Chapter 25: Battle Of Bebara Ends

Date: 14 September 1899/2009
Location: Bebara.
Situation: The Battle Ends
If Needed: See Chapters 22-24, for earlier viewing.
"Clicked" Images Agreeably Fill Viewing Screens

When last you were here, the crisis of the battle was at hand. Did the furious charge of the Red Sash Sword Infantry and Horsemen overwhelm the Seaforths? Let's find out.


Rapid fire volleys and shelling from artillery tore through the ranks of the Red Sash Swordsmen. They started with 72. Even with devastating losses, they bravely carried on into the bayonets of the Seaforths. A little farther away Red Sash Horsemen also carried through a wall of bullets into the Highlanders.


The Red Sash Swordsmen lost more men and fell back 6" However, the Red sash cavalry won their combat. (The Seaforths lost more miniatures.) However the Scots morale test was good. The rules allow the horsemen to remain in place, return to a melee next turn or leave right now at the trot or canter.


Realizing the moment for victory passed, the horsemen immediately withdrew (top of photo). This was not a rout or morale failure. Twas simply the age old cavalry device of leaving if the infantry does not break.


General Pettygree rode forward to speak with Seaforth Colonel Archibald Sinclair (foreground).


Pettygree: "Sinclair! That was well done. If not for your initiative and timing we'd have been overwhelmed by the Guru's ruse de l'guerre."

Sinclair: "Routine Sir. Thank you General."

Pettygree: "Give my utmost compliments and thanks to your men.

Sinclair: "Aye General. I will."


Concurrently Lt. Col. James Lawford spurs the 9th Bengal Lancers forward. Lawford: "BUGLERS! --- SOUND THE PURSUIT!"


They quickly increase from a trot to a canter.


And will soon be at the gallop pursuing the remnant of the Red Sash Swordsmen. If the latter make it off the table, they gain safety. The table edge was only inches away. Next turn they drew a card to move before the lancers and got away. Imperial infantry moved forward too.


Do you remember the cunning arrival of one hundred allies of Muljadhe? Some can be seen in the corner of the village. Their leader "El Gep Fer" threw 1D6 to decide to stay or retire. The die chose wisely; departure. As a result, the Guru's Army could not hope to hold Bebara and force a siege. All began to withdraw. The village was evacuated and distance significantly gained away from the battered Imperial Field Force.

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CLOSING REMARKS:

Chuck: "Let me start off by saying this game was a blast. I've had an interest in Colonial gaming for some time but have actually only played a couple of games. I have played in Bills SYW games using the same rules [modified for colonials] so I was pretty familiar with them. Overall my goal was to blunt the British attack while still preserving as much of my force as possible for the next campaign game.
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Things looked pretty rough for me at the end of the first session with most of the British gun line within spitting distance of the village with only a hand full of [natives] defending. Things got better once my reserves showed up at the beginning of the second session. Bill had to do a bit of reorganizing to account for the mass of Tugs that appeared on his flank.
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By the end of the second session, the British had begun to pull back [in] disorder. The game was still very much in the balance. Then things went to pot for the natives [in session 3]. Some dithering on my part along with the British getting eight move/fire cards in a row, allowed the British to reorder and form a solid line of firepower that I just couldn't crack. Had I not been so tentative, I possibly could have charged a turn or two sooner before the Brits. had a chance to form up.
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Oh well, there's always next time. In the end, the natives pulled out ... and fled to The Secret Valley to lick their wounds. I did manage to bloody up the [Imperials] though. I'm looking forward to the next game ."
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Bill: "Thank YOU Chuck! You're a formidable opponent. The Imperials were "on the ropes" as the saying goes, until almost the very end of session #3. Very well done!"
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Please return in a few days for the march into Bebara including casualty summaries, etc. Your comments are welcome -- below.
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