Anglo-Irish War (1717 - 1718)

[TLS]

The Anglo-Irish War

Combatants

Kingdom of Ireland
-Jacobite Rebels
-Kingdom of Spain

Commonwealth of England and Scotland
-Orangemen Rebels
-The United Netherlands

Spring, 1717

The formal declaration of war by the English Parliament makes manifest trends that have been building for decades. The Kingdom of Ireland under the Stuarts has struggled with the uneasy balance between building a long-lasting state apparatus with the demands of an impetuous class of exiles. The half-completed Restoration was always bound to collide with the “Good Old Cause” when all that separated the two was a small strait between Ulster and Scotland. Some steely-headed members of both the English and Irish governments had imagined, perhaps, that combined enemies could bridge the divide—the Austrians, perhaps, or the Dutch. But English forays into Continental power politics left the country on the verge of open mutiny, while any whiff of toleration of Regicides in Ireland resulted in sectarian violence, riots, and similar scenes of chaos.

As news of the actual outbreak of war spreads throughout England and Ireland it comes almost as a relief—finally, something is to be done about the scoundrels on the other island. More than in any other European countries war fever takes on a national character; when the Kings of France and Spain go to war they attempt to invoke national sentiment, but such words are awkward in the mouths of men who rule based purely on divine right and judgment, and are strange to peasants and nobles who think of themselves as Occitans and Normands, or Leonese and Aragonese, first. In the Commonwealth, however, the fire of the Civil War and decades of political tracts and shared hardship have forged stronger national consciousness, while in Ireland the decades of rapine and plunder at the hands of the hated Cromwells has built a burning hatred for the very men, if not the very soil, of England.

Between the two arch-enemies, however, lies the sea. It is not a very big sea, or a very deep sea, but it is surely more than men who were not the Savior could ever hope to cross unaided. To that end, both England and Ireland have embarked on ambitious naval building programs in the previous decades, and they finally can use them. War has not come as a surprise, and thus both navies are fairly collected when the news of hostilities arrives—and the key squadrons of both navies recognize the value in scoring a decisive battle early rather than later. The English have slightly more conservative orders, seeking to base themselves out of Holyhead on the island of Anglesey to guard the approaches to Dublin, while the Irish fleet is tasked with seeking battle if the admiral feels he has the advantage. Neither fleet is able to really obfuscate their movements, which is to the Irish advantage—they feel that they have the numbers, and thus they choose to force the English into battle.

Battle of Caernarvon Bay, April 14

England (Under the command of Admiral George Byng)
-1 BB1 (Ezekiel 21:26-27)
-20 BB2 (Newark, Shrewsbury, Cumberland, Ranelagh, Somerset, Cromwell, Bredah, Ipswich, Yarmouth, Medway, Carlisle, Canterbury, Sunderland, Pembroke, Gloucester, Windsor, Kingston, Exeter, Bedford, Orford)
-4 FF1 ( Centurion, Laurel, Sapphire, Bristol)
-3 PatRon

Ireland (Under the command of Admiral Matthew Aylmer)
-8 BB1 ( Charlotte Maria, Henrietta FitzJames, Arabella FitzJames, Catherine Sedley, Leinster, Munster, Ulster, Connacht)
-10 BB2 (Li Ban, Macha, Mebd, Fand, Gaillimh inion Breasail, Tailtiu, Tlachtaga, Fodla, Cethlenn, Brigid
-10 FF1 (St. Abran, St. Blathmac, St. Cellach, St. Coémgen, St. Cruithnechán, St. Fiachra, St. Finten, St. Kentigerna, St. Máedóc, St. Mél)
-5 PatRon

"Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him"

Byng’s flagship is seemingly carried forward by the Puritan fervor which drove the Commonwealth to give it such a potent Biblical verse as its name. The mighty Commonwealth armada is a dagger aimed right at the heart of the Stuart Kingdom-in-Exile, and the Englishmen are confident of victory over their Irish opponents. Degenerate scions of a fallen race, the Irish are—steeped in Popery and Gaelic pagan pageantry, they could not possibly be the equal of mighty English sailors. Arrayed against them are the polyglot crews of the Irish fleet; Celts mix with English and Scottish exiles, Ulstermen labor under the watchful eyes of Welsh officers. As the heirs of the true British tradition, they feel secure in their fates as masters of the sea—the Irish Sea—and the guarantors of the inevitable march straight into the heart of Albion.

The gallant pageantry is stripped away as soon as the first iron balls start ripping through the gilded sails and ornately carved mastheads. The Irish have a superiority in tonnage and cannons (firepower is England 127 vs Ireland 158) but the difference is not so overwhelming as to guarantee an outcome. The fleets engage well within sight of the damp Welsh countryside—for the exiles, so close yet so far—and the carnage is evident even from the shore. The Irish are able to leverage their superior cannons to inflict more punishment, but the English gunners are able to, through skill or by Grace, make their cannons strike truer (England rolls 19 hits, 6 of which are crits. Ireland rolls 29 hits, 4 crits. England loses BB2s Bredah, Medway, Canterbury, and FF1s Centurion and Laurel, as well as 2 PatRons, while Ireland loses BB1s Henrietta, Catherine, BB2s Li Ban, Tailtiu, and FF1st St. Abran and St. Coemgen).

Admiral Aylmer is shaken by the loss of two of his most majestic vessels, but wagers that the difference in tonnage will have to play to his favor and that he can afford to keep pressing his advantage (firepower difference is now England 102 - Ireland 124, though their hits are lower). The English, after all, have other fleets—and to leave this one so lightly damaged could spell doom if they’re able to combine. Aylmer orders his Frigates to begin concentrating on the English 2nd Rate Battleships, while Byng continues his strategy of focusing his 2nd Rates on the Irish 1st Rates to inflict increasingly costly hits on the Irish navy.

By this point the fleets are thoroughly enmeshed—broadsides are at near point-blank range, marines are surging to-and-fro across the decks, and general mayhem ensues. What strategy there is goes out the window as each ship is engaged in its own life-or-death duel. This time the Irish are able to bring more efficient cannonry against the forces of the Commonwealth, but even then, neither side performs exceptionally better than the other, with the greater English losses in ships somewhat compensated by taking down another Irish behemoth (England rolls 14 hits, 2 crits, Ireland rolls 20 hits and 3 crits. England loses BB2s Newark, Somerset, Windsor, and Gloucester, FF1 Sapphire, its last PatRon. Ireland loses BB1 Munster and BB2 Mebd.)

After spending the better part of the afternoon in the deathly embrace of battle both admirals believe that there is nothing to be gained from continued engagement. Though Aylmer emerges feeling that he has gotten the better of the enemy (England down to 77, Ireland 111), he is losing his heaviest ships at an alarming rate and doesn’t feel able to risk the core of his fleet-in-being. Byng, meanwhile, is by now down a hefty proportion of his ships-of-the-line and any further combat could see his command so reduced that it would be unable to effectively operate in the Irish Sea. Byng thus abandons his move towards Holyhead and retreats to Liverpool to repair while Aylmer goes straight back to Dublin.

Casualties of the Battle of Caernarvon Bay

England
-1 BB1 (3x) damaged (Ezekiel: 21:26-27) [2 turns, 2.25 points]
-7 BB2s sunk (Newark, Somerset, Windsor, Gloucester, Bredah, Medway, Canterbury)
-1 BB2 (4x) heavily damaged (Ranelagh) [3 turns, 2 points]
-1 BB2 (3x) damaged (Kingston) [2 turns, 1.5 points]
-3 BB2s (2x) damaged (Shrewsbury, Cumberland, Yarmouth) [1 turn, 1 point]
-3 BB2s (1x) damaged (Pembroke, Newark, Carlisle) [1 turn, .5 points]
-3 FF1s sunk (Sapphire, Centurion, Laurel)
-1 FF1 (2x) damaged (Bristol) [1 turn, .5 points]
-2 PatRons sunk
-1 PatRon heavily damaged [1 turn, .25 points]

Ireland
-3 BB1s sunk (Henrietta FitzJames, Catherine Sedley, Munster)
-1 BB1 (3x) damaged (Ulster) [2 turns, 2.25 points]
-1 BB1 (2x) lightly damaged (Arabella FitzJames) [1 turn, 1.5 points]
-1 BB1 (1x) lightly damaged (Charlotte Maria) [1 turn, .75 points]
-3 BB2s sunk (Li Ban, Tailtiu, Mebd)
-3 BB2s (2x) damaged (Fodla, Tlachtaga, Gaillimh inion Breasail) [1 turn, 1 point]
-3 BB2s (1x) lightly damaged (Fand, Macha, Brigid) [1 turn, .5 points]
-2 FF1s sunk (St. Abran, St. Coémgen)
-2 FF1s (2x) damaged (St. Finten, St. Cellach) [1 turn, .5 points]
-1 FF1 (1x) damaged (St. Cruithnechán) [1 turn, .25 points]

Though the battle in the Irish Sea is the marquee event of the Spring campaigning season, each island nation has more fleets at work. The English fleet based out of Plymouth makes for the South on a campaign of interdiction and raiding. They are able to take advantage of the disarray of the various commercial fleets to bag some rewards (Game Effect: England Captures 1 Irish commercial fleet.) However, the English fleet has a grander design as well—to take to the south and attack Ireland’s colonial holdings, and hopefully intercepting the fleet returning from Africa as well. Unfortunately for the Albionites, they are only half successful.

By the time they reach (and seize) Tombo Island, they have learned that the Irish fleet has already sailed north (In the age of sail interception in open waters is not common—even when one fleet doesn’t know there’s even a war). The English fleet continues along the West African coast, seizing trade posts in the name of the Commonwealth, rendering them useless for the Stuarts, and then turning back for home. The English admiral chooses against leaving behind marine elements to secure the trading posts, as they would be vulnerable and out of supply, and so is content to ransack the trading installations. (Game Effect: All Irish W. African trading posts are out of commission, will cost 2 points each to rebuild if reseized this year, 3 points if it takes until 1718 or beyond).

In the Americas, the English again have naval dominance and make a show of it. Sailing down the Eastern Seaboard, they are able to wreak havoc amongst the Irish trading concerns based in the New World before turning out to sea to focus on the Irish stronghold at Bermuda (Game Effect: England captures 1 Irish Commercial Fleet). When they do finally turn for the Irish island, they find that the Irish have been busily trying to augment the fortifications—but have yet to complete them. The blustering Commonwealth sends a demand of surrender, to which the Irish jeer and taunt the English to take the island if they can.

Battle of Bermuda, May 26-27

Ireland
-1 Light Infantry Regiment
-1 Militia Brigade

England
-2 Light Infantry Regiments
-1 Marine Regiment
-8 BB2 (Nassau, Revenge, Dreadnought, Liberator, Leveller, Association, Barfleur, Namur)
-3 FF1 ( Ruby, Diamond, Kentish)
-2 PatRon

Though Ireland has not completed its Fortress on Bermuda, it is still a colonial city with a port and thus has bonuses (+1 defense, +1 militia brigade), though the English naval superiority negates the defensive roll bonus. Ireland also benefits from a Free Fire turn due to their defensive posture, and also gets a defensive roll bonus from defending against an amphibious attack (Bermuda is a pretty small island, after all). The Irish defenders have no desire to surrender to the mindless zealots of the Commonwealth and make the attackers fight for every inch of land they can. Though the English put the regulars to flight, the Militia form the backbone of the defense, as the islanders simply refuse to kneel to the Parliamentarians. (Turn 1: Ireland FF 0x MF 1x, English Marine reg shattered, England MF 0x. Turn 2: Ireland FF 1x, English LI regiment shattered, MF 0x, English MF 1x, Irish LI Regiment shattered.) The fight spills overnight and into the next day, but by late morning the Bermudans have put the English interlopers to flight (Turn 3: Irish FF: 1x, English LI regiment shattered).

Casualties of the Battle of Bermuda

Ireland
-1 Light Infantry Regiment Shattered [Fortress considered destroyed, will need to start again]

England
-2 Light Infantry Regiments shattered, reduce to 1
-1 Marine regiment shattered, destroyed [1 turn, 1 point to restore]

The English are thus forced to call off their planned assaults after their attack on Bermuda fails and they make south to their holdings in the Caribbean and the anchorage at St. John’s on Antigua. There, the small English patrol has been unable to counter the Irish fleet based out of Kingston that has been making work of English traders, making up for some of the losses the Irish have suffered elsewhere (Game Effect: Ireland captures 1 English Commercial Fleet—for a net loss of 1 on the turn.)

Combatant Forces, end of Spring 1717

England

Army

Fixed Installations
-10 Fortresses (London, Dover, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton, Boston)
-7 Militia Infantry Brigades (London, 2 Plymouth, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Bristol, Edinburgh)
-2 Militia Cavalry Brigades (London, Dover)
-10 Colonial Militia Regiments (3 St. Johns, 2 Boston, Montpelier, Providence, Portland, Concord, Springfield)

London
-2 Light Infantry Regiments

Plymouth
-1 Infantry Brigade

Portsmouth
-1 Infantry Brigade

Bristol
-1 Infantry Brigade
-1 Cavalry Brigade

Glasgow
1 Cavalry Brigade
1 Infantry Brigade

Boston (New England)
-1 Light Infantry Regiment

Montpelier
-1 Colonial Light Infantry Regiment

Portland
-1 Light Infantry Regiment

Pondicherry
-3 Colonial Light Infantry Regiments

Navy

Naval Facilities
-4 Naval Yards (Bristol, London, Plymouth, Portsmouth)

Edinburgh
-1 PatRon

Dover
-1 PatRon

Tombo Island (Conakry, Guinea)
-1 BB1 ( Ezekiel 22:31)
-12 BB2 (Devonshire, Cornwall, Boyne, Russell, Norfolk, Humber, Sussex, Torbay, Lancaster, Dorsetshire, Cambridge, Chichester
-3 FF1 ( Foresight, Assistance, Reserve)
-2 PatRon

London
-3 BB2 (Triumph, Defiance, Swiftsure)
-1 FF1 ( Pelican)
-1 PatRon

Liverpool
-1 BB1 (3x) damaged (Ezekiel: 21:26-27)
-5 BB2 (Cromwell, Ipswich, Sunderland, Exeter, Bedford, Orford)
-1 BB2 (4x) heavily damaged (Ranelagh)
-1 BB2 (3x) damaged (Kingston)
-3 BB2s (2x) damaged (Shrewsbury, Cumberland, Yarmouth)
-3 BB2s (1x) damaged (Pembroke, Newark, Carlisle)
-1 FF1 (2x) damaged (Bristol)
-1 PatRon heavily damaged

Holyhead
-1 PatRon

Bristol
-2 PatRon

St. John's, Newfoundland
-2 PatRon

St. John's, Antigua [No Marines]
-8 BB2 (Nassau, Revenge, Dreadnought, Liberator, Leveller, Association, Barfleur, Namur)
-3 FF1 ( Ruby, Diamond, Kentish)
-4 PatRon

Kingstown, St. Vincent
-2 PatRon

Lambertia (RL Port Elizabeth)
-1 FF1 ( Sussex)
-1 PatRon

Pondicherry
-3 FF1 (Portland, Hampshire, Boston)
-2 PatRon

Ireland

Army

Fixed Installations
-9 Fortresses (Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Charleston, Richmond, Savannah, Pensacola, Kingston, Bahamas [under construction])
-5 Garrison Brigades (Cork, Limerick, Galway, Derry, Killarney)
-7 Militia Brigades (Limerick, 2 Waterford, 2 Derry, 2 Killarney)
-11 Militia Infantry Regiments (2 Charleston, Richmond, Savannah, 2 Hampton, Columbia, Charlotte, Macon, Greensboro, New Bern)

Dublin
-2 Infantry Brigades (Irish Guard, Royal Dublin Fusiliers)
-1 Cavalry Brigade (King's Horse)
-2 Light Infantry Regiments

Belfast
-2 Infantry Brigades (Royal Ulster Rifles, Berwich)

Charleston
-1 Infantry Brigade (Ultonia)

Richmond
-1 Cavalry Regiment

Savannah
-1 Light Infantry Regiment

Hampton
-1 Infantry Brigade (Armagh Foot)

Navy

Dublin
-2 BB1 (Leinster, Connacht)
-1 BB1  (Louisa Maria Theresa) [No Marines]
-1 BB1 (7x) Heavily Damaged (Mary of Modena) [No Marines]
-1 BB1 (5x) damaged (Anne Hyde) [No Marines]
-1 BB1 (4x) damaged (Arabella Churchill) [No Marines]
-1 BB1 (3x) damaged (Ulster)
-1 BB1 (2x) lightly damaged (Arabella FitzJames)
-1 BB1 (1x) lightly damaged (Charlotte Maria)
-1 BB2 (Cethlenn)
-5 BB2 (Aimend, Aine, Airmed, Anu, Badb) [No Marines]
-3 BB2s (2x) damaged (Fodla, Tlachtaga, Gaillimh inion Breasail)
-3 BB2s (1x) lightly damaged (Fand, Macha, Brigid)
-5 FF1 ( St. Blathmac, St. Fiachra, St. Kentigerna, St. Máedóc, St. Mél)
-2 FF1s (2x) damaged (St. Finten, St. Cellach)
-1 FF1 (1x) damaged (St. Cruithnechán)
-10 FF1 [No Marines]
-1 FF1 (4x) heavily damaged (Khatar) [No Marines]
-5 PatRon
-8 heavily damaged PatRon  [No Marines]

Kingston
-10 FF1
-3 PatRon

[Hussam B.]

Following deep consideration in the courts of Madrid, the Spanish Monarchy declares its neutrality in the Anglo-Irish conflict and its continued commitment to the peace that followed the War of the Lateran League.

The House of Wittlesbach does offer the services of its Bavarian mercenaries to their Stuart kin by marriage.

[TLS]

Jacobites and Orangemen

Summer, 1717

The outbreak of war between English and Ireland does not limit itself to the formal armies of both nations. In both England and Ireland, the other regime finds itself with not-insignificant backing among marginalized members of society. The Emerald Isle has been openly riven by sectarian strife for decades; though the High Church Protestants (commonly called Anglicans) of the Isle, exile and local both, are largely supportive of the Stuart regime, the fiercely Presbyterian Ulster Scots have had a far rockier relationship with the Irish crown. Decades of riots and violence, occasionally bubbling into low-level insurrection and tax revolts, have kept the tinder burning across the North, especially, but also within the Pale of Dublin.

In the Commonwealth, meanwhile, two areas of the country are particularly affected by insurrectionary tendencies. Decades of suppression by London has beaten down many of the Recusants (the few remaining Catholics) and cowed the Anglicans (similar in composition to their Irish counterparts, generally landed and High Church), but they still retain substantial presence in Lancashire and in the Scottish Highlands. The moves by the Parliament in London to falsely extend universal franchise, and then refuse to seat their delegates, has worked to discredit the Commonwealth regime in the eyes of these regions. Though anti-London sentiment has long been high in the North, and anti-Lowlands/anti-English in the Highlands, it has been decades since arms have been taken up against the English government.

Despite these conditions, neither the English nor Irish government takes it upon itself to open stoke the flames of rebellion. London and Dublin appear intent on grappling at sea, denying the other of their naval resources and thereby cutting them off from the wealth of their colonial ventures to bring the other to heel. There is a sense among the upper-echelons of both Irish and English leadership that, while sectarian tensions are useful to rally around the flag, their societies are perhaps too fragile to sustain open religious and ethnic warfare, particularly as it might jeopardize their alliances with the continent. This just leaves the field open for ambitious ethnic entrepreneurs to let slip the dogs.

The Battle of the Bay of Caernarvon creates a vacuum in the Irish Sea that the rabble-rousers take as the signs to begin their expeditions. The first to take to flight is the exiled Scottish nobleman, John Erskine, the Earl of Mar, is frustrated by the Stuart king’s unwillingness to openly foment rebellion. As such, he takes it upon himself to cross the narrow North Channel to the peninsula of Kintyre, with a core of other enterprising petty nobles, members of the Lowland gentry, and scions of banished clans, to raise the standard. The rebellion spreads like wildfire across the Highlands, fed by a variety of factors—latent Catholic tendencies (the region is the most heavily Catholic in Britain, but still a minority) combine with traditional anti-English and anti-Lowlands tendencies to create a noxious brew.

The Commonwealth has spent decades trying to dispel “royalist” institutions like the nobility and this has resulted in the traditional Highland clan system being attacked as well. Thousands of Highlanders answer Lord Mar’s call, and the Commonwealth has left much of the Highlands unprotected. The Jacobites (so called because they have taken up the banner of James, the King of Ireland) sweep down to Perth, while Lord Mar makes for his ancestral holding at Braemar to declare, at the ruined Kindrochit Castle, the restoration of James VIII to the throne of Scotland. The Commonwealth’s garrisons at Glasgow holds fast, but the garrison at Edinburgh had already been withdrawn in order to reinforce Liverpool to the south. As such, Mar's army approaches Edinburgh unaccosted, and sets into siege positions against the isolated garrison.

Much further south, in Lancashire, news of the rebellion in the Highlands reach at the same time as the English fleet is seen departing once more from its base at Liverpool. James Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater, plays much the role that Lord Mar played in the north, landing ashore to raise the standard of James. Unlike in north, however, the English have more mobile forces in the region, and move to put an end to Derwentwater’s rebellion.

Battle of Preston, July 28

Jacobites
-4 Militia Infantry Regiments

England
-1 Militia Infantry Brigade

The small armies meet outside of the River Ribble in the first land battle in Britain since the failed Restoration in 1660. The English garrison brings heavier weapons against the Jacobites, and inflicts substantial casualties on the defenders, but the larger number of the rebels is enough to put the English to flight back to the fortress at Liverpool (Turn 1: England 1x shattered 2 infantry regiments, Ireland 0x. Turn 2: England 0x, Ireland 1x shattered 1 Mil inf brigade.)

Casualties of the Battle of Preston

Jacobites
-2 Militia Infantry Regiments shattered, reduced to 1 regiment

England
-1 Militia Infantry Brigade shattered, reduced to 1 regiment

The Jacobites are torn between marching north or staying put—with the more strategically minded returnees arguing the former, and the local rebels the latter—but strength of local numbers carry the day and the rebels settle into siege positions around the English fortress. Units from Scotland and England which had been sent to reinforce the city of Liverpool thus hear of the rebel host and, unsure of its size, divert to Manchester to plot their next move.

Back in Ireland and across the sea the Scots-Irish refuse to leave the rebelliousness to their royalist counterparts and take up their own standards against the Stuart crown. The nexus of this rebellion is in the province of Ulster, most heavily settled by the Scottish Presbyterians and the English Puritans, who have also infiltrated many levels of the local garrison. The Irish government, to defuse tensions between Catholic and Protestant, made a number of efforts over the previous two decades to ensure Protestant parity in many parts of the army—an effort which comes home to roost when much of the garrison in Derry rebels against the Stuart King.

Derry Rebellion, August 10

Ireland
-1 Militia Brigade

Orangemen
-1 Militia Brigade
-3 Militia Regiments

Widespread mutiny among the garrison renders it effectively useless (garrison brigade shattered) while the militia itself is torn between primarily Catholic and primarily Protestant elements. The largely Protestant population of the city, meanwhile, rises with the rebels, and overwhelm the Stuart loyalists (No defensive bonuses due to the chaotic nature of the garrison falling apart; MF Ireland 0x, England 1x, Irish militia shattered and destroyed).

Casualties of the Derry Rebellion

Ireland
-1 Militia brigade shattered, destroyed

The fall of Derry is the sign that many of the Protestants in Ulster have been waiting for; isolated Stuart outposts are overwhelmed and their arms stolen, buried weapons from the last war and dug-up and restored best they can, and militia units burn their Emerald standards and hastily fashion orange banners. A similar scene threatens to repeat itself in Belfast, but the Royal Army has sent a large detachment from Dublin to shore up the northern city. The largely Ulster brigades are torn by mutiny and rebellion, and attempt to seize the Fortress to evict the Southerners (the Royal Ulster Rifles fully mutiny, while the Berwich brigade is torn apart and splits into two LI regiments). Crucially, the loyalists hold the Fortress, and the rebels and mutineers are forced from the city. The Irish army holds the fortress, and city, but counties Antrim and Down fill with rebellious elements.

In Leinster the rebellion is much less widespread, but still present. The city of Dublin has a large Puritan minority (and, indeed, a Protestant majority—though pro-crown Anglicans and Catholics combined make up a healthy majority) and the city is largely on edge. Out in the Pale, meanwhile, the English Puritan populace is unsatisfied with Stuart rule and anxious to see the dynasty fall. The emptying of the army from Dublin has given the Puritans the space they need to feel secure in their rebellion, and thus a small army of rebels arises in the town of Navan.

By the end of the summer of 1717 both the Stuarts and the Commonwealth are facing critical threats to their hold on their most restive provinces. Though both countries likely have the military force required to subdue the rebellions, they are also both wary of leaving themselves open to invasion or attack by the other. England and Ireland are battling furiously for naval dominance, but focusing their attentions solely to the sea would allow these rebellions to not only fester, but expand.

Game Effects: Rebels haven’t yet taken any resource points, but large proportions of each country are now in open rebellion. Tax income for 1718 drops 20% for Ireland and 10% for England (after war taxes are applied).

Combatant Forces, end of Summer 1717

England

Army

Fixed Installations
-9 Fortresses (London, Dover, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton)
-5 Militia Infantry Brigades (London, 2 Plymouth, Portsmouth, Bristol)
-2 Militia Cavalry Brigades (London, Dover)

Manchester
-2 Light Infantry Regiments
-1 Militia Infantry Brigade

Plymouth
-1 Infantry Brigade

Portsmouth
-1 Infantry Brigade

Bristol
-1 Infantry Brigade
-1 Cavalry Brigade

Glasgow
-1 Cavalry Brigade
-1 Infantry Brigade

Orangemen

Derry
-1 Militia Infantry Brigade
-3 Militia Infantry Regiments

Belfast (Besieging)
-1 Infantry Brigade (Free Ulster Rifles)
-1 Light Infantry Regiment
-4 Militia Infantry Regiments
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiments

Navan
-2 Militia Infantry Regiments
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment

Ireland

Army

Fixed Installations
-3 Fortresses (Dublin, Belfast, Cork)
-4 Garrison Brigades (Cork, Limerick, Galway, Killarney)
-5 Militia Brigades (Limerick, 2 Waterford, 2 Killarney)

Dublin
-1 Infantry Brigades (Irish Guard)
-1 Cavalry Brigade (King's Horse)

Belfast
-2 Infantry Brigades (Hibernia, Royal Dublin Fusiliers)
-3 Light Infantry Regiments

Jacobites

Inverness
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Dundee
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Aberdeen
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Edinburgh (Besieging)
-9 Militia Infantry Regiments
-3 Militia Cavalry Regiments

Liverpool (Besieging)
-3 Militia Infantry Regiments

[TLS]

Naval Campaign

Summer, 1717

After the large conflagration in the previous season, the English are anxious to evacuate their fleet from the Irish Sea. With their other main battlefleet sailing back at great haste, Byng recognizes the need to stay afloat and stay alive. The Irish, meanwhile, are chomping at the bit to get back to sea—after only a few weeks in port, the fleet returned from Zanzibar has not been replenished, but Aylmer is ordered to take once again to the sea. The Irish step up their patrols in the sea, to keep track of the English at Liverpool, and move to try to force them out of their anchorage.

Fortunately for Aylmer, the English have already decided upon a course of action that would see them abandon Liverpool. Byng, recognizing that they key is to keep the fleet-in-being at the cost of the slowest, has allowed his fleet to stratify by speed—the fastest ships are allowed to sail at full speed, while the slowest are left to keep up the rear. Byng tries to use the Isle of Man to obfuscate his movements, but the Isle lies equidistant between England and Ireland and so Aylmer is generally aware of Byng’s attempts. However, Aylmer would rather keep his fleet together than chase after the faster English ships which are slipping away, and thus allows a portion of the English fleet to escape (the 5 undamaged BB2s).

Battle of Douglas, July 14

England
-1 BB1 (3x) damaged (Ezekiel: 21:26-27)
-1 BB2 (4x) heavily damaged (Ranelagh)
-1 BB2 (3x) damaged (Kingston)
-3 BB2s (2x) damaged (Shrewsbury, Cumberland, Yarmouth)
-3 BB2s (1x) damaged (Pembroke, Newark, Carlisle)
-1 FF1 (2x) damaged (Bristol)
-1 PatRon heavily damaged


Ireland
-2 BB1 (Leinster, Connacht)
-1 BB1 (Louisa Maria Theresa) [No Marines]
-1 BB2 (Cethlenn
-5 BB2 (Aimend, Aine, Airmed, Anu, Badb) [No Marines]
-5 FF1 ( St. Blathmac, St. Fiachra, St. Kentigerna, St. Máedóc, St. Mél)
-10 FF1 (St. Tirechán, St. Sillán, St. Scuithin, St. Ruadán, St. Olcán, St. Óengus, St. Midabaria, St. Malachy, St. Lallóc, St. Gobnait) [No Marines]
-5 PatRon

The two fleets which meet off the Isle of Man are not the resplendent demonstrations of might that they were off the coast of Wales; the Irish have left much of their original fleet back in Dublin to repair, while their additions from East Africa haven’t been allowed to properly resupply and restore their losses. The English ships are in various states of disarray, too, impeding their ability to resist the Irish attack. (Any Irish ship lacking marines starts -1 hit and -1 offensive power; English ships are subject to the various nerfs that come from their damage at battle start.)

The English fleet is outnumbered and outclassed from the outset, and it shows in the way the battle develops. Though the heavier and more damaged English ships do what they can to allow their faster comrades to escape, their guns are not up to the pace. The Irish ships, meanwhile, though undermanned and exhausted, are able to utilize their sheer superiority in tonnage to inflict blow after mighty blow. (England rolls 5x, 0 crits; Ireland rolls 18 hits, 3 crits. England loses BB2 Kingston and FF1 Bristol disabled, as well as 1 Patron already disabled, and BB2s Pembroke, Cumberland, Ranelagh, and Newark sunk).  The English try to extricate themselves, panicking at the clear imbalance, but the overwhelming Irish superiority in frigates corners them against the Manx coastline. As the English fight for their lives, they are able to land a series of critical hits that manage to inflict very costly blows on their attackers—however, in the process, their ships are sent to the bottom of the Irish sea (England rolls 4 hits, 2 crits. Ireland rolls 20 hits, 1 crit. Ireland loses BB1 Louisa Maria Theresa, BB2 Cethlenn, England loses BB1 Ezekiel sunk, BB2s Shrewsbury, Pembroke, Yarmouth, Carlisle sunk).

Casualties of the Battle of Douglas

England
-1 BB1 sunk (Ezekiel 21:26-27)
-7 BB2s Sunk (Ranelagh, Shrewsbury, Cumberland, Yarmouth, Pembroke, Newark, Carlisle)
-1 BB2 (5x) damaged, captured by Ireland (Ranelagh) [4 turns, 2.5 points to repair)
-1 FF1 Sunk (Bristol)
-1 PatRon (1x) damaged, captured by Ireland [1 turn, .25 points to repair]

Ireland
-1 BB1s Sunk (Louisa Maria Theresa )
-1 BB2 Sunk (Cethlenn)
-1 BB1 (3x) damaged (Leinster) [2 turns, 2.25 points]
-1 BB1 (1x) damaged (Aimend) [1 turn, .5 point]

Admiral Byng survives the shredding cannonade that sends his flagship to the deep by nothing less than a miracle (gave him a survival check, he passes) and washes up ashore on the Isle of Man, where he is resuscitated by a local shepherd. Meanwhile, Aylmer returns to Dublin to a rapturous welcome, though it is soon overtaken by the news of the Protestant rebellion. His own mood is tempered by the steep cost of his mission; though he did destroy the majority of the English fleet, the loss of another BB1 is an expensive casualty.

Across the sea, in the Caribbean, the Irish and English fleets engage in a low-level war of attrition. The Irish, based out of Kingston, are afraid of the larger English vessels, and move to keep themselves alive while harrying the commercial shipping. The English are actively on patrol in an attempt to intercept and destroy any Irishmen they can find. The Irish, with their focus on raiding commercial vessels, snag a few prizes along the way (Game Effect: Ireland captures 1 commercial flotilla) but the English hunter squadrons make some progress. A number of smaller duels take place across the Caribbean and the Eastern Seaboard.

Casualties of Summer Combat:

Ireland
-2 FF1s (4x) disabled, captured by England [4 turns, 1 point to repair each]
-1 FF1 sunk
-1 FF1 (2x) damaged [1 turn, .5 points to repair]
-1 FF1 (1x) damaged [1 turn, .25 points to repair]

England
-1 BB1 sunk (Leveller)
-1 FF1 (2x) damaged (Diamond)) [1 turn, .5 points to repair]
-1 FF1 (1x) damaged (Kentish) [1 turn, .25 points to repair]

Both the Irish and English fleets retreat from the region to take shelter from the Hurricane season; the Irish to their Naval Yard at Charleston and the English to the port at Boston.

Naval Forces, end of Summer 1717

England

Navy

Naval Facilities
-4 Naval Yards (Bristol, London, Plymouth, Portsmouth)

Edinburgh
-1 PatRon

Dover
-1 PatRon

Plymouth
-1 BB1 ( Ezekiel 22:31)
-17 BB2 (Devonshire, Cornwall, Boyne, Russell, Norfolk, Humber, Sussex, Torbay, Lancaster, Dorsetshire, Cambridge, Chichester, Cromwell, Ipswich, Sunderland, Exeter, Bedford, Orford)
-3 FF1 ( Foresight, Assistance, Reserve)
-2 PatRon

London
-3 BB2 (Triumph, Defiance, Swiftsure)
-1 FF1 ( Pelican)
-1 PatRon

Holyhead
-1 PatRon

Bristol
-2 PatRon

St. John's, Newfoundland
-2 PatRon

Boston [No Marines]
-7 BB2 (Nassau, Revenge, Dreadnought, Liberator, Association, Barfleur, Namur)
-1 FF1 ( Ruby )
-1 FF1 (2x) damaged (Diamond))
-1 FF1 (1x) damaged (Kentish)
-2 FF1s (4x) damaged [Captured from Ireland]
-4 PatRon

Kingstown, St. Vincent
-2 PatRon

Lambertia (RL Port Elizabeth)
-1 FF1 ( Sussex)
-1 PatRon

Pondicherry
-3 FF1 (Portland, Hampshire, Boston)
-2 PatRon

Ireland

Navy

Naval Installations
-3 Naval Yards (Dublin, Cork, Charleston)

Dublin
-3 BB1s ( Connacht, Arabella FitzJames, Charlotte Maria)
-1 BB1 (2x) damaged (Leinster)
-1 BB1 (5x) Heavily Damaged (Mary of Modena) [Under Repair, Completed by Summer]
-1 BB1 (3x) damaged (Anne Hyde) [Under Repair, Completed by Spring]
-1 BB1 (2x) damaged (Arabella Churchill) [Under Repair, Completed by Winter]
-1 BB1 (1x) damaged (Ulster) [Under Repair, Completed by Winter]
-10 BB2 (Fodla, Tlachtaga, Gailimh inion Breasail, Fand, Machca, Brigid, Aine, Airmed, Anu, Badb)
-1 BB2 (1x) damaged (Aimend)  
-18 FF1 ( St. Blathmac, St. Fiachra, St. Kentigerna, St. Máedóc, St. Mél, St. Finten, St. Cellach, St. Cruithnechán, St. Tirechán, St. Sillán, St. Scuithin, St. Ruadán, St. Olcán, St. Óengus, St. Midabaria, St. Malachy, St. Lallóc, St. Gobnait)
-1 FF1 (3x) damaged (Khatar) [Under Repair, Completed by Summer]
-5 PatRon
-8 heavily damaged PatRon  

Charleston
-6 FF1
-1 FF1 (2x) damaged
-1 FF1 (1x) damaged
-3 PatRon

[TLS]

Islands Campaign

Fall, 1717

The armies of both England and Ireland, who had expected that this war would primarily be fought at sea, are hurriedly called to prepare to fight off the large-scale revolts against their rule. Each country responds in the manner most epitomizing their regimes; the Stuarts seek to leverage their professional army, augmented by Continental mercenaries, while the Roundhead Parliament calls for a mass of militia to be sent against the rebels, meeting rabble with rabble. Each seeks to strike a decisive blow against the rebels before the coming of winter, to allow for the use of resources against the real enemy overseas.

The fall begins with three major sieges underway—Liverpool and Edinburgh are surrounded by the Jacobites, while Belfast is being harried by the Orangemen. The first course of action is to move and lift the sieges, but assembling relief forces takes time and treasure, leaving fate to strike a series of blows on behalf of the rebels. As the Irish wait for their Spanish mercenaries to arrive in Dublin, Presbyterian rebels manage to breach the walls of Belfast (rebels roll a 5, and since it’s the second season that’s enough) through treachery on the part of sympathetic elements. Running battles through the streets of the city follow, as the substantial army encamped therein makes for the docks. Rebel guns fire generally ineffectively at the ships but the majority of the Fleet is at sea or under repairs, and so those who escape are forced to leave their heavier weapons aside as they commandeer the commercial ships to escape. The rebels are able to take advantage of their victory to take many of the arms left behind by the fleeing Stuart forces and arm themselves for the battle to come.

Effects of the Fall of Belfast

Ireland
-2 Infantry Brigades reduced to Light Infantry Brigades, evacuated to Dublin
-3 Light Infantry regiments destroyed
-1 Fortress destroyed
-1 Commercial Fleet commandeered (loss of income from 1 fleet in 1718)
-Ireland loses income for Belfast in 1718

Orangemen
-4 Militia Infantry Regiments formed

The Parliamentarians do not escape October unscathed themselves, however. The small force besieging Liverpool is ineffective at overcoming their opponents, but to the north, at Edinburgh, the Jacobites swagger into the ancient Scottish capital and the arms contained therein (Jacobites roll a 4 in Liverpool, not enough, but a 5 in Edinburgh). The Jacobites have the run of the city, particularly the armory, but have decided left the Highlands. They use the seized weapons to increase the size of their force, and find some willing recruits, but the Lowland Scots are generally more inclined to support the Parliament and revile the Stuart name.

Effects of the Fall of Edinburgh

England
-1 Fortress destroyed
-Loss of income for Edinburgh in 1718

Jacobites
-3 Militia Infantry Regiments formed

With the fading of October and the ushering in of November the counterattacks begin. Spanish mercenaries reinforce the Irish army, under the command of the Duke of Marlborough, which begins its march north into Ulster. The smaller rebel force at Navan is bypassed by the main force as it makes for Belfast, aiming to take the city back from the Protestants, while the Orangemen take their reinforced host and move south. Emboldened by their victory, they seek to move on Dublin itself and rally the Protestants there to the cause of Parliament. The two armies meet outside the town of Meigh, just on the Ulster border.

Battle of Meigh, November 6

Ireland (Commander: Duke of Marlborough)
-1 Infantry Brigades (Irish Guard)
-1 Light Infantry Brigades (Royal Dublin Fusiliers)
-2 Bavarian Infantry Brigades (Knyphausen, Lossberg)
-1 Cavalry Brigade (King's Horse)

Orangemen
-1 Infantry Brigade (Free Ulster Rifles)
-1 Light Infantry Regiment
-8 Militia Infantry Regiments
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiments

The Stuart army barely outnumbers their opponents, but the armies arrayed against each other are no small detachments. The damp November fog threatens to call off the battle, but by mid-day the sun is strong enough to clear the field. The Irish commander—and, indeed, the Irish army—has not seen proper combat in over 30 years, as a mid-level officer in the War of the Restoration, while the Orangemen are, aside from a core force, generally undisciplined rebels (Marlborough will be a GC, but needs to work out the rust—no bonus for this battle).

The Presbyterians and Puritans fight ferociously, and manage to inflict heavy losses on the attacking Stuart force. Marlborough attempts to wheel the cavalry down the flank of the rebel line and fold up the unkempt mass; the King’s Horse sweep aside a large chunk of the Protestant army before they run up against the firm line of the Free Ulster Rifles. Despite the setback and shattering of the Stuart cavalry, however, the damage has been done to the rebel line: the undisciplined militia, though capable of wounding royal knave and Hessian slave alike, turn and run.

Casualties of the Battle of Meigh

Ireland
-1 Light Infantry Brigade shattered, reduced to Light Infantry Regiment (Royal Dublin Fusiliers)
-1 Bavarian Infantry Brigade shattered, reduced to Light Infantry Regiment (Lossberg)
-1 Cavalry Brigade shattered, reduced to Cavalry Regiment (King’s Horse)

Orangemen
-7 Militia Infantry Regiments shattered, reduced to 3
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment destroyed

Only the lack of an effective cavalry force keeps Marlborough from effectively pursuing the rebels. The Ulstermen fracture in disarray; the core of the force does retreat to Belfast, to prepare the city for the royal counterattack, but many of the militia bands decide that the best course it to return home and prepare to harass the attacking Royalist column. Within 10 days the Stuarts are at the gates of Belfast, but the city is abuzz with rebel activity and the army is still licking its wounds from the last battle, and Marlborough is unwilling to try to assault a defended urban position at half strength.

Back in Leinster, the Stuarts have called up the militia from across the rest of the Isle to try to defend the capital. Though locals are reticent to abandon their homes, the threat of a Puritan restoration convinces enough that its worth to leave their hearths to evict the rebels from the heart of the country—after the fall harvest, of course. A large mass of loyalist militia is thus sent against the defenders at Navan to dislodge them from the environs of the Court.
Battle of Navan, December 2-3

Orangemen
-2 Militia Infantry Regiments
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment

Ireland
-3 Militia Infantry Brigades

The defenders are made an offer to surrender and lay down their arms to face the King’s mercy, but do not trust the rapacious Gaelic militiamen to keep their word. The loyalists thus force an attack on the town and the rebels therein (old world town with small population; the defenders get an FF turn and a defensive roll bonus, but no militia help). The battle is a bloody melee befitting combat between two unprofessional mobs (Turn 1: Rebels FF 0x, MF 1x, Ireland MF 1x. 1 Irish militia shattered, 2 rebel militia shattered) and continues into the next day, when the defenders are destroyed by sheer force of numbers (Turn 2: neither side hits. Turn 3: both roll a hit).

Casualties of the Battle of Navan

Rebels
-2 Militia Infantry Regiments Destroyed
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment Destroyed

Ireland
-2 Militia Infantry Brigade shattered, reduced to one

The rebel town is dealt with brutally—the Irish peasants, from heavily Catholic regions which suffered mightily under Cromwellian rule, exact a number of violent and thoroughly barbaric punishments on the men, women, and children of the town, using their rusty and outdated weapons to great effect against the defenseless survivors. The few professional officers try to keep the situation under control, but are only able to contain the cathartic rage of the militia once the worst excesses are exhausted. Dublin thus (bloodily) secured, most of the rebels return to their homes—unwilling to stay in the capital and leave their home regions undefended (the militia would otherwise just melt away, and so the officers acquiesce.)

Brutality is not limited to the Irish side of the conflict. Over in England the first moves are made to quash the siege of Liverpool in due order. A large militia force is assembled in Manchester with an aim to crush English Jacobites, and moves with deadly efficacy to do so.

Battle of Liverpool, November 9-10

Jacobites
-3 Militia Infantry Regiments
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment

England
-2 Light Infantry Regiments
-3 Militia Infantry Brigades
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment

The Jacobites have their invested positions facing towards the city, not outwards, and thus scrambled into position (no defensive bonuses for the rebels). The English certainly have the numbers, but the rebels are hardly substantially outclassed by the attackers, and the low-quality of both armies is made apparent over the course of the exchanges. It is only by dint of the guns of the fortress that the English make any progress against the besiegers, as the hastily called up militia do little to help (Turn 1: Each side rolls 1 hit. Turn 2: English 1 hit, Rebels 0 hits. Turn 3: English 2 hits, Rebels 2 hits.)

Casualties of the Battle of Liverpool

Jacobites
-3 Militia Infantry Regiments destroyed
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment destroyed

England
-1 Light Infantry Regiment destroyed
-2 Militia Infantry brigades destroyed, reduced to 1

The Parliamentarians show no mercy to the vanquished. Captured priests—a few smuggled Jesuits, but mostly impromptu deacons appointed in secret—are brutally impaled, while the officers are given the comparatively more lenient treatment of quick beheading (the usual punishment for Royalists). The militia fan out through the county and exact revenge on the accursed recusants, burning farms, scouring houses for banned reliquaries, and dishonoring many a suspected Jacobite maiden. The situation is only made worse by the withdrawal of the few professional soldiers; much like across the sea, the terrified and untrained militia carry out repeated abuses, though, unlike in Ireland, this time it seems to have at least the tacit approval of the regulars.

The loss of Edinburgh complicates the campaign in Scotland, as the initial plan to relieve the siege and trap the Jacobites against the walls of the fortress is foiled. English reinforcements are thus dropped at Dunbar, down the coast from Edinburgh, rather than deeper in the Firth of Forth. The Lowland loyalists who are raised in the borders are thus dispersed as well—rather than all joining at Falkirk, as planned, those that are raised closed to Dunbar assemble there, with the English, while those closest to Glasgow move there.

The Earl of Mar is not a particularly decisive man, and, having seized Edinburgh, is petrified by the thought of being trapped there. Vague promises of support from the King have reached him, contingent on the continued existence of his army, and thus he ultimately decides to withdraw much of his force with him back into the Highlands, rather than threatening England itself. However, he does leave a sizeable garrison in Edinburgh, in the hopes that the promised Irish relief force will come quick enough to lift the inevitable siege of the city. On his way back to Stirling—the gateway to the Highlands—his army is intercepted by that of the English outside of Falkirk.

Battle of Bonnybridge, November 16

Jacobites
-9 Militia Infantry Regiments
-3 Militia Cavalry Regiments

England
-1 Cavalry Brigade
-1 Infantry Brigade
-2 Militia Infantry Brigades

The Jacobites slightly outnumber their Parliamentarian enemies, but the English army (somewhat of a misnomer, since it is almost entirely Scottish soldiers) contains a solid core of professional troops with heavier weaponry. The Highlanders are most effective at sweeping aside the Lowlanders, but their claymores are less effective against the core of the Roundhead force (Turn 1: Jacobites roll 2 hits, shattering both English militia. England rolls 3 hits, which shatter 4 Militia Infantry Regiments and 2 Militia Cavalry regiments).

Mar is unwilling to push the issue; his army is still largely intact, but largely bloodied, and he has just enough of a cavalry screen to try to get back across the Forth to Stirling. The chooses to sacrifice his remaining cavalry to save the core of his army; the superior English numbers mean that it’s not entirely effective, but it is enough to keep his core alive and the security of the north bank. The Parliamentarians, tasked primarily with taking back Edinburgh, do not risk assault across the river.

Casualties of the Battle of Bonnybridge

Jacobites
-4 Militia Infantry regiments shattered, reduced to 1 (cavalry pursuit reduced survivors)
-3 Militia Cavalry regiments shattered, reduced to 1 (as above)

England
-2 Militia Infantry Brigades shattered, reduced to 1

The Lowland army thus moves to join their compatriots in the Parliamentarian siege of Edinburgh. The garrison there is astounded by the quick reversal, but, hearing of the fate which befell the defeated Jacobites at Liverpool, is unwilling to entrust themselves to the care of the Roundhead army, instead choosing to follow Lord Mar’s lead in hoping for an Irish salvation.

The rebels do, however, take a small pleasure where they can find it: December 25, 1717, is the first time in 50 years that Christmas has been celebrated in Edinburgh, though it seems it might easily be the last.

Combatant Land Forces, end of 1717

England

Army

Fixed Installations
-8 Fortresses (London, Dover, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, Southampton)
-5 Militia Infantry Brigades (London, 2 Plymouth, Portsmouth, Bristol)
-2 Militia Cavalry Brigades (London, Dover)

Liverpool
-2 Militia Infantry Brigades
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment

Plymouth
-1 Infantry Brigade

Edinburgh (Besieging)
-2 Infantry Brigades
-1 Cavalry Brigade
-1 Light Infantry Regiment
-2 Militia Infantry Brigades
-1 Militia Cavalry Brigade

Bristol
-1 Infantry Brigade
-1 Cavalry Brigade

Orangemen

Derry
-1 Militia Infantry Brigade
-3 Militia Infantry Regiments

Belfast
-1 Infantry Brigade (Free Ulster Rifles)
-1 Light Infantry Regiment
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Omagh
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Ballymena
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Ireland

Army

Fixed Installations
-2 Fortresses (Dublin, Cork)
-4 Garrison Brigades (Cork, Limerick, Galway, Killarney)
-4 Militia Brigades (Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Killarney)

Dublin
-1 Light Infantry Brigade (Hibernia)

Belfast (Besieging)
-1 Infantry Brigade (Irish Guard)
-1 Light Infantry Regiment (Royal Dublin Fusiliers)
-1 Bavarian Infantry Brigade (Knyphausen)
-1 Bavarian Light Infantry Regiment (Lossberg)
-1 Cavalry Regiment (King's Horse)

Jacobites

Inverness
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Dundee
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Aberdeen
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Stirling
-6 Militia Infantry Regiments
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment

Edinburgh
-3 Militia Infantry Regiments

[Haven]

English and Irish diplomats are summoned and asked to carefully avoid any spillover of violence into the New Netherlands or the waters off of its coast. The 1715 Treaty of Westminster gave a limited amount of English ships the right to trade in New Netherlander ports, and accordingly the Irish especially are reminded that the raiding of English shipping in New Netherlander waters per the treaty will be considered a violation of Dutch neutrality.

Given the heavy mobilization of neighboring fleets near the Netherlands, from the French at Brest to the English and Irish in the Isles, a portion of the fleet based in New Amsterdam is called home (BB1s Gelderland, Zeven Provincien, Haarlem, and 6 frigates) to join the fleet in Amsterdam.

[Galveston Bay]

The French Crown announces and sends word to England and Scotland that sanctuary is available in France should it become necessary for those fleeing slaughter or torture from the English Government.  

A revised message, offering sanctuary to Northern Irish Protestants in Florida, Louisiana or Arkansas should they seek it.

Messages are sent to the governments concerned stating that this is merely Christian charity and is not meant as an insult to either government.

[TLS]

Naval Campaign

Fall, 1717

Both navies, after a bruising Spring and Summer, are constrained by the realities of their limits towards the tail-end of 1717. The Irish Sea has effectively been ceded to the Irish by the results of the summer’s combat, but the Irish fleet is in desperate need of repair. The English, meanwhile, have generally held their navy along the Channel and North Sea coast, seeking to maintain supply routes up to Scotland by sea and to keep the navy intact as it waits for more ships to be churned out by the dockyards. The North Atlantic at this time of year is treacherous, and the British Isles are hardly known for their pleasant weather from October-December, leaving the fleets generally hampered even if they were intent on combat. The conservative English plans, combined with the obfuscation of weather, allows for a fleet of Spanish ships (under contract by Ireland) to sail into Dublin unaccosted, reinforcing the Irish army and fleet.

Across the Atlantic, on the Eastern Seaboard, the fleets have withdrawn to the mainland to avoid hurricane season. The Irish, however, decide to gamble and run amok in the Caribbean, counting on the English to remain in their Hurricane season quarters up in Boston. The English, for their part, do decide to leave much of their fleet in Boston for repairs, and send a large portion of their ships-of-the-line back to Bristol. However, they do not sit idly in Boston, and proceed to raid up and down the Irish coastline. As such, the two fleets end up missing each other (perhaps luckily for the Irish, for the English are seeking them out to reduce their numbers) but also leave plenty of their commercial assets undefended. The English ships in the Caribbean are generally less active than their Irish counterparts (due, again, to the season) but the Irish have the benefit of being able to retreat behind the guns of the harbor forts. The heavy English naval presence off of the Eastern Seaboard, however, keeps the Irish FF1s from returning to Charleston, and so they rebase themselves out of Kingston—with the exception of the ships which never left Charleston due to the need of repairs.

Game Effects: England loses 2 commercial fleets (1 captured, 1 destroyed) Ireland loses 3 commercial fleets (2 captured, 1 destroyed)

Casualties of Fall Combat

Ireland
-1 FF1 (1x) damaged
-1 PatRon sunk

England
-2 PatRons sunk

Naval Forces, end of 1717

England

Navy

Naval Facilities
-4 Naval Yards (Bristol, London, Plymouth, Portsmouth)

Sunderland
-1 PatRon

Dover
-1 PatRon

Plymouth
-1 BB1 (Ezekiel 22:31)
-20 BB2 (Devonshire, Cornwall, Boyne, Russell, Norfolk, Humber, Sussex, Torbay, Lancaster, Dorsetshire, Cambridge, Chichester, Cromwell, Ipswich, Sunderland, Exeter, Bedford, Orford, Triumph, Defiance, Swiftsure)
-3 FF1 (Foresight, Assistance, Reserve)
-2 PatRon

Holyhead
-1 PatRon

Bristol
-3 BB2 ( Dreadnought, Liberator, Association)
-4 PatRon

St. John's, Newfoundland
-1 PatRon

Boston [No Marines]
-4 BB2 (Nassau, Revenge, Barfleur, Namur)
-5 FF1 ( Ruby, Diamond, Kentish, Derry, Belfast)
-2 PatRon

Kingstown, St. Vincent
-1 PatRon

Lambertia (RL Port Elizabeth)
-3 FF1 (Portland, Hampshire, Boston)
-1 PatRon

Pondicherry
-2 PatRon

Ireland

Navy

Naval Installations
-3 Naval Yards (Dublin, Cork, Charleston)

Dublin
-5 BB1s ( Connacht, Arabella FitzJames, Charlotte Maria, Arabella Churchill, Ulster)
-1 BB1 (2x) damaged (Leinster)
-1 BB1 (3x) Heavily Damaged (Mary of Modena) [Under Repair, Completed by Summer]
-1 BB1 (1x) damaged (Anne Hyde) [Under Repair, Completed by Spring]
-10 BB2 (Fodla, Tlachtaga, Gailimh inion Breasail, Fand, Machca, Brigid, Aine, Airmed, Anu, Badb)
-3 Spanish BB2s
-1 BB2 (5x) damaged (Ranelagh)
-1 BB2 (1x) damaged (Aimend)  
-18 FF1 ( St. Blathmac, St. Fiachra, St. Kentigerna, St. Máedóc, St. Mél, St. Finten, St. Cellach, St. Cruithnechán, St. Tirechán, St. Sillán, St. Scuithin, St. Ruadán, St. Olcán, St. Óengus, St. Midabaria, St. Malachy, St. Lallóc, St. Gobnait)
-6 Spanish FF1s
-1 FF1 (2x) damaged (Khatar) [Under Repair, Completed by Summer]
-5 PatRon
-10 Spanish PatRons
-9 heavily damaged PatRon  

Kingston
-5 FF1
-1 FF1 (1x) damaged

Charleston
-1 FF1 (2x) damaged
-1 FF1 (1x) damaged
-2 PatRon

[TLS]

Islands Campaign

Winter, 1718

Characteristically dreary, cold, and even snowy weather strikes northern Britain and hampers movement across the British Isles. Where it doesn’t snow, it rains, leaving only the lightest units able to make any real feints across Scotland or Ulster. Both armies recognize the limits placed by weather and thus spend the season primarily reinforcing, reconstituting, and besieging. The English and Irish armies, generally neglected to provide greater funding for naval ventures, are finally given the budget leeway they need to upgrade some of their reserve units to full-time equivalents. Meanwhile, both countries take advantage of the obfuscating nature of the weather to run guns across the narrows of the Irish Sea. Numerous shipments are intercepted—trekking guns over the Highlands for the Jacobites leaves them liable to interception, while Irish naval dominance hampers all but the nimblest sloops—but the vast coastlines and promise of treasure enables both sides to fund and support their clients over the water. The besieged cities of Belfast and Edinburgh are under blockade, but Derry and the Highlands are flush with shiny new weapons.

At sea, the temporary period of overwhelming Irish dominance ends thanks to the power of the English shipyards. 18 frigates come out of the docks on England’s southern and eastern coasts and the Commonwealth uses them to great effect; the main fleet at Plymouth is augmented, while the combination of new ships and the arrival of the Indian Ocean frigates gives the English three rotation squadrons to harass North America and the Caribbean. Byng, once he has convalesced, is able to make it back to the mainland and hurried on down to command the massive fleet at Bristol, which patrols menacingly near St. George’s Channel. The main Irish fleet is given bullish orders, but only instructed to engage if it has clear superiority, and clearly it does not. Aylmer keeps his fleet-in-being to distract the English fleet while the Spanish ships sail across the Atlantic to Hampton, where the Irish infantry brigades (as opposed to colonial troops) embark to sail back to the homeland. The Irish Caribbean fleet is able to use the English strategic shift as an opening to sail unmolested up to Hampton, whence it departs (alongside the Spanish) back to Ireland; the combined fleet makes landfall at Galway to offload troops and base itself for the remainder of the turn.

Belfast and Edinburgh attempt to resist the attackers over the course of the season, with both garrisons flatly refusing offers of clemency from their besiegers. By the beginning of March the defenders of Edinburgh are unable to maintain their positions any longer; their supplies from the sea being cut off, and a massive Parliamentarian army surrounding them, they are unable to resist when sympathetic elements betray the defenders and open a gate. The defenders are treated in the manner befitting rebels; again, their officers and commanders are decapitated and their heads put on spikes, their priests impaled, and the soldiers imprisoned on prison hulks in the Firth of Forth. The defenders of Belfast, meanwhile, hang on by the skin of their teeth but do not surrender to the assembled Stuart army.

Combatant Forces, end of Winter

England

Navy

Naval Facilities
-4 Naval Yards (Bristol, London, Plymouth, Portsmouth)

Sunderland
-1 FF1 (Pelican)
-3 Patron

Bristol
-1 BB1 (Ezekiel 22:31)
-28 BB2 (Devonshire, Cornwall, Boyne, Russell, Norfolk, Humber, Sussex, Torbay, Lancaster, Dorsetshire, Cambridge, Chichester, Cromwell, Ipswich, Sunderland, Exeter, Bedford, Orford, Triumph, Defiance, Swiftsure, Dreadnought, Liberator, Association, Nassau, Revenge, Barfleur, Namur)
-16 FF1 (Foresight, Assistance, Reserve, Adventure, Seahorse, Drake, Nightingale, Dover, Liverpool, Gosport, Swan, Pearl, Assurance, Nutmeg, Lively, Surprise)
-7 PatRon

St. John's, Newfoundland
-1 PatRon

Boston
-5 FF1s (Ruby, Diamond, Kentish, Cornwall, Glasgow)
-1 PatRon

Providence
-4 FF1s (Sussex, Portland, Hampshire, Boston)
-1 PatRon

Kingstown, St. Vincent
-5 FF1s ( Hector, Lark, Greyhound, Garland, Diadem)
-1 PatRon

Lambertia (RL Port Elizabeth)
-1 PatRon

Pondicherry
-2 PatRon

Army

Fixed Installations
-8 Fortresses (London, Dover, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, Southampton)
-5 Militia Infantry Brigades (London, 2 Plymouth, Portsmouth, Bristol)
-2 Militia Cavalry Brigades (London, Dover)

Liverpool
-2 Light Infantry Brigades
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment

Plymouth
-1 Infantry Brigade

Edinburgh
-2 Infantry Brigades
-1 Cavalry Brigade
-2 Light Infantry Brigades
-1 Light Infantry Regiment
-1 Militia Cavalry Brigade

Bristol
-1 Infantry Brigade
-1 Cavalry Brigade

Orangemen

Derry
-6 Light Infantry Regiments

Belfast
-1 Infantry Brigade (Free Ulster Rifles)
-1 Light Infantry Regiment
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Omagh
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Ballymena
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Ireland

Navy

Naval Installations
-3 Naval Yards (Dublin, Cork, Charleston)

Dublin
-7 BB1s ( Connacht, Arabella FitzJames, Charlotte Maria, Arabella Churchill, Ulster, Leinster, Anne Hyde )
-1 BB1 (1x) Heavily Damaged (Mary of Modena) [Under Repair, Completed by Summer]
-11 BB2 (Fodla, Tlachtaga, Gailimh inion Breasail, Fand, Machca, Brigid, Aine, Airmed, Anu, Badb, Aimend)
-18 FF1 ( St. Blathmac, St. Fiachra, St. Kentigerna, St. Máedóc, St. Mél, St. Finten, St. Cellach, St. Cruithnechán, St. Tirechán, St. Sillán, St. Scuithin, St. Ruadán, St. Olcán, St. Óengus, St. Midabaria, St. Malachy, St. Lallóc, St. Gobnait)
-1 FF1 (1x) damaged (Khatar) [Under Repair, Completed by Summer]
-13 PatRons

Galway
-3 Spanish BB2s
-6 Spanish FF1s
-8 Irish FF1s
-10 Spanish PatRons
-2 Irish PatRons

Army

Fixed Installations
-2 Fortresses (Dublin, Cork)
-4 Militia Brigades (Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Killarney)

Cork
-1 Infantry Brigade ( Cork Foot)

Limerick
-1 Infantry Brigade ( Clare)

Galway
-1 Infantry Brigade (Dillon, Armagh Foot, Ultonia)

Killarney
-1 Infantry Brigade (Leinster Brigade)

Dublin
-1 Light Infantry Brigade (Hibernia)

Belfast (Besieging)
-1 Infantry Brigade (Irish Guard)
-1 Light Infantry Regiment (Royal Dublin Fusiliers)
-1 Bavarian Infantry Brigade (Knyphausen)
-1 Bavarian Infantry Regiment (Lossberg)
-1 Cavalry Regiment (King's Horse)

Jacobites

Inverness
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Dundee
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Aberdeen
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Stirling
-6 Light Infantry Regiments
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment

Edinburgh
-3 Militia Infantry Regiments

[Hussam B.]

Following deep consideration in the courts of Madrid, the Spanish Monarchy declares its neutrality in the Anglo-Irish conflict and its continued commitment to the peace that followed the War of the Lateran League.

The House of Wittlesbach does offer the services of its Bavarian mercenaries to their Stuart kin by marriage.

With political support growing in Madrid for the Stuart monarchy, it is in the aftermath of the massacre in Edinburgh that the Kingdom of Spain announces the reversal of its declaration of neutrality and condemns the vicious treatment of the people of the cloth and the atrocious and unchristian heavy handedness the supposedly progressive English are using against the Scots.

[Kilani]

Commonwealth handbills (and diplomats) are quick to point out that the rebels and their associates refused clemency and that treason is typically punished harshly throughout Europe - and indeed, the world. Moreover, many of the troops that make up the Republican Army are Scots themselves! Simply loyal ones instead of arch-traitors.

[Galveston Bay]

1718
The French Crown backs loans from French lenders and banks (10 points worth) to the Irish Crown, with plans to do so for 1719 and 1720 as well. This is to insure that money is available even though no one is France is certain whether the Stuarts will survive this onslaught by Parliament A small amount of direct aid is also given, disguised as a belated wedding present to the Stuart Crown.

Meanwhile the French Mobile Fleet (15 BB1, 15 FF1, 1 PatRon) prepares to conduct patrols in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay to prevent any wandering warring fleets from entering French waters once spring comes.

[TLS]

Islands Campaign

Spring, 1718

After a seemingly interminable winter—what seems like days on end, really, with no updates from the front or even signs of life from the Fates who control the cruel world in which we live—the first thaw of spring ushers in a new round of fierce combat among the battling Britons. The armies of England and Ireland move to decisively crush their rebellions before they can be reinforced by enemies over the water, while the respective fleets cautiously keep watch over the other. The balance between Stuart and Parliament threatens to be overturned by events, however, as the Spanish move to enter the fray.

In Ireland, the Stuart siege of Belfast continues. The defenders continue to cling desperately to their defenses as April begins in earnest, and, in fact, the length of the siege has inflict some disarray on the defenders (defenders roll a 1, meaning a besieging unit is shattered; a separate dice roll lands on 1, meaning the Irish Infantry Brigade is shattered and reduced to a regiment.) At the same time, English agents among the Orangemen try to coax them into launching an effort to relieve their brethren trapped in Belfast before Dublin can bring more soldiers in—some units are unwilling to abandon their homes, but the presence of guns and even some officers from England motivates a few of the units to move in the direction of Belfast.

The Irish have spent the Winter upgrading their garrison units into mobile forces, but require even more time to move their units into position around Dublin. Thus, for the time being only a smaller contingent is sent north into the heart of the rebellion, consisting of the Light Infantry Brigade ”Hibernia”. Even this small relief force is almost three times as far away from Belfast as the large rebel base at Derry—giving the Orange relief column an opportunity to land a blow. Stopping in Ballymena on the way to Belfast, the large column is able to convince the militia there to join in the relief effort. Not even two weeks into the season, the Irish besiegers awake from their dreary camp to find that they’re under attack from the north.

Battle of Dunmurry, April 11

Ireland (GC Marlborough commanding)
-2 Light Infantry Regiment (Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Irish Guard)
-1 Bavarian Infantry Brigade (Knyphausen)
-1 Bavarian Infantry Regiment (Lossberg)
-1 Cavalry Regiment (King's Horse)

Orangemen
-1 Infantry Brigade (Free Ulster Rifles)
-4 Light Infantry Regiment
-2 Militia Infantry Regiment

The Irish have spent an extensive period of time investing their siege, meaning that the rebels who are sallying forth from the gates of Belfast are fighting against an entrenched position. However, the rebel column is attacking from a direction the Irish had presumed was secure (not anticipating any attacks), and thus the Irish scramble to meet their attackers there (Irish get an FF turn and defense bonus against the units attacking from Belfast [1 Inf Brig, 1 LI Reg, 1 Mil Reg], but not against the relief column [3 LI reg, 1 mil reg]). Marlborough puts his lighter, Irish light infantry regiments up against the Belfast force, with his Bavarians and Cavalry tackling the oncoming rebels, with him at the helm (dice roll bonus for this part of the battle).

The resplendent Protestant column, 4,000 men strong, essentially melts when it comes in first contact with the Bavarians. With their backs to the River Lagan, the Bavarians unload volley after volley into the rebels as their cavalry swings down the flank. The attacking rebels are rolled up and picked apart before they can do more than fire ineffective shots at the Bavarian line (Irish roll 3 hits, shattering 4 regiments; Rebels roll 0 hits). Though the Irish are well-pleased with their easy dispatching of the parvenu regiments, the core of their defensive line fares much less well. The Ulstermen, led by the mutinous ”Free Ulster Rifles,” overcome the Irish siege positions at few losses of their own (Irish roll 0x, Ulstermen roll 1x with their brigade and shatter the two regiments).

The former Irish camp becomes the site of bloody battle as the Bavarians rush back to shore up the line and repulse the forces of the Protestants. A muddy, bloody melee ensues, where the two sides are slowly whittled down over the course of the day. The big guns and steely demeanor of the professional brigades wreak havoc on the smaller regiments, but eventually the Bavarians emerge as just barely holding the field (Over the next two FF turns—the Irish have lost their defensive positions and thus their bonus—the Irish land 4 hits and the rebels 2; rolls are such that the Bavarian infantry brigade is unscathed, but because of the weaker firepower of the regiments they take more hits to take out the brigade).

In the chaos following the battle, the rebels disperse in all directions. Some attempt to retreat into the city, but the confusion of the retreat means they’re merely caught inside as the Bavarians follow them in to claim their prize. Others move to retreat to the last standing rebel city, Derry, while still others decide to melt away into the countryside while they still can.

Casualties of the Battle of Dunmurry

Ireland
-2 Light Infantry Regiment (Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Irish Guard) shattered, reformed into 1
-1 Bavarian Infantry Regiment (Lossberg) shattered, destroyed
-1 Cavalry Regiment (King's Horse) shattered, destroyed

Rebels
-1 Infantry Brigade (Free Ulster Rifles) shattered, destroyed
-4 Light Infantry Regiment shattered, reduced to 2 LI regiments
-2 Militia Infantry Regiment, shattered, destroyed

The Irish have thus seized the fortress at Belfast, but most of their own column which marched north later the previous year has been destroyed or heavily reduced. The light infantry relief from Dublin arrive over a week later to find a city which is just emerging from the throes of retribution: any and every known, or suspected, Protestant officer has been summarily hanged, executed, and their heads portrayed on spikes around the city. The colonel in charge of the Free Ulster Rifles has been stripped naked, scoured, and left to hang, upside down, outside the town hall. Presbyterian, Puritan, and any manner of non-Catholic churches have been burned out, looted, and otherwise defiled—long after similar fates had befallen their Catholic counterparts, of course—leaving a husk of a city. (Game Effect: Belfast Provides .25 income in 1719, .75 in 1720, full in 1721)

Marlborough’s second army continues to assemble at Dublin for the rest of April and into May. Early in that month his army sets out to the north, determined to root out what remains of the Ulster resistance. His massive army moves laboriously through the north, but with a clear destination in mind: Derry, rechristened “Londonderry” by the rebels. Orange columns and militia melt away before him, but resort to irregular tactics to harass and hamper his attacking force. The lack of a functioning cavalry screen impedes the Irish ability to prevent and quickly respond along the length of their force, and they end up taking noticeable casualties (1 Infantry Brigade is shattered, reduced to 1 LI regiment.) However, the majority of the force does eventually arrive intact by the end of the month—and Marlborough is determined to extinguish the cradle of the rebellion at once, and so foregoes the siege.

Battle of Derry, May 28

Orangemen
-5 Light Infantry Regiments
-1 Militia Brigade

Irish
-5 Infantry Brigade ( Cork Foot, Armagh Foot, Ultonia, Clare, Dillon)
-1 Light Infantry Regiment (Leinster Brigade)

The rebels are outnumbered more than 2-1—drastically more when you consider the disparity in heavy arms—but refuse to surrender, trusting in Providence (and the walls of the city) to defend them. Marlborough, his sharp tactical wit back in full-swing, takes personal command of the battle to ensure its success (Rebels get an FF turn and a defensive roll bonus which is negated by Marlborough’s GC roll).

“Derry Boys” manning the guns manage to inflict some meaningful casualties on the attackers as they approach (FF: 1x, 1 inf brigade reduced) but the Irish gunners shine as the attack comes into full swing. Marlborough’s cannons blow huge holes in the city’s aging walls, allowing for the Irish regulars to pour into the city. Brutal street fighting follows, but the defenders are no match for the superior numbers and firepower of the government’s soldiers and ultimately are overwhelmed by the Irish (MF: Rebels 2x, 2 infantry regiments destroyed)

Casualties of the Battle of Derry

Orangemen
-5 LI Regiments destroyed
-1 Militia Brigade destroyed

Ireland
-1 Infantry Brigade destroyed (Armagh Foot)
-1 Infantry Brigade reduced to Light Infantry Regiment (Cork Foot)
-1 Light Infantry regiment destroyed (Leinster Brigade)

As at Belfast, no mercy is shown to anyone accused of being involved in the conspiracy or leadership of the rebellion, and inhumane acts are inflicted on them. Marlborough makes more token efforts to protect religious sites, but the devastation is still thorough. Crucially, however, the rebellion in the North has been thoroughly defeated in the field—though bands of rebels continue to traverse the countryside, harassing Stuart agents and attempting to keep the province in disarray in the fading hopes of English assistance.

Across the narrow straits between Ulster and Scotland, the Commonwealth hopes to score its own crushing victories over the Jacobite rebels. Mar has established positions in Stirling, cornered on Stirling Castle overlooking the Forth, and awaits the English advance. He hopes to use the defensive positions to crush the attacking Parliamentarian army, or at least inflict enough casualties to allow his forces further north time to group up with any potential relief.

Battle of Stirling, April 15

Jacobites
-6 Light Infantry Regiments
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment

England
-2 Infantry Brigades
-1 Cavalry Brigade
-2 Light Infantry Brigades
-1 Light Infantry Regiment
-1 Militia Cavalry Brigade

Mar, of course, refuses any surrender out of hand, knowing his fate if he falls into the Commonwealth’s hands. He also trust in his fortifications to see him through the day (Jacobites get defensive dice roll and FF, but no free militia brigade—Stirling is too small). Mar’s gunnery fails him as the English army approaches, however (FF turn: 0x), and the Commonwealth pushes into the town. The Jacobite regiments throw everything they have against the Englishmen, but the heavier firepower of the English clearly wins the day (MF: Jacobites 3x, destroying 1 LI brigade and shattered 1 Mil cavalry brigade. The English roll 2x, shattering 4 Jacobite LI regiments).

Mar decides that discretion is the better part of valor and move to slip across the Forth. He tries to use his smaller cavalry screen to aid his efforts, but they are outmanned and outgunned by the professional English cavalrymen. He is able to make it across with a small force, but his cavalry and most of his army are routed and captured.

Casualties of the Battle of Stirling


Jacobites
-4 Light Infantry Regiments shattered, destroyed
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment destroyed

English
-1 Light Infantry Brigade destroyed
-1 Militia cavalry brigade shattered, reduced to regiment

Mar beats the quick retreat to Dundee, aided by the English army’s need to recuperate after battle. By late April the Commonwealth’s army is ready to begin its march up the Eastern coast, when it receives shocking news.

Admiral Byng, ever more confident of his position, has taken to aggressively patrolling St. George’s channel to head off any attacks on the Channel Coast and to keep an eye on the Irish fleet. Both fleets are obsessed with keeping their fleets-in-being, and so are cautious, but the caution is ebbing ever more and more. His orders are to avoid combat where he can unless it is guaranteed to be in his favor, and to watch the south for Spanish fleets sailing to join the Irish at Dublin. Aylmer is happy to oblige, as he moves to make repeated shows of force in the Irish Sea, drawing Byng closer into the sea, but does not engage.

This dance is designed, from the Irish side, to mask an even more critical move. The joint Spanish-Irish fleet based on the West Coast, augmented by a smaller fleet from Spain, moves to transport a Spanish force around the West of Ireland. Stopping off in Galway, the fleet then rounds the coast of Ulster and up through the Hebrides. Where the English were unable to land a force to aid their Protestant brethren, the Irish have convinced the young Wittelsbach king to land an army at Fort William. They spend the rest of the season building their base and preparing for what is certain to be a brutal campaign season ahead, but the Commonwealth army at Stirling is unwilling to leave its rear exposed by moving in either direction as of yet, and spends the remainder of the Spring securing the Lowlands.

The Irish gambit has left core parts of their Empire critically underdefended, however. The English raiding vessels have been given essentially free rein over the entire Atlantic Seaboard and Caribbean. If it weren’t for the Spanish patrols in the region there would be nothing stopping English raiders, and while that constrains them in the Caribbean, it is not enough to prevent extensive raiding across the Atlantic Coast. Commerce along the Irish Atlantic coast slows to such a crawl that businesses across the region begin to tumble into depression; the blockade is hardly complete, due to the small number of ships involved and alternate trading routes around, but it adds enough costs that the economic effects are substantial.

Game Effects:

Ireland
-1 Commercial Fleet captured
-1 Commercial Fleet destroyed
-Every Irish colonial port in North America loses .25 income in 1719 (Hampton, Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, Bermuda, Bahamas, Kingston)

England
-1 FF1s lightly damaged (Lark) [1 Turn, .25 points to repair]
-1 Patron destroyed

Spain
-1 Commercial Fleet captured
-2 PatRon heavily damaged [1 turn, .2 points to repair]
-1 PatRons destroyed


Combatant Forces, end of Spring

England

Navy

Naval Facilities
-4 Naval Yards (Bristol, London, Plymouth, Portsmouth)

Sunderland
-1 FF1 (Pelican)
-3 Patron

Bristol
-1 BB1 (Ezekiel 22:31)
-28 BB2 (Devonshire, Cornwall, Boyne, Russell, Norfolk, Humber, Sussex, Torbay, Lancaster, Dorsetshire, Cambridge, Chichester, Cromwell, Ipswich, Sunderland, Exeter, Bedford, Orford, Triumph, Defiance, Swiftsure, Dreadnought, Liberator, Association, Nassau, Revenge, Barfleur, Namur)
-16 FF1 (Foresight, Assistance, Reserve, Adventure, Seahorse, Drake, Nightingale, Dover, Liverpool, Gosport, Swan, Pearl, Assurance, Nutmeg, Lively, Surprise)
-7 PatRon

St. John's, Newfoundland
-1 PatRon

Boston
-5 FF1s (Ruby, Diamond, Kentish, Cornwall, Glasgow)
-1 PatRon

Providence
-4 FF1s (Sussex, Portland, Hampshire, Boston)
-1 PatRon

Kingstown, St. Vincent
-4 FF1s ( Hector, Greyhound, Garland, Diadem)
-1 FF1, lightly damaged (Lark)

Lambertia (RL Port Elizabeth)
-1 PatRon

Pondicherry
-2 PatRon

Army

Fixed Installations
-8 Fortresses (London, Dover, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, Southampton)
-5 Militia Infantry Brigades (London, 2 Plymouth, Portsmouth, Bristol)
-2 Militia Cavalry Brigades (London, Dover)

Liverpool
-2 Light Infantry Brigades
-1 Militia Cavalry Regiment

Bristol
-2 Infantry Brigades
-1 Cavalry Brigade

Stirling
-2 Infantry Brigades
-1 Cavalry Brigade
-1 Light Infantry Brigade
-1 Light Infantry Regiment

Orangemen

Ulster
-1-3 Militia Regiments worth of irregulars across the province

Ireland

Navy

Naval Installations
-3 Naval Yards (Dublin, Cork, Charleston)

Dublin
-8 BB1s ( Connacht, Arabella FitzJames, Charlotte Maria, Arabella Churchill, Ulster, Leinster, Anne Hyde, Mary of Modena)
-11 BB2 (Fodla, Tlachtaga, Gailimh inion Breasail, Fand, Machca, Brigid, Aine, Airmed, Anu, Badb, Aimend)
-4 Spanish BB2s
-22 FF1 ( St. Blathmac, St. Fiachra, St. Kentigerna, St. Máedóc, St. Mél, St. Finten, St. Cellach, St. Cruithnechán, St. Tirechán, St. Sillán, St. Scuithin, St. Ruadán, St. Olcán, St. Óengus, St. Midabaria, St. Malachy, St. Lallóc, St. Gobnait, Khatar, St. Assicus, St. Barinthus, St. Breage, St. Eithne)
-13 PatRons

Army

Fixed Installations
-2 Fortresses (Dublin, Cork)
-4 Militia Brigades (Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Killarney)

Derry
-3 Infantry Brigade (Clare, Dillon Ultonia)
-2 Light Infantry Brigade (Leinster Brigades, Cork Foot)

Belfast
-1 Bavarian Infantry Brigade (Knyphausen)
-1 Light Infantry Brigade (Hibernia)
-1 Light Infantry Regiment (Irish Guard)

Jacobites

Inverness
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Dundee
-2 Light Infantry Regiments
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Aberdeen
-1 Militia Infantry Regiment

Spain

Fort William
-5 Infantry Brigades
-1 Cavalry Brigade

Fort William, Naval
-9 Spanish FF1s
-4 Irish FF1s (St. Fiachra, St. Finten, St. Midabaria, St. Virgno)
-10 Spanish PatRons
-2 Irish PatRons

[Haven]

The landing of a large Spanish army in Scotland causes deep concern in the Netherlands. The Spanish ambassador is summoned and informed of the uncomfortably felt in the Netherlands regarding the unfolding situation. While no sleep is lost over shed English blood, if events continue to escalate the balance in Europe could be dangerously threatened. As such, the Spanish ambassador is asked to clearly lay out the aim of the current campaign and Spain's overarching aims in the war as a whole.


While people fleeing the conflict from all sides and denominations are welcomed in the Netherlands themselves, a strict ban is placed on migration in the New Netherlands from either Scottish or English colonies.

[Galveston Bay]

The French Ambassador in Ireland, who has had to move around a bit to avoid being caught up in the fighting, finally receives a message from Paris asking him to discuss with the Stuart King what conditions would be necessary to bring about peace between the two English speaking nations

[Hussam B.]

Both the Dutch and the French are assured that the Spanish King have no designs over England or English territory beyond aiding his brother-in-law against English aggression.

[Haven]

The Spanish ambassador is thanked; it is appreciated the Spain is not seeking to enlargen itself at English expense. However, the idea of a Stuart being placed in control of England is considered unacceptable. A similar message is passed directly to the Irish as well.

[Hussam B.]

The Spanish ambassador is thanked; it is appreciated the Spain is not seeking to enlargen itself at English expense. However, the idea of a Stuart being placed in control of England is considered unacceptable. A similar message is passed directly to the Irish as well.

It is reminded that the conflict was sparked not by an Irish attempt to install a Stuart in London, but rather by an English attempt to depose the one in Ireland.

Surely the Dutch understand this?

[Kilani]

News of a Spanish invasion army on the shores of Scotland strikes like a thunderbolt. Specters of invasion not seen since the days of Elizabeth and the Spanish Armada suddenly rear their ugly heads and there is much consternation in London, as well as throughout the rest of the country. There are dark predictions of being forced under the Stuart heel - and by extension, the Spanish heel, since it's clearly the vile Catholic monarchs pulling the strings. The darkest predictions of the pre-war radicals seem to be coming true and broadsheets and exhortations from leading men in government demand the utmost exertions from all true, hearty Commonwealth men to flock to the colros and see off the Catholic invaders.

Not content with stirring up rebellion in the north, they now come to destroy Commonwealth civilization and liberty; to depose the lawfully elected and free parliament and place all freemen under the hated yoke of monarchy. Byng now faces increased pressure from London - indeed, almost daily there are letters coming to him from members of Parliament - to he use his fleet and take action and thereby save the Commonwealth from the foreign hordes.

Throughout the country, hastily established drill camps are popping up around major military facilities as more men are called to the colors...

[Haneastic]

The French Ambassador in Ireland, who has had to move around a bit to avoid being caught up in the fighting, finally receives a message from Paris asking him to discuss with the Stuart King what conditions would be necessary to bring about peace between the two English speaking nations

The French ambassador is welcomed with open arms to the court of King James. The French Kingdom has been friendly to Irish Kingdom, and the mood of the court is jubilant after news of Marlborough’s smashing victories, reducing the Orangemen to nothing but marauding bands of thieves and scoundrels.

The French are reminded that the Kingdom of Ireland did not seek war; rather it was the warmongering English who began the hostilities, not too long after their previous occupation of the Emerald Isle, in which untold thousands of innocent Irishmen were slaughtered at Commonwealth hands (a point also passed along to the Dutch, who have experienced their own occupation by the English).

The Kingdom of Ireland is more than willing to turn their swords into ploughshares: however, the English must be taught that such naked aggression against fellow Christian nations is not tolerated. Additionally, the Irish note the existence of the Duke of Mar’s Jacobite army in Scotland, which has withstood repeated Commonwealth depredations against their homeland. Therefore, it is proposed that Scotland north of the River Forth be ceded to the Kingdom of Ireland. No other territorial changes will be made nor compensation paid for lost commerce. Lastly, the Irish propose a period of time to allow Ireland and England to transfer (or allow to emigrate) those who opposed their respective rule in their own lands.

The Irish, ever reasonable, are willing to entertain counter proposals.

[Kilani]

When word filters back to Parliament about the Stuart king's demands, the Scottish members of Parliament (mostly) cause an uproar. This is, as one Parliamentarian proclaims, merely a pretext to allow the Stuarts a foothold in the Commonwealth; what next? Demands that all of Scotland be ceded to their tyrannic rule? Wales? Cornwall?

Through French intermediaries, the terms are rejected out of hand.

More quietly, the some senior Commonwealth diplomats inform the French they are prepared to return to status quo antebellum with a white peace, with the possibility of some compensation for commerce.

[Galveston Bay]

When word filters back to Parliament about the Stuart king's demands, the Scottish members of Parliament (mostly) cause an uproar, as does the Scottish Parliament (only recently re-seated in Edinburgh, due to the change of hands that Edinburgh has gone through). This is, as one Parliamentarian proclaims, merely a pretext to allow the Stuarts a foothold in the Commonwealth; what next? Demands that all of Scotland be ceded to their tyrannic rule? Wales? Cornwall?

Through French intermediaries, the terms are rejected out of hand.

More quietly, the some senior Commonwealth diplomats inform the French they are prepared to return to status quo antebellum with a white peace, with the possibility of some compensation for commerce.

The French Ambassador in England, Henri de Saint Nectaire, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_de_Saint-Nectaire, urges the Commonwealth to consider at the very least the Stuart proposal regarding a grace period for emigration and expulsion and also suggests that in the spirit of Christian forbearance ending the wholesale executions (that both sides are guilty of) and practicing exile instead of execution. As to the territorial demands, the Commonwealth answer is sent to the Stuarts.

OOC
who owns the Channel Islands... the King or the Parliament? If the Parliament has them, the French suggest offering them up to the Stuarts as a concession as they are historically not part of England but the Crowns personal lands left over from the days of Henry II

[Kilani]

When word filters back to Parliament about the Stuart king's demands, the Scottish members of Parliament (mostly) cause an uproar, as does the Scottish Parliament (only recently re-seated in Edinburgh, due to the change of hands that Edinburgh has gone through). This is, as one Parliamentarian proclaims, merely a pretext to allow the Stuarts a foothold in the Commonwealth; what next? Demands that all of Scotland be ceded to their tyrannic rule? Wales? Cornwall?

Through French intermediaries, the terms are rejected out of hand.

More quietly, the some senior Commonwealth diplomats inform the French they are prepared to return to status quo antebellum with a white peace, with the possibility of some compensation for commerce.

The French Ambassador in England, Henri de Saint Nectaire, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_de_Saint-Nectaire, urges the Commonwealth to consider at the very least the Stuart proposal regarding a grace period for emigration and expulsion and also suggests that in the spirit of Christian forbearance ending the wholesale executions (that both sides are guilty of) and practicing exile instead of execution.   As to the territorial demands, the Commonwealth answer is sent to the Stuarts.

OOC
who owns the Channel Islands... the King or the Parliament?  If the Parliament has them, the French suggest offering them up to the Stuarts as a concession as they are historically not part of England but the Crowns personal lands left over from the days of Henry II

Diplomats indicate that there is (grudging) support in Paliament (and from Stanhope) for the grace period; the territorial demands are unacceptable on their face to Parliament, however, and if pressed the Republican Army will fight on.

OOC: If the islands are still in Commonwealth hands, they'll (begrudgingly) accept the French proposal (and spin it as washing their hands of the last remnants of a decrepit age).

[Haneastic]

As a gesture of good faith, the Irish armies are ordered to safeguard religious sites and priests from all Christian sects. The Kingdom of Ireland has enjoyed religious freedom since the reign of James II, and despite the excesses of some overzealous troops, James III intends to follow in his father's footsteps.

The Irish are unwilling to abandon their Jacobites allies in the field, and thus must continue to prosecute the war.

[Haven]

The British war has played heavily in debates in the Netherlands over the past year. Coming at a moment of much internal change, the war has created strong sentiments on all sides although the strong majority opinion was to remain neutral. While the temptation existed to help bring down one side or the other, to seek revenge for past transgressions, or to fulfill the desire to support coreligionists and for some, fellow republicans, watching the Irish and English kill each other, and potentially making money in the process, was an almost too perfect situation. The entrance of Spain into the war, the threatened possibility of a crushed England leaving the delicate power balance in the New Netherlands shattered and the rejection of a white peace caused alarm, and emboldened some pro-war voices. In the end though, simple greed tipped the balance. A tempting English offer to join the war following the rejection of peace was enough to bring around the profit-chasing bankers and shareholders of the trading companies. (English India is being transferred to the VOC)

The Spanish and Irish ambassadors are informed that a state of war now exists between their nations and the Netherlands.

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