a simple campaign I'll drop it in here.

Grandviewroad,

Might we inquire as to whereabouts you live? Not an address but what country and near what major city sort of thing.

I doubt that you're anywhere near me (Vancouver Island, BC, Canada) but you might be able to find some opponents somewhere near you.

-- Jeff

And, pulling from a number of the sources previously mentioned, there will eventually be a ECW Scenario booklet from Partizan Press on the 1643 Campaign in the South-West: Hopton vs. Waller.

I finally sent all my files and maps along to Partizan Press, but the maps need to be redrawn for the booklet by the publisher's map-maker, plus the booklet laid out, editted, etc. -- all of which takes time. But, "it's in the can" as they say. Hopefully maybe towards the end of this year or beginning of next we might see something, though that all depends on publishing scedule and availability of the map-maper, etc.

Regards,
Bob Giglio

That is great news, Bob. Of course I want it NOW . . . . . . why can't I have it now (or even yesterday)?

-- Jeff

Jeff,
Down in the greater Philadelphia area, which has a lot of gamers, actually. Memory serves, not near Vancouver!

Probably going to run with Sash and Saber 40mm, along with some Romanoff for variety.

Haven't decided upon the rules yet, altho Kings of War is a possibility.

Still looking forward to it Bob!!

A great read is Bellum Civile, Sir Ralph Hopton's memoirs of the campaign in the west 1642-1644. A personal friend of Waller's but on the other side. My personal favourite actually. Caliver Books should give you all you need:-
caliverbooks.com

And can be read on line [or downloaded I guess] from the above link under Timbo's post.

It's also looking like a must-read, a lot less dry than Adair.

However I did get my copy of Barratt and while it labels itself a battlefield book, it is actually a very good history book as well, with plenty of primary source quotes, great pictures and some of the maps are not bad, either. A MUST for any SW ECW fan.

The two Caliver books I ordered a month ago. I finally inquired and was told that their publisher is returning from his summer vacation and they'll be getting to my order. From which I deduce that they sold me books they don't have in print? Perhaps they're more of those "Very British Wargamer Booklets" that get photocopied on demand.

I'm glad that you liked my recommendation of the Barratt book. I've certainly enjoyed mine.

-- Jeff