FOREWORD
Readers may remember the report on the "Battle of San Rafeal" published in the Winter, 1967 issue of Miniature Parade, as well as some ideas for rules for fighting war games of the 30 Years War Period published in the Summer 1967 issue. If you have these copies we refer you to them as to rules under which the battle reported below was fought. If you don't have these two issues, we still have some available at $ 1.00 each.
The Battle of Wexford was the final action in the Campaign in Hibernia in 1629. Having failed in their invasion of Iberia in 1628 the troops of Hibernia had fled back across their border only to have the hated Iberians counter-invade them in 1629. Led by the vicious Viscount Gonzalves Rusk (David Rusk), the Iberian Tercios had been victorious against the rather unorganized Hiberian Legions hastily gathered by various noblemen (who unfortunately happened to turn out to be Jack Scruby). The final Hiberian Legion left was that of Lord O'Bannion of Kilkenney (again played by Jack Scruby), until it was run down at Wexford Hall near the Wexford Marshes. The report of this battle is here given by one of Lord O'Bannion's aides.
Word reached our leader, Lord O'Bannion of Kilkenney that the Mallorca Tercio, under personal command of Viscount Gonzalves Rusk of Iberia, was even now marching upon Wexford Hall, after having defeated all our Legions in the West. Much agitated by this news - for Wexford had long been a friend and ally - Lord O'Bannion gathered together his Legion and marched to intercept the enemy before harm could be done to Lord and Lady Wexford.
A great outcry arose when our leader assembled the Legion and told them that because we must march swiftly, the camp followers and wagons of wine and loot must be left behind. It is well known now that many men did not participate in the battle of Wexford, even though others assured them that the loot one could get from beating the Iberians might be more than we had seen so far in this war!
We arrived late in the afternoon of the 28th of October to find the Iberians had beaten us to the rendezvous. It appeared that already a band of Iberian Musketeers had invaded Wexford Hall and were imbibing in that castle's rare old wines, and that Gonzalves Rusk had prepared for battle by stationing his artillery on Wexford Hill in order to sweep the plain over which we would have to advance. We immediately went into camp ourselves and late in the evening our draft oxen hauled our own large guns forward just east of the enemy gun emplacements upon the Hill.
Lord O'Bannion assembled his Brigade captains and gave them orders for the morrows battle. The cavalry, along with a special Musketeer brigade organized by our leader from many of Hibernias noblest sons, were stationed on our left. Next to them was the Brigade led by Captain Kilpatrick with two cannons. Tough Captain O'Toole's brigade of pikemen and musketeers had been given a strong band of sword and buckler men and were ordered to advance upon Wexford Farm and to seize it in conjunction with Kilpatrick's column. Captain Brodie's brigade was to form the right flank and he was to advance against Wexford Hill and drive off the Iberian gunners and seize their cannons.
Early the next morning, the two camps were astir, and Lord O'Bannion took up his post on the large hill that overlooked the Battleground. (See MAP ONE of original starting positions). Far to our left, behind Wexford Ridge and the castle, we made out the petitions of the enemy cavalry massed in one group. while from the castle itself was the vari-colored flag indicating that the enemy musketeers still held it. Just west and south of Wexford Farm stood a tercio of pikemen and musketeers dressed all in green, which we called the Green Brigade from that time onwards. Marching towards the Farm was another brigade which we called the Black Brigade because of their dress. A group of Iberian swordsman detached themselves and moved towards the Barn, while a Blue Brigade formed up near Wexford Hill, and a party of Dragoons guarded the Iberian artillery threatening us from Wexford Hill.
Captain Brodie's brigade, protected on the flanks by their musketeers began the advance upon the enemy guns on the Hill. The fire was deadly into the red jacketed ranks of Brodie's unit, but the pikemen marched onwards while the musketeers fought off the Iberian dragoons and drove them away. O'Toole's brigade, moved in as support against the Iberian Blue Brigade, and our musketeers drove the Iberian swordsman Off, gained the barn compound and forced the Blue brigade to halt in position.
Captain Kilpatrick's brigade moved directly towards Wexford Farm, which had already been seized by the Black Brigade of Viscount Rusk, while our cavalry and Musketeers moved north of Wexford Ridge to support Kilpatrick, ignoring completely the movement of the Iberian cavalry which they could not see over the Ridge. These latter leisurely moved eastwards along the base of the Ridge, and although noted by Lord O'Bannion from his position overlooking the action, he appeared to ignore the possibility of the threat they might make upon his left flank.
The first real action commenced in the Barn Yard. Captain O'Toole sent in his special sword and buckler unit into the compound intent on capturing the Barn from which position they would be a grave danger to any Iberian group around this area. A fierce little encounter between these men and the Iberian swordsmen went on, and eventually after much slaughter the Hibernian swordsman hung on and captured the building and compound (See MAP TWO).
Meantime on the Hibernian right, Brodie's pikemen moved on Wexford Hill, and forced the enemy gunners to run for their lives. At the same time O'Toole's pikemen crashed into the enemy Blue Brigade, and with the help of Hibernian Cuirassiers who had be-en dispatched from the loft flank - sent the Iberian brigade reeling back in confusion. However, our left flank had been entirely disrupted when our brigade led by Kilpatrick was utterly defeated by the Iberian Black Brigade, and these pikemen took off for the rear and could not be rallied!
At this moment, the band of drunken Iberian Musketeers who had been living it up in the
Castle emerged, and together with the Green Brigade, moved against our Noblemen Son's
Musketeers. (See MAP THREE).
Then, to top it all off, around the end of Wexford Ridge dashed the Iberian cavalry. Since Lord O'Bannion had dispatched our Cuirassiers elsewhere, only our Light Cavalry was here. and they were outnumbered two to one by the enemy horse. This cavalr) action was over in Minutes! What was tell of our Light Horse fled across the plains. The enemy cavalry crashed into the rear of our Musketeers, while others began the chase of Kilpatrick's pikemen! Lord O'Bannion turned to me and said, "I believe it is time to depart". and putting spurs to our horses, we cantered off. Thus was the last Hibernian Legion routed at Wexford Farm, and for many years thereafter the banner of Iberia floated over the conquered land of Hibernia.
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© Copyright 1997 Hal Thinglum
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