The initial British landing caught Osman Digna off guard. Early in the battle he had a difficult time coordinating the response of his forces. Using the auto-generation rules for when, where and how many Mahdist units appeared, not many showed up early in the game. However, as the game progressed, Osman was able to rally more of his followers to confront the British relief force. Now it was the turn of Gen. Graham to be caught wrong-footed.
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The British battalion deployed to cover the right of the advance was caught by a ferocious charge of Beja foot. The battalion's volleys we're unable to stop the charge and spear and sword crossed bayonet point. Osman's men inflicted heavy casualties on the British, capturing a gun and forcing them to retreat.
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Fortunately for Gen. Graham, help was close to hand in the form of a unit of Bluejackets who wheeled right and delivered a withering fusillade into the victorious Dervish unit. The volley wasn't enough to drive away the Beja but it so weakened them that their pursuit of the British infantry, who had rallied, ended in the Beja unit's destruction.
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Seeing the relief force assailed from nearly all sides, the Egyptian garrison decided to sally out of the town to meet it's rescuers.
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But wouldn't you know it…that wily Osman's die rolls improved and three more Mahdist units appeared. All within reach of the garrison.
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