"Recover those stores" : a Sudan scenario using Black Powder rules

 For our latest game Steve set up this scenario where a force of Egyptian troops (3 brigades of foot and 1 of cavalry) were given the task of recovering a cache of arms and stores which Emir Khat had 'liberated' from several defeated Imperial forces.  Information received suggested that the arms and stores were located in a village deep in enemy territory.  The Dervish had a small force protecting the village, but reinforcements could be expected.  The time and point of entry of each element of the reinforcements was the subject of a dice roll and so was unpredictable.

After a hard march the Egyptians were nearing the village.  After several battles in which the Imperial troops had been surprised by hidden enemy troops catching their extended lines, the Egyptian commander decided to hold one infantry brigade back as a reserve, to meet contingencies.  His cavalry were to carry out a sweep around the enemy left to check for concealed enemy units.  The remaining infantry brigades were to advance to two hills and use their firepower to reduce the enemy numbers before a general assault was launched.

The Egyptian cavalry move off to the right

The cavalry brigade set off to the right and for the first two turns met no problems.  On the next turn, as they crested a low hill the were met by the sight of a mass of Dervish infantry moving towards them.  As the cavalry commander looked around the landscape he saw a second mass of enemy infantry to his left.  There was no way he could tackle such numbers, his job was to get back and report the weight of numbers heading towards the village.  He ordered his rear unit to turn around and head back, to be followed by his other two units in quick succession.    Unfortunately, his rear unit did not receive, or misunderstood his order and remained where they were.  To buy time he ordered his leading unit to attack the Dervish troops in front of the brigade.  Gallant though they were, they could not make any headway against the mass of enemy troops and as they struggled, the second regiment of cavalry was charged in the flank by a unit of Hadendoa from the second group of Dervish.

The Hadendoa strike

By now, the rearmost unit of Egyptian cavalry, the Bashi Bazouks had turned to retire towards the centre.  However, they saw that a unit of Dervish was swinging round on their left hoping to prevent any escape for the cavalry.  They charged them and manage to keep the way back open, at least for the moment.  

Behind them all order was breaking down.  The leading unit, unable to hold the mass of enemy infantry routed after the brigade commander was killed.  Then the unit hit in flank did the same.  At least the efforts of the Bashi Bazouks had left open an avenue of escape but the victorious Hadendoa now charged into the back of the Bashis sealing their fate.

The rout of the Egyptian cavalry brigade

As the mayhem was unfolding on the Egyptian right, the leading infantry brigades continued forward.  The left hand brigade established itself on their hill, put out a flank guard, deployed the artillery and then deployed two infantry units forward to fire at the defenders of the village.  In the centre, the second brigade was almost in position, ready to cover the village and the compound.

The infantry brigades move into position

Perhaps encouraged by the rather ineffective fire from the nearest house one unit of infantry charged forward and tried to force their way in.  They met stern resistance and had to fall back to lick their wounds.

Egyptian infantry attack the village

In the centre the second Egyptian brigade had reached its position.  As the leading unit crested the ridge they were charged by enemy cavalry.  Their fellow units were still in column so it was vital that they hold their ground.  This they did, driving off their attackers.  

The second brigade comes under attack from cavalry...

Other units of cavalry swept around the hill heading for the remaining Egyptian formations.  This gave the rest of the centre brigade to form up facing outwards and the left hand unit was just in time to receive a charge from one of the Dervish units in the village

and infantry

On the left, the situation was deteriorating. The unit which had attacked the village had fallen back to regroup, but took further casualties from enemy rifle and artillery fire.  This caused their nerve to break and they routed. To their left, their supporting unit had run low on ammunition and as their rate of fire declined an emboldened enemy attacked them.  Perhaps shaken by their lack of ammunition the Egyptian infantry faltered as the enemy charged.  They could not hold their ground and had to fall back.  This meant that the supply mule sent forward to resupply them fell into enemy hands.  The brigade commander moved forward to steady the wavering unit and the Sudanese, who had been covering the flank, took up position behind them offering support.  It was to be in vain.  The enemy charged again, totally routing the Egyptians and killing the brigade commander in the process.

Surging forward, the Dervish then took on the Sudanese.  These proved to be made of tougher stuff and not only held their ground but forced the Dervish to retreat.  At the same time a unit of cavalry was charging the brigade artillery.  Fortunately, the artillery fire was enough to stall the charge and save the brigade.

The left hand brigade under severe pressure

As all this was happening the final act in the drama that was engulfing the Egyptian cavalry was played out.  Attempting to restore some order, the Egyptian C in C galloped over and rallied one unit of cavalry.  With no other commanders available, the other units continued their rout and left the battle.  The rallied unit was still reforming when it was hit by the pursuing Hadendoa infantry.  Carnage ensued with many of the cavalry and the C in C falling beneath the swords and spears of the enemy.  Only a few cavalry remained to follow their comrades who had left the battle.

The end of the Egyptian cavalry

Behind the Egyptian cavalry, the commander of the reserve brigade had formed up his men in a firing line to drive back the approaching enemy.  The Hadendoa charged the unit on the right of the line, which refused to stand and fell back in disorder.  Fortunately, the other units held and prepared to fire.  However, something was amiss with either the ammunition or the supply held by each soldier because the two battalions and the artillery all fired and found that not only had they had inflicted no casualties, but they had all gone low on ammunition as well.  The brigade still had its supply mule, but it would be a nervous time before all were resupplied.

At this point we had to end play as we had run out of time.  Victory was given to the Dervish, because the Egyptians did not really have the strength to push forward and capture the village.  Added to that the C in C and two brigade commanders were dead, and, two more supply mules had been captured to further boost the supplies available to Emir Khat.

A most enjoyable game.  Thanks to Bob for handling the Dervish so well and to Steve for devising the scenario.