Today, we had a return to the Zulu war of 1879, using my own rules. The scenario was a platoon of British regulars holding a lookout post who are attacked by a small Zulu force.
I got the command by a 'lucky' die roll and deployed Phil and Lawrence in different parts of the improvised Mealie bag defences - I kept the contingents separate to maximise angles of observation and fire. I was not sure if it was a good idea, but we learn by doing!
In the early dawn I had the men stand to.
As the sun rose, we could see the rough terrain ahead, we could hear the Zulus we had been warned about but could not see them.
The view from the Zulu side of the field.
Chanting their war songs, the Zulu arrived, weaving between the rocks and vegetation.
The Zulu had deployed in 2 wings and now came on apace.
I instructed my NCOs to fire as the enemy appeared.
Cpl. Lawrence had the first blood, downing two of their Musketeers.
Sgt. Hope got good fire into the local scouts leading the Zulu centre.
The Musketeers, surprised, halted.
...as did the scouts.
Our fire was, so far, very effective!
Cpl. Lawrence kept taking musketeers, despite them being partial cover.
In the centre, the stationary scouts were replaced by fresh units.
On our left, several units were emerging from cover.
Our men kept up a steady firing rate.
I wondered if these Zulus would brave our fire?
My worries were confirmed as the brave Zulus pressed on...
...that first unit, at half strength, decided to head home, perhaps there was hope?
The Zulu attack was developing...and closing to an uncomfortable distance!
Our fire continued to reduce their ranks.
( Sorry for the reflections from my sabot bases)
In the centre, another unit of Zulus broke and ran.
The fresh unit rushed the barricade, would they reach us?
My command chose this inopportune moment to fail! my unit failed to fire effectively allowing the Zulus to close!
The Corporal was getting decidedly windy, quite understandably, as several Zulu units coordinated their attacks!
Lawrence decided to focus his fire on one unit.
We spread out along the barricade as the enemy closed.
My men, who I had got back into order, fired a last second volley!
The Zulus were too close to be stopped, their inertia alone carried them to my defences!
Fortunately, Sgt. Hope's men had driven off their opponents.
Just as well, as Cpl. Lawrence's men needed help!
My men fought like lions, and their enemy fell back in disarray, I even took one of them with my sword!
As they recoiled, my men quickly began firing into their depleted ranks!
The Corporal's men managed to halt the flanking unit, but the frontal attack reached him! The moment of crisis had come!
My volley scattered the Zulus on my flank.
Sgt. Hope was being outflanked! The Zulus crossed the barricade on his left!
Cpl. Lawrence managed to hold off the first attack!
The Zulus on our side of the barricade also fell back.
My men scrambled over the barricade, to see if I could help on the left?
Hope had his men doing just that, knowing I was on his right to protect him.
Lawrence turned to deal with the flanking units, knowing Sgt. Hope was keeping the others under fire.
The centre unit of the Zulus was still there, despite a withering fire.
We were ok, but looking to our left we could see...
...The Zulu flank attack had attacked and killed two Redcoats.
However, Lawrence's men held and routed their opponents.
Things were looking, all of a sudden, a lot better!
Our enemy to the front had stalled, and refused to advance.
The Zulus, their strength spent, were on the retreat.
That was a damned close run thing!
