Dux Brit Raid #2 How not to conduct a Raid redux...

The lazy Cnut... having recovered from his initial disastrous foray...decided to aim a bit lower and merely rustle some British Cattle...Once again the Romans were waiting for him and as he strolled home with the herds he was intercepted by Tribune Irritus and the Romano host.

Cnut divided his force sending  his warriors to the south of the wood while he boldly engaged the Roman Centre with his Elites.  Unlike last raid the Romans adopted a more defensive stance forming up in ShieldWall awaiting the Saxon attack.

In  the South the Saxon warriors found themselves outnumbered by a solid line of arriving British Levies ...so Atheleed sent one group back to aid Cnut...too late it turned out. After some desultory fighting and chasing off of both side's shooters both sides awaited the decision in the center.

Back in the center the confident Cnut rushed the Romans with his Elites, only to receive a bloody repulse...bouncing off this wall then having to beat back its counterattack.  Just as the shock of this initial action was starting to be felt by the Saxons... poor light allowed the Saxons to skulk off ,abandoning the cattle.

Raid failed with light losses on both sides  (8 Saxon vs 4 Brits)...as both digested the power of this new tactical development of the ShieldWall.

Legend Dark Units=elites Large Grey/Red arrows ...broad brush moves Lighter Units= warriors Small Grey arrows...follow up attacks. Squares Units=Levy White arrows...attacks/significant moves Shooters=loose order + very pale Bright yellow arrows=retreats/routs Large two tone Circles=Leaders/Nobles

Dux Brit Raid #1: How not to conduct a Raid

Lord Cnut after finally been granted a province to raid  found himself a big fat Church to plunder. Assembling his force he tardily headed toward the church unaware the Romans had been tipped off about his landing. After mounting the hill near the church he could see the Romans slovenly approaching from the south on an interception course.

With the foes sighting each other, the race for the church was now on. Seeing an apparent opportunity Cnut lunged at the flank of the now racing lead group of Romano warriors only to pull up short... thereby exposing his flank to the follow up group of Romans that included Tribune Irritus Bowelus.  In short order Cnut was outflanked an repulsed with staggering loses( 5 killed)...as his elites sought to protect  his retreat. 

The neighboring group of Saxon warriors fared better ...managing to intercept the racing Romans at the church gates, besting them. But just as they sought to follow up they were to be struck by a breakthru charge from the jubilant Romans following up Cnuts retreat. As Cnut attempted to salvage the situation he fed in his other elite warriors  but the Romans were holding all the cards and the Saxons quickly gave  ground everywhere.

Legend Dark Units=elites Large Grey/Red arrows ...broad brush moves Lighter Units= warriors Small Grey arrows...follow up attacks. Squares Units=Levy White arrows...attacks/significant moves Shooters=loose order + very pale Bright yellow arrows=retreats/routs Large two tone Circles=Leaders/Nobles _______________________________________ ______________________________

In the south the Roman archers were quickly overrun (they forgot they havent been taught to evade) by the Saxon lord Aetheleed's vigorous charge... However he failed to realise he faced two reinforcing Romano levy units stiffened by Noble Digitus...and blindly  charged in....Wham Bam.. Aetheleed too was soon in full flight.

Meanwhile at the church the tardy Saxon lord Cowfrig was finally poised to plunder the Church when he heard the Horn of Retreat. Lord Cnut had had enought, nose bloodied he retreated  with no real British pursuit.  The Church friars were so grateful the offered the Tribune 2 sacks of Gold. 

Epilogue: 

Losess:     Romano:- 6 dead. Saxons:- 15 dead( including 8 elites)... 

Victory level +3.

Cnut will need lick his wounds til December

RomanoBrits +2 Gold

Dux Brit campaign...the Protagonists

Romano-Lords  of  Linnius

Tribune Irritus Bowelus ...(Honourable) +2 on loyalty rolls...  a poor man .. Son of a Honestiore ....begins with 1 gold
Noble Magistrum Colic Obstructus.... (Master of arms ).....+1d6in combat
Noble Magistrum Digitus Extractus... (Athlete)...can withdraw from combat/scale walls etc

Defence Force:

1 unit of  Comanipulares -Elites (6 warriors)
2 units of Milites-Warriors(6 warriors)
3 Groups of Numeri-Levy(6 peasants)
1 group of Missile (4 slingers)

 Saxon Nobles of the Tribe Bah Humbug

Lord Cnut the Hairy a poor man .Son of a Peasant.... ....(Constitution of an Ox)..gets one reroll that results in his death ....begins with 1 gold
Noble Cowfrig the Lustful ,...-1 on loyalty rolls

Noble Aetheleed .(Athlete.) ..can withdraw from combat/scale walls etc

Raiding force:

2 units of  Gedridht-Elites (6 warriors)
3 units of Duguth-Warriors(6 warriors)
1 group of Missiles (4 archers)

Dux Brit ...Start of a Dark Ages Campaign.

The aim is to run a club campaign based  on the dark age figures we have collected. We will use Toofatlardies campaign system but not limit ourselves to their rules. It is intend to be able to use Saga,Dux Bellorum and even PeterPigs Vikings as alternate rulesets.

To set the scene:

The time is September 472AD the Witch-Queen Merkel , the banisher of the Greeks, the humiliator of the Franks,  rules over Germania. Our tribe is out of favour  located on the Channel coast in the back water province of Bah Humbug.  To escape our predicament, our Overlord Cillian has assigned our tribe attack across the channel the weakened kingdom of Brittanicum, specifically the sub-kingdom of Linnius.

Overlord Cillian has decreed we are to gain a foothold in the province of Caer Lind Colun through a series of destablislisation Raids prior to conquest. The stage is set....

Post Bull Run Repurcussions

On WestPoint News

Following their resounding success at First Bull Run all Confederate Generals were promoted to 2 eagle brigadiers....

The defection of Brig Gen "Turncoat" Mick flush with victory allowed him to marry "Virginia Lovelace" the belle  of southern aristocracy & has consequently become  Wealthy.

After beating two Federal Regts in a glorious charge....the 32th Caringbah now has a new hero....."My Brothers Keeper” Sgt Kobi Atherton.


On the Federal side ... Army General Sam was disappointed with the Union performance and thus didn’t award any promotions. However Brig Gen Rob Whine's fierce criticisms in the Newpapers meant he would either be cashiered or promoted...with later occurring via a War Department directive to General Sam's chagrin.


Epic Point/Promotions Gazette end 1861:

Rebels
2 eagle Brig “SwaggerLee” Zel = 6 Epic pts (owing in part to his wealthy connections)

2 eagle Brig "Slowest with the leastest"= Piggott 4  Epic pts

2 eagle Brig "Turncoat " Mick = 4  Epic pts + Wealthy

Union
2 eagle Brig Rob Whines= 2  Epic pts

1 eagle Brig “Hapless” Mac= 3  Epic pts

1 eagle Brig "Backwoods" Al = 3  Epic pts

1862 Order of Battle initial

Federals

5th The “Mighty Irate Irish” Brigade(1861)
57th Pennsylvania "To be Sure To be Sure" (6 stands Eager Veterans)
31st Maine "Typsy Mashers"(6 stands Seasoned Veterans)
13th Maine "Inebriants"(7 stands Eager Recruit)
2nd Rhode Island Dressage Volunteers (5 stands Eager Recruit Cavalry)
9th Massachusetts  "SlapHappy Shriners"(10 stands Eager Recruit)
5th Massachusetts  "Amish Haymakers"(6 stands Eager Recruit)
Artillery: 2x6Pdr, 1xHowitzer
Broken Code/Sabotage
Total Stands=43

3rd Wisconsin "the Impregnatable Rubes"(1861)
10th Wisconsin "Bumkins" (7 stands Seasoned Veterans)
1st Wisconsin "Hayseeds" (5 stands Seasoned Recruit)
46th Iowa "Clodhoppers" (8 stands Eager Recruit)
1st Yokels Locals Volunteer Cavalry (6 stands Eager Recruit Cavalry)
23rd Indiana " Hicks"(9 stands Eager Recruit)
Artillery: 2x6Pdr, 1xHowitzer
Artillery: 2xNapoleons
Total Stands=40
 Broken Code

11th New York “Fiesty Hymans” Brigade(1861)
19th New Jersey "Hermans Germans" (4 stands Seasoned Recruit)
20th Pennsylvania  "the Dour Krauts"(5 stands Seasoned Recruit)
34th Boston  "Poncer" Zouaves (4 stands Seasoned Recruit)
42nd New York  "Woodys" (8 stands Seasoned Veterans)
74th  New Jersey Dutch "Ovens" (10 stands Eager Recruit)
34th Conneticut "Carpetbaggers" (6 stands Eager Recruit)
Artillery: 1x6Pdr, 1xHowitzer, 1xLt Rifled

Artillery: 2xNapoleons, 1xLt Rifled

Total Stands=43

Rebels

 3rd  ButtFork  Arkansas Brigade (1861)
11th Arkansas "Gumbo"(6 stands Eager Veterans)
14th Arkansas "Alliterati"(6 stands Eager Recruit)
18th Arkansas "Moonshiners"(7 stands Eager Recruit)
Mad Mikes Indian Raiders Cavalry(5 stands Eager Recruit)
9th South Carolina "Big Oats"(6 stands Seasoned Veterans)
2nd Texan "Rednecks"(6 stands Eager Recruit)
Artillery: 2x6Pdr, 1xHowitzer
Artillery: 2xNapoleons, 1xLt Rifled
Total Stands=41



12th Louisiana “Fire from the Shire” Brigade(1861)
32th Caringbah (8stands Eager Recruit)+Hero
71st Sutherland (9 stands Eager Recruit)
23rd Cronulla (8 stands Eager Recruit)
'Tom Uglys' Cavalry (6 stands Eager Recruit Cavalry)
59th Dapto(6 stands Eager Recruit)
Artillery: 2x6Pdr, 1xHowitzer
Artillery: 1x6Pdr
Total Stands=41

1st Kentucky  "Pudnucker"  Brigade(1861)
27th Kentucky "Whoopass" (6 stands Eager Recruit)
70th Missouri "Necktiers" ( 6 stands Eager Recruit)
22nd Kentucky "I have a different Dream" (5 stands Eager Recruit)
59th Kentucky "Friers (8 stands Eager Recruit)
34th Tennesee " Boot Scooters" ( 6 stands Eager Recruit)
Artillery: 1x6Pdr, 1xHowitzer 1x Napoleon
Artillery: 2xHvy Rifled
Sabotage
Total Stands=37

RED Denotes new Units/Transfers
BLUE denotes Special events usable for next battle

First Battle of Bull Run.

Following the Secession of the Southern States, a march on Washington was inevitable and the two green armies met at a little place called Bull Run, some Generals having never fought a battle under such conditions. The relative veterans Brig Gen "SwaggerLee" Zels for the Rebels and Brig Gen Rob Whines where desiganated the first among equals. The Rebel side was boosted by the defection of Brig Gen "Turncoat" Mick who had been gazetted to take a Federal brigade but couldnt take up arms against his true State, while "Backwoods" Al filled his vacant Federal spot.

The Rebs set up first with the pre-battle plan being to push through the center/left  while refusing its right. However due to poor scouting the Federal were further to the left than anticipated. So it looked to be a classic race to see who could turn the others Right  first.

The battle started with the  Reb  Pudnuckans and Shirites pushing forward  on the Rebel Right , while the Federal  Rubes and Irish tardily moved on the refused ButtFork flank. The Kentuckans sent across support, unnecessary in the end as the Federal attack floundered in the face of accurate Reb musket fire. A timely Cavalry counter charge saw the Union Cavalry bested.

Meanwhile on the Rebel Right ...despite Gen Rob's Brigade seemingly strong defensive position (text book) ...a rousing "Rebel Yell" and co-ordinated charge saw the Rebs sweep all before them... the 32nd Caringbah even besting two Federal Regiments after emerging confused from the woods. Follow up momentum saw the Federal  "Hermans Germans" break and both the "Poncers" and "Dour Kraut" taking  some serious losses leading this flank to crumble......a rude initiation to American warfare for these recent immigrant based recruits.

With the Union left broken and the Confederate Left holding firm, the Federals retreated to protect their lines of communications ...Round 1 to  the Secessionists.

While Brig Gen Rob's outrage at the Rebel superiority choked the national papers over the next week, international reaction was predictable "Colonel cillian of the Irish guards sat in his desk in London and shook his head. "That's not even war they're playing at over there. just a couple of armed mobs chasing each other around,  playing cards..."