Hardican Civil War Move 2.2

2.2 Ten Days in May - Manouvres and Money
After retiring from the field and having to gather his forces again, which took a couple of days, Marquess Raffham, Thomas Kirby temporarily split his forces, recruiting an infantry unit out of Raffham and a cavalry unit from Stanton Brimard. Uncertain of the how secure Farren Mill was, he decided against another unit directly from there. Marching with the two Raffham units and artillery, Kirby headed to Maidenpool and sat down there to bring the town under Parliamentary control. He was forced to find new recruits for the scout cavalry which was suffering from a dip in morale after being chased off the field.

Sir Clive Camberwell rode across country to Stanton Brimard, where he raised a new horse unit, leaving Sir Lyall Wetherick to march the foot units into Farren Mill and assume control, there. 

Lord Stewart, doubting that Langley would attempt another move nortwards until he had a substantially more powerful force, left Major Edward Delaney and the 1st Keswick at Candleridge and marched on Turnwall, taking the artillery with him as the partially walled town may resist efforts to bring it under control.  Not everyone in Turnwall was ready to submit to demands from Parliament and a local militia quickly took possession of the gates and walls, resisting the initial attempt to seize the town.  Stewart, irritated by this, deployed the artillery and began the business of reducing the defence.

In Greysby, Connal Murray and his highlanders soon had the town subdued and marched in to demand taxes towards the Parliamentary cause. Sir Owen Kentigern had taken a role as second in command under Murray and seemed to be satisfied with this. They established a camp just west of the main town and began to plan an attack on Rivenbridge. Murray's fanatics were impatient to be away and making war against Barret, Campbell and Laidlaw all of whom they regarded as traitorous.

In the south, Kirby was concerned for the force holding at Frinton and sent orders that Sir Henry Tremayne should organise a horse unit immediately and then consider raising more troops to ensure that they could defend themselves until help arrived from the north.

Langley and his forces had not been idle, either.  The Republicans desperately needed funds. Hopton had begun bombarding Hornborough castle with the refusal of the town or the Earl of Easthold to surrender up taxes and territory. The ex-royalist, Sir Fengrove Parry occupied the castle, closed the gates of the town and using his militia and local guards, stood firm. 

Sir Geoffrey Morton had marched from Newchurch but finding the way blocked by the forces at Frinton, went north across country and set up an encampment about twenty miles east of Eden Wells, sending letters to Sir Percival Blake, emploring him to join their cause. Blake had been a royalist who changed sides to support Parliament and since, had become an active political figure. The only issue was that, while he got on well enough with Morton and Hopton, he showed a distaste for Charles Langley.

Finding no gains out of either of these manouvres, Langley himself sent word to Hopton who purchased a supply train and sent spare coin as well as hay, vegetables and fruit to help out Langley's pressured position.  Using some of the coin, Langley had Sir Paxton Gilbert recruit a foot unit from Stourwold and both marched to meet at Wilcombe, which they swiftly took despite some protests from Sir Landon Fitzwalter, who was related to the Parliamentarian, Sir James Fitzpatrick. 

In the north, Barrett's forces were running out of coin and supplies. He had to gamble on Murray not making an immediate advance, despatching Campbell to Albridge to bring that small town under their aegis and, leaving Laidlaw to hold Rivenbridge, Barrett rode to Edenwood to approach Sir Stafford Le Grange who leaned towards Langley although he had also been a royalist politician. Fortunately for him, Campbell put down any resistance from Albridge in his usual harsh manner and Le Grange responded positively, making it clear that he did not want to see Kirby and his "left-wing populists" in control of the state.  The addition of Edenwood and Albridge gave Barrett access to a usable war chest and the army could be paid. Le Grange lost no time in raising men at Edenwood and by the end of the period, they were ready to head back to Rivenbridge while Campbell camped outside Albridge.