Last Game of 2020: The Defence of Maudlin Drift

The last tale of heroic Toy Soldiers in action for this year. With this tale comes a THANK YOU to  all those who have stopped by and especially those who have taken the time to leave a comment. They are all appreciated and provide inspiration to carry on and sometimes also ideas well worth considering  or questions that cause useful thinking on my part but even just the number of views helps inspire me to keep blogging and keep trying to improve.  I'll be here in 2021 and I hope you will be as well. 

May we all enjoy a safe marvellous 2021.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

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Now, on with the story!

The traditional sentimental shot of the most poignant part of the battle prior to telling the story....
(Well, for  Europeans at least. btw Were all  trading posts on the border  founded by Irishmen?)

Shortly after the courier passed through giving the alarm, the first Zulu warriors appeared.

On the British left flank, two companies of the 89th held an old trading post against
wave after wave of attackers, doing great slaughter with their Martini Henry rifles.

Over to the East, two companies of the Gordons who were part of the convoy escort were camped by a patch of woods. Colonel J. Hill commanding the garrison had ridden over to talk with their commander when the Zulus rose up and, crossing over a previously unsuspected ford, attacked in waves. The fighting was fierce and prolonged but ordering up a company of the Naval Brigade, a brief counter attack gave the British a breathing space in which to fallback towards the laager on the hill before they were surrounded and wiped out.   

As the British right began to pull back the Zulus overwhelmed  the  garrison in the yard of the post and started heading for the almost empty laager. 

When the British were almost back within the laager, the Zulus caught up with them and for a moment the whole line threatened to collapse in a bloody massacre but Col. Hill rode forward, steadied the Jack Tars and fell to an assegai. His brave action bought enough time for the sailors to rally and man the wagons. 

As the above incident was playing out, the Zulus finally over ran the post and charged towards the laager. Once within the Gatling's range however, its deadly hail of bullets starting scything them down.

As dusk settled in, the Zulu commander decided that the game was not worth the cost and order his warriors back.

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There we are folks, two wild cards shortened the game by 2 turns. I'm not sure if the British would have survived  two more turns, possibly, but they were glad it wasn't put to the test. You'll be happy to know that Colonel J Hill survived his wounds and will appear again.