As previewed last week, last night our reporter had moved to the dusty plains of North India in 1857, and the Second Battle of Cawnpore. The game reprised a scenario played against Dave a few weeks ago, but this time with Phil taking the British and Chris and Tony trying to co-ordinate the Mutineers. Greg ate scampi and chips and drew the chits, whilst I made tea and coffee and took a few photos.
The initial Mutineer deployment saw their cavalry on the right,
badmash on the left working their way through the copses towards the village, and the Sepoys in two divisions in the centre. One formation took up position in line on the hill, with the other forming loose column and preparing to advance.
Phil deployed his HEIC infantry on the left facing the cavalry and Mutineers on the hill.
His gun trundling forward to the redoubt
and Sikh skirmishers on his right facing the Badmash. His “Thin Red Line“ of British regulars held back somewhat “in reserve”, ready to strike where needed most.
Tony’s cavalry advanced at the canter only to be hit by the HEIC 1st fire musketry.
Only one dead but lots of shock, and a 2nd round of Sharpe Practice musketry saw the cavalry retire, only to return much later as shock was rallied off. All was not perfect for the HEIC as Chris’ massed sepoys on the hill began to pepper them with uncontrolled fire and inflict casualties and shock, but at least they stayed in the battle.
On the other flank Tony’s Badmash moved menacingly towards the Sikhs, who started to pour fire into them.
The Badmash with “Big Choppers” faltered but their musket armed compatriots charged into the fray killing half the Sikh unit and forcing it to retire from the battle. Time for Phil to swing his red-coated Regulars into action. Tony did manage another hand-to-hand combat, but this time the British held. Short range musketry with 1st fire did for the Badmash who wavered, and after another round of fire fled taking the “Big Choppers” unit with them. Indian force morale was dropping like a stone.
Chris’ plan to let Tony do all the fighting and dying was going superbly, except there was far more dying and routing than battlefield success. His own six units were remarkably static, with three units stationary on the hill and another three deciding whether to charge the artillery redoubt. When the order was given Phil’s close-range “whiff of grapeshot” broke the formation leaving two units still stationary and the third trying to manoeuvre around its compatriots. It was clear the Mutineers had failed in their objective, and they conceded the battlefield to the British.
Everyone seemed to have had a good time, but comments were made about Chris’ lack of determination to take the battle to the British. He tried to claim that the chits were against him but that didn’t wash with anyone else.
Simon
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