Thursday, November 19, 2009

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.
~~
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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5 comments:

Der Alte Fritz said...

It sounds as if a Victoria Cross would be appropriate for Colonel Sinclair and some of his men. This is the second straight battle in which the Seaforth's have saved the Imperial army's bacon (from being wiped out by the natives).

Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com said...

Ahhhhh, slurrp, chomp chomp (the sound of held breath being realeased followed by a slurp of pop and the last of the popcorn}

Another great episode.

Fitz-Badger said...

Whew! Excellent work by the Seaforths! (and I like the clouds of dust kicked up by the Bengal Lancers :) )

Anonymous said...

Kudos to Chuck and Bill for a game well played. Thanks to Bill for continuing to entertain us via his blog.

Earl

Gallia said...

Der Alte:
Agreed re a VC and being mentioned in dispatches for Sinclair and the Saeforths.
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Ross:
I'll have lightly salted popcorn and a root beer, if you please!
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Fitzbadger:
The dust clouds were borrowed from my WWII Flames of War N. Africa collection. The rules allow tanks to kick up lots of dust in the desert. If done right, it works like a naval smoke screen reducing accuracy of incoming fire. However, here it was to give the idea of speed. Giddyup you horses!
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Hi Earl:
Hopefully you can attend one of the colonial games in 1900/2010. I'm sure Gen. Pettygree wants to penetrate The Khyber Pass and find The Secret Valley in mythical (I made up the name), Surajistan. The Guru is not done yet either! Chuck and I have been talking about some new terrain ideas and other dynamics for this. Stay tuned.
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Thank you Sirs for your interest and encouragements,
Respectfully,
Bill
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PS For everyone in the USA.
Have a great Thanksgiving next week!
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