Battle Report: Pursuit

Background

Rules

6 Zulu Iviyo start in concealment.

2 British Platoons and a field gun start at one short edge of the table.

The British must protect the field gun and escort it through the hostile territory to the other table edge.

Battle Report

The sailors marched in column along the left flank of the intended route, while the Highlanders marched ahead of the battery. Ahead lay scrub and generally poor terrain. Several large hills to the left of the intended march route were watched with caution.

A 92nd Highlanders' scout discovers umCijo waiting in ambush

Almost immediately, one of the advance scouts of the 92nd Highlanders discovered an Iviyo of Zulus lying in ambush directly in front of the main column.

The scout froze, terrified, and barely had time to shout a warning to his platoon.

The 92nd Highlanders watch as their scout is rushed by umCijo

"B******s!" came the yell from Scotch Sgt. O'Connely. "Right! Let 'em have it! TAKE AIM..."

At the same time, an Iviyo of uVe are spotted behind the left flank of the column

Just at that moment, another Zulu iviyo of uVe was spotted in from their hiding place behind the large hill on the British left flank. Battery Sergeant May barked an order to manoeuvre the gun into position against the uVe.

Sailors protecting the British flank

At that moment Captain Campbell decided he needed to form some kind of coherent line of battle. But even as he barked an order to Sergeant Stevens to form line, another iviyo appeared over the brow of the hill. They appeared to be umBonambi armed with rifles!

The sailors decide a new formation is in order...

The sailors moved into a line and prepared to fire upon the two approaching iviyo. The scouts were recalled and began their desperate dash back to their platoons. The field gun was pushed forwards to join the left of the sailor's line. Captain Campbell was all too aware of the weak-spot in his defences. These primitives probably wouldn't spot it, he thought to himself. Still, it would have to be rectified as soon as possible.

"FIRE!" barked Highlander Sgt. O'Connely. A few of the umCijo fell dying or wounded.

"FIRE!" came the order from Sgt. Stevens. A handful of uVe and umBonambi fell to his sailors' rifle fire, as some of the umBonambi began to return fire from the hill.

Both British platoons form lines and prepare to receive

There was a moment of stillness as the smoke cleared. The Zulus began their terrifying chant (i.e. Elina starts to dance around singing "ULULULULU" with a scary look in her eye).

Elina considers her Zulus' best options...

...and procedes to charge another concealed Iviyo into the weakest point in the British line

Orders in the strange Zulu tongue were being barked, but from where the British soldiers could not tell.

Suddenly, yet another Zulu iviyo leapt wildly from their hiding place directly towards what Captain Campbell had feared was his weakest spot.

A Sailor is wounded by fire from the umBonambi on the hill

At the same time, the umCijo charged at the Highlanders, while the umBonambi continued to take pot-shots at the sailor's line. Captain Campbell was caught up in the vicious fighting at the apex. As the Highlanders and sailors involved in the close-quarter fighting looked round for their commander, they saw Campbell become overwhelmed. Perhaps as a result, the British only managed to inflict a few casualties in the horrendous mêlée in the centre of the line.

While the naval field gun successfully discourages the uVe

As the combatants withdrew, rows of wounded and dying from both sides were left. There simply weren't enough British soldiers remaining to carry back the wounded. Some men openly wept as they were forced to retreat and abandon their fellow men.

Cpt. Campbell is killed, but the British reform after the charge by umCijo and inGobamakhosi

At that moment the left flank was again charged, this time by the uVe. As they approached, the sailors took aim...

"FIRE!" came the order from Sgt. Stevens, and a handful of uVe fell. Stevens was just about to give another order when he was caught in the neck by a bullet from the umBonambi fire on the hill. The sailors began to panic, and looked to Corporal Wells for leadership.

"Don't look at me for Gawd's sake! Fire at will!"

Significant Zulu casualties stalls the attack momentarily

As the sailors prepared to receive the charging uVe, yet another iviyo, this time the uThulwana darted forwards towards the depleted Highlanders' line. Leaderless, the Highlanders stood their ground and took aim...

The British prepare to receive uThulwana reinforcements

As the utHulwana approached, the gun crew pushed their field gun forwards to the Highlanders' left flank. Sergeant May tried to steady his men...

The field gun is moved into a flanking position...

...but the sailors look severely outnumbered

Sgt. May and his naval gunners watched with terror-stricken eyes as the uThulwana approached the Highlanders, but as they drew near, the Zulu flank was exposed...

"FIRE!" came the order from Sgt. May. The field gun discharged directly into the flank of the uThulwana, three Zulus falling wounded, and the closest being completely torn to pieces by the extreme force.

Hearing the order, the Highlanders also fired their rifles into the charging mass, and despite inflicting no casualties, the experience had been too much for the uThulwana, and they retreated a short distance. Perhaps there was hope after all?

The field gun fires directly into the flank of the uThulwana...

But as the British reloaded their weapons, another peppering of umBonambi rifle fire from the hill wounded one of the field gunners and killed another. Worse still, the uVe had completed their charge against the sailors, and a slaughter was about to ensue.

...and repulses them, although two crew are hit by umBonambi rifle fire

That was the last straw for the British, and they beat a hasty retreat. They had caused significant Zulu casualties, but their own losses were too great. Worse still, the gun had had to be abandoned. The British would have to return some day!

Conclusions