The Battle of Ancrya

[econ21]

End Turn 2: Mid-morning



Turn 2: Umpire notes

The Senate Heavy Cavalry Division was formed by separating the Praetorian and Sarmatian cavalry from javelin armed cavalry.

On the left, the Senate Light cavalry division approached the Consular Light Division. The slingers withdrew behind the Italian skirmishers at the approach of the enemy cavalry. The cavalry harass the Italian skirmishers with javelin fire. The front line of the Italians had been ordered not to fire at will and the slingers had been ordered to target the Senate funditores, while the Senate cavalry had been ordered to avoid being under fire. Consequently, the Senate cavalry were able to cause around 15 casualties among the Italians before withdrawing, having exhausted their javelins. The main effect of this action, however, was that the Consular slingers were unable to do much damage against the Senate funditores. Note: the Consular cavalry did not intervene as the Senate Light Cavalry Division did not charge.

On the centre, both Battle Divisions approached each other, but - lacking explicit orders to attack - stopped short of entering melee. The Senate Light division withdrew to the flanks and fired at the Consular forces. The Thracians in the Senate Battle division threw their javelins at the Consular forces - the Consular princeps replied. The Consular forces came off the worst in this exchange - suffering fire from the four Thracians and the Senate Light division. They lost around 100 men.

The Senate Second Division and the velites in the Consular battle force did not fire, being at the rear and out of range.

The Consular Reserve Division gained somewhat on the Consular Battle Division but did not draw level as the Battle Division was not yet engaged.

The Consular Light Cavalry Division was divided into two. LC Division I pursued the Senate Horse archers. The horse archers inflicted significant losses on the unarmoured pursuing Gauls, who were unable to catch their faster prey. LC Division II moved to the east of the Reserve Division.

Turn 2: Consular feedback

This is what Manius sees during the mid-morning. The two main Battle Divisions advance on each other, the Senate skirmish line withdrawing to the flanks. The two main Battle Divisions then halt and engage in javelin fire, but do not melee. When he queries this, Manius is told that - in the absence of explicit orders to attack - the Battle Division commander was reluctant to order a charge. Your line comes off worse in this exchange of javelins, as the principes must fend off four Thracian units - your velites, being at the rear, are out of range.

On Manius’s left, the Light Division is harassed by Senate javelin-armed cavalry. The enemy cavalry then withdraw out of slingshot range, but they have prevented the Light Division from inflicting significant damage on the Senate skirmish line.

On Manius’s right, the Reserve Division has caught up somewhat with the Battle Division, but still lags behind it.

The Light Cavalry Division has been divided. First Gallic cavalry troop is chasing the Senate horse archers and as a result, you have lost contact with that troop. Second Gallic cavalry troop has moved to the left of the Reserve Division. (These two troops now constitute separate “division” - you have one more division slot open, although you could create more by merging existing divisions).

Turn 2: Senate feedback

Numerius is violently ill - crippled with stomach cramps. He delegates command of the battle to Appius, although his Praetoria remain available as a unit and he gamely stays with it, available to ride and give secondary commands if needed.

This is what Appius see during the mid-morning. The two main Battle Divisions advance on each other, the Senate skirmish line withdrawing to the flanks - maintaining fire on the enemy front. The two main Battle Divisions then halt and engage in javelin fire, but do not melee. . When he queries this, Appius is told that - in the absence of explicit orders to attack - the Battle Division commander was reluctant to order a charge. .Your line comes off better in this exchange of javelins, as four Thracians have to contend with only one unit of principes. But the Thracians have now exhausted their javelins, although the hastati in the rear have not fired as they were out of range

On Appius’s left, the Senate Heavy Cavalry Division was formed by separating the Praetorian and Sarmatian cavalry from javelin armed cavalry (the Light Cavalry Divison). The Light Cavalry Division harasses by Consular skirmishers. They inflict only modest casualties but have kept the Consular slingers from doing significant damage to the Senate Light Division. They have now exhausted their javelins and withdrawn out of slingshot range.

On Appius’s right, the enemy Consular Reserve Division has caught up somewhat with the Senate Battle Division, but is still a little behind it.

The horse archers are being pursued by one of the two Gallic cavalry troops, who they punish with their Parthian shots. The other Gallic cavalry troop has moved to the left (your right) of the Senate Reserve Division.


Consular plan for turn 3:

Light infantry/skirmish division :

Slingers – Keep formation. Concentrate fire into the Italian skirmish unit ahead of you. If it goes below half strength switch to the Cyrtian slingers, then finish the depleted slinger unit ahead of you if the Cytians get below half.

Italian Skrimishers – one unit stay protecting the slingers. The other, follow Manius’s cavalry, engage in melee when he does.

Manius’s cavalry division:

Moving down past the Light Infantry division then charging the three unit cavalry division behind them – Reserve cavalry following as per original orders, will also engage as per original orders (i.e. following him, engaging who he does etc).

Main Battle division:

Detach your Velites from your rear, they are to flank left (as diagram) and follow flanking Gallatian swords to provide direct fire support once they have engaged – targets of opportunity (Manius the Mad, Thracians, engaged enemy Gallatian swords).

Italian Spearmen - You are flanking now as you have overlap! Flank that Phalanx!

Gallatian Swords (left flank rear) – Flank and engage enemy Gallatian swords, flank them after the warband ahead of you has engaged.

Gaul Warband (left flanking unit) - flank directly and engage Gallatian swords ahead of you, support will arrive and flank them.

Front line units - CHARGE! (can’t make this anymore clear to that stupid commander!) Engage any and all units to your front.

Gallatian Swords (right flank rear) – flank and engage Cyrtian spear unit fall in alongside the warband unit ahead of you.

Gaul Warband (right flank rear) - charge strait ahead and engage in hand to hand with whomever is ahead of you (Cyrtian spears on map)

All Gaul units – WARCRY prior to charging.

Reserve battle division – Advance double time, charge when in range. Sweep round enemy flanks (diagram).

Left flank Italian swords – punch in behind the Eastern Mercs and engage the enemy Cyrtian Spears on their front rank, engage after using one round of Javelins.

Other Infantry units, continue to charge until engagement, hit flank of main enemy line, flank and envelope as you can – expect to hit flank of enemy reserves.

Cavalry unit – charge one Slinger unit if it exits right away from divisions advance.

All Gaul units – WARCRY before charge.

Lone Light Cavalry unit – attempt to charge down horse archers. If they evade, swing left and engage in direct support to your brother light cavalry unit (effectively becoming part of Reserve battle division and also charging into the same slinger unit).

Senate plan for turn 3:

1. Main line, you are to march forward until within charge distance.
Hastati will discharge their pilae against the centre of the Consular
line, then the entire main line is to charge, including Hastati.If the
enemy charge first, the main line will brace for the impact and Hastati
will discharge pilae as the enemy are charging. The focus of our work
until noon is the Consular centre. I want a hole in that line that we
can pour through like milk from a pitcher. Swords, you are an exception
to this rule (ooc: see special orders #1). Under NO circumstances are
foot troops to chase routing enemy troops!

2. I expect hard fighting until past noon, but if we do push through the
centre before your next orders, I want all uncommitted troops to pour
through and start rolling up the Consular line to our right.

3. Reserve units are all to move toward their destinations, at normal
walk so as not to wind themselves.

a. Triarii, you are to form up slantwise to screen Appius and
provide flank defence on our left side. I want the rightmost triarius in
contact with the leftmost gallic swordsman. You are to hold your ground
in that position.

b. Principes, you are moving to be our right flank. Form up
slantwise. I want the leftmost princeps in contact with the rightmost
gallic swordsman on the right flank. Discharge pilae at any enemy in
front of you, then fight to hold your ground.

c. Thracians, listen well! I need you to join your fellow Thracians
at the front. The centre of the Consular line is your target. When you
get to the front, if you can throw javelins do so; most likely you will
need to drop them in the grass. Javelins or no, I want you to charge,
screaming like the Furies. Scare the bowels out of what's left of the
Consular centre. Out of this entire battle, your charge needs to be a
most decisive moment. Make it a hammer blow.

d. Missile troops, move to the left and join the other missile
troops there. When you get there, your job is to keep the enemy missile
troops too busy firing back at you to worry about flanking the main line.

3. Both Appius' and Numerius' bodyguard units are to remain in the same
position in which they are now. If the Consular Gallic cavalry attempt a
flank and the Principes are unable to defend against it, Numerius'
bodyguard will charge in to fight it off. But I hope it does not come to
that.


SPECIAL ORDERS...

1. SWORDS: move out to the sides of the line during the charge. I want a
flat front line hitting the enemy all at the same time. This does not
mean I want you to wrap around the Consular front! If there is grass in
front of you when you square up with the front of the line, stand there
and wait for the enemy to come to you.

2. MOUNTED ARCHERS: You have your orders. Follow that unit of gallic
cavalry chasing you. Hound them, hunt them, destroy them. If you run out
of missiles, engage them in melee and cut them up. I want them out from
under my skin.

3. LEFT MISSILES: Change of target: keep the enemy slingers and
skirmishers under fire at all times. Again, keep watch for a cavalry
charge and fall back to the flank, but form up if the triarii are not
there yet to face a charge.

4. RIGHT MISSILES: Change of target: concentrate your fire to the
Consular reserves who are trying to flank us. Fell as many as you can,
and then get out of the way behind the principes and stay there.

5. MISSILE & HEAVY CAVALRY: Missiles, well done keeping the fire off our
line. Let your horses breathe, they'll need their wind for the
afternoon's work. Keep a lookout for and defend against Manius trying
some daring idiotic cavalry charge. If our front line breaks them in the
centre, I want the heavy cavalry through that hole at full gallop, with
your target being the velites.