One of our 2009 Mini-Campaign game series
The Red Desert
Episode I - Into the Desert
Page Two
Photos and comments by John Murdaugh
Photo by John Murdaugh
Egyptian camelrey (old Frontier figures) and cavalry (old Ral Partha figures) move to the East. Farther away some Ral Partha Egyptians seem to be moving at high speed to the rear!
Photo by John Murdaugh
The British advance, early in the game moving Eastward, to the left in this photo. Note that the guns are still pointed to the rear. The Indian lancers are well spread out in open order, after taking a few shots while still in a close column earlier in the game.
The Indian lancers with Red/Blue lance pennants are Hinchiffe figures. The ones with Blue/White lance pennants are Ral Parthas.
Photo by John Murdaugh
Mounted followers of the Prophet suddely appear among the rocks on the North hill top to threaten the Indian Lancers moving east on the plain. One regiment of lancers wheeled left and came up the hill, driving the Mahdists off.
Photo by John Murdaugh
The "red-turban boys" which were a plague to the imperial forces, along with a few friends fire down into the imperials. Note the bases of wounded lancers showing up as gray rectangles, on the right. These "red-turban boys" continued to hold the hill and engaged the Egypian infantry deployed against them.
Photo by John Murdaugh
In the middle of a grevious melee near the "pile of rocks" down in the plain. Each side fed units in here and the Indian/Egyptian right flank of the Imperial army was chewed up.
Photo by John Murdaugh
Bengal Lancers occupy the southern hill after winning the melee against some of the Mahdists. The "red-turban boys" and friends are still there however, holding off the Egyptian infantry.
Photo by John Murdaugh
Madist cavalry recovers from an inital setback and charges the lancers. More followers of the Prophet open fire at the other lancer unit. The lancers won this melee but their numbers were severely depleted. On the right the Egypian infantry is charged by fresh Mahdist sword/spear troops and the remaining "red-turban boys".
Photo by John Murdaugh
A close-up of Egyptian infantry - fighting desperately! They were eventually pushed back down the hill, in spite of the heroic bugler shown tootling as his comrades fight! This is the last turn for the "red-turban boys" as they would be destroyed by imperial fire this turn.
Photo by John Murdaugh
A distant view of the village of M'waad Deeb and it's guardians, under the command of Jim Pitts. The Imperials did not get near the place.
Photo by John Murdaugh
Formerly pinned mahdists recover and fire into the the lancers on the Northern hill.
Photos and comments by Bill Hamilton
Photo by Bill Hamilton
On Turn two: More of Fred's camelry charge Bill's horse, and the native riflemen in "the rock pile" inflict heavy losses on his Egyptians. Meanwhile, Bill's riflemen in the distance fire on the the far edge of the native assault just as Phil's camelry move into the line of fire. As always, friendly fire isn't.
Photo by Bill Hamilton
And Fred's natives regroup below their lone cannon on the South Hill. The missionaries make their slow way from their tents to the Imperial lines, as more natives (Ken Hafer's command) approach from the distance.
Photo by Bill Hamilton
On Turn three: More of "Big John" Murdaugh's natives revealed themselves on the rough North hill. Ed Sansing moved his men to defend the baggage train, and inflicted severe casualties on the Mahdist horse.
Photo by Bill Hamilton
On Turn four: In the distance, the pack train comprising "the caravan" begins mustering itself to move out of the village. More natives advance, seeming to spring up out of the dust.
Photo by Bill Hamilton
More of Fred Diamond's followers of the Prophet take position to fire down from the South hill as his camelry lose themselves within the rocks. The confused "piled up" figures lying on thier side are Egyptian wounded, captured by the Mahdist camelry as they withdrew to the hill after the fighting around the "rock pile."
Photo by Bill Hamilton
On Turn four: Indian infantry and Egyptian cavalry are semi-surrounded with natives attacking as fire tears into the men of both sides at point blank range.
Photo by Bill Hamilton
At the end of turn four, after the melee, Bill's camelry again fled before engaging, but the three horse destroyed the riflemen they charged and the native camelry that countercharged. Both sides have been wrecked in this fighting near the "pile of rocks" but there are more Mahdist forces available. There are few reserves left for the Imperial players.
SO - Who won this battle?
The followers of the Mahdi won it - overwhelmingly. The game-master Jay Stribling made several errors in the set-up of this battle:
Return to the first part of this battle report
Go to the second game in this series of three.
Go to the third game in this series of three.
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