"General Pettygree Is Defeated And...." Topic

Date: 18 July 1900
Location: Dongolo, Surajistan

The Battle of Dongolo has ended. General Pettygree and his Surajistan Field Force are defeated. See the world turned upside down here:

link

The story advances by briefly captioned photographs as usual.

Respectfully,
Bill

Now that is an interesting end to a hard fought campaign. I'm looking forward to seeing the questions at the end of your blog post answered. Perhaps, like Lord Chelmsford, thr good general will have a chance to turn the tide in the next campaign before his relief arrives.

Rick

I just received the dispatch from our overseas office. Devastating! I shall be in my study with a snifter of brandy for the foreseeable future.

A dark day indeed

I thought for sure he'd get hit in the open.

I've spent many a joyful moment reading these entries. God bless.

Wonderful and I have posted my comments on the your blog. I am inspired.

It may well be that even some of those invalided home will go on to other interesting adventures, like Dr. John Watson, who was wounded at Maiwand, in July 1880.

Grelber

A village too far, eh?

But still, nothing else could be done. Best of a bad situation, and all that.
A setback, certainly. But hardly the end, I daresay.

I'm curious as to the nature of the allies the Guru found… alliances can be shaky— and to align oneself with such as that murderous cult is to risk the ire of others…

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Well done, Bob. I hope this serves as a spur for another campaign.

Just a great job of a campaign and reporting. Well done sirrah!

Sounds like a great time. Fantastic job recording it for all to enjoy.

I was also expecting another Kabaul.

I'm not sure what Her Majesty will have to say about this, however. A Field Force retreating in the face of the enemy? I expect General Pettygree to be 'asked to retire'…

But like I said in the last chapter: this means a newer, even larger Field Force to go stamp out those Tugs!

I was expecting Elphy-bey at Kabul too.

Maybe you could do a reset of the ending and have Pettygree besieged for several weeks or months while a relief force is on its way under te command of Kitchener or Haag

Oh what a sad turn of events. I hope this setback does not harm General Pettygree's career. He will be needed, as news of this defeat will spread quickly and surely tempt those of questionable morals into considering breaking their vows to the Empire.

Perhaps in all the confusion of the retreat one of Major Faraday's accomplished subordinates, disguised as a native, infiltrated the Guru's Army and discovered his secret diabolical scheme for the conquest of all India! But now exposed, the agent flees, pursued by Tugs, to General Pettygree. The Tugs have cut the telegraph lines and time is running out. This would give our good General a golden chance to redeem himself with some desperate play to upset the Guru's well-laid plans!

SpiFfing good yarn!
Will the Thugees attack fort Grant?

Time to recruit from the penal colonies for an avenging field force of notorious character, led by himself, General Lloyd Maywether Helm, known as Mayhem to his foes, 'the greatest fighter of our generation'!

Brilliant story, thanks for sharing.

Everyone!
Thank you very very much for your keen interest about the story, soldiers and Gen. Pettygree. Your remarks here and on the blog itself are appreciated very much. Very useful too.

The Battle of Dongolo was not scripted. It was a real wargame fought during five consecutive weeknight sessions. The After Action Report via the General's Journal and also from the memoirs of Trooper Ham could only be written afterwards. The battle spanned five journal entries. You soldiered on through each one.

I am grateful and very glad you found it interesting, fun, laced with tension and found events occasionally vexing. All as it should be and as I hoped it would be.

Respectfully,
Bill

Wonderful report. Your dispatches are like reading an old copy of the London Illustrated News.

It is good to see the Guru win one once in a while. I wonder where the General's next duty station may be? Possibly Fiji or Pitcairn Island?

Alas for the good general and his brave boys! My morning tea was ruined with the news of their defeat!

Billy Yank

That's terrible news. I figured something was up when wild speculation on Dongolean tin futures broke out. I assume some pointed quetions are going to be asked in the House as well.