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| Side view of armies deployed |
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| Opposite end |
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| Britons' left flank |
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| Britons' right flank |
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| Britons' centre |
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| Trebonius' foraging party |
Last Sunday afternoon I played a solo Command and Colors Ancients (CCA) game out in the shed. The scenario was Trebonius' foraging party against Cassivellaunus' Britons during Caesar's invasion of Britain in 54 BC:
https://www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/77-gallic-wars-59-51-bc/343-219-foraging-party-54-bc.html
Caesar describes the encounter in his Gallic Wars:
...Caesar had sent Gaius Trebonius with three legions and all the cavalry to forage, the enemy suddenly swept in from all directions upon the foragers-so vehemently that they did not even hold their distance from the standards and legions. Our men launched a fierce counter attack, drove them off, and did not stop following them until the cavalry, trusting the support of the legions they saw following right behind, threw the enemy into headlong flight and killed a large number of them, giving them no opportunity to regroup to take a stand or jump down off their chariots.
The Landmark Julius Caesar The Complete Works 5.17. 2-4 pp.142-143 Translated by Kurt A. Raaflaub, Anchor Books, 2017, New York.
The Romans had six command cards while the Britons only had five command cards but moved first. The Britons played a mounted charge card first, attacking on their right and left flanks with their chariots and light cavalry. The Romans played a counterattack card with their Gallic and German cavalry forcing the Britons to retreat with casualties. In the end it proved to be a hard fought game with Cassivellaunus' Britons giving a good account of themselves, the Romans winning 6-4 victory points.
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Britons' play a mounted charge card
attacking on their right flank |
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| and on their left |
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| Romans' counterattack on their left |
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| and their right flank |
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| Britons retreat with casualties |
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| Casualties mount |
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| Romans win 6-4 victory points |
Excellent looking game sir!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michal, it was a fun game.
DeleteNice bit of C&C action! Lots of British chariots - WRG used to allow something like 13 models - often referred to as the "Ancient British panzer division" !
ReplyDeleteNeil
Thanks Neil, I’ve always enjoyed Britons vs Romans games since the days of Airfix and WRG.
DeleteGreat looking Roman/ Britons battle, there was a Caesarian battle up the road from me in st Albans, we sometimes walk the dog there!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain, it must be great having all these historical sites right on your door step.
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvellous game. Loads of chariots and cavalry (and of course legionaries and warriors)! Caesar's commentaries are a wonderful source for wargame refights. There is sufficient detail to set things up and enough vagueness and uncertainty to provide lots of latitude and what-ifs!
ReplyDeleteRegards, James
Thanks James, you’re absolutely right about Caesar’ commentaries. We’ve played a few games of Strength and Honour which is a lot of fun and has some great scenarios for this period too.
Delete