Zulus! 31 August 2011

After having painted up 180 Zulus, 30 Natal Natives and 60 British plus a couple of wagons it was time for a game of Black Powder before everyone got too busy again after summer hols. James and Orhan took the roles of the brave British garrison at the mission station at Myers' Drift. Opposing them was the massed Mblini clan under the princely leadership of Andy ('Hyena of the Pongolo'), David and Kieron.

The Zulus had lain up for a day, hidden in ambush in the hills and mealie fields around the mission station, awaiting the arrival of the supply wagons and the doughty Naval Brigade. Their plan was to attack the wagon train, drawing out the Redcoats into a close quarter ambush.

The attack from both sides of the road had the Sailors and Native contingent fleeing (after a British command blunder) although Andy's attacking impi stalled on the hillside after the rapidly moving British relief column set up a firing line and kept them suppressed with enfilade fire.

As the wagons and porters headed for the camp, the Natal Natives, Boers and Sailors were pummeled by Andy and David's warriors. The 24th Foot started to form up to repulse the attacking Zulus, only for Kieron to unleash his main force - the elite Impis of the Royal army from the mealie field into the rear of the thin red line. Luckily for James, his supporting company was able to join the melee, hitting the first band of Zulus in their rear - only for the second Impi to crash into combat.

The British held for a time (their Stubborn and Steady ratings being key) but eventually the first company crumbled and the impi charged on, heading for the wagons. At this point the power of the British firing line came into its full effect - the Gatling gun on the hillside opened up with enfilade fire at the same time as the third company of infantry. The impi melted away. The final turn saw Orhan preparing to retire his remaining Redcoats as David sprang his own mealie-field ambush - necessarily prematurely in terms of the game, but it was getting late.

The umpire declared the game at honours even. The vital supplies looked like mostly being rescued, but at a high cost in dead British soldiers and sailors.

This was probably the largest 28mm game we've played with Rivals' figures - and the first to use casualty figures, which, for this period at least, seemed to work.