Le Duc on the Road - Part III - Oldbridge Estate/Boyne Visitor Centre

So, this one started as Dad's Taxis (TM) having to take senior daughter and a bunch of teenagers to a concert near Dublin. With nothing to do for a number of hours, I was able to squeeze in a visit to the Battle of the Boyne Visitors' Centre at Oldbridge House, right on the river.

As we've just done the scenario with Field of Battle, it's a little bit of an afterthought, but worth using satnav and suitable pics to get bearings and modern views of the river crossing...and good to see justification of my crossing points on the table - and more importantly of course, that I got the bend of the river just right, and to scale ;)

 A great map which allowed the visitor to navigate their way around the site. What used to be a dodgy road is now a well developed path beside the river.

The museum is festooned with uniform guides, well dressed dummies (!) and scenes from the time. The reception area also has reproductions of most of the important Dutch and Irish paintings of the time.
 

It was a like a life-size Osprey book on the walls...

 

The diorama was well constructed, and rather than use figures, lasers plotted out troop movements in a 5 minute 'info-mercial'. It worked well, and the designers have taken time to show important elements of teh crossing, as well as Jacobite cavalry charges, without going into too much detail. There was also a longer AV presentation in a separate building presenting the battle, its cultural significance and its legacy.

The obligatory musket shot - but note the difference in size between matchlock and flintlock.

6 and 9 pounder artillery pieces outside. Obviously I missed the re-enactors, but it must be great when they attend.

 So proceeding east along the walk - my approximate position would have been at the Hugenot and Dutch crossing point later in the battle - on the Jacobite/Southern bank.

 Looking west,

 ...then straight across the wide river...

 then the the narrower fordable portion to the east - where Dutch cavalry and William would have crossed.

 Another view to the west, showing the motorway and the island.

Water levels have changed dramatically, but you can still get a sense of trying to ford across this.

 

 Moving to the other side of the river (with a quick detour up and down 'King William's Glen') to the Williamite positions - looking now across at the southern bank. Again - further to the east and probably closest to Hugenot crossing points - with Oldbridge to my right.

 Looking toward Oldbridge.

 

 There may have been significant changes to topography, but the height of the far bank was the biggest surprise here. It was also apparent that Williamite artillery would have had a commanding view of the crossing and far bank.


The museum is small, but well tended, and any buffs of the period or battle would have a great time. There's very little to complain about.

...and for me, it was better than sitting in a parked car, listening to distant 'hip hop' (being an 80s metaller it would have driven me insane), waiting for the concert goers to return to the car at some ungodly hour. But hey, it's all in a day's work for 'Dad's Taxis...Anytime, Anywhere, in any direction...'

:)



Addendum - the pics that got away...
(There were extra pics, which I thought I'd lost, but then I found 'em.)

So most of these are in and around the Oldbridge area, on the same ground that the early part of the battle with Dutch, Hugenot and Jacobite foot was fought over.

Position looking south toward the Jacobite ridge line; Richard Hamilton had around 3 battalions behind this ridge as the Dutch Guards crossed the river. Behind and to the south east, you can see the hill at Donore.
 

 Closer view of the dominating ridge.

 Same position looking north - around 500 yards to the west of where Oldbridge has been 'rebuilt'.

Looking east around 500 yards from the river crossing in the middle of where Jacobite cavalry would have charged the Dutch and Hugenot lines.

 Same area - (very) approximate spot where Schomberg would have been killed.

 On the ridgeline itself now looking south east - well I was right about the wheatfield in the games(?) A great view of Donore hill too here.

 Looking north from the ridge - imagine the combined might of William's allied army crossing here.

 Same position looking west to Oldbridge House.

 ...Re-enactor in the rain. He still managed to get three shots off despite the downpour.

 Looking toward the re-built Oldbridge and motorway bridge - this time from the west in contrast with the earlier pictures.

The rebuilt version of Oldbridge village.

Boyne...Actual

So we had the playtest, the inevitable buildup to battle, the excitement that I know you were all feeling...and we fought the battle.

Well, when I say we, we were a little short on numbers, however that meant that the two master wargamers  (otherwise known as messrs. Steiner & Stephen) played through their skillful art in a fast paced exciting battle with the fantastic Field of Battle rules, which never fail to impress. (and I watched in awe as they ploughed effortlessly through the rules ...and waited for the Danes to come on...more of this later ).

 It all started innocently enough, with the Dutch moving toward Oldbridge.

 Early Jacobite moves meant that the cavalry can be brought up.

It all seemed so familiar at first.

Then the move cards started to hit in earnest. River crossings began.

Though then the allies really started to make things happen, with move cards and rolls that allowed them three segments - thus crossing and forming in front of the Jacobite cavalry, who just couldn't get a chance to form up for that charge. (I will not, at this juncture, even enter into debate with regard to Stephen's flukey most opportune rolls and card draws ;)   )

...and as if things weren't bad enough - Hanmer's English and Dutch get the same opportunity. It was all going the Allied way.

...and then the firing began.

A spirited battle was developing at Oldbridge, which would see a stalemate of sorts.

 Volleys rippled across the Allied line, decimating the Jacobite elite cavalry. There was a real narrative here with the rules, and every game turns out differently. The card driven mechanic really prevents hedging you moves or actions against loopholes or ranges or known movment distances. It feels so much like a battle - and you can quite literally play the battle and not the rules (yes, I stole that).

Luck was not with the Jacobites. Both Lord Berwick and Richard Hamilton were shot from the saddle at the same time. (The effect on the 1704 Battle of Almanza, with Berwick not there, can be hotly debated elsewhere).

Half of the Jacobite cavalry,  also reluctant to move...as the Allies consolidated their position on the bank.

 A solid 'beachhead'. Every Jacobite charge was repelled.

 ...until the morale was worn down, and the army broke. (My Danes never got to cross the river, though it was really good to watch).

A great set of rules and so different from the playtest. Different players, different card draws and dice rolls, really add character to the battle. There are no other rules really like this that we could think of, and it works for AWI, ACW - everything from 1700-1900 - and very hackable, as outlined below.

So for posterity, I present the specific rules/hacks:

• The river is Class II terrain - stop at far bank, move on next card, cross in march.
• Oldbridge is Class II terrain - 4 sectors
• Donore Hill is Class I
• Jacobite cavalry deploys in Attack Column and may immediate melee
• Pike armed troops may increase combat dice up one by deploying 'pikes forward' vs cavalry, but may not then move
• Richard Hamilton may leave infantry element out of command and become cavalry commander at any time.

Allied Deployment
1st move card- Dutch consolidate
2nd - Hugenots begin to cross (1-3 segements)
3rd - Hanmer's bde
4th - N.Irish bde
5th - Danes (add morale)
6th - Dutch cavalry (add morale)


 And the decks:

The Allied deck emphasised movement and firepower, with a few inept command decisions (lulls).
4 x moves
1 x move one command group
3 x leadership
4 x lulls
1 x advance
2 x melee
3 x tactical advantage
2 maneuver
3 x army morale
4 infantry firepower
1 x artillery firepower

The Jacobite deck empahsised melee, impetuous charges and a bit of withdrawl.
4 x moves
2 x move one command group
4 x leadership
3 x lulls
3 x tactical advantage (less firepower)
2 x infantry firepower (no platoon firing)
1 x withdraw
3 x army morale
4 x melee
2 x uncontrolled charge
2 x maneuver