A Near Run Thing

 

DECISION IN THE DUSK 

An illustrated eye witness report! 

At last the crest was taken, but on the reverse slope, the enemy still stood, protected from the Queen's artillery! 

As the sun sank in the sky, the remnants of the Queen's infantry reformed and readied themselves to make one last effort to break the enemy line and drive them  back along the Wood's Road. On the right wing, the Heavy Dragoons and some riflemen kept the Oberhilse cavalry and riflemen occupied, while the Light Dragoons were ordered to move to the center and prepare to charge. 

Reform! Forward!!

By the time the troops were in position, the sun was setting and the skies clouded over. This last effort HAD to do the job! There would not be anymore chances tonight and by the morning, there could be more Oberhilse troops pouring down that road or fortifying the woods. The attack went in as the sun dipped below the horizon.

CHARGE!

The ridge was quickly scoured clean of Bluecoats, but beyond it, the Oberhilse line stood like a rock. A fierce firefight ensued, followed by a sudden cheer.

HUZZAH!!!!!!

After a severe fight, the Bluecoats had suddenly broken, heading for the cover of the woods. The Queen's light infantry soon followed, determined to keep the enemy running as long as they could.

 _____________________

( PS: Don't forget to 'click' once on the pictures to see a larger view of the pictures or twice to get an even larger one.)

FIERCE FIGHTING ON THE BORDER

 

DEADLY STRUGGLE FOR SHALPH RIDGE 

An illustrated eye witness report! 

Desperate defense of a wood behind our left flank by Oberhilse riflemen against Voltigeurs and veteran militia light infantry. It was afternoon before our lads were able to push forward.

Our attack was widely discussed as being planned as a surprise dawn attack and we were expecting to seize the hill and march our army through the woods via the woods road and deploy to fight the enemy in the open. Rumour had it that their forces on this front were quite weak, as ours had been before the two battalions of volunteer Fusiliers had been recalled to active service. 

However, our talk may have been overheard by the wrong people and the information passed on.

We were not expecting any enemy reinforcements to arrive before noon but they must have marched all night, as an observer in the Newport News hot air balloon, dropped a message: "They are here". 

Archive photo fm 2010 post 

They were there right enough, by the time our troops had stormed the hills, a second line had formed. Worse than that, the enemy Volunteers in the centre had managed to hold the Veteran Royal Fusiliers until the Lafayette Volunteers arrived to support them.  The fighting raged for hours until the roar of musketry, canon fire and the wooosh-BOOM of our rockets made it hard to think.  

The Royal Fusiliers being led by their Brigadier in a charge which would have swept the hill if the Grey's Brigadier hadn't risked his life to steady them..

Ed note: Fighting is still ongoing but our correspondent had to send this dispatch or he would have missed the evening paper.  Which ever way the battle goes, we will have the news tonight and the results for you in tomorrow's edition.  

( PS: Don't forget to 'click' once on the pictures to see a larger view of the pictures or twice to get an even larger one.)

Early Addition: News from the Front

FARAWAY STRIKES BACK 

An illustrated eye witness report! 

Ever since Oberhilse launched a mid-winter surprise attack, we have waiting to see what the Queen's response would be. Today, we have an answer, she has struck back!

Fighting is still ongoing but our correspondent is on the site and we will keep you advised.  

Newport Noodle: Action Along The Sticky River

 

THE ORIGAWN ARMY TESTED THE ALLIANCE 

An illustrated eye witness report! 

It was on Boxing Day of all days that the Origawn hordes attacked the improvised blockhouse on the Sticky River. The weather was cold but not freezing and the marshy banks of the river, saturated after days of rain, gave ample evidence of where the river's name came from.

The battle began with a column of the Greys trying to force their way straight up the road and across the bridge. The bridge had been barricaded and was held by a comany of Voltigeurs who put up a tremendous fight.

While all eyes were fixed on the defence of the bridge, a second, larger column attacked up the far bank, slogging through patches of knee deep water, old dead trees and tangled vegetation. It was impossible to maintain formation so each company struggled forward on their own. Colonel Ross, in command of the post, had not expected the main attack to come that route but he had guarded against the possibility anyway and the Kree volunteers who had just joined with the regulars, put up a stiff fight, flitting from cover to cover and putting up a deadly fire. Numbers told though and slowly they were forced back.

Downstream from the bridge, there was an old sawmill with a damn across the river. Since it seemed unlikely that enemy infantry in any force would march the circuitous route to crawl across the damn, let alone cavalry leading their horses across it, the bridge had been left unguarded. The old Second Cavalry were used to rough country though and made that long detour.

By the time the rebels finally made it through the woods and swamps and began to form up to attack the blockhouse and clear the bridge from the rear, Dominion reinforcements finally began to arrive. There was a tense moment when the Black Hat cavalry charged into the Dominion infantry but these held their ground and sent the cavalry reeling back with heavy losses. They had done their job though and stopped the advancing redcoats from reinforcing the bridge defenders and these had been forced back, leaving the way for the Bluecoats to attack the blockhouse directly. 

One assault after another went in on the blockhouse but with the help of the supporting redcoats they were all  driven off with losses. 

Two assaults had already been repulsed but as the sun touched the horizon, the Origawners prepared for one last, desperate attack. 

The fighting was fierce but at last the Bluecoats were repulsed and their army began to fade back through the woods and swamps, heading back to their base.

___________________________

Ed note. This news clipping  will be followed by a post discussing the events and so on. 

Newport Noodle: An illustrated Report From the Front Lines

SQUARING OFF AT SAWMILL VILLAGE 

An illustrated eye witness report! 

"It was on Friday the 13th of May when we finally reached Sawmill village again. An unlucky day they say, should have known we'd be meeting Lannigan's ragged bunch there. We had Lucky MacDuff at our head though so we weren't worried."

"The Mounted Rifles had galloped ahead and arrived just in time to see off the Canary Caps."

"The enemy cavalry like to see themselves like Cavaliers of Olde but our Rifles are clever modern lads, they slipped away before they could be skewered then doubled back to the village, hopped off their horses and nicely cut off the enemy's line of retreat and the advance of his infantry!" (A timely flip of initiative.)

"Well, our rifles and artillery soon finished off the enemy's cavalry while the Highlanders grabbed the Eastern section of town but I'm afraid the Rebel's Irishmen infantry can be a bit crazy when it comes to a bit of a Barney and our riders were soon back in the saddle and at a safe distance while the Irish started preparing that section of town for a fight. " 

"The fighting was hot and heavy along the whole line now and too close for the artillery to separate friend from foe so they entered into a long range duel, hilltop to hilltop. I think the smoke must have been blowing into the Redcaps eyes though for our lads were busting them up as quick as you please and hardly receiving even a near miss in return." 

"The fighting had been fierce and bloody on the Eastern flank and we could see the enemy Zouaves break and run, ignoring Brigadier Stuart as he rode amongst them, calling on them helplessly to "Rally for God's sake and for your Freedom!". When we looked back towards our Highlanders though, our hearts sank. The colours were no long waving on high, worse the last of the enemy infantry seemed to be gathering themselves for a rush."

"But you don't capture a Highland standard that easily. Before the enemy could muster themselves to rush the buildings, our whole force was in action. Our artillery redoubled their fire, silencing the enemy guns. On the Western flank, the Mounted Rifles remounted and tried to panic the enemy by making a flanking move but they were soon driven back by a sharp fire.  B company of the Highlanders poured out of their buildings, supported by the Rifles while the battered regulars fellback to take their place holding the centre of town. The enemy wasn't going to take even one section of town without a fight!"  (Another lucky flip of initiative on turn 15 of 15 )

"The fight was short and bloody. As the Greybacks started to break they were joined by Colonel Stuart waving his hat and calling on the men to "Rally for Freedom's Sake!" until a bullet knocked him off his horse.  The battle was over and the village securely in the hands of the Dominion's soldiers."

From the Archives: The 1st Edition of the Noodle

 Almost done with fiddling about with a couple more display samples from some old moulds so I can get back to gaming, but not quite done. This November will see the 10th anniversary of the First Edition of the Newport Noodle but why wait?

Besides...a few recent games mixed with some looking waaay back, has got me rethinking some of my ideas about the best way to tackle using some of my older figures in the occasional small, quick game while keeping overall numbers down.  So, without further ado, here is a copy of the first battle report based on a game, to be published in the Newport News. I enjoyed writing it so much and it was received all enough that I'm still periodically writing them when an appropriate game seems to call for it.  

From 1 November 2011:

_________________________________________

NOV 1st, 1841

INCIDENT AT N'HARO PASS

Reports have been received of an unprovoked attack yesterday on Her Majesty's troops in the Origawn Territory. It seems that while on a tour of FTC trading posts, Lord Walts received a terse note declaring that the Faraway troops that accompanied him would not be allowed to proceed. Disdaining to reply let alone turn back, the column proceeded. Our correspondent on the Frontier has posted this report:  

______________________________________________________________________________

It was about 10 in the morning when our column, under the immediate command of Colonel Stoneforte, Brevet Brigadier,  entered N'haro Pass. Bearing the previous night's warning in mind, the experienced Frontier Fighters of the FTC DG's Bodyguard led the way,  scanning every rock and hollow where a Bushwhacker might lurk. As we approached the narrowest point of the pass, the signal was given to halt and scouts were sent forward towards several large clumps of lichen adorning a ledge which overlooks the road. The crack of rifles and several puffs of smoke was the response. Our way was to be challenged!

Like a well oiled machine, the Bodyguards fell back as the Wye Fusiliers, the famed Green Tigers, rushed forward and deployed, their new colours flying proudly. In no time at all the ruffians had been driven back and the column proceeded past the sad site of the bodies of 4 young soldiers, lying by the side of the road. 

 The Wye Fusiliers drive the ambushers from Lichen Point while the Voyagers scout up towards a patch of trees, exposing several dummy cards.

As we pushed forward through the pass, the Belmont Fusiliers or Buffs, doubling forward to shield the coach and wagon, I heard some of the experienced officers mutter about the risk about getting so tightly bunched should there be more Oberhilsers in the vicinity. I know there was some muttering about the clubs about the army's most junior Brigade commander being given such an important task but he is a man cast in the same mold as General Turner (literally- ed) and "fortes fortuna adiuuat". 

The crowded pass.

For a while, it seemed that this dozen or so scruffy frontiersmen (actually it was probably only 10, ed) were all that we faced. The bridge over the South Sloy River could be seen ahead and the road to Roslin and safety beckoned. Suddenly from a ridge ahead, more shots rang out and the grey clad forms of Volunteer rifles could be seen. The Bodyguard had been taking a terrible toll from sniping and that was no ground for a cavalry charge so they dismounted and forming a skirmish line, returned fire.

More foes appear!

With Corporal Blogger and his fellow Horse Guard riding ahead and a column of the Buffs pushing forward on our right, we felt no threat but the carriage ground to a halt while the situation was sorted. Suddenly the road ahead filled with troops,the pale blue of Oberhilse regulars and the wild troopers of the infamous Frontier Horse.

 The trap is well sprung!

It was a bad time for us to lose the initiative! Before they could react, the skirmish line of the Body Guards was ridden down. The Horse Guards who had posted themselves as a reserve, found themselves too close to the action and were forced to draw swords and spur forwards, being caught up in the precipitate retreat of the FTC troopers. With their blood up, the enemy troopers spurred forward in pursuit, scattering the Buffs before they could deploy from their march column and surrounding the Director General's coach.

The Frontier Horse seize the carriage containing the Director General, his wife and Duke Peter. 

font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.456px;" />All was chaos but Colonel Stoneforte rose to the occasion! Quickly rallying the Buffs, he seized the initiative and led them forward in a wild charge before the Frontier Horse could drive away their prize. True to his last breath, Corporal Blogger spurred forward to join them and rescue those whose safety had been placed in his care. At the same time, Stoneforte ordered the Green Tigers to drive off the enemy skirmishers who were creeping close on the flank. With a brave huzzah the red coated troops stormed forward.

 Colonel Stoneforte rallies the Buffs and gives the order to Charge! 

Alas, fortune does not always favour the bold. Corporal Blogger cut down one of the enemy with a masterful stroke of his broadsword but a rifle bullet threw him from the saddle. The Buffs, their ranks ragged, tangled with the horsemen about the carriage but honours and casualties were even. The melee hung in the balance. Then , as Colonel raised himself in the stirrups, urging his men on, another rifle shot rang out. These Frontier Horsemen are crack shots, born in the saddle and raised as hunters. The Colonel was flung backwards off his horse and the Buffs, gathering him up fell back in dismay. On the hill slopes beyond them the Tigers struggled across the broken ground as the enemy rifles cracked, time and again. Finally as the Buffs behind them gave way, it became too much and they turned and fled pell mell down the hill again.

Too little, too late.

Anxious to prove themselves the Black Horse pressed forward from the rear, but this was no parade ground. The wagon, which had been saved by the charge of the Buffs, still blocked the pass so the big black horses were urged up over the ragged ridge. By the time they had reformed on the flat, the carriage and the enemy horsemen were gone. In their place stood a  resolute square of blue clad infantry while the rifle fire from the hill swept the road. For a moment it looked like the horsemen would throw themselves onto the square but they were the bulwark behind which the army must rally and there was still the vital paychest and records to protect.

Lord Walts confronts his captor, Brigadier Zinn.

The mood around the campfires that night was bleak indeed, the groans of the wounded and maimed mixed with the laments of the men for their failure in the face of the enemy. There was the usual post battle chatter about how the Buffs should have advanced in an attack column, how the carriages ought to have been held back till the way was secured and how we needed more Riflemen on the frontier as musket armed line infantry are no match for riflemen in rough ground. I even heard arguments that the day was really a draw because the Oberhilsers didn't get their hands on Ol' Betsy the steam tractor nor on the gold, but in truth we were bound for Roslin and none of us made it, least of it the Lady and Lords that we had been charged to protect..

The gloom was only slightly lightened when a messenger appeared out of the darkness. Colonel Stoneforte, his wounds bandaged, called the men around and announced that word was received that the Director and Duke Peter were safe and sound and were the guests of the Oberhilse commander for tonight but would rejoin us in the morning.

The FTC Returns to the Kapelle District

A NEW BEGINNING 

With the failure of  last year's Trade Negotiations with Kyuquoit,  (see Across the Border)  things looked bleak for the Faraway Trading Company's prospects of expansion but the company representatives had not crossed the Kapelle without noticing its possibilities as a colony in its own right. The Queen's ministers agreed and once again the Queen's men under General Turner were loaned to the company so that they could establish a series of posts from the Kapelle River to the northern plain to serve as a  base for colonization. The various villages and tribes in Kapelle formed a loose confederacy but there was no government and no army so little opposition was expected, unless of course, their neighbours decided to march to their aid in order to stop any further advance by the FTC.   

A small party of villagers ambushed the advance guard, driving back the light infantry and forcing the Buffs to deploy and drive them back through the palm grove. 

The skirmishers in the wood were proving more persistent than expected so the Buffs were left to deal with them while the rest of the army deployed to attack the town. Before the assault could go in,  the neighbours had shown up, The Black Fox and a force of the Brethren! General Turner ordered the artillery to open fire and sent in the lancers to sweep them away. The resulting fight was long and bloody but eventually the Brethren were driven back and half the town taken.

It was then that Brigadier Zinn's Oberhilse Free Corps reached the field. Either Kyuquoit had released  them in hopes they could keep the FTC away from their border, or they had marched on their own to strike a blow at the old enemy. All was yet to play for.

 

The fight was fierce and prolonged with heavy casualties on both sides but once the villagers and Bretheren had fled the field, there were not enough of the Free Corps to retake the town so Brigadier Zinn had the bugler sound retreat. There would be other battlefields.  

One small skirmish had ended but the war was just beginning.

THE PRAIRIE IS ABLAZE! Fighting breaks out at Goose Lake.

TREACHERY! REBELS BREAK THE TRUCE! 

The Dominion government blames Origawn Rebels for renewed fighting in the Sloy Lake District and denounces a treacherous attempt to assassinate  Major MacEachern during talks. 

Our correspondent Russell Williams has filed this report from Fort MacDuff in the Lake Sloy District.

-------

Upon hearing word of a cache of arms at Goose Lake, Brigadier Ross was dispatched to investigate and deal with the situation. Under his command were a squadron of the newly raised NorthWest Mounted Rifles, 4 companies of infantry and a field gun. Upon arrival at the local trading post, Major MacEachern was sent forward to discuss the situation with Father Black while the column deployed in case of trouble.  

At first, all seemed well but then a figure stepped forward and, pulling a revolver, fired at the Major. The Father intervened before he could fire again but as Major MacEachern fell back to report, hidden rebels opened a hot fire .  

 

Brigadier Ross swiftly ordered his men forward to clear the small settlement. The Rebels' fire was heavy and accurate but B Battery forced the rebels back from their roadblock.

The Brigadier was content to let the artillery and rifle fire soften the enemy so that his men could follow up and seize the settlement with minimal losses. Suddenly, rifles cracked from behind the Column's flank!  The Kree had joined the fight. 

There was no time to waste, the Brigadier ordered the Rifles to take the settlement at the point of their bayonets. The Victoria's rushed forward and drove the rebels from their barricades.  The rebels spirits were high however and counter attacking from two directions, drove the Rifles back out of the town with heavy losses.  The Mounted Rifles were ordered in to retake the ground.  

It was no good, having suffered heavy casualties, the Dominion troops did not have the strength to take the settlement while fending off a flank attack.

 

With half his companies retreating in great disorder, slowly rallying to their officers calls and incapable of further fighting,  Brigadier Ross reluctantly ordered a general retreat while he still had a viable rearguard to prevent a massacre. The danger was less than anticipated though as the rebels had also suffered heavy casualties, and Father Black discouraged all talk of a pursuit or massacre.  

It seems that the Dominion must again wage this war on two fronts.