Photo by Byron Champlin
25mm Game at Historicon 2009
The Carlist War
The Struggle for Lancaster
The First Carlist war lasted from 1834 to 1839. During the reign of Isabella II of Spain, Don Carlos, son of Carlos IV, claimed the throne and gained the support of the Church and much of northern Spain.
Britain, France and Portugal supported Isabella. The English General George de Lacy Evans led a brigade against the guerilla forces of the pretender who called himself Carlos V.
The Carlists could make no headway and ended their struggle on Austust 31, 1839. Don Carlos took refuge abroad.
This game, using Mark Stevens' troops was played at Historicon 2009. The Isabellistas were to advance towards a slight ridge occupied by the Carlists. The mean town of Lancaster was centered in the rear.
We had no formal victory conditions, although everyone assumed that posession of the town was important.
Photo by Byron Champlin
Early in the game, the Isabellista forces on the right flank, consisting of the British Marines and the British Legion march towards the Carlists on the ridge.
Photo by Byron Champlin
A torn later, the Isabellista forces on the right are still advancing. Also note the cavalry action on the extreme right flank.
Photo by Byron Champlin
The British Marines close on the Isabellistas.
Photo by Byron Champlin
Isabelistas, on the left, advance against Carlist rebels on the right. Two turns of cannon fire by the Carlist gun on the hill has reduced the strength of the Isabelista unit.
Photo by Byron Champlin
British legion, on right, and British Marines, closest to the camera, advance towards the Carlist lines.
The Blue rings on the units' standards indicate a morale rating of above average.
Photo by Byron Champlin
The two Isabelista units on the right flank advance, early in the game. The unit in column has a red ring on the standard. This indicates the poorest possible morale.
The unit in line has a yellow ring. This is the best possible morale.
Photo by Byron Champlin
This photo shows the core of the Carlist defense on the hill. The village of Lancaster is occupied by one infantry unit with a white morale ring on the standard. This shows a mediocre morale state.
The unit to the left has a red ring, indicating poor morale. The gamer's finger is pointing out something important, alas, lost to history.
Photo by Byron Champlin
Spanish cavalry of the line clash with Basque Carlist rebel lancers in green with red berets. The Carlists came out second-best in this encounter, but later rallied and harried the Isabelista cavalry from the field.
Photo by Byron Champlin
Two Isabellista units in light blue advance on the left flank towards the slight ridge occupied by the Carlists.
Photo by Byron Champlin
The climax of the struggle on the Carlist left shows the attack of the British legion in red and green, and the British marines carrying the Union Jack, supported by the few surviving Spanish line cavalry. Note that the Carlists have anchored their position on a bright orange tape-measure.
The Carlists, in a fierce and bloody struggle were forced back into the town, and the British Marines occupied the town, but the casualties suffered by the Isabellistas enfeebled their right flank.
Photo by Byron Champlin
Another view of the same attack.
Photo by Byron Champlin
The last Isabellista attack on their left. The Carlist gun's cannister was deadly. The Isabellistas fell back and were later attacked themselved by the Carlists.
Photo by Byron Champlin
After the Isabellista attack failed.
Photo by Byron Champlin
The British marines occupy the town of Lancaster. They were later forced out by fire casualties and desperate hand-to-hand fighting, but the Carlists lacked the forces to reoccupy the village.
Photo by Byron Champlin
Towards the end of the game, only a few Carlists are left after being pounded for the entire game by the Isabellista battery - show fuzzily in front center of the image.
Photo by Byron Champlin
The last stand of the British Marines in the village. Literally the last 3-man stand out fo eight stands which began the game.
Photo by Byron Champlin
The regrouped British Legion moves towards Lancaster. Only a few Carlists remain in the town.
Photo by Byron Champlin
The last gasp of the Carlists on their right (Isabellista left flank) was stopped by the fire of the Isabellista gun.
So, Who won this battle?
The forces loyal to Isabella won the game. Although they lost the village of Lancaster on the next-to-last turn, all of the Carlist units had retired due to losses except for one, itself reduced in strength. The Carlist gun had been de-crewed while the Isabellista battery still was at full strength. Two more Isabellista infantry units had a few companies left. The Carlists finally conceded that there was no hope.
Both sides were bloodthirsty in this affair. It would have gone almost to the last man had not sanity prevailed after only 66% of the forces on the WINNING side had been killed or had fled the battlefield.
Go to the Jackson Gamers' 2009 Historicon Page
Go to an Earlier Carlist War battle
Fought by the Jackson Gamers
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