The county of Lancashire was a battleground during the first part of the civil war as neither side established a decisive presence. In 1643 the Royalist under the Earl of Derby had been making some progress and won the battle of Warrington in early April. This victory gave them the chance to decisively defeat the local Parliamentarians but they did not take the chance. Instead they awaited events and took up defensive positions around Whalley and gave the Parliamentarians to recover. This they promptly did and so gathering all the forces he could muster Colonel Shuttleworth marched to confront the Royalists at Whalley. The subsequent Parliamentarian victory effectively won the county for their cause.

Battlefield

Each square is 6 to 8 base widths by 6 to 8 base widths. So it should usually be about 6 foot by 4 foot (180cm by 120 cm).

The game is played along the table rather than across it.

Terrain

The village in square A2 is Whalley. On the border of B2/C2 is Easterley Farm and on the edge of D3 is Read Hall. They all count as +2 cover. To enter or leave a building counts as crossing a minor obstacle but can only be done on foot.

The stream (Sabden Brook) is a minor obstacle.

There are stone walls in squares D1 and D2, they count as minor obstacles.

Deployment and Special Rules

Royalists

Active Units:

The Royalist Dragoons are in square D1 facing the stone wall. They are 6 to 10" away from the wall and can be mounted or dismounted at the player's choice.

Tyldesley's Foot are as above but in square D2 facing the stone wall there.

Inactive Units:

Hoghton's Horse are on the road in square B3/C3 between the hill and the stream.

Molyneux's Foot are on the edge of Whalley next to the hill.

Fylde's Clubmen are in square A1.

Derby's Horse are in square A3.

The Earl of Derby is in Whalley.

At the start of the game the Royalist are aware of the Parliamentarians but don't realise how strong they are and only have a vague idea of their position. So only Tyldesley's Foot and the Royalist Dragoons are active on the first turn. These units were prior to the start of the game marching towards the stone walls unaware that the enemy was hidden there. When the game starts the Parliamentarian units behind the stone walls have just stood up and surprised these units.

On turn 1 the active units are formed and have hold order. They also have 2 DP's each from the surprise appearance of the Parliamentarians. They can do nothing on the fist turn but act as normal after this.

Initially the inactive units should not be deployed formed but with the bases spread around. The units are not prepared for action and are relaxing. On turn 1 these units can do nothing and the commander does not roll for command points. On turn 2 these units form up, counting as a formation change and each receiving a DP. All units are on Hold orders. The commander rolls for command points but gets half the result rounded up. From turn 3 they operate as normal.

Parliament

Shuttleworth's Foot are behind the stone wall in D1 facing the Royalist Dragoons.

Brereton's Foot are behind the stone wall in D2 facing Tyldesley's Foot.

The Dragoons are in square E3 next to Read Hall. They can be mounted or dismounted and are facing towards Hoghton's Horse.

The two cavalry units are behind the small hill on the junction of E3/E4/F3/F4. They are out of sight and the player does not have to place them on table until the move.

Colonel Shuttleworth can be placed anywhere within the area of his troops.

On turn 1 only the two foot units can act. All units and the commander can act as normal from turn 2.

Parliamentarian Army OOB

Commander: Colonel Shuttleworth: Average (D6+1)

Infantry:

Shuttleworth's Foot: 3 Veteran I1 bases

Brereton's Foot: 3 Trained I1 bases

Dragoons: 4 Trained Dragoon bases

Cavalry: two units each - 3 Raw Swedish bases *2

Royalist Army OOB

Commander: Earl of Derby: Average (D6+1), Slow Witted

Infantry:

Molyneux's Foot: 3 Trained I1 bases

Tyldesley's Foot: 4 Veteran I5 bases

Fylde's Clubmen: 6 Raw I3 Clubmen (no firing)

Dragoons: 3 Raw Dragoon bases

Cavalry:

Derby's Horse: 5 Trained Dutch bases

Hoghton's Horse: 5 Trained Swedish bases

The core details of this scenario were drawn from the excellent series of scenario books published by Paritzan Press. This scenario is based on the information on this battle in "English Civil Wars Gaming Scenarios" by Steven Maggs (2003). The authors thoroughly recommend this series of booklets.