Culloden Moor

On the 16th of April, 1746 the Jacobite army of "Bonnie Prince Charlie" met the Hanoverian government forces under "Billy the Butcher."  Or at least he will come to be know as that in some circles.  On the 1st of October, 2017 we undertook a replay as part of a playtest for a potential convention game.

Rules are Final Argument of Kings by Dean West and was played on a 6x6' arena.

The Prince's army in the foreground

Special rules were in play for our test.  On the first turn Highland units would only follow orders on roll of 5+ on a six sided dice.  This was to reflect the lack of leadership and the fact that most of the clans operated more or less independently that fateful day.  The dice roll increased in subsequent turns but never got about 3+ which made coordinated attacks neigh unto impossible.

Chaos rules as movement was spotty and artillery was deadly.

Charging home against an artillery battery.

All game my forces consistently failed to execute their orders, giving me the choice of standing under fire while hoping the others would come up, or attack piecemeal.  As my units started to rout under artillery fire I chose the latter.

"At 'em lads!"  The green markers are camouflaged order chits.

Though much diminished the Jacobites break through.  To
meet the second line.

The left flank swung to and fro with units routing and sometimes
rallying to return.

The government first line is largely gone on the left, but reserves
are ready to repel us.

The casualty figures show the way the battle progressed.

Although some Highlanders have broken through and are
reforming in the enemy rear, the battle is lost.

So the battle ends with history repeating itself, if perhaps we did better than historical.  So Scotland will have to wait till 1999 to have a free and independent government since 1707.  Of course, had Charlie won, his capital would have been London and not Edinburgh.