A slightly out-of-focus view of the table before the game began.
The Revenge of the Yazulu
The Jackson Gamers played the last 2001 game in our "Green Nile" campaign on November 3rd at HOBBYTOWN. This turned out to be the "Revenge of the Yazulu" as the Negro warriors stabbed the dervishes in the back (literally) to even old scores. Between the British firepower afloat and the Yazulu numbers, the Mahdists were defeated, evening the score in the campaign to 2 battles won for each side. At least one more battle will be fought in 2002.
Early On
The table before the game started. Note that the Nile really is GREEN here.
Another view looking across the high ridges towards the river.
In this game, the Imperial outpost was under threat of imminent attack by the Mahdist hordes. The Imperial commander Col Campbell (Jim Pitts) and his Royal Naval counterpart (Bill Estes) attempt to relive the small fortified village. The Dervishes were attempting to rush the place and take it before the Imperial forces could arrive.
The Dervishes were commanded by the notorious Emir Fafnir (Fred Diamond). His forces had come to destroy the Egyptian outpost on the nile. A British/Egyptian force was marching to it's relief, and two steamers were on their way upstream with more troops. Alas for the Dervishes, their mortal enemies the Yazulu chose this time to stab them in the back, entering the battle in force from the Dervish left flank and descending the green Nile in canoes.
This game was not quite as large as some of the previous "Green Nile" games. This was an attempt by the Game-master to avoid the "overload" that some of his previous games had resulted in.
Jim Pitts setting up troops on the river
Phil Young, in background
He is watching Mahdist cavalry charge furiously towards the village
Mahdist infantry cower against a ridge
They are being urged furiously onward by a mounted emir.
Bill Estes, Royal Navy commander
The naval commander relaxes in the background as the Mahdist steamer plows ashore at the village.
The Dervish Players were:
Mahdist infantry and an old brass gun
They are moving forward behind their cavalry. Apparently they are hoping that the mounted troops will "soak up" the casualties.
Fuzzies! - No the British! - The desert haze!
A blurry shot showing the British advancing from the "corner" of the table and the river, making certain that their lines are dressed and allowing no gap where dervishes might penetrate.
Mounted units close in.
The Dervish cavalry has closed to the thorn bush 'Zariba' around the village. Bill Estes gestures furiously to his gunners in the background, while Jim Pitts (Col. Campbell, the Imperial commander) watches the hills for signs of more enemy units. Note the river boats of both sides in the back ground, ashore and dislodging troops.
The British Players were:
A closer shot but same as above.
The Yazulu stream onto the battlefield, heading for the Mahdist rear
The Mahdist commander-in-Chief
Fred Diamond, the Mahdist chief emir stares glumly at the river. Already thoughts what to do AFTER he loses this battle dance in his head. (Actually both the Mahdists and the Imperialist took solace at the nearest Chinese "all you can eat" buffet after the game, doing serious damage to the restaurant's profits)
An overhead view of the Green Nile
Large "canoes" under sail bring boatloads of Yazulu marines into contact with the Mahdist steamer. The water is certainly green in this part of the river! The steamer was made by Jim Pitts from an article in Wargames Illustrated some years ago. The Arab dhow and the Yazulu "canoes" were also made by Jim from directions given on the "Major General's" site.
Fuzzy view of the village, the boats...
Also showing the imperial stomachs -er the Imperial players.
Overhead view of masses of Mahdists
Royal navy gunboats pulled up to the bank./P>
Note that Royal Marines are debarking from one boat and have formed a tight defensive perimeter. The Royal Naval commander is taking no chances with sneaky dervishes getting between his troops and his boats.
The Egyptian-held village under attack.
Note the bodies in the Nile. The crocodiles will eat well tonight! In spite of wave attacks on land and amphibious assault in their rear, the Egyptians and Sailors in the garrison of this miserable place held out till the imperial forces came to their rescue.
A birds-eye view to the affair
Overhead shot showing the climax of the battle for the village. Lots of Mahdists. Lots of boats. Lots of dice.
Mahdists stream down a valley.
A close-up of the Mahdist commander and his banner
Mahdists line a small hill, shooting at the Yazulu.
Nothing went well for the forces of the Mahdi on this day. The combination of Yazulu Number and British firepower was too much for the dervishes. perhaps our next game will have the Mahdists invading Yazulu land in a "search and destroy" mission. But who will do the destroying hmm? This would be a game between "Native" forces on both sides with perhaps a few Imperial artillery pieces or one river boat trying to help fight off the Dervish hordes.
Go to "The Pass of Madness" - Our third "Green Nile" Battle
Go to "Wadi Zoum-Zoum" - Our second "Green Nile" Battle
Go to "The Desert and the River" - Our first "Green Nile" Battle
Go to our Colonial Period Page
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