Chapter 3: Back To Tranjapour

Read chapters sequentially. #1 first, #2 second and #3 third, if you please.



#29 Back To Tranjapour
9 September 1898/2008. The next morning. Here they come again. This time everyone has a rifle or jezail. If they get close, the 10th will suffer badly.
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#30 Back To Tranjapour
9 September 1898/2008. The defenders of the retrenchment appear numerically smaller than yesterday. Lt. Col. Preece (mounted) observes Captain Sachs of 2nd Squadron give fire.
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#31 Back To Tranjapour
9 September 1898/2008. It's a ruse de l'guerre. 2nd Squadron's orders were to pretend to seriously defend the wall. The real intent was to get the enemy to commit and then engulf the wall in flame. You see the fire moments after ignition. The Tugs dare not try to breach the conflagration! Lt. Col. Preece hopes his tactic will slow the enemy in whatever is his mission. He and Captain Sachs take one last look. The rest are mounting up to the left of the pines.
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#32 Back To Tranjapour
9 September 1898/2008. Moments later 2nd Squadron mounted up, rode to the redoubt, fired it and cantered away into the distance. The enemy is no doubt discombobulated -for a day. What will they do? Meanwhile Major Trevelyan and 1st Squadron (unseen) left much earlier this morning with the wounded for Tranjapour.
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#33 Back To Tranjapour
11 September 1898/2008. The fire of the 9th burned itself out within a few hours. The Tug leader used the rest of the 9th and the 10th to reorganize and decide what to do. His decision? PURSUIT! Here you see horsemen screening a horde of infantry. They follow the path of the 10th Hussars.
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#34 Back To Tranjapour
12 September 1898/2008. Pursuit continues.
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#35 Back To Tranjapour
13 September 1898/2008. The Tug Army forms circles, builds fires and encamps for the day to rest men and horses. Pursuit resumes on the morrow. Tenacious, aren't they?
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#36 Back To Tranjapour
13 September 1898/2008. Meanwhile at the Spring of Gupta Dagmar, 2nd Squadron, 10th Hussars observes the enemy camp. A great distance separates them but it is unmistakable that the foe is following. If the reader will recall from Chapter 1, supplies should run out today. However, Captain Sachs has drawn fresh water from the spring and has supplemented his dwindling foodstuffs with a decent catch of mountain fish to fill the men’s bellies for several days more.
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#37 Back To Tranjapour
12 Sept. 1898/2008. Last evening Sgt. Bourne riding ahead of 1st Squadron handed this message to Cpt. Khambatta, commanding at Tranjapour from Major Trevelyan. "Wire Gen. Pettygree, Fort Grant. 10th Hussars camped Japura Singh the 4th. Vedette met enemy the 6th. Works built the 7th. Enemy attack repulsed the 8th. Identity: Tugs. Rear guard by 2nd Sq. the 9th. 1st Sq. arrives Tranjapour the 13th with wounded. Lt. Col. and 2nd Sq. at Gupta Dagmar to observe if foe pursues. No word from 2nd Sq. since the 9th. Maj. Trevelyan with 1st Sq."
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#38 Back To Tranjapour
13 September 1898/2008. Major Trevelyan and 1st. Squadron, 10th Hussars, return to Tranjapour. 1st. Sikhs present arms. Rose has returned as well.
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#39 Back To Tranjapour
13 September 1898/2008. Dr. Watson stands by as the travois with Pvt. Thornton approaches. He will later learn that of the five casualties sustained at the Battle of Japura Singh, one man died, three recovered en-route to Tranjapour and one, Thornton, remains in need of more care.
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#40 Back To Tranjapour
15 Sept.1898/2008. Two days later news arrived via 2nd Sq. couriers. Sgt. Davies reports to Maj. Trevelyan and Cpt. Khambatta. “Zur, Colonel’s compliments and he reports the Tugs are comin’, eighty or more. Mostly foot and some horse. The last we saw ‘em, they was camped beyond Gupta Dagmar. The Colonel orders works to defend Tranjapour, to report all to Fort Grant and request new orders. 2nd Squadron should arrive tomorrow.” Trevelyan, “Captain, telegraph this news to Fort Grant at once.”
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#41 Back To Tranjapour
16 Sept.1898/2008. The next day 2nd. Squadron arrives at an outpost just north of Tranjapour. Nearby men of the 1st. Sikh Detachment present arms. Their orders were to watch for the 2nd. Squadron and the foe.
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#42 Back To Tranjapour
16 Sept.1898/2008. Later that day 2nd. Squadron arrives at Tranjapour. The village is a beehive of activity. Sandbags are being filled to construct works as the two senior officers ride toward each other. Major Trevelyan (left of the sandbag wall under construction) has just received new orders by telegraph from General Pettygree back at Fort Grant. What would your orders be, dear reader?
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#43 Back To Tranjapour
16 September 1898/2008. Meanwhile oncoming and hidden within the shadows of the forest....
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Chapter 2: Battle of Japura Singh

#14 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. The next morning, the foe begins to appear.
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#15 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. Desultory fire at the 10th Hussars. The range is too far to score hits.
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#16 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. The enemy pours onto the narrow pass and begins to advance on the 10th Hussars.
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#17 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. They come closer and fire again.
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#18 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. The foe comes even closer whilst Captain Bartlett's 1st Squadron and some men from 2nd. Squadron, 10th Hussars coolly hold fire. So far there are no casualties among the cavalrymen. Private Jones remarks intemperately to his mate, "Wots EEEeee wait'n for?" Sergeant Bourne within close earshot says, "QUIET, Private Jones. There’s a good fellow. Mind yer front."
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#19 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. And now, Captain Bartlett orders, "Steady there men. A moment more. Aim to your front, pick your target........and.......FIRE!"
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#20 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. After several rounds of fire, the enemy retired to the rear. That's them in the far background. However, an even larger body of swordsmen is uncovered and they are rather angry. Bartlett, "Sergeant Bourne, independent fire, if you please." Bourne, "SAH!"
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#21 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. They CHARGE! Bartlett orders, "Rapid volley fire Sergeant Bourne!" The 10th gives fire at close range.
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#22 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. Many fall, but others charge onward to the retrenchment. They are at the wall! Bartlett bellows, "HOLD THEM!"
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#23 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. Somehow the foe climbs the wall. Hand to hand combat ensues. Will Captain Bartlett's men hold them?
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#24 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. A second retrenchment. Here half of 2nd. Squadron is posted, led by Captain Sachs. He turns to his colonel saying. "Sir, Bartlett's game is on." Preece, "Yes, I see the smoke rising. He knows his business.” Meanwhile, Private Corey remarks, "Now then, Private Ham. Wot's this about my vedette leaving The Pass too fast an' you say'n all I saw from atop the mountain, under fire mind you an' double our numbers of mounted tribesmen charging us was a herd of sheep, eh?"
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#25 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. The foe has penetrated the retrenchment! The Hussars grimly hold the line in desperate hand-to-hand combat; swords slashing, bayonets jabbing and carbines smashing. Then, in a moment, like a sudden wind shift changing all things at sea, the foe fled. Exhausted troopers looked at each other in relieved disbelief. The wall held, tribesmen beaten and retiring back out of sight unable to continue. Victory! Then the men burst forth with, "HUZZAH, HUZZAH, HUZZAH!"
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#26 Battle of Japura Singh
8 Sept.1898/2008. Later Cpt. Sachs (left), relieves Cpt. Bartlett saying, “Hail Gaius Suetonius Paulinus!” Bartlett, “Oh?” Sachs, “Surely you remember your antiquities? We came here up Watling Street, the path from Tranjapour, held a defile, like the XIVth Legion. This negated the foe’s vast numerical advantage. You threw pila, bullets, had a shield wall, our logs and your short swords, bayonets, finished ‘em. Paulinus’ 10,000 beat Boadicea’s 200,000 like you, here!" Bartlett, "My good men too."
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#27 Battle of Japura Singh
8 Sept.1898/2008. Lt. Col. Preece (background left) greets Maj. Trevelyan (background right). Preece, “Well Trevelyan, it was Thermopylae again and this time Xerxes lost." Trevelyan, “Aye and no Ephialtes to let the Persians behind us.” Preece, “Quite so. Losses?” Trevelyan, “Five, Sir. Enemy losses estimated at 28 and we’ve identified ‘em. They’re Tugs.” Preece stiffens saying, “Back from the dead? Impossible!” Suddenly Sgt. Davies shouts from the wall, “They’re back. Hundreds of ‘em. LOOK!”
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#28 Battle of Japura Singh
8 September 1898/2008. As the sun falls behind the mountain to the westward, it casts a darkening gloom on The Pass. Binoculars reveal at least a four to one advantage for the foe. They ARE back and in greater numbers than before! What words express your emotions and thoughts at this time, Sirs, and what will the morning bring? What indeed?
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Chapter 1: 10th Hussars Reconnoiter The Khyber Pass

The telegraph station at Tranjapour was the most forward base between Fort Grant and The Khyber Pass. In bygone years it had been subjected to small nuisance raids conducted by local tribesmen too numerically weak to do more than cut the wire and disturb supplies coming in. In early 1898/2008 attacks suddenly intensified causing Imperial authorities to order a more vigorous presence. Reinforcements began arriving in late July.

On 31 August 1898/2008 Tranjapour was a scene of much activity. On that beautiful and cool blue-sky morning, Captain Khambatta’s detachment of the 1st Sikhs stood too adjacent to the village road. When the 10th Hussars passed by, the khaki clad infantrymen presented arms.

The hussars had not expected action so soon. After arrival at Bombay from Great Britannia on 10 June, they were ordered to acclimatize and exercise in Poona (Pune) benefiting by the relatively cooler temperatures atop the Deccan Plateau. However, at the end of June due to intensification of raids out of the Khyber, they were ordered to entrain for Fort Grant and receive new orders from Regional Commander, General William Augustus Pettygree. The new orders read:

“You are required and directed to take the regiment under your command to Tranjapour and there prepare for a reconnaissance in force to the Khyber Pass. Identify and impress upon insurgents and seditious tribal leaders that HM Government will not tolerate further turbulence, destruction of Imperial property and inconveniences to HM subjects. You are to ascertain why recent raids have increased in number, strength and vigor. If you deem it necessary and practicable for the success of the mission you may enter The Pass proceeding beyond it. Draw supplies for no more than a fortnight at Tranjapour.”



#1 10th Hussars Depart Tranjapour
31 August 1898/2008. Lt. Col. Preece leads 26 hussars on a reconnaissance mission to the Khyber Pass. A detachment of 1st Sikhs (29) guards the most forward base of Tranjapour and the telegraph line back to Fort Grant. All soldiers are Connoisseur Miniatures by Peter Gilder. Hussars stunningly painted by John Preece. Houses by Miniature Building Authority. Telegraph by Berkshire Valley. Vaubanner Graphics SYW flags. New regulations to no longer carry flags did not reach the regiment.
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#2 10th Hussars Ride Away
For now the regiment marches in a column of troops by squadrons screened by a vedette. Captain Bartlett's 1st. Squadron leads Captain Sach's 2nd. Squadron. Lt. Col. Preece and Major Trevelyan ride in the center. In the rear is the regimental baggage camel named Rose.
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#3 10th Hussars Encamp Here
1 September 1898/2008. At the end of the afternoon, the regiment arrived at the Spring of Gupta Dagmar. It is the halfway point between Tranjapour and the Khyber Pass. Lt. Col. Preece halts the column turning to Major Trevelyan saying, “We shall rest the men and horses here for a day. Issue orders to encamp and place vedettes all round. The march will resume the day after tomorrow.” Meanwhile Private Corey at the water’s edge does not see the hidden tribesman silently watching everything.
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#4 10th Hussars Arrive Near Khyber Pass
4 September 1898/2008. After the halt at Gupta Dagmar on the 2nd, the regiment resumed its march the next day. On the 4th., the Hussars poured onto the only flat ground this side of The Khyber Pass, the field of Japura Singh. That's B Troop, 2nd Squadron in the distance searching for the foe, whomever they may be. Just ahead of and to the right of that far stand of dark pines is a narrow pathway just before the entrance to The Khyber Pass. No incidents so far. Camp will be established here.
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#5 10th Hussar's At The Pass!
5 September 1898/2008. At dawn Sgt. Davies (B Troop, 2nd. Squadron) quietly leads his vedette within the shadows of The Khyber Pass. That's 'im in the right foreground. Quiet there, YOU lot! Where do YOU think you are? Piccadilly Circus?
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#6 10th Hussars Look Round The Bend
5 September 1898/2008. Sgt. Davies has ridden to join a trooper in the shadows to the right. Pvt. Corey is left most. They are about to look round the bend in The Pass. Shhhh! Carefully now.
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#7 10th Hussars Vedette Seen
5 September 1898/2008. Someone is always watching. What will they do?
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#8 10th Hussars Move Forward
5 September 1898/2008. Sgt. Davies has orders to cautiously move into The Pass a short distance. At noon, he and a trooper walk their horses forward leaving behind two men to fire in support.-----Rules: The Lt. Col. is cautious (-1). Throw 1D6. That result, -1 = # of dice in inches forward. A 5 was thrown -1 = 4D6. The four thrown = 18" forward from Photo #7 position.
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#9 10th Hussars See....What?!
5 September 1898/2008. "Prodigious dust Sergeant an' comn' our way. Sounds like thunder." Sgt. Davies has seen it too. In the next moment he says, "Horsemen and ridn' hard for us. About turn an' let's get outta here fast! At the gallop!" Meanwhile the dismounted troopers in reserve are loading and aiming. They had best mount up too!
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#10 10th Hussars Vedette Retires
5 September 1898/2008. The vedette retires in haste, but Sgt. Davies slows to allow his dismounted men to mount up and ride to him. Good form Sergeant! Sgt. Davies shouts, “The Colonel’s GOT to know!” Meanwhile, the foe atop the plateau opened fire. Note dust raised by their missed shots in the road.-----Rule: Each day is divided into three phases. 2D6 doubles were needed for the natives to fire simulating their orders and nervousness. As Davies retired, the enemy threw double twos and - missed!
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#11 10th Hussars Vedette Nears Camp
6 September 1898/2008. In the distance, Sgt. Bourne's guard, (A Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Hussars) has been watching the entrance to The Khyber Pass. Private Jones remarks, "Sgt. Bourne, vedette's comn' in fast." Indeed, on the morning the 6th, Sgt. Davies came into view successfully riding back to camp. He'll turn left beyond the guard to report to Lt. Colonel Preece. The foe, whomever they were, did not pursue beyond the plateau. Who were they and what mischief are they about?
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#12 10th Hussars Sgt. Davies Reports
6 Sept.1898/2008. Lt. Col. Preece, "Report Sergeant." Sgt. Davies, "ZUR! We reconnoitered The Pass proceeding inwards a bit as ordered. At noon yesterday a dust cloud appeared approaching our position. Horsemen Zur, doubled us, what we could see. Fell back to our picket an’ Private?” Pvt. Corey, "Zur, I was in support to the rear on the plateau. I beg to report a dark mass was in the far distance but I could not make it out. People I’d guess.” Preece, “ Very well men. Thank you. Get some rest.”
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#13 10th Hussars Take Action
7 September 1898/2008. Lt. Col. Preece set the regiment to building a retrenchment blocking exit from the extremity of The Khyber Pass. There you see men of the 1st. Squadron commanded by Captain Bartlett and Sgt. Bourne. Around to the left another surprise awaits the foe should he appear.----- Dismounted soldiers are Perry Miniatures.
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