The Sword and the Flame - Colonial battle

Bluebear Jeff hosted a Sword and the Flame game in connection with his ongoing 'Afristan' Campaign.

This time I was to command my own colonial force.

Rob had the duty to come at me with some 'whirling Dervishes' and a camel riding surprise.

Capt. David McMurdock

21st MNI -- Madras Pioneers

The column entered the Alghaz region with scouts well to the van ... this came as a surprise to the Dervishes

Eventually the Gordon Highlanders were able to take control of a mesa region, using the rough ground as cover while getting a good view of the possible lanes of advance of the Dervish tribesmen.

a mob of swordsmen charged across a rough field, nearly all stayed in the charge, they were shot apart in their advnace

while to the left flank another mob of swordsmen were spotted, they chose not to advance and faced the 21st firing at them

in the end the Gordon Highlanders dispatched the mob of swordsmen, then resumed their position in the line, the 21st advance scout was pulled back from the rough ground

a reverse-view of the column, Capt McMurdock cantered to the rear so as to view the action and give direction correctly

the blue mob of swordsmen advanced on the 21st, who gave as good as they got and sent the mob off the field with dozens of dead and wounded

overview of the position - highlanders to the left, 21st in the center, 58th Rutlandshire to the right

the Gordon Highlanders massed rifles to put down the Dervish who had popped up in range

more of the 21st were the targets of the Dervish shooters

once the shooters were put down, Ghuka riflemen advance to cut off any more

overview of the situation, no more camels to the left, Dervish shooters were screaming in agony in a sand pit on the far left, to the right van was another group of Dervish shooters, who appeared to be better led (possibly the Mullah was with them?), they decided to retire once it was clear that no Dervish were going to outflank the massed Empire forces.

While the action was a success, there were many dead and all the mules were loaded with wounded.

Clearly Capt McMurdok was going to retire on his command base in Kyro on the Vile River.

Resupply and rest were needed along with replacements.  There had been a report of cavalry; since the tribesmen were starting to use horse, clearly it was time to have an appropriate response.

Did Londra send the artillery also?

Library Games - with a flavor of Spain

Another Library SHAKO II game, this time with red coats supported by death or glory Brunswickers.

one of my 'Eagles" that I use as a tabletop marker, in this case it was used as the deployment line

the table layout

deployment this time took a bit longer as there were some terrain discussions about both sides

the French held back a division of foot to arrive on turn 1

the Anglo-Brunswick force aligned with reverse-slopes

save for a few Brunswickers and the artillery which positioned so as to deal out as much damage as possible on the advancing French.

Right from the start an error appeared in the French plans ... we had discussed sending two divisions up the same line so as to hit the flank of the Anglo position, the problem was he also put his Dragoons in the same line for the start ...

the confused mass of foot and horse became disordered in the French flank

Anglo artillery could not reach the mass in trouble, though they did reach the first advancing division

more of the confused mass, as a division of foot pressed through a division of Dragoons

Anglo troops moved to be ready at the hill crests

while French forces surged forward

the leading division was clearing fanning out into the Anglo flank

A few turns passed in artillery fire and a few hand to hand encounters.

The French columns press onward, now clear of the horse

a wave of men rushes over the low hills

French Command

tip of the spear, thrusting towards the Anglo lines

French horse battery now run to the flank, opens fire at point blank range, wile Anglo artillery continues firing

The close-quarter battles had only begun.

overview at turn 5

the light cavalry commander with the skycloth backdrop

light cavalry force sweeps into the flank

at the same time the second division of foot slams into the same Anglo flank ... the test of the Anglo defenses was on!

table on turn 6

French Cops artillery was firing all game at long range, did not hit much

Anglo Command

The melee in full force

Still nothing had been decided, by turn 7 the outcome suddenly came into clear focus.

fully engaged, the Anglo defenses must hold

casualties mount as battalions of French foot began crumbling in the brutal hand to hand combats

still the French pressed on

light cavalry engaged on the flank, cut down by Anglo light horse

Anglo foot battalions delivered volley after volley until French units fled

the two sides light cavalry clashed, the French did not win out

masters of the field, it was the Anglo heavy guns that dealt out the bulk of the casualties, which led to damaged columns before they could close to hand to hand

The Anglo-Brunswick forces were the winners, though not by much.

Next game at the library will be January 23, 2016

ECW new forces WIP

There's a force of Royalists in progress around here...

bare metal and base coated

dark under coat and first colors

I am planning on a force of 3-4 Horse and 5 Pike and Shotte to be in mostly reds and greens - hailing from Wales, so the general will have a fun multi-staged name.

Little wars ... with little men

My youngest son has had some time with the RISK pieces on the floor ...

RISK pieces form a battle formation

With the Cavalry in columns, infantry in mass and doing crew duty with the guns along with a few scouting parties to van and flank ... do you think he's been influenced by the SHAKO games at all?

Gingerbread Millenium Falcon = creation for 2015

crashing thru a forest, the Millenium Falcon (in gingerbread)

A family tradition continues ... this time with a space ship feeling.

We'll be eating it on New Years Eve.

Happy New Year to everyone as the blog celebrates 100,000+ visitors!

Happy Christmas and Merry Always