Battle Report: 26th November 1990 Early British Indian ~vs~ Indian Mutineer     (Richard Avery ~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 After an initial clumsy disposition, the British formed two lines with their infantry and charged forward with their cavalry. On the British right, the Lancers smashed two squadrons of Mutineer cavalry right off the field, and bounced the other two back, but were forced to retire due to casualties from smallarms fire. On the British left, the Dragoons were smashed by the fanatical noble Tribal cavalry, but were managing to reform as the battle ended. In the centre, the Mutineer infantry advanced until it came under serious artillery and skirmisher fire, with companies of Mutineers refusing to advance and even fleeing the field under the fire of the British 9lb-ers. At this point both sides saw fit to retreat: time for tiffin in the British camp; bad omens in the Mutineer! Casualties The Mutineer infantry sustained minor casualties across all companies, with the Mutineer cavalry routed but not damaged - as they ran away before impact. The noble Tribal cavalry also had slight casualties. The British infantry were largely untouched, although the British cavalry had fairly heavy casualties. Results A draw, due to failure to finish. Analysis The Mutineers made the serious mistake of advancing: they should have waited for the British to come to them. They also failed to capitalise properly on the success of their cavalry and, in the end, were like targets in a shooting gallery. Had the battle continued, they would have had to drastically change tactics (i.e. occupy cover) to win. It seems that unless one side has no ranged firepower, the advantage is with the defender or he who has the better artillery. Future scenarios may have to specify an attacker or defender in order to avoid endless artillery duels.