Our latest battles in the Irish Campaign were fought between the Scots and a Royalist/Irish coalition. Briefly, the Covenant forces of Leven and Monro are attempting to link up near Dundalk. Both armies met opposition in the shape of a combined force of Irish rebels and Royalists blocking their path in a sort of ‘your enemy is my enemy’ way. Monro’s task was to force a passage past the enemy blocking the road to Dundalk at Castle Blaney. This was a frontal assault against fixed positions along a very narrow front which proved a proper slugging match over many turns. The appearance of some Irish, unexpectedly, in the Scots rear forced them to react and probably saved the defenders from defeat. Fortunately, Leven – on the other table – was having more success and the day ended at last with a strategic victory for the Scots as the Irish dissipated and the Royalists were obliged to retire towards Drogheda.

(Written with a clearly Scottish perspective…!)