Battle Report: 28th December 1993 Early British Indian & Mexican  ~vs~ Early British & Russian (Robert Avery & Nog Norgren ~vs~ Richard Avery & Rupert Avery)

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Early British Indian Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points CinC 1 100 2inC 1 50 1st Brigade Highlanders 40 8x5 RegB mlr 416 Sikhs 40 10x4 RegC sbm 296 Punjabi 40 10x4 RegD sbm 256 Navy Naval Brigade 1 24 8x3 RegB mlr   300 Cavalry Bengal Lancers 20 4x5 RegC s,l 150   Sikh Horse 12 3x4 RegC s   174 Artillery Battery A 3 3x1 RegB light mlsb FA+ elephant teams   249 Ammo Wagon 1 50 2041

Early Mexican Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points CinC 1 100 2inC 1 50 Infantry Los Supremos Podres 30 6x5 RegC mlr 300 Zapadores 30 6x5 LightsC mlr 360   1st Battalion 30 6x5 RegC mlr 270   2nd Battalion 30 6x5 RegD mlr 240 3rd Battalion 30 6x5 RegD mlr 240 Cavalry Dragoons 8 2x4 MilC s,l   108   Lancers 8 2x4 MilC s,mlc   108   Rancheros 8 2x4 MilC s,p   108 Artillery Battery A 3 3x1 RegC light mlsb FA 237 Train Ammo Wagon 1         50     2179 Allied Total 4220

Early British Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points   CinC 1         100   2inC 1         50 Infantry Guards 40 10x4 RegA mlr   588   Berkshires 40 10x4 RegA mlr   588   Camel Corps 8 2x4 RegA mlr (mounted inf)   140 Cavalry 11th Hussars 10 2x5 RegA s   180 Support Battery A 3 3x1 RegA light mlsb HA   324   Ammo Wagon 1         50               2000

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Early Russian Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points   CinC 1         100   2inC 1         50 1st Moscva 1st Battalion 48 4x12 LightC mlr   520   2nd Battalion 48 4x12 RegB sbm   424   3rd Battalion 48 4x12 RegD sbm   328 Cavalry Hussars 24 4x6 RegC s   376   Cossacks 15 1x15 IrregC s,l   180 Artillery Battery A 3 3x1 RegC light mlsb FA   237   Ammo Wagon 1         50               2265   Allied Total           4265

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. Early British Indian & Mexican Early British & Early Russian Foot 5880 4640 Horse 1120 980 Guns 12 12

Report This was fought as an encounter battle, with neither side outscouting, and both forces starting in march column. The Early British faced their Early British Indian counterparts, the Mexicans faced the Russians. Both sides advanced in column towards each other: throwing out skirmish screens and sending the artillery forward to weaken the opposition. On the left flank, as the British forces jockeyed for position and exchanged skirmish fire, the British Indians launched a massive cavalry charge at the right end of the British line. This was repulsed by artillery fire before making contact but, in blowing the Indian charge away, the British artillery exposed their flanks and, peppered by enemy fire, first routed then fled the field. Aware of the need for quick action, the British commander sent the Guard forwards: poised to sweep the Indians from the field with a mighty charge. Then disaster struck: suddenly, and for no apparent reason, six companies of Guards turned tail and fled the field! This left a huge hole in the British line, which their Indian opponents prepared to exploit. Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, the Mexicans, having softened the Russians up and causing three companies of Russian heavy infantry to rout, charged forward. On the far right, the Lancers charged the great mass of Cossacks: bouncing them back into a wood. A great melee then developed amongst the trees: with both sides taking such horrendous casualties that they both routed! In the centre, the 1st and 3rd Battalions of Mexican Line charged forward, supported by half of the Los Supremos Podres. The 1st Battalion took horrendous casualties from the Russian guns and was, literally, blown off the battlefield! Incredibly, however, the D-class 3rd Battalion held steady, and charged into the Russian artillery hacking down gunners right, left and centre. At that moment, the morale of the Russians broke: with the Hussars, the remainder of the heavy infantry and the 3rd Line Battalion breaking and running. With the British retreating and the Russians routing, the battle ended as the British Indian and Mexican forces poured into the pursuit! Casualties The British lost 7 Berkshires, 46 artillerymen, 44 Guards, and 100 Hussars for a total of 277 men. The Russians lost 24 heavy infantry, 28 light infantry, 14 line infantry, 55 artillerymen, and 70 Cossacks for a total of 191 men. The British Indians lost 15 artillerymen, 82 Bengal Lancers, 13 Sikhs, 78 Punjabi infantry, 100 Sikh horse, 44 Highlanders, 40 Naval Brigade for a total of 372 men. The Mexicans lost 157 line infantry, 40 Zapadores, 8 artillerymen and 86 Lancers for a total of 291 men. Results A victory to the combined Early British Indian and Mexican force. Analysis The British/Russian force suffered very bad luck: at the crucial point of the battle the British artillery and Guards routed on a “double one”. The Indians and Mexicans were in a position to exploit this bad luck...and did!