Charlie Wesencraft's With Pike and Musket
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Chapter 14
THE BATTLE OF NASEBY 14 June 1645
Essex, Manchester, and Waller had all tried and failed to defeat the King. New leaders were needed. New ideas were needed. A new army was needed. At Windsor, in the April, it was created. Fairfax was given the command. Within a few weeks, Cromwell had joined him to take over the cavalry. When June came, Fairfax decided to challenge the King. He led out his New Model Army and advanced on Oxford. Here he heard that Leicester had fallen to Rupert.
The King was lodged in Daventry. Within a week Fairfax had closed to within 10 miles (16 km) of him. Charles attempted to escape to Newark but his pursuer was too quick for him and he was overtaken at Naseby. Further retreat was impossible. Charles turned and prepared to give battle.
Charles had chosen to draw up his forces on top of Dust Hill. Half a mile (800 m) away Fairfax was forming his battle lines along the ridge of Red Hill. Each army took up about a mile (1.5 km) from flank to flank. By mid morning all was ready. Rupert commanded the Royalist right wing; Langdale the left. The King took the centre. For Parliament, Ireton faced Rupert, and Cromwell commanded the cavalry on the right. Fairfax took the centre opposite the King.
Following a period of summing one another up, Charles decided to attack. With his infantry moving into a mêlée with the enemy infantry, Rupert made an all-out charge, shattering Ireton's wing. The Royalist infantry advanced up the hill, successfully pushing all before them. Only on the King's left were things going wrong. Cromwell had charged, Langdale was defeated and the King's flank was exposed. Charles committed his reserves to try to stabilize the position, only to see them surrounded by fresh Parliamentary cavalry. Cornered on three sides the Royalist infantry began to surrender. Charles turned and left the field. Rupert, seeing all was lost, fled. The battle was over. More than 4,000 Royalists and all their guns had been lost and with them, the war. A few desperate fights were still to be fought but never again was the King able to collect an army capable of taking on this New Model Army.
Actual numbers engaged in the battle
Royalists Parliamentarians
Foot 4,000 Foot 7,000
Horse 5,000 Horse 6,000
Artillery 12 guns Artillery 13 guns
Wargame figures required for reconstructing the battle
Royalists Parliamentarians
Foot 4 Standard bearers Foot 3 Standard bearers
15 Pikemen 22 Pikemen
21 Musketeers 42 Musketeers
Horse 35 Swordsmen Horse 54 Swordsmen
6 Dragoons
Artillery 2 Sakers Artillery 2 Sakers
2 Drakes 2 Drakes
10 Gunners 10 Gunners
Staff officers
Royalists Charles I
Prince Rupert
Major-General Sir Jacob Astley
Sir Marmaduke Langdale
Parliamentarians
Sir Thomas Fairfax
Oliver Cromwell
Major-General Philip Skippon
General Henry Ireton
Battle type. Set piece.
Scale. 1 figure represents 100 men.
Layout. The northeastern corner of the board is dominated by the gentle slopes of Dust Hill, whilst opposite across the valley rise the equally slight slopes of Red Hill. A single road crosses the valley running from north to south. The only other feature worthy of mention are two lines of hedges at right angles to one another, one down the centre of the valley, the other near the western baseline.
Parliamentarians. All units are on the board at the start of the game. Their most advanced units are up to 12 in. (300 mm) on to the board along the southern baseline.
Royalists. All units are on the board at the start of the game. Their most advanced units are up to 12 in (300 mm) on to the board along the northern baseline.
Special rules. None.
Objectives. The destruction of the enemy.
Elite units. Parliamentarians: 2. Royalists: 3.