Sometime ago I fought the Battle of Alton based on the Campaign created by Donald Featherstone in his book "WarGame Campaigns".
I have refought it again last week. This time still based on the Featherstone idea but cleaned up.
I set out the terrain for the village of Alton as closely as possible as it is shown in the book but with changes to suit FK&P and gameplay in General.
As the battle was a case of the Royalist retreating and Parliament trying to bring them to bay I randomised where units would start. The Royalists had 3 x pike and shot units (Status as decided by dice roles), 2 x Swedish Horse status same as foot. Parliament fielded 4 x pike and shot and 3 x Dutch Horse. Each side had a single commander. I left out the artillery, however if I play this again I may include light guns with some of the foot units.
To place the units I used the boxes. My table is 8 x 8 boxes. I place the Royalist units by using dice to randomly select a box out of the first sixrows from the Royalist base line behind Alton. I did the same for the Parliament forces but for the two rows from their base line. This scattered both forces. Meaning the Commanders had to form up and create some type of coherent battle plan from less than ideally placed troops.
The battle played really well with a nail biting finish. A Royalist victory with them having only one victory medal left! So the Royalist rearguard action was a success allowing the bulk of the Royalist army to withdraw to Arundel.
My ancestor Colonel Richard Bole fought in this action and died in the church at Alton. Hence my interest in this campaign and battle. Unfortunately I have been unable to find which regiment he was Colonel of.
receives a gift from his wife…