Battle Report: 5th December 1990 Early British Indian ~vs~ Indian Mutineer     (Andy Purcell ~vs~ Robert Avery)

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Early British Indian Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points   Commander-in-Chief 1         100   2inC 1         50   1st Bttn 24th Foot 40 8x5 RegB mlr (2 co's LI)   500   78th Highlanders 40 8x5 RegB mlr (2 co's LI)   500   17th Lancers 12 2x6 RegB s,mlc,l   200   Dragoon Guards 12 2x6 RegB s,mlc   212   1st Btty Royal Artillery 3 3x1 RegB medium mlsb HA   372   Ammo Wagon 1         50               1984

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Indian Mutineer Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points CinC 1 100 2inC 1 50 Mutineers 1st Bttn 40 10x4 MilD mlr 380 2nd Bttn 40 8x5 MilC mlr 400 Cavalry 16 4x4 MilC s,mlc 216 Tribal Warband 1 32 1x32 FanC sp/sw,sh 207 Support Warband 2 40 1x40 IrregC sp/sw,sh,sbm 215 Horse 10 1x10 FanC sp,sw,sh,armour 125 Artillery 2 1x2 IrregC heavy mlsb FA 291 + elephant teams 1984

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. Early British Indian Indian Mutineer Foot 1600 3040 Horse 480 520 Guns 6 4

Report Within seconds of the battle being joined, the fanatical Tribal horse had been routed off the board by the British artillery, who scored a couple of extremely lucky hits. On the Mutineer left flank, the Dragoons and Mutineer cavalry clashed.  The Dragoons routed, but left the way clear for the British artillery to rout the Mutineer horse with close range blasts of double canister. The guns were also supported by the Light companies of the British battalions. On the other flank, a battalion of Mutineer infantry were allowed to advance unmolested into a position where they could charge, through a wood and up a hill to take a section of British artillery positioned there. They then held off an attempt by the British Lancers to recapture the guns and, seeing the British infantry preparing a charge, formed line around the guns, and turning them on their erstwhile owners. As battle ended, the British infantry advancing towards the enemy had had a company routed by the Mutineer artillery. At this point both sides saw fit to retreat: time for tiffin in the British camp; bad omens in the Mutineer! Casualties No information. Results A draw, due to failure to finish. Analysis After an incredibly unlucky start, the Mutineer army really got going when it took the top of the hill. Whether the hill could have been held, and whether the rest of the Mutineer army could have come up in support in time is a matter that could only have been decided through play: but the referee did declare the battle to be slightly in the favour of the Mutineers.