A Rescue Mission; a Sudan scenario using the Black Powder rules

There had been some brigand activity 'up country' and the area commander had received orders from 'on high' that it would be politic for the Egyptian troops to be given the task of sorting things out.  With some misgivings the general had followed orders and sent an Egyptian force to subdue the rebels.  It had come as no surprise to him when a message came through that the Egyptians had been forced to form  a defensive zariba and required aid to rescue them.   Accordingly a force of 3 units of foot, three units of cavalry and 2 machine guns and a field gun  was sent under Brigadier Rowlandson, an experienced officer who had spent several years in northern India.

Overview of the terrain, The Egyptians in their zariba on the right and the Imperial troops on the left 

Rowlandson ordered Major Makepeace, the infantry commander to keep his troops under close control and advance in a 'box' formation, ready to repel attacks from any direction.  The front of this 'box' was to be covered by the cavalry under Major Dempsey; who was also to scout out the flanks to warn of any approaching Dervish troops.  The Imperial troops advanced at a steady pace until word came from the Royal Hertfordshire Lancers on the right flank that enemy camelry and cavalry were approaching
 

The enemy approach

Perhaps wary of being outflanked, the Lancers remained in position rather than attacking the enemy; the Dervish did not hesitate and moved forward quickly; catching the Lancers at the halt.  

The Lancers attacked

Even outnumbered 2:1 the Lancers managed to hold against the first impetus, and fought the more numerous camel mounted Dervish troops to a standstill, forcing them to fall back.  However, before the Lancers could recover they were hit by a fresh unit of Dervish horsemen.  This proved too much for the Lancers  their morale cracked and they routed, pursued by the victorious Dervish

Although costly this action had severely damaged two units of camel-mounted Dervish troops and also pulled away one unit of Dervish cavalry who pursued the Lancers.

Major Dempsey had advanced his unit of Hussars towards the Egyptian zariba but having observed the loss of the Lancers he ordered them to cover the right flank of the infantry.  With the mass of cavalry to his right, Makepeace had halted the infantry and ordered them to face outwards, stationing his artillery at the corners.  Rowlandson had taken the unit of Light Dragoond forward and established contact with the Egyptian commander and suggested he move his troops towards the Imperial infantry and then the two commands could retrace their steps to camp.  Meanwhile the Dervish cavalry had focused its attentions on the Imperial infantry and artillery.

The machine gun stops a Dervish cavalry charge

An attack on a machine gun had been repelled, but as the gun tried to gain the security of the infantry lines it was caught and overrun, the gunners dying defending their gun.  An attack by the recovered camel troops was defeated by the Hussars, aided by some accurate artillery fire from the Egyptian artillery.

Another attack repelled

The infantry were also coming under attack.  The Banffshire Highlanders poured a withering fire into an attack by Dervish cavalry, almost expending all their ammunition.  Urgent calls were made for re-supply before more attacks were launched by the Dervish.    The success of the Hussars was short-lived as they were attacked by a fresh unit of Dervish cavalry and swept away, Dempsey galloping over to try and rally them.  The successful Dervish cavalry then attacked the Borsetshires who, encouraged by the returning Rowlandson held their ground and then received reinforcements from a surprising quarter as the Royal Artillery crew left their gun and charged over to help.  Soon the cavalry had to fall back and the Imperial troops busied themselves in preparation for the next attack.

The Hussars are driven off

The Dervish cavalry had sustained heavy casualties in its attacks and as it fell back to re-organise the Egyptian forces continued their advance.

Now a new threat emerged as hordes of Dervish infantry moved towards the left flank of the Imperial troops.

The Dervish infantry appear

The Egyptian commander moved his cavalry to assist Dempsey's Light Dragoons in trying to hold the Dervish infantry back.  He also used his artillery and infantry to fire into the cavalry forming up to recommence their attacks.

The Egyptian infantry play their part

The Highlanders came under attack again as did the Royal Kelhamshire's to their right.  Both managed to hold their ground, although the Highlanders once again ran low on ammunition, truly not a great day for the Imperial commissariat.  The right flank of the Royal Kelhamshires looked vulnerable and Dempsey ordered the Light Dragoons to charge into the mass of Dervish infantry massing to attack.

More pressure on the Highlanders

Pressure on the Imperial left

The flank was stabilised, but two unit of hadendoa had slipped round the cavalry and they charged the remaining machine gun.  The gunners fought valiantly, but in the end fell beneath the spears and swords of their opponents.  Any further progress of the hadendoa was checked by the presence of the Egyptian cavalry.  

Another gun overrun

With the two commands now combined, the Dervish commander decided to call off the attack.  The Imperial troops had been weakened and lost two guns, a loss which would be keenly felt.  For his part Rowlandson could point to the successful 'rescue' of the Egyptian force, but he felt that in the minds of the officers back at base the question of who had been rescued him or the Egyptians would be debated.  Certainly, the Egyptian commander felt that his troops had performed well and made a significant contribution to the success of the mission.