Report
The Egyptians were defending the small town of Hotep: small in terms of size, but vital in terms of strategic importance as it overlooked where the main east-west and north-south roads crossed.
They set up with four battalions of their regular infantry in a long line behind their zereba to the right of the town, supported by one artillery battery, whilst the other two battalions and artillery battery invested the town itself. The tribal foot and regular cavalry were protecting the right flank of the zereba; the irregular horse the left flank.
The British ignored the central hill of the battlefield, placing only two sections of artillery there. They split their force into two: each aimed to attack one flank of the zereba. The left flank force comprised four companies of Sikhs, the Highlanders and Ghurkas, supported by the Bengal Horse and two section of artillery. The right flank force comprised the rest of the Sikhs along with the two Bengali Foot battalions and the Bengal Lancers, supported by tow sections of mountain artillery.
The battle opened with an artillery duel: and immediately the British suffered a major reverse: losing the two sections of artillery they had placed on the central hill to counter-battery fire for no reply! Meanwhile, on the Egyptian left, the irregular tribal horse, all four warbands, had advanced strongly towards the guns supporting the British 1st Brigade. On the Egyptian right, the fanatical foot and regular cavalry advanced quickly towards four columns of Sepoy/Sikh foot and cavalry.
The tribal horse thundered forward. The British guns fired and stopped one warband (Purple Flag), shaken, but, next turn, rather than wait for the horse to close to canister range, they fired again: before the irregulars had started their charge. Despite this early firing, they did enough casualties to rout another warband (Green Flag) which, given the Irregular D status of all of them, could have send them all flying off the board. Three morale checks were required. The first shook the Green Flags, the second routed them, but the third ‘double-sixed’ to put them back to good morale and continue their charge!
There is only one God, and his name is Allah!
Of the four horse warbands, two had now been routed, but two charged forward into the artillery batteries: hacking and slashing as they went. The artillery crews routed and this, unfortunately, caused the Bengal Horse (who had moved up to contain the irregulars) to rout as well: partly, it must be said, due to the fact that as they moved up they had exposed their flanks to artillery fire from the Egyptian guns defending the town. The flight of the Bengal Horse also caused four companies of Sikh infantry to rout (‘old snake eyes’)!
Although the tribal horse were then quickly annihilated by the Ghurkas and Highlanders, they had, in effect, totally stymied the British attack on the Egyptian left flank! Incidentally, the tribal SubGeneral who had accompanied the horse right into the artillery batteries themselves survived unscathed!
There is only one God, and his name is Allah!
Meanwhile, things were also developing on the other side of the battlefield. Recognising the importance of this flank, the British commander despatched one of his Brigadiers to take charge. Unfortunately, whilst passing through some rocks on his way to the Indian Brigade, the Brigadier was spectacularly mauled to death by a mountain lion panicked by the sound of the guns! Four sixes on 4d6, plus another 6 for effect!
There is only one God, and his name is Allah!
However, battle continued: three warbands of fanatical tribal foot, supported by the Egyptian regular lancers heading quickly towards four columns of Indian troops.
Seeing an opportunity to catch the Indian wrong-footed, the fanatics and some of the Egyptian cavalry immediately charged the sepoy columns. Caught at the halt and changing formation, the Bengal Lancers and Sikhs were impacted by two fanatical foot units. The lancers routed, with the Sikhs following after a vicious melee with the fanatical swordsmen, exposing the infantry and mountain artillery to a squadron of charging lancers. Although the infantry destroyed the lancers with fire, they were shaken and the guns abandoned.
Now the rest of the Egyptian cavalry charged forward: into Indian troops who were now also coming under flank fire from the Egyptian artillery defending the zariba. It was too much for the sepoys, and the troops on that flank crumpled away: pursued by the lancers right off the table!
Although this effectively took out the tribal foot and Egyptian regular cavalry, it had not just stopped, but destroyed, the British force attacking the right flank of the zariba.
The British now had only four companies of Sikhs, the Highlanders and Ghurkas left: a fine fighting force but hampered by the knowledge that they had lost so many comrades. They bravely advanced against the town of Hotep: but marched into concentrated Egyptian artillery and breech-loader fire from inside the town walls. It was never going to be and, reluctantly, the British commander conceded defeat.
Casualties
Casualties were horrendous on both sides!
The British lost a Sub-General; 20 Highlanders; 280 Sikhs (35% and ROT); 160 Ghurkas (20%); 400 Bengali foot (31% and ROT); 220 Bengali cavalry (37% and ROT); and all their artillery except one mountain section. A total of 1481 men!
The Egyptians lost one squadron of lancers; 240 tribal foot (22%); and 480 tribal horse (60% and ROT). A total of 840.
Results
A win for the Egyptians.
Analysis
There is only one God, and his name is Allah.