Siege of Liverpool 1644: Preamble - Quick Scenario Context

 My game of Prince Rupert's Siege of Liverpool is scheduled for tomorrow night. The event was chosen because it is a small siege, which is a good idea for rule-testing, the ECW gives relatively simple sieges, and I have an interest in the area.

Liverpool, in 1644, is a town of only about 1000 inhabitants, with fairly primitive port facilities, but it provides a very useful communication with Ireland. A year ago, Parliament seized the town and ejected the main Catholic families (notably Richard Molyneux, who promptly raised regiments of foot and horse, and went away to fight for the King), and it has subsequently been fortified by the addition of earth walls to protect the north side of the town, the remainder of the approaches being protected naturally by water. Sir John Moore of Bankhall is the Governor, and he has been provided with weapons and men to form a garrison. The town has a number of disgruntled Catholics and others with Royalist sympathies. In my rule system, the place has a Local Support rating of +1 on a scale of -3 to +3, which means they are marginally supportive of the garrison - this being largely helped by recent news of the Massacre of Bolton, at which Prince Rupert and the Earl of Derby allowed the murder of hundreds of civilians who had not been involved in the fighting. The town Mayor is Jacobus Williamson, who may be regarded as an additional officer for the garrison as long as the Local Support rating does not go negative.

 

Map of Liverpool shortly after the siege, with no reference to the works or the walls. The inlet from the river, The Pool, is clearly visible, protecting two sides of the town. At the time of the siege, bridges and ferries over the Pool were removed. The Castle is also visible, and this provided a citadel

 

This is generally regarded as the best view of the siege; it is known as "Mr Leland's Map", and seems to be a Victorian re-hash of a contemporary map, though details of the town itself show a lot of odd mistakes. It is interesting that the ditch around the mudwall may have been flooded from the river. [This will not be the case in my version!]

Rupert's Royalist army is large, and growing in both size and momentum. His mission in the Lancashire area is to capture the port of Liverpool and relieve the siege of Lathom House (near Ormskirk), and to raise more troops for a march to relieve York. His army is easily large enough to take Liverpool, which he describes as a "crows' nest", and he detaches his cavalry and much of the infantry to carry out his other work while the siege proceeds. For all his numerical advantages, Rupert has limited time to get the job done, since he is under pressure to get to York with the biggest force possible, and he also probably has some confidence concerns, since he was heavily criticised for casualties suffered in the capture of Bristol in July 1643.

Rupert arrives about 6th June 1644; the advance guard which seals off the landward approaches to the town is Richard Molyneux's regiment of horse! The main Royalist camp is set up on high ground towards Everton, and work starts on building batteries, and trenches are constructed on the hill overlooking the east side of the town. 

The town is not a formidable objective, but could be costly (some early assaults on the walls are repulsed bloodily and easily, so Rupert is forced to accept that formal bombardment will be necessary), and the town, apart from the natural water defences, cannot be cut off from the river, since Parliament controls the Mersey, thus supply of food and ammunition will not be a problem for the garrison.