For a seasonal slaughter we decided to try the Battle of Kinsale. This was on the 25th December 1601 (old style Calendar, or 4th January 1602 for the Catholics) and was the last, decisive battle of the Nine Years War in Ireland between the English and Irish, with some hope of Spanish support.


This involved Hugh O'Neil marching his army, newly trained in pike and shot tactics, to join up with the Spanish blockaded in Kinsale. Mountjoy, commanding the English, stood in his way. We also wanted to include some naval element to try out some of my newly launched ships so decided that the naval battle of Castlehaven had not happened earlier and that the Spanish fleet under Zubiaur was trying to break past a blockade mounted by Admiral Leveson's squadron.

The land armies were assembled using the DBR list in Peter Sides 'Renaissance Battles Volume 2' halving the numbers and distances  to allow it to fit in the area we had as well as include a bit of sea room for the naval action. The armies as assembled can be found here.

We decided the Naval Commands would throw command dice separately, as would the Spanish in Kinsale. O' Donnell's foot would be included as part of O' Neil's command but would only arrive on a throw of a 5 or 6 as stipulated in Sides book. Carew commanded the bulk of the English foot in the English camp facing the Spanish, whilst Mountjoy led a smaller force to intercept the Irish. We therefore decided most of Carew's command would remain inactive, except for his personal retinue, unless the Spanish sallied forth from Kinsale. The Spanish in Kinsale, under Del Aguila, would only move out of Kinsale on a roll 5 or 6 as well, as historically they were unaware of the battle and Del Aguila's force did not take part.

Crafthole took the part of Mountjoy and Carew commanding the English whilst I was left with the Irish and Spanish.



Starting dispositions.  The hastily assembled Medieval walls of Kinsale are on the right, Carew and the English camp in the centre and O'Neil is arriving on the left with Mountjoy in and around the woods and mill in the left foreground, on the other side of the Millwater stream from the English camp.



The English Squadron of Leveson patrols the coast, consisting of three Galleons and a pinnace somewhat anachronistically made up from later 17th century ships in this instance

O'Neil takes the high ground as his newly trained pike and shot march down the road to Kinsale

Mountjoy awaits his opportunity to spring out to confront the Irish

Carew is left in command of the English camp overlooking the Spanish in Kinsale

The Spanish fleet under Zubiaur, consisting of two Galleons and three merchant vessels, arrive to try and break the English blockade

The Fleets exchange broadsides at extreme range with no real damage

Zubiaur adopts a classic Spanish armadaesque crescent formation, and pushes back Leveson

Mountjoy closes on the Irish as O'Donnell arrives. O'Neil, realising he has bunched all his pike in the centre, attempts to redeploy his line in the face of the enemy...always a bad idea

Meanwhile the fleets square up to each other and Leveson reveals his secret weapon, a fireship !

A series of poor command rolls leave the Irish virtually paralysed as the English close in. Carew and his personal retinue, right foreground, cross the Millwater and move in on the Irish flank.

First blood to the Spanish off the coast as they blow the pinnace out of the water...

...followed by one of the Galleons, leaving the English quite literally all at sea. the English fleet is beaten and the remaining two galleons flee in disarray, shoving their ordnance over the sides to lighten their load and win some searoom.



However after this the Spanish fleet proceed cautiously, needing to keep a wary eye on the English Fireship, which they cannot seem to shake off, and the strong winds blowing into a lee shore.

Inland the English close to musket range and send volleys crashing into the Irish, who being armed with arqebuses, do not have the range to reply

Mountjoy personally leads a charge against some Irish Carabins

Mountjoy cuts through the carabins, but impetuously charges into the Irish foot, a lucky shot from a flying ramrod dishevels his carefully trimmed facial hair and he retires to the rear, comb in hand, taking his retinue with him. This leaves the English in this part of the field leaderless.

Despite this the English shot continue to grind down the Irish with well aimed volleys, slowly the Irish are pressed back.

finally a decent command roll allows the Irish to sort themselves out a bit and close with the English in an attempt to buy some manoeuvre room

O'Neil leads his light horse in a charge against the foot of Carew's personal lifeguard

Back at sea Leveson  finally rallys the remains of the English fleet, whilst Zubiaur presses steadily on towards Kinsale, still dogged by the English fireship

The English Demi-Lancers catch the Irish Carabins off guard, they are sent skittering back into the Irish foot, sweeping them from the field. This is enough to finally break the Irish after their earlier devastating losses from English musketry

Meanwhile the noise of the siege guns drowns out the slaughter as Del Aguila, unaware of what is going on outside the walls, drills his Tercio in the market square of Kinsale.

The final position against the Irish just before the English Demi-Lancers deliver their killing blow. O' Neil's foot has been decimated. O' Donnell, behind on the road,  may be able to escape, covered by the Irish light horse and kerns, or he may have to make a last stand on the hill to his rear.

A Spanish Tercio await the arrival of the Spanish fleet at the docks of Kinsale. With O' Neil defeated there is little point remaining in Ireland.