Was there ever a Haberdasher so plucky?

Bhekisisa (Black shields) is staring down the barrel of McHearty’s ominous looking gun he orders his men to go to ground.  They do so reluctantly.  

N’Konkoni (Red shields) is now behind the flank of McHearty’s gun and within easy charge distance his warriors begin to sing and to beat their assegais against their shields.

Ibubesi (mixed colour shields) and Indlovu (Black and White shields) tear into Mr Dewhurst’s volunteers at the double.  The volunteers are swiftly overrun but go down fighting causing 6 Zulu casualties, but wait, what’s this? 

Mr Dewhurst is still on his feet trading blows with Indlovu.  Was there ever a Haberdasher so plucky?

Mapoza sings out the command and his no longer silent warriors roll down the hill in a wave.  

Turvey’s Sailors turn to meet them. “Where did they come from?” Asks the Captain.  

The fighting is fierce and the eight Zulu warriors lie stricken but only five of the Sailors remain on their feet.  Old Topsey is one of them, he’s the very Devil with revolver and sword. 

Addendum

Mc Hearty gets off a shell but then the warriors are on him, he gets one before it’s all over.

Captain Turvey and the Tars fight to the end but it quickly comes.

Gallant Mr Dewhurst is, well, butchered.

Sgt Fagan has led his men off at the double and intends to be as far away as possible as quickly as he can.  He will enjoy some fleeting fame as the only (White) survivor of the encounter and be promoted to Inspector.  In due course he will become a magistrate, always strangely popular with the natives. 

The Indunas

Mapoza is in position, invisible to the foe, his silent warriors ready to strike.  He will wait until the horns of the Impi have engaged and then storm the gun and kill the gunners. He is re inforced.

N’Konkoni (Red shields) races for the hills on the British flank.  N’Konkoni has now seized the high ground on the British flank.  Bhekisisa (Black shields) could do the same, but decides to go straight at the foe to fix them in position. They both move forward, Bhekisisa’s men now in the open and vulnerable to fire. 

Ibubesi (mixed colour shields) and Indlovu (Black and White shields) can see the British volunteers and intend destroying them before setting about the various Cape tribesmen who have cunningly taken up position in the rear. Off they go at a sprint.

Captain Turvey can now see there is no point in going for the high ground as there are Zulus on it.  He ponders, perhaps he’ll stay where he is.

A frantic McHearty orders his men to move the gun and secure a target and this they do.

Mr Dewhurst suggests to the chaps that they shoot at the Zulus.  They do, and down a couple but not the fellow with the blue feather who seems to be some sort of ring leader.   The fellows seem happy enough, Captain Turvey’s Sailors are protecting their flank and the very competent Sgt Fagan is waiting behind them in case they might need help.

Sgt Fagan holds his position but he’s thinking ahead.

“I’ve cleared your field of fire Mr Dewhurst!”

The Zulus jog forward, the horns of the Impi moving out to turn the flanks of the British.  Just as mighty Shaka had decreed they should.  The lie of the land means that only the Zulu flanks are visible to the British.

A sailor sings out the soon to be immortalised words “Zulus! Sir, there seems to be quite a few of them".  There is a flurry of activity in the British camp.

Captain Turvey knows what to do, he’ll lead the sailors at the double up onto the high ground and secure the flank!  He’ll order close order and give them a volley!  He’ll let the Tars fire at long range to warn them off!  Somehow, he cannot make his mind up.

McHearty and the gun crew wheel the gun into position and are ready to teach the Zulu all about the value of modern ordinance, but they can’t as the Sailors are masking the on coming Zulus. 

Dewhurst decides to tell his lads about duty and the Queen Empress-they seem a little fidgety.

The ever efficient Fagan smartly leads his natives to the rear of Dewhurst’s men and loudly proclaims “I’ve cleared your field of fire Mr Dewhurst!”

Non Mint Imperials

Not all imperial forces in the high days of nineteenth century colonialism were made up of superbly drilled, well-armed professionals- sometimes commanders had to just make do with what was to hand.  Most of my force to oppose the Zulus are irregulars which should be fun. 

The Natal Native Contingent as Tribal.

 The European civilians will pretty much do for anywhere.  

The fellows on horse will be Mounted Infantry.

The Sailors and gun will be Regulars.

Project Round Up

You will have noticed I have a few small projects on the go.  I thought I’d do a quick round up to remind myself where I’ve got to.

French and Indian Wars

All done apart from two bases of abatis.  Though I’m tempted to add some French standard bearers in full uniform as opposed to waistcoats.

Jacobites ’19 and ‘45

A lowland/ English unit, the Irish Piquets and another unit of Highlanders to paint.

Boxers

I have a Russian force to paint and I want some of the new Blue Moon Tigermen and Jingals.  I have enough ready for a game of The Men Who Would Be Kings.  I’ve also got a lot of Chinese scenery planned.

Chariots Rampant

Two Syrian chariots to paint and we are game ready. 

Nap' Rampant
Awaiting figures but a good start made.

Romans Rampant

I’m finessing the stats which is proving straightforward and searching out what figures I have to hand.  The latter is good reflection of later Roman realities-you field the army you can rather than the one you’d like to.  Luckily, I found an unpainted legion, well 12 figures, it wouldn’t have been a show without Punch.

Zulu War

Both sides are now done, cattle have been bought, painted and based.  I’ll stick some pics up shortly. 

Most of this is Dan Mersey's fault and I thank him for it.  Lots of lost projects revitalised there.

That’s the Impi Done

Six units in all, three veterans, three fierce, three married, three unmarried.  Wedded men are veterans all, as those of us who abide within the institution know.  

It is possible to adjust the stats further if you fancy having an elite regiment for example. Strictly speaking the younger men could move faster than the older lads but I hesitate to tinker with the movement rules.  As it stands Zulus, in TMWWBK, can always move and that should nicely reflect their speed.

I’ll use them in the traditional fashion formed up to represent the horns, head and loins of a fighting bull.  The horns will seek to turn the enemy’s flanks, the head will fix the enemy and absorb the punishment and the loins will deliver the coup de grace.

Maximising the use of cover is going to be important with these lads.

Zulu Stuff

I got a copy of Dan Mersey’s A Wargamers Guide to the Anglo Zulu War at a good price.  It’s a very nice, well produced affair containing pretty much what you would want to know. 

The tone is pleasantly conversational and as you would expect-informed.  Strangely, Dan does not mention his own splendid Men Who Would Be King in the rules round up towards the back.  Old fashioned modesty perhaps, anyway it doesn’t matter because you can clearly see from the historical material what inspired the thinking behind his ‘tribal firepower’ rule.  All in all, it’s a grand little purchase.  

The Impi, as you can see is coming on a treat.  Just one unit left to paint and then its horns, head and loins on the table.

Here’s a pic of the Old Glory Chinese Legation armed civilians handy enough for the Cape too.