Photo by John Murdaugh
The Guards/Highland brigade (on left) and the Naval brigade (on right). They are shown packed into a barge transiting the Suez canal. Actually the 30mm little lead men are still in the packing box prior to being deployed on the game table.
The 1882 Anglo-Egyptian war
Decision in the Desert
The 1882 British-Egyptian war had only 1 major field battle, that of Tel-el-Kebir. When one games this war, one pretty much re-fights Tel-el-Kebir. This battle is not exactly a re-fight, but if you have a struggle in the desert between the British and the Egyptians, well you have to compare it to Tel-el-Kebir.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Egyptian center, redoubt with artillery battery and two infantry battalions. Pasha Clay in background who commanded Egyptian left flank. Pashas Jim (CinC) and Bill commanded the center.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Egyptian cavalry on right flank commanded by Pasha Ed. The Egyptian right flank had no opponent. The Egyptian cavalry and the Soudanese Brigade (half of the army's infantry) had to force-march for 75% of the game just to get into range of the enemy.
Photo by Jim Pitts
The main British advance. All their troops were deployed on their right flank. General Phil (CinC), General Elliott (cavalry), and Captain (RN) John.
Photo by Jim Pitts
British left flank (actually opposed Egyptian center) was an Indian brigade under General Sean, reinforced by two artillery batteries.
Photo by Jim Pitts
General Elliott's right flank cavalry begins their assaults. Both attacks routed their Egyptian opponents, starting the destruction of Pasha Clay's division.
Photo by John Murdaugh
Another view of the first cavalry attack with the British lancers attacking in the foreground and an Indian unit (Skinners' horse) attacking in the background.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Egyptian left flank after two turns of attacks by British cavalry. Not much left, is there?
Photo by Jim Pitts
But the yellow jacketed Indian lancers get it in the flank from an Egyptian battery!
Photo by Jim Pitts
Finally the Egyptian cavalry on the right came across and attacked the Indian brigade who all routed in front of them, thanks to the marksmanship of one of Pasha Jim's Egyptian infantry battalion.
Photo by Jim Pitts
General Phil's British and Highland infantry advance against the remnants of Pasha Clay's left flank division.
What were the objectives in this game?
Both sides were attempting to reduce the enemy armies to less than 50% strength. The Egyptians had a central redoubt and two fortified villages. Each of these in Egyptian hands counted as a British unit "off the table" to determine victory conditions.
Photo by Jim Pitts
One of Pasha Clay's left flank battalions getting their square broken by Indian lancers.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Overview of the battle at game's end. We started on a 16' x 5' table but the battle revolved so that we ended up fighting across the 5' width. Pasha Bill's Sudanese & Mounted Rifles brigade had finally made it over from the right center and helped cover the withdrawal of Pasha Clay's devastated division.
Photo by Ed Sansing
The wily British commanders plot their attack. from left to right Generals John Murdaugh, Phil Young (with his back to camera), Elliot Haller and Sean Sean Pitts.
Photo by Ed Sansing
A picture of the Egyptian cavalry force occupying the right flank. At the beginning of the fight, due to the clever British Deployment there were no enemy troops within half the table length of these units.
The gatling gun battery never moved as fast as it could towards the fighting, but was never able to get in range and never fired a shot.
Photo by John Murdaugh
One of the defending Indian units under General Murdaugh, holding the extreme left flank awaits the advance of redeployed Egyptian/Soudanese units that can be seen approaching in the distance.
Photo by John Murdaugh
Just one turn later and CHAOS! The entire Indian brigade defending the Anglo-Indian left flank has routed due to casualties from Egyptian fire.
And look! In the distance the Egyptian cavalry, perhaps tired from it's long march but ready to fall upon the routed units with lance and sword.
So, Who won this battle?
Ah, you will have to go to the second page of this battle report to learn the game's ending!
Go to Part 2 of DECISION IN THE DESERT
Return to the Master Index of Photos and Games
Return to the Jackson Gamers' Homepage
Angelfire - Free Home Pages
Free Web Building Help
Angelfire HTML Library
htmlGEAR - free polls, guestbooks, and more!
Thank you for visiting The Jackson Gamers' pages at Angelfire. Please come back and visit again!