The Sands of the Desert are Red with Blood...

Earlier this week I received a custom sized Tiny Wargames Desert Mat via Dan at Wargames Illustrated. I’ve had in mind to acquire one of these for a while now, having been impressed with the overall look of the mats I saw in August at The Other Partizan. As Jon was due on Wednesday evening for our regular monthly game I set up a Sudan War game, which collection has not seen over much Table Top time of late. I decided we’d use Black Powder as the rule set, so it was necessary to look into the Blood on the Nile supplement for ideas of how to rate the units.
The scenario sees three Imperial columns advancing on the Mosque at El Pend-Ha, where the leader of the revolt in the area, the Barmy Bhykli, is rumoured to be quartered. Of course, he is far from alone, being escorted by numerous Beja and Nile Arab units. Lord Walton took command of the Imperial columns, personally accompanying the most easterly column and communicating with his subordinates by heliograph - on a Dx6 throw of anything but a 1 that is! The game ebbed and flowed as BP games usually do without either side gaining a decisive edge. As usual, a few pictures to tell the unfolding story of the battle ~

"Oh, My Beloveds, do not fear the bullets of the infidel!"

The Nile Arabs and Beja Camelry sweep forward to attack

Lord Walton's column.

Baggara cavalry sweep across the dunes to confront the 

Imperial Cavalry column on Lord Walton's right flank!

Red with the blood of the square that broke!

The Naval contingent flanks their Gardener gun, which was to

repeatedly jam throughout the game, a great bonus to the Beja

in its line of fire!

With the Imperial cavalry column stalled in the dunes, more

Beja tribesmen surge forward to bolster their fellows.

Lord Walton's Column, or rather its remains, are bolstered by

the arrival of a Highland battalion from the Centre column.

Meanwhile, the Nile Arabs surge forward and the Beja Camelry

move to flank his line.

We called it a draw after eight turns as it was clear the Imperial Force could not win, especially as their western column of cavalry was Broken and most of the eastern column had routed, leaving the main centre column to bear the brunt of the Mahdist attacks. Turning to the Mahdists though, their Baggara Horse were blown and the Beja camelry stalled, so any further fighting would depend on the depleted ranks of Nile Arab spearmen and on the Fuzzy Wuzzy! Needless to say, their chances were not good against steady Imperial infantry so they wisely held their ground!

Lord Walton takes stock of his deteriorating situation.

Arabs surge forward while the Imperial infantry wait full of

apprehension.

"Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar!" The Imperial Cavalry Brigade

is Broken and the Mahdist left is secured.

A stand-off in the center, Beja riflemen hold the wadi, with 

Camelry securing their right flank and keeping the South

Staffordshires at bay!

Monday should see a second Desert cloth themed game, this time pitting the British against Egyptians in the theatre of the Anglo-Egyptian War. Can Lord Rawnsley do any better than Lord Walton? We shall have to see, as Bhykli Pasha prepares the Egyptian plan of battle...