The Battle of Mortimer's Cross, Feb. 1461 - A Brief AAR

Jonathan took his War of the Roses rules to the next level and exposed them to the Rejects to stress test them. Or, for those of a certain age, put them to the Tonka Toy test!

For other reports and information, I refer you to The Palouse Wargaming Journal.

Dan and Lee commanded the Yorkists.
Steve and I took charge of the Lancastrians.

The initial deployment at the start of the battle.  Yorkists are closest to the camera.

This is the player information Jonathan sent to each of us:

"Battle of Mortimer’s Cross

Jon Freitag

SITUATION

The Battle of Mortimer's Cross was fought on 2 or 3 February 1461, near Mortimer's Cross in

Herefordshire, close to the River Lugg and the village of Wigmore. When Edward heard news

of his father and brother’s death at Wakefield on 30 DEC, he prepared to move to London to

join Warwick. Hearing that a Lancastrian Army was moving in his rear near Hereford, he

moved to intercept. They met at Mortimer’s Cross. Taking the title, Duke of York, Mortimer’s

Cross was Edward’s first independent command.

On the morning of the battle, a meteorological phenomenon called a parhelion (or "sun dog")

appeared, causing three suns to be visible in the sky. Edward used this as a powerful omen,

telling his troops it symbolized the Holy Trinity and divine favor, which boosted their morale.

The "Sun in Splendour" became Edward’s personal emblem.

ARMY SIZES

Both armies have three Battles. The Lancastrian Army has commands of Jasper Tudor

(Pembroke), his father Owen Tudor, and Wiltshire. The Yorkist Army has commands of

Edward IV, Devereaux, and Herbert.

LANCASTRIAN ARMY

Pembroke – 1x Men-at-Arms (CE6), 1x Household (CE7), Retinue Archers (CE4),

Retinue Billmen (CE5)

Tudor – Men-at-Arms (CE6), Retinue Archers (CE4), Retinue Billmen (CE5)

Wiltshire – Men-at-Arms (CE6), Array Archers (CE3), Array Billmen (CE5)

YORKIST ARMY

Edward IV – 1x Men-at-Arms (CE6), 1x Household (CE7), Retinue Archers (CE4),

Retinue Billmen (CE5)

Devereaux – Men-at-Arms (CE6), Retinue Archers (CE4), Retinue Billmen (CE5)

Herbert – Men-at-Arms (CE6), Retinue Archers (CE4), Retinue Billmen (CE5)"

The flanks of both armies advanced.  Meanwhile the central battles played it more cautiously.  Jonathan used the "chat" option of Zoom so that each player supplied their orders separately and secretly.  Hence the centres on differing orders!

The right Yorkist battle, led by Tudor (Steve) charged into the Herbert's battle (Dan).

After a prolonged struggle, Tudor is forced back.

On the left flank, the Yorkist Devereaux (Dan) flung his battle at Wiltshire's (Steve).

Wiltshire is initially pushed back, after both sides took heavy losses.

Whilst the Yorkist centre (Edward IV commanded by Lee) struggled to change orders, the Lancastrian Pembroke (me) advanced quickly...

... and seizing the initiative charged the king.

Only for Pembroke to be pushed back...

... and back.  On the positive was Edward having the leave the field wounded.
Wiltshire on the Lancastrian left now took the fight to Devereaux.

Despite resistance, Wiltshire threw Devereaux back with loss.  Elsewhere on the battlefield things are looking grim for the Lancastrians.  Both Pembroke and Tudor being forced back and suffering losses.

With both sides with commanders dead or wounded on the field and each with a broken battle, things are reaching a critical moment.  The Lancastrian centre and right looking particularly vulnerable.

However, with some sterling archery from all Lancastrian battles, an initial Yorkist attempt to break Pembroke's battle was thwarted and Herbert's broken in turn.

So, from the jaws of defeat the Lancastrians rescue a victory!

We all thoroughly enjoyed this tense, fierce and fun encounter.  There was a great ebb and flow to the battle.  Jonathan's rules really played well and I look forward to reading his report of the game.