The Ride of the Charioteers

[Karvon]

The 1st in a series of battles in a semi-historical campaign using the Ancient British.

1. Battle on the Plains

A Roman army landed on our fair shores, and after some debate, the local tribes banded together to repel the intruders. We confronted the invaders on a broad plain bounded by a large plateau on our right, which rose to a rocky crest near the edge. Scattered woods filled our left corner sector. Beyond the forest, along the left edge, rose a small hill, girded by rough. A short ridge faced the plateau on our right with a small farm at the base.

We deployed one band of chariots on our right, screened by light foot and horse. A single warband hidden in the farm provided token support. We placed most of our chariots on our far left, divided into two bands, each supported by a screen of light horse and foot, Our warbands hid in the forests on our left.

The Romans deployed their heavy infantry in the center with a number of light and medium foot opposite the rocky crest of the plateau. A couple of medium foot formed up on their right, supported by some horse and a few lights. A single artillery piece was located in the rear behind the center.

Realizing we would lose the race to the rocky crest on our right, we made an initial feint towards it, and then began a rapid shift to our far left, leaving the warband hidden in the farm behind. Our left wing swept forward and quickly dispatched the opposing lights and mounted, thanks to superior numbers and massed skirmishers.

The Romans slowly shifted their forces right in response, with their left wing cautiously securing the high ground before wheeling after our redeploying right.

On our left, our chariots swept around the Roman flank and rear, falling on their medium foot from several directions and quickly seeing them off. Our light horse overran the Roman artillery. Our chariots moved up to pin and threaten the flanks of the Roman legion, further impeding their response.

The Roman foot gamely chased off our chariots, but that spread them out into more exposed positions. Ignoring the more experienced legionnaires, our chariot shifted to the right and our hidden warband emerged to overrun the remaining light and medium foot. With virtually all of their support gone, the Romans had had enough and fled the field.

Final Score: British 46 Romans 2

[Karvon]

The 2nd in a series of battles in a semi-historical campaign using the Ancient British.

2. Battle in the Hills

The Romans regrouped and marched into the hills seeking out our forces. We met in a valley with steep hills and forests lining each edge, and a long, steep ridge ran across our center section. A stream wound across the middle of the field between the hills and woods. It wasn't very favorable ground for the Roman foot nor our chariots.

We massed most of our warbands behind the central ridge and placed the rest in the woods on our right. We deployed our light on our right, screening the woods with a small division of chariots in support.

The Romans deployed in the center of the valley with the legion supported by a few mediums and screened by a few lights. A couple of horse formed a reserve. A pair of artillery were in the rear as fire support.

The Romans cautiously advance up the valley.

We sortied out of the woods with our lights and chariots on our right, crossing the stream and working our way over the hills and through the woods to threaten the Roman left. We shifted our warbands right behind the ridge, and those on our right sortied out of the woods and followed up behind our lights. Our lights overwhelmed the fewer Roman lights with a shower of stones and javelins, and they fled through the Roman heavy foot to avoid further damage.

The Romans sent out their horse in an attempt to drive off our lights, while their infantry wheeled to face the threat on their left. Our lights shot up the horse, and the survivors retreated to safety behind the foot. Our warbands worked their way into the woods on the Roman left, and some passed around the woods to threaten the Roman rear. We detached some of our warbands in the center to swing around the Roman right, while the rest of the body moved up to the stream bank to threaten the Roman center.

The Romans sent some Spanish into the woods on their left, as well as a couple of legionaries. The heavy foot didn't fare well, and one fragmented when flanked. The Roman center turned about to support their troubled left and avoid the encircling warbands.

Our lights slipped through their lines and advanced on their artillery, and hiding lights in their rear. Our warbands began to close in on all sides of the Roman foot, supported by our chariots.

At this point, the Romans lost hope and surrendered.

[Karvon]

The 3rd in a series of battles in a semi-historical campaign using the Ancient British.

3. Coming through the Trees

Our mobile forces chased after the retreating Romans and caught up to them on a broad plain bordered by woods on both flanks.

We sent a swarm of light forward on both wings, supported by chariots, with the rest of the chariots deployed in the center. A small division of warbands formed up on each wing to support the flanking moves.

The Romans deployed their heavy foot in the center, supported by a few mediums on the flanks and in the rear. A token screen of lights was strung across their front.

Our lights and chariots destroyed or drove in the screening lights all along the front. Our central chariots pinned down most of the Roman heavy foot while our chariots and warbands on each wing worked their way around the flanks.

After a few unsuccessful attempts to engage our chariots with their heavy foot, which drew them out of position, the Romans surrendered in the face of the coming envelopment.

Final score Ancient British 40 - Romans 6