Powick Bridge, fought on September 23, 1642 between the Royalist cavalry under Prince Rupert and Parliamentarians from Essex's army under the command of Colonel Edwin Sands, was the first skirmish of the English Civil War. Though a small engagement between a few opposing cavalry squadrons, Powick Bridge confirmed the superiority of the Royalist cavalry in the opening months of the Civil War. In our refight, however, Prince Rupert's forces did not fare nearly so well.
The map and scenario are based on the book English Civil War Gaming Scenarios by Steven Maggs, from Partizan Press. The game was played using Forlorn Hope, also by Partizan Press. All figures are Perry Miniatures, painted by Scott Perry of Pictor's Studio.
FORCES ENGAGED
| Parliamentarians | Royalists |
| Burghill's Troop - 5 Figures (125 men) | Rupert's Troop - 6 Figures (150 men) |
| Nathaniel Fiennes' Troop - 5 Figures (125 men) | Maurice's Troop - 5 Figures (125 men) |
| John Fiennes' Troop - 4 Figures (100 men) | Sir Richard Crane's Troop - 4 Figures (100 men) |
| Wingate's Troop - 4 Figures (100 men) | Wilmot's Troop - 4 Figures (100 men) |
| Berry's Troop - 4 Figures (100 men) | Lord Digby's Troop - 4 Figures (100 men) |
| Sand's Troop - 4 Figures (100 men) | Prince of Wales' Troop - 5 Figures (125 men) |
| Alexander Douglas' Troop - 4 Figures (100 men) | |
| Austen's Troop - 4 Figures (100 men) | |
| Brown's Dragoons - 6 Figures (150 men) |
Sand's forces approach the bridge, unaware of the royalist cavalry in the fields beyond.
As Sand's forces crossed the bridge, the Royalists formed. Sands quickly engaged the Royalists under Lord Digby just across the bridge. As the battle raged, with troops from both sides routing, Rupert's troop cleared the bridge and pursued in to the fields beyond.
Rupert's troop charges over Powick Bridge, routing the Parliamentarians.
As Rupert's men chased down their opponents, the Royalist fortunes took a turn for the worse. Prince Maurice's troop left the field in pursuit of a beaten foe, allowing the Parliamentarians to gain the upper hand against the remaining Royalist horse. Rupert returned to engage Colonel Sand's troop in a final effort to win the day, but his exhausted troopers broke against a determined effort by their foe.
In the end, the Royalists' fortunes declined as their troops suffered several defeats, while their victorious forces, displaying more valor than discipline, chased their beaten foes from the field, removing themselves from the battle. In a twist reminiscent of a true ECW cavalry fight, no troops remained on the field, all of them having either routed or left in pursuit of their enemies.