The sand of the veldt is sodden red, --
The Gatling's jammed and the Colonel dead,
And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.
A most enjoyable game between a sizeable British force & a huge Zulu army was fought out by our little group to a conclusion today.
Two of our number commanded the British, with a company of regular infantry & a dismounted Boer cavalry squadron garrisoning a wagon Kraal, that contained one wagon with the army's pay on board.
Unfortunately, they were down to their last 6 rounds a man. This force was surrounded by 15 Zulu regiments & things looked grim. As the Zulu commander, I was looking forward to decorating my headdress with the green feathers of victory after crushing the invaders.
Unfortunately, to the aide of the British was a convoy comprising of a company of infantry, a Boer & a regular cavalry squadrons & a Gatling gun, with an ammunition wagon.
The game was a roller coaster & early lightning attacks by the Zulus may have caused some British worry but also some British glee as 5 regiments of natives fled off the board after taking huge casualties.
The convoy made it to the Kraal, re-supplying its defenders but 3 Zulu units also managed to force their way in , putting the dismounted Boers to the assegai & knobkerrie but ultimately being destroyed by disciplined rifle fire & fearless hand-to-hand fighting of British line infantry (Go the Welch Fusiliers!).
Most of the wagons were put to the torch by the natives, incidentally causing more Zulu casualties but the payroll was saved,after being transferred to the supply wagon which made good time in escaping the board (a victory condition).
However, as the Zulus closed with the British, ignoring casualties and as often passing morale tests as failing them, surrounded & destroyed the remaining British force. The British cavalry squadron survived 6 rounds of melee before 4 Zulu regiments (!!) finally destroyed it. The Gatling fired with no effect on several occasions, jammed twice & its crew were over run & the brave redcoats tried to fight on with more wounded & dead than living soldiers. As the sun went down the few remaining Zulus grappled with the even fewer remaining British (who had lost >50% of their force: another victory condition).
Thanks to great figures, everyone's patience with the rules (the fast play set that generally worked well but like all fast-play, has a few holes) & good company a highly satisfying game in this fascinating period was concluded.
"It's quiet. Too quiet"
"Stand to."
The massed hordes.
"let's go, chaps" (originally said in Zulu)
Fairly useless Zulu rifles
The horns of the buffalo
Closing in for the kill.
Relief is at hand
"Front rank load, rear rank fire!"
The army pay roll escapes.
Last stand
"It's only a flesh wound, Sarge."
