The Dark Daughter's Body Guard - The Nine Years War in Ireland

 

Above, the Crawfords under the O'Donnell flag. They constituted the body guard of Iníon Dubh (The Dark Daughter).  She was the mother of Red Hugh O'Donnell and was a Scots Lady of no mean political skills. These she surely inherited from her mother who also married an Irish dynast.

The body guard was part of her dowry. The lads were chosen individually for their size and strength. It turned out that the Crawfords specialised in biguns. The Flag is one of Ray's of Don't Throw a 1.

Annoyingly I think I have made a mistake with my figure selection. Consider this:

 "This was accordingly done for her (Iníon Dubh) for they rushed to the place where Hugh was, and proceeded to shoot at him with darts and bullets, until they left him lifeless; and there were also slain along with him the dearest to him of his faithful people."

The "they" in question are the Body Guards. Note the use the Irish Dart and some of them are using guns, probably Calivers. This is the first mention of Highlanders using darts that I have come across. The guns are less of a surprise. They were about and becoming more so. My choice was the typical West Highland bow and great sword/axe. Ah well, time to think again.

More properly the Dark Daughter was Fíonnghuala Ní Dhomhnaill. Her father MacDonald of Dunyveg and the Glens. Her mother Lady Agnes Campbell wife to Turlough of the Wine, The O'Neill. 

I thought you might be interested to read  her reviews:

The Annals of the Four Masters noted  she was "like the mother of Maccabees who joined a man's heart to a woman's thought."

The historian and biographer O'Cleirigh stated "for she was the head of the advice and counsel of the Cenel Conaill." 

Myler Magrath, the cleric and multiple turncoat, said she was "A cruel, bloody woman who has committed sundry murders".

Well yes, politics was always a deadly business. The point was, and still is, to win. Mother and daughter were adepts.

Above Scots Gaels. They could be a mercenary company or mobilised Clansmen.

The Irish branch of Clan Donald above. The McDonnells of the Route in Antrim. They had displaced the McQuillans some time past. The equally Gaelic McQuillans were the descendants of adventurers of Norman origin. Some of Clan McQuillan were still about. As indeed, they are still.

For the McDonnells things were looking up. They could field a force of 500 men without any real effort. If more were needed they arrived from the West Highlands in swift galleys.

My second unit of English Border Horse. The troopers are from Essex Miniatures and the officer and trumpeter from Khurasan.

Two Khurasan mail clad Irish cavalry and a QRF/Khurasan mix of targeteers. The estimable Clib' tells me Khurasan are to produce  a pack of Irish targeteers. Excellent news.

QRF Kern with a Khurasan Piper. Old fashioned Kern were on the way out but could on occasion be found in both English and Irish forces. They still had their moments. A brave English Captain was rallying his Company at the Ford of Biscuits. A Kern threw a dart through the Captain's neck, killing him. End of rally. 

Two common types of Irish attack tactics. Above caliver men supported by cavalry. Below, the same supported by Targeteers.

I mentioned previously that I was writing rules for the Nine Years War in Ireland. The job is now done. When I have further news I'll report it here.

Flodden Final Units

 

Truth to tell I have 2 Scots and one English units to do. They will have to wait a while. As you will see quite a bit has been accomplished. 

Above, Scots Demi-Lancers under the banner of the Scots Earl Marischal. One of Ray at Don't Throw a One's flags.  The Race of Somerled below. 

Both Clan Donald units. Flags located from the internet by Stuart at Army Royal and overpainted by me.

Lots of Borderers. 

Could be Scots, could be English. The banners of the Commanders enable us to tell them apart.

Below, The English Lord Dacre and his men. Banner from Ray.

The other side, William Graham, Earl of Montrose with his banner. Also from Ray.

The King of England's Spears from Roundway. If I have this right, Stuart of Army Royal drew the flag and Ray coloured it in.

That's it for the moment.

A Flodden Update

 

About three years ago I set out on a Flodden Project. As often happens I wrote and painted away and then got diverted. Permissible, because this is a hobby not a job. You can see my previous progress by hitting Flodden in the tags. Above, not Flodden. Just a Border skirmish.

A couple of days ago I finished the first draft of “Flodden Moor” the working title of my Flodden Game. Yesterday I proof read it. The result is 14 sides of A4 intended to enable gaming the Anglo-Scots Wars of the Flodden Period. Of course you could also use them for intra England or Scotland fights. There were plenty of them. Playtests will follow.

There was still a bit of painting to do. Surprisingly mostly involving the Border Reivers those workmen of the Wars. Now it may be that this is just your thing. An enduring interest perhaps? If so you might want to know what is available in 15mm.

I have 15mm Border Horse from Alternative Armies (1 pose), Minifigs (1pose), Roundway (2 poses), QRF, Essex (1 pose), and ERM. With troops like the Reivers as much variety as possible was my aim.

These days only Alternative Armies ,Minifigs and Essex are still in production, or so I thought. 

Happily ERM are now being sold by East Front Miniatures (EFM). They have the most complete range of Border Reivers, horse and foot, civilians and dogs. I have ordered a few packs and will review them upon arrival here. 

In the meantime you can see an EFM Reiver below. He’s the one in the blue doublet and jack facing a QRF Rider.  A fair fit wouldn’t you say?

Currently I have a couple of units of Border Horse. This is fine for Flodden where the Scots Borderers fought on foot. My 2 units can be English. For other engagements I need a couple more. 

They aren't big units 6-8 figures each. I'm giving some of them little St. Andrew's saltire or St. George cross patches. Mostly my Borderers won't wear them. It was said the Riding Clans were "English by choice and Scots at will."  You can see a couple of standard bearers here to help identify who was, at least temporarily, who.

QRF is currently missing in action. I’m watching with interest Geoff’s efforts to sort things out. I do wish him well. 

Below some English Demi-Lancers from QRF. 

The green and white caps indicate their Tudor allegiance. 

If QRF return I’ll do a Scots version too. 

There is more to the period than the Battle of Flodden.

On this page you can see English and Scots units from my Flodden Collection.

More on this one soon. Starting with a playtest. I really should work out the points for both sides for a balanced game. Truth to tell I'm more interested in the feel of it as a representation of the period.

The Army of the King of Scots 1688

Scotland in 1688 still had its own military establishment.  Beyond that the Highland Clans were armed to the best of their ability. With judicious political management it was possible for the King of Scots to bring together most or all of Scotland’s military resources.  The circumstances that permitted judicious political management were oft in short supply.

Here is my Scottish Collection for 1688. First the Regulars. Armour was issued to the Scots Cavalry in 1688.

Above the cavalry, below the Dragoons on foot.

The Dragoons mounted.

To the infantry.  

We begin with Dumbarton’s Regiment. Wauchope’s regiment apparently carried the same flags and wore the same uniform.

Now, to the Scots Brigade in Dutch Service.  They could be recalled at will by the King of Scots. Indeed, they were during Monmouth’s Rebellion.

 MacKay’s Regiment.

  Ramsay’s Regiment.

Balfour's Regiment.

A militia Battalion.  Aberdeen Colours for this one.  I may well do another.  If so they could appear in blue coats faced white.  That may have been standard for Scots militia.

The artillery.  A light gun first.  I'll likely add another.

Note the gunners are in their undress coats, grey faced black.  The officer is in full fig, below a Frame Gun. I'll be doing another two of these.

 

Frames were used at Killiekrankie. Anything on wheels could not have got there. Frames could be dismantled and put on pack ponies.  One of those at Killiekrankie promptly collapsed when fired.  The frame was rotten.  Never the less new frames were easily povided and in difficult terrain it is easy to see their utility.  A more portable form of the Battalion Gun in reality.

The Highland Clans make for an interesting game component.  Here are 7 such units.  They could fight on either side.

 

I find the Beneath the Lily Banners treatment of Highlanders to be pleasing.

 

It neatly reflects their strengths and weaknesses.

A Clan unit on the attack was a fearsome thing.  It moved fast and hit hard.

Conversely, when on the defensive lack of firepower rendered them easy meat for most regular forces.

 

I've used figures from Essex, Khurasan, Matchlock, Minifigs, and a smattering of others for my Highland units.

 

The fine Clan flags are mainly from Ray at Don't Throw a 1.

Flodden Project -An update

 

Above we have James, King of Scots.  He is a converted QRF dismounted gendarme, his comrades are from the same stable.  I gave him a green stuff   "Base".  The "Base" is the wee skirt thing and added a pike.

 

I cannot complete this unit until QRF fully restocks.  The same applies to the unit below. I'll show the completed units when I can.

Scots archers, there were none, bar Highlanders, at Flodden. There were a few about all the same.  Probably my last Scots unit until the re stock.  That said, I might manage the burgesses of Edinburgh.

Luckily, I have English galore to be getting on with. 

The Earl of Essex's contingent here.  All from QRF.  Later, we will see some Khurasan figures.  The two are happily compatible.

The Earl's standard is from Pete's Flags. That of the archers is one of Ray's flags.  The latter St. George's flag shows Tudor allegiance by virtue of the roses.  

The Earl of Norfolk's men here.  

Flags sourced ditto.  

QRF figures once again. 

Here are the men of York.  Note the City banner and the flag of the Holy Trinity both from Ray at Don't Throw a 1. 

  

We will be seeing the Holy Trinity flag again carried by Northern contingents.  Also, The Five Wounds of Christ one ditto.

 

You can probably guess where I am considering going.  Project creep, as ever.  If we get there we might have a look at northern English attitudes back then.  

Note the illustration below. The banner of St. Cuthbert (Sacred battle icon of the North) and a Percy standard.  Percy flags are easily sourced. Ray has one and a nice St. Cuthbert one too.

The game plan so far is like this.  A core of Royal English troops in green on white livery, say 4 or 5 units. All from Khurasan. Followed by six units of Northern troops and four to six others contingents. 

Now, we may not get that far.  I have bothered to take a period political refresher so there are grounds for optimism.

More Bill Hooks 2 fun shortly.