Chapter XV Terrible Battle Ends And

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EXPEDITION TO ALEXANDRAPOUR

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Date: 30 September to 20 October 1900

Location: Deeper Into Terra Incognita

Situation: The Next Three Weeks

Vital:  See Chapter XIV posted April 15, 2012 here:

http://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2012/04/chapter-xiv-terrible-battle.html

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Expedition To Alexandrapour

Colonel Lawford's Battle Narrative Continues

30 September 1900

"You may remember from my previous narrative...."

"The Gatling had just jammed and the foe was again at the zareba barrier of bushes thrusting spears within. We were fighting for our very existence. There would be no tomorrow for any of us if we failed to hold the line."

"I joined the wall with our mascot Brutus"

"The foe fought us bitterly and...."

"Somehow we drove them off. Miracle."

"Our horsemen returned to support us whilst another horde armed with rifles brandishing a red flag moved closer. Though this might be our end there was nothing else to do but brace up. Amidst our fallen comrades we fired again and again, hands singed from cruely hot rifle barrels. Our square was a dreadful ruin but we still had a chance to stay alive."

"Our cavalry too weak to charge dismounted to give covering fire."

"Then the enraged mass unexpectedly turned on them!"

"No time to dawdle. Our cavaliers rocketed back to their horses, remounted and rode away amidst bullets whistling above and between them. The square covered their retreat."

"It was the last act. This new foe had had enough and withdrew. As suddenly as it had come on, it departed. Thus, was battle ended and none too soon."

"Our effective strength was reduced by a shocking 44%! What would the morrow bring? Would there be a tomorrow?" [See Closing Remarks for losses.]

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1-16 October 1900

"There were many unmolested tomorrows and we wisely used those days to improve our circumstances. I shall describe all this in a moment. Meanwhile, allow me to beg your forbearance to awaken within you several developing patterns making themselves known."

"The contemplative in me was aroused thinking how Terra Incognita was slowly revealing each of her singular novelties. Unique animal life was chief among these. Several species were certainly unknown. In some cases their large size or aggressive nature was of a higher magnitude than found elsewhere in Mafrica. Odd too was a growing worry that the largest were, if not impervious to our bullets but that they could withstand the damage of the .577 Snider bullet fired up to ten rounds a minute with little trouble."

"No people were thought to inhabit the region either. Certainly there had been no intelligence of indigenous peoples of any ethnicity here. Thus, the sudden appearance of a combination of at least four different manly cultures in their aggressive attack against us on the 30th was a shock. Clearly they were the most impressive and intractable of foes. Though beaten off, our effective strength had been alarmingly reduced by nearly 50%. Had their attacks been more coordinated, had our cavalry not threatened their flank on two occasions, we would have been overwhelmed and lost."

"It was therefore necessary to improve our defenses whilst waiting for the more lightly wounded to return to duty. The thorny bush zareba built on the 29th was enhanced by raising earthworks as described by Mr. Churchill in his recent history entitled The Story of the Malakand Field Force: An Episode of Frontier War. Should the foe return, he would find overcoming us more difficult. Yet he did not return again."

"Continuous cavalry patrols sent in search of them found nothing including no detritus of war nor even burials. The last report on the 14th of October again stated, 'No sign of the foe. All trace of him is vanished.' Emptiness."

"As more men returned to duty, the thought bore upon me to resume the pursuit of the Romanov Expedition heading somewhere for the lost ancient city of Alexandrapour. It was imperative to do so. Yet there were still wounded men recovering in the camp incapable of marching. The decision was mine alone. Should we remain in camp awaiting more men to recover, return to Dongolo in failure or push on."

"Fortunately an unusual number of men returned to duty from medical care. Therefore, not without opposition from some of the officers, I decided the expedition would divide into two divisions. One would remain behind and one would continue the pursuit of the Romanovs to Alexandrapour. Was this folly or audacity? The answer would depend on the result."

"We marched out on the 16th of October. Captain Beatty RN was left in charge of the camp with his naval contingent, 3rd Sikhs, Gatling gun and recovering wounded. As I waived goodbye and good luck...."

"The Bedfords, our baggage and...."

"All the cavalry passed by heading into bright and cheery sunshine."

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20 October 1900 - Four Days Later

"On the 20th. under stormy skies we came upon another of the many watercourses flowing though Terra Incognita. Scouts sent across to ascertain what they could about terrain ahead initially observed only a pair of predatory lions looking us over. Nothing more."

"The Column was halted at the edge of the stream."

"A fine male and female pair."

"The male excitedly roared at us. Then both hastily departed probably unwilling to engage us more closely."

"No. That was not the reason. They were fleeing in front of two Romanov horsemen galloping toward them. Romanovs - here?"

"Another surprise. One dismounted giving fire to his rear. At what was he shooting? The other rode hell for leather toward us."

"Soon the dismounted man remounted and galloped in our direction too. Our hussars accompanied his mate back across the stream to me."

"The reason for their flight soon became known. Chasing the Romanovs for dinner was an extraordinary pair of felines. They were large and muscular animals armed with unusually prodigious canines."

"Thinking better of continued pursuit, the angry pair broke off and disappeared into the forest nearby."

"I invited the Romanovs to accompany us back across the stream. It was curious why the leader agreed so readily. His name to my astonishment was Captain Tumarkin. I had heard of him before as have you dear reader from Colonel Boyle in that part of this monograph entitled The Spy." See http://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2011/07/chapter-vi-spy.html

Lawford: "I am surprised to find you here Captain."

Tumarkin: "No surprise Colonel. Fate has brought us together. Let me tell you why."

CLOSING REMARKS

1) Counting Imperial The Cost:
On 30 September of 72 combatants engaged, 32 were wounded.
On 1 October 43 + Brutus reported for duty.
 
KIA = Killed in action = 6.
Hospital = Under medical care = 22.
RTD = Lightly wounded; returned to duty = 4.

Col. Lawford and Nazim {2}: 2 On Duty
Mascot Brutus was unscathed.

9th Bengal Lancers {8}: 1 KIA. 3 Hospital, 1 RTD = 4 On Duty.
10th Hussars {6}: 1 KIA, 2 Hospital, 0 RTD = 3 On Duty.

Bedfords {25}: 1 KIA, 8 Hospital, 1 RTD = 16 On Duty.
3rd Sikhs {13}: 2 KIA, 3 Hospital, 1 RTD = 8 On Duty.
Naval Contingent {18}: 2 KIA, 6 Hospital, 1 RTD = 10 On Duty.

2) Medical Rules: 1D6/casualty the day after the battle.
1 = KIA, 2-5 = In Hospital, 6 Return to duty.
D6s are thrown every fortnight for men still in hospital. The next cast was on October 15, 1900 (April 15, 2012) campaign time.

3) Next medical dice throws allowed return to duty on a 5 or 6. This is a convention to allow more miniatures to return to action. The hope is to prevent emasculation of the Column and the story. Fortunately it worked. April 15th. dice throws allowed twelve more Imperials to return to duty. Amazingly no one died of wounds though there was a 16% chance of that happening. This left ten still in hospital. Thus, the decision to march deeper into Terra Incognita was easier to make though still a dangerous one.

Captain Beatty left behind in the camp will throw medical dice again on 29 April 2012.

4) Left to right: Bill P. (yours truly), Todd B., John B. and Chuck L. I commanded the Imperial cavalry whilst Chuck stoutly fought within the square. Good form to keep the story going Chuck! Todd and John admirably commanded the mysterious, tenacious and brave waves of foes.

Wot's that you lot? No! I did not leave Chuck behind so I could ride off with dispatches! I just prefer cavalry. That's all.

5) The motion picture soundtrack for The Mummy (1999) fits right in when painting, gaming or pondering Colonial things. Kind of stimulating like caffeine.

6) 28mm Foundry and Copplestone natives appeared in the game from the lovely collection of Todd B.

7) The lions and saber tooths were attractively and artfully painted by John B.

8) Your comments are sought and welcomed below, if you please.

Chapter XIV: Terrible Battle

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EXPEDITION TO ALEXANDRAPOUR
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Date: 29-30 September 1900
Location: Into Open Country
Situation: Shocking Attack Upon Us

See Chapter XIII posted April 1, 2012 here:
http://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2012/03/chapter-xiii-primordial-dread.html
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Expedition To Alexandrapour

Colonel Lawford's Narrative Perseveres 

"On the 29th of September we abandoned Great Elk Meadow because it was deemed too dangerous to encamp there. Though picturesque with its lake, trees and verdant grassland, it would not allow the men a restful night given aroused animals and insects of a startling size there. Night would bring imagined and real terrors which would be too much within the enclosure. It would be better to encamp in open country. So we marched out."

"One never knows what fate prepares for those who contemplate it. Lucky are the people who rarely give such notions thought. They carry on apparently peacefully accepting and working with what each hour ahead brings them. Those in command can not be so blasé about the future. The officer commanding must always plan a proper response should trouble appear at any moment from any direction and not dither about it either. His considered judgement and right decisions will ultimately bring mission failure or success, disgrace or accolades and hopefully good stories at the bar."

"I rode just behind the cavalry screen on the march out. We had not gone a quarter mile before a new and startling event presented itself which might ruin everything. Had we exited the meadow too soon? Was it more defensible there with cover offered by wooded ridges or would open country with better tactical control and enhanced fields of fire be better?"

"The reason stood before us a half mile distant. In the open country beyond a band of dark skinned men armed with shields and throwing spears appeared before us. I rose my hand to halt the column."

"More appeared from behind a rise in the ground. Their vigorous gestures and repetitive rhythmic deep bass chant left no one in doubt about their displeasure. 'Mah Kowah AHN! - Mah Kowah AHN! - Mah Kowah AHN - AHN!' --- Terra Incognita was fast becoming a very disagreeable place."

"No time for dithering. The lancers were ordered to see them off."

"It worked. Was it too easy? Were the lancers being lured into a trap by a classic Parthian maneuver? The horde sped away curving to the right entering a defile. Fortunately Subedar Pratrap Singh halted the troop and watched them go. It would be too dangerous to follow them into the narrow gap."

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30 SEPTEMBER 1900 -- THE NEXT DAY

"No further sightings were made of the warriors who appeared so suddenly yesterday. The afternoon was late by that time. Darkness would soon descend. The column was ordered to a nearby hilltop to form square."

"The men immediately set about cutting vegetation to be placed on the outside augmented by boxes of stores and our wagon that was overturned. We had good fields of fire in all directions and certainly locum tenens. Let them come in the morning if they dared. We controlled the hilltop and were ready."

"And on the 30th., they did come."

"Directly and forcefully into a corner of the square. We rapid-fired and still they came on. Through the smoke I could see more natives running towards us in the lowland ignoring our cavalry ready to take them in flank."

"The diminished wave fought through the zareba engaging our men in hand to hand combat. The foe was eventually driven away after suffering gruesome casualties. We were not unscathed however and a new assault was heading straight for a different side of the square. Officers and NCOs filled gaps in the line, the men reloaded and all prepared to fire. In those paltry few moments before the next storm broke on our wall...."

"Subedar Pratrap Singh's lancers with the hussars charged home on another band of warriors."

"Our cavalry charging without the advantage of ground lost more than half their numbers but dispatched the foe. The square was saved from being attacked by two war bands at the same time. I regret to say the Subedar was wounded by a stabbing spear."

"The cavalry rode off to reform when the next wave hit the square. Had they not done so a fourth enemy group (not in view to the right) armed with small bows probably would have cut down all our remaining horsemen in an instant." [See the bowmen in the upper right of the next image.]

"Men were pulled from unengaged walls of the square to help repel the new wave of attackers."

"It was the crisis of the battle. Amidst the chaos and noise of orders to fire, pot that fellow, stand your ground you malingering sojer' we continuously overheard the enemy's deep war chant, 'Mah Kowah AHN! - Mah Kowah AHN! - Mah Kowah AHN - AHN!' I drew my service revolver to assist where needed. Somehow we beat them off but...."

"Three new enemy forces were gathering to take us down. Our numbers by this time were much reduced. By half? No time to think about it. We fired again and again."

 

"Once more. Come on then! Fire!"

"It is strange to calmly contemplate potential and shocking defeat amidst the chaos of battle. For some reason my brain silently retold a portion of Shakespeare's Saint Crispen's Day speech when Westmoreland said, 'O that we now had here but one ten thousand of those men in England that do no work to-day!'

"And King Henry V answered, 'No, my fair cousin; If we are marked to die, we are now to do our country loss; and if to live, the fewer men, the greater share of honour. God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more."

"The bowmen were at the zareba.

Once more into the breach."

"And the Gatling jammed."

'Mah Kowah AHN! - Mah Kowah AHN! - Mah Kowah AHN - AHN!'

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Closing Remarks
1. This was an actual war game using Peter Gilder's Sudan Rules with modifications for increased movement and enhanced opportunities for natives on the reaction table to be more aggressive. For the latter we allowed the native player to rethrow on the reaction table if the first reaction was unsatisfactory from the native perspective. This rethrow governed no matter the result.

2. The Gatling really did jam.

3. To be continued with credits to our players on 29 April 2012. Maybe!

4. And at Comments below - you say?

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HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE

Have a blessed Easter Season.

There are some remarks off to the left.

Very Respectfully,

Bill

Chapter XIII: Primordial Dread

Actual Posting Date Is April 1, 2012
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EXPEDITION TO ALEXANDRAPOUR
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Date: 29 September 1900
Location: Into Open Country
Situation: We Abandoned Great Elk Meadow

See Chapter XII posted 18 March 2012 here:
http://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2012/03/chapter-xii-astounding-sights.html
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Expedition To Alexandrapour

Colonel Lawford's Narrative Perseveres

"The 29th instant commenced routinely enough with our march into what we subsequently named Great Elk Meadow. It's park-like setting of grassland, forested ridges in circumference around it and the placid beached lakeside dotted with giant deciduous and palm trees entranced us. A camp beside this lovely spot surely would rejuvenate us. The few singular sightings and events of the first half of the day only temporarily jolted our expectation of reverie."

"Yet there arose a growing presentiment of unusual danger, suspense, awe, mystery and even excitement. There was something of uncommon magnitude about our Terra Incognita. Consider the gargantuan reptile now named Max after the Latin word maximus who the week before had shockingly dragged a bhistie to a river bottom to be consumed. Today the men became aware of a dead beetle the size of a beaver, two giant and magnificent Elk and the startling charge of angered woolly brutes resembling some kind of unknown elephant. This was followed by another unexpected discovery. Our scouts found a hidden and crumbling structure apparently of ancient origin wrapped in a jungle shroud. Naturally I decided to inspect it."

"Approaching the rear portal nothing could be seen inside. Shafts of light, gloom and pitch darkness combined to make observation very difficult. Only by walking within would my eyes adjust to see what perhaps no one had seen for years if not centuries. I had to know what might be found."

"For some reason my heart rate increased. Nervousness perhaps? Yes and there was something primordial here; an inexplicable ancient dread. Rubbish surely. Steady on Lawford. There was nothing but pleasant birdsong above,the buzz of insects of a more normal size everywhere and conversation of the men nearby. As I was about to step inside...."

"A malevolent head rose up. Serpentine fangs were at the ready accompanied by loud hissing and scattering rubble. I lurched left to avoid the inevitable lethal strike to save myself and then..."

"I jumped down. The alert Captain Ismay turned about, drew his revolver and fired into the thing. The bullet had no effect. I drew my service revolver and fired too. Yet...."

"The great serpent still came on adding a bony rattling from its unseen tail. We backed off still firing. One of our hussars joined us. Round after round hit their marks and...."

"Finally the creature slumped to the pavement and expired. We thought our danger over but...."

"An enraged and ghastly twin appeared to our right."

"Rather than stay and perhaps encounter even more trouble from this nest of vipers, I immediately ordered a retreat back to the no doubt alarmed battalion square waiting for us in the meadow.

 

"Great Elk Meadow was fast becoming 'Orrible Meadow in our minds. We broke our square and marched out the way we came in. We would camp in more open country."

"Many turned to look backwards thinking something new and oddly dangerous might suddenly appear to antagonize us even more. Thankfully nothing came. The men began to relax."

"However, in the open country beyond a band of dark skinned men armed with shields and throwing spears appeared before us. Oh too much. Too much! I rose my hand. The column halted."

CLOSING REMARKS

1) The structure came from the retail pet store named Petco. Aquarium supplies can be prodigiously useful.

2) The serpent is manufactured by RAFM kindly on loan from Chuck L's cast of pulp characters.
See: http://www.rafm.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=RAF&Product_Code=RAF02972&Category_Code=COCM

3) Natives are Foundry Masai graciously on loan from the collection of Todd B.

4) Return April 15th for Chapter XIV to find out what happens next.

5) Your remarks add considerably to the atmosphere of the story. Please continue doing so below at the word Comments. Thank you.
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Chapter XI Terra Incognita

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EXPEDITION TO ALEXANDRAPOUR
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Date: 22 September 1900
Location: Into The Uncharted Interior
Situation: The March and the 3rd Sikh's Camp

See Chapter X posted 19 February 2012 here:
http://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2012/02/chapter-x-toward-unknown.html
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Expedition To Alexandrapour

Colonel Lawford's Narrative Resumes

"Three days after crossing from the charted into the unmapped interior, we made camp beside a pellucid stream accentuated with luxurious vegetation. It's calming beauty was remarkable. The unremitting but pleasing sound of water gently rippling along amidst the glorious verdure entranced us. Would there be some kind of curious trout to be caught for officer's mess? As the sun set, fires flickered and a full moon countenanced our encampment, it occured to many this was truly an idyllic spot."

"After evening mess, I rode to the 3rd Sikh tents. As I passed a supply cart surely no one was thinking our tranquility would be shockingly ruptured by an event so tragic and unbelievable. Nor could any one imagine the event would forever so singularly modify our attention toward unthinkable possibilities."

"However, I am ahead of myself. Before we arrive at this fateful moment, allow me to return to our departure from Dongolo Camp six weeks ago that you may contemplate our journey in proper order."

"Our departure commenced with a section of 10th Hussars leading the way as scouts. They had often done so in missions emanating from far away Fort Grant. Major General Pettygree counted upon them for much and they delivered it -- with interest."

"They were followed by a section of my old regiment, the 9th Bengal Lancers as a reserve. Khaki clad Bedfordshire infantrymen followed them. Next came Captain Beatty, RN saluting and...."

"Leading the naval shore party with a gatling gun into the column of march. They in turn were followed by the aforementioned 3rd Sikhs."

"Bearers and supply animals protected by another section of Bedfordhsires brought up the rear to close the column. Three weeks later we...."

"Came upon the last vestige of so-called mankind; an abandoned dwelling formerly inhabited by a family of some prominence."

"I wondered if anyone had been within when the Romanov Expedition and herself, Countess Alexandra, passed near."

"Another fortnight passed marching through flat lands intersected with uncountable streams. In the dry season every one was easily forded without incident."

"Each crossing was so routine and uneventful, I scarcely remembered the warning from Padre Michael of astounding animals said to inhabit the region into which we were going. Nor did I think at all of the gargantuan tooth shown to me by Mr. Wyatt at our last meeting back in Dongolo. A fresh water shark spat it out he had been told. Impossible rubbish."

"On the 22nd of September we entered a narrow mountain pass. Our maps had been useless for several days because we finally obtained the great unknown beyond all that had been charted by civilized man. We now trod upon the threshold of terra incognita "

"From now on we would observe what no one save the Romanovs, unrecognized explorers or dead ones had ever seen. What wonders would we discover? What dangers might lay beyond the next bend? Moreover, was there any hope of finding the lost ancient city of Alexandrapour? Would it appear within the primeval and mysterious lands ahead or was it a cruel fiction? If it did exist, why did the Romanov's desire it?"

"In the mid-afternoon scouts discovered a picturesque river setting; a perfect place to encamp to rest ourselves and the animals for several days before pressing on. As remarked earlier in my narrative, that evening I went to the camp of the 3rd Sikhs."

"I found Nazim at the head of the camp in the gathering darkness. I waived a hello."

"Also present was Captain Rajgupta ordering a bhistie to the river to replenish water for the fireside. The latter instantly obeyed and walked to the edge of the stream carrying his familiar goatskin bag. I noticed sentries were nervous about something."

"In a flash we knew why. An enormous reptilian head lurched out of the river with uncommon speed, opened its jaws and snatched the poor bhistie...."

"Into the depths of the water before he could jump away. If there were screams, they were instantly drowned as the wretched man was crushed, torn apart and taken to a secret underwater lair. We stood dumbfounded, shocked and in disbelief. Nothing could be done. Nor did we trust to charge the riverbank in the gloom. The man was gone - taken by an impossibly enormous river creature none had ever seen before or lived to talk about."

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Comments welcome.

Next Installment: 18 March 2012.

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