Action at Badli-Mhawled

The first of two recent games set in the sub continent, the Jewel in the Crown, saw Lord Rawnsley's column take on the mutinous scum commanded by the the renegade Raja of Rhanslistan, Bykli Singh. In other words an Indian Mutiny game using Black Powder as our rules guide. As ever, a photomontage which I hope will carry you down into the action and give a sense of the unfolding drama ~

Bykli Singh sizes the initiative! The fanatical Badmash rush forward to engage the approaching enemy.

In the same vien the 1st Brigade of mutinous Sepoys advance boldly on Rawnsley's Heavy Artillery battery.

The Raja's Rocket Men fire off a salvo to support the attack, but sadly the rockets miss their target, and everything else besides!

Rawnsley Royal Naval rocket fires off its first salvo in response. Disaster! It explodes on the ramp and destroys the battery! Thankfully for his Lordship no other unit is Disordered by the disastrous event!

The Sepoys, inspired it seems by the demise of the RN Rocket battery Sweep forward taking the Heavy Artillery battery in its flank. In short order the battery is overrun and Neil's Blue Caps threatened by enfilade fire. In support Bykli Singh's Household Guard advance steadily.

Rawnsley just cannot get his troops moving and now a second Sepoy infantry regiment from the 1st Brigade advance on the Horse Artillery battery and deliver a devastating volley.

Around the ruined remains of Badli-Mawled the fanatical Badmash are engaged in vicious hand to hand combat. To much cheering they defeat the Regulars seeking to dislodge them and further hamper Rawnsley's room for manoeuvre.

Despite the 1st Brigade consolidating in the centre the story on their right is different with the mutinous Sepoy Light Cavalry being driven off in rout by their opponents.

The Badmash consolidate their hold on the ruins as the Regulars flee in rout from combat!

At last Rawnsley's luck seems to be changing and his infantry advance on the enemy. In an attempt to harass the advance the Raja's Household Guard Cavalry charges the Gurkhas who are Shaken as a result of casualties received.

More Sepoy infantry advance in the centre despite the fleeing Light Cavalry on their right flank. 

The Gurkhas have held the centre for now but to their left the 2nd Sepoy Brigade steadily advances on Rawnsley's left wing held by his Light Cavalry Brigade.

Despite initial failure the Raja's Rocket Men continue to fire salvos on the enemy seeking to further disrupt their formations by Disorder.

They score a direct hit on the Gurkhas who break and flee as a result!

Devastating volley fire from the leading Sepoys of the 2nd Brigade rout Rawnsley's Light Cavalry Brigade unexpectedly.

Despite mounting losses elsewhere across the battlefield Neil's Blue Caps drive of the Raja's Household Guard infantry.

Their triumph is short lived though, broken by mounting losses from Artillery fire and from an enfilading volley. "Events Dear Boy, Events..."

A second direct hit from a rocket salvo is the final straw for Lord Rawnsley's morale. His relief column is defeated and driven from the field! In truth Phil never recovered from the first two Turns' outcomes and the game was over in Turn 5. A resounding win for Bykli Singh, who was rewarded for some impetuous decisions supported by some kind dice throws for once. The second game staged later in the week pitted Major General Watson's British East India Company against the wily Tipoo Bhyka, the Tiger of Pendawar. More on that action in due course.