… and ended up blowing the bloody doors off!
Natal Province – March 1879
While out shooting some local wildlife/natives I saw our scouts returning in haste, reporting Zulus to the north, “Fousands of ’em, sir”.
Bagging a last gazelle for supper I returned to the camp to raise the alarm but was pleased to see that Mr Pickwick-Jones had risen from his normal drunken haze and was leading the troops forward in good order.
As the Zulu hordes approached I deployed the troops for action, forming line. The Naval Brigade with their Nordfelt joined me, and the 104th on the left while Captain Richie took command of the right flank with the Natal Levy and the 33rd. We could see the Zulu chieftains overlooking the battlefield as all commanders took stock of the situation, prepared their plans and issued Special Military Stipulations (SMS Messages, the latest in military field theory).
My troops faced a long line of warriors, while Captain Richie faced a dense column thundering towards him, while Zulus, armed with captured rifles moved round his flank which was only held by the Natal Levy.
I threw out a skirmish line to slow the advance towards me and prepared the Nordfelt pour withering fire on the approaching hordes!
But disaster! It jammed! The skirmish line withdrew and soon the rifles of Her Majesties finest poured forth a hellish fire! But this was as nothing compared to the slaughter on the right. The Levy drove off the flank attack and volley after volley destroyed the attacking warriors, who even though some made contact, were soon driven back.
As the enemy stalled in the face of our volleys a great war cry was heard to our left as a Zulu impi surged towards our flank! A skirmish line, apparently lead by Pickford-Jones (no doubt retreating in the wrong direction) rushed to delay them.
But they were too late. As the Nordfelt was finally unjammed my valiant lads kept up a steady fire and the Zulus fell in their hundreds until not a single one stood…
The great Zulu chieftain, distraught at the loss of so many of his warriors, conceded the field, a broken man.
There would be many more widows in the villages that night and far fewer spears to wash. And as Captain Richie oversaw the roll call it was with great relief I was able to report not a man was lost. Even Pickford-Jones could hold his head high at the days performance. There would no doubt be medals and reports in the Times.
Now where did I leave that gazelle…
This little game was fought yesterday at SMOGGYCON. Figures, rules, terrain and umpiring provided by Peeler and you can find details on the forces/figures used on his blog. He also graciously provided his pictures as by then my camera was dead. The Zulu hordes were commanded by Norman D Landings and Goat Major and I took command of Her Majesties forces alongside Richie. Rules were the Colonial Supplement for DBN from KISR and I shall be acquiring these to go with the pack of Pendraken Zulu War figures I bought!
Great game and report!!
Great game and great report.