Battle Report: 14th May 1991 Early British Indian  ~vs~  Indian Mutineer (Andy Purcell ~vs~ Robert Avery)

.

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 16 4x4 RegB s,mlc,l   296   1st Btty Royal Artillery 3 3x1 RegB medium mlsb FA   297   Naval Brigade 24 8x3 RegB mlr   320   Ammo Wagon 1         50               2113

.

Indian Mutineer Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points CinC 1 100 2inC 1 50 Mutineers Personality 1         25 1st Bttn 40 10x4 MilC mlr (2 co's LI) 436 2nd Bttn 40 10x4 MilC mlr (2 co's LI) 436   3rd Bttn 40 8x5 MilD mlr (2 co's LI)   390 Cavalry 16 4x4 MilC s,mlc 216 Tribal Support Artillery 1 2 1x2 IrregC medium mlsb FA + elephant teams 245 Artillery 2 1 1x1 IrregC heavy mlsb FA   142 Ammo Wagon 1         50 2090

.

. Early British Indian Indian Mutineer Foot 2080 2400 Horse 320 320 Guns 6 6

Report Both commanders deployed their infantry in columns protected by skirmishers; their cavalry behind either hills or skirmish lines, and their guns on one flank. At the start of the battle, the British advances strongly up the centre of the field: so strongly, in fact, that they soon moved out of range of their guns, and right into the hands of the more cautiously advancing Mutineers. For most of the battle, the British held a position in the centre of the table, under fire from the Mutineer artillery, unable to shoot back, and unable to decide whether or how to advance against the stationary Mutineer line. Eventually, the British, frustrated, charged the Mutineer artillery with the Lancers: and were recoiled with very heavy casualties. As half the British infantry was either shaken or routed due to artillery fire, their cavalry destroyed, and their commander still unable to decide how to attack, they retreated: leaving the jeering Mutineer in possession of the field. Casualties The Mutineers lost their heavy artillery and 19 sepoys. The British lost 83 Highlanders; 118 other infantry; 200-odd Lancers and a few artillery crewmen. Results An unexciting victory for the Mutineers. Analysis The British commander spent so much time dithering about, unable to decide how to attack, that he fell victim to steady Mutineer artillery fire. Neither the British Lancers nor the Naval Brigade played a serious part in the battle, and the British artillery were constantly preventing from firing at the enemy by their own men being in the way. Lesson to be learnt:  don’t dither!