As a follow up to playing Andy's 'Man From Del Monte' scenario in the Peninsular, Phil and I decided to transport it to Bengal and replay it during the Indian Mutiny with the British trying to identify and capture Nann Poppadom (the 'Man From Peshwarinaan') who has been baking rebellion inspiring chapatis!
Under the command of Subedar Tendulkar the brave sepoys, fresh from throwing off the shackles of Imperial oppression send skirmishers out to find the brave chapati baker who is hiding in a building somewhere in or near the village of Roti...
But wait! What is this? It is the nefarious Sikhs led by Major Hugh Janus also looking for the baker!
Moving swiftly Daffadar Kumble led his sowers to the village...
Whilst Lieutenant the Honourable Norman Nomates pushed two groups of Sikhs onward in an attempt to reaching one possible hiding place of the baker of Peshwarinaan.
Though they would face the might of the rebellious sepoys commanded by Jemedar Dravid...
His sepoy line screened by mutineers skirmishers led by Havildar Gavaskar.
Whilst force commander Subedar Tendulkar advances a column of sepoy skirmishers towards Roti.
Battle is joined! Gavaskar's sepoy skirmishers fire at Havildar Havinder Shiet's Sikh skirmishers...
Whilst Havildar Kholi leads a detached group of sepoy line around the village to search the furthest huts.
In the meantime the sepoy cavalry trot around looking for enemy forces...
As Tendulkar brings the rest of his men towards the village.
Uh oh! British lancers led by Lieutenant Bingham appear just outside Roti...
And more Sikh skirmishers are spotted, these commanded by Lieutenant William Kilmore (who loves the smell of chapatis in the morning) pushing through the orange grove outside the village.
Meanwhile back at the stream, Gavaskar's continue to battle Shiet's Sikhs...
Both sides musket fire being somewhat ineffective!
Meanwhile the main Sikh force moves up, somewhat slowly, behind.
Frustrated at the lack of casualties arising out of the musket fore, Havildar Shiet orders his men to charge the sepoy skirmishers - who wisely evade the Sikh charge...
Allowing Havildar Gavaskar to charge into the Sikhs with a second group of rebel skirmishers!
Unfortunately with disastrous results!
Gavaskar and the two survivors are forced to retire with excess Shock.
But never mind back in Roti Jemedar Ganguly searches the first building...
Finding a native inside - is this Nann Poppadom? Ganguly checks his hands... Yes! He has flour on them, it is Nann Pompadom!!
Now to get him to safety...
Back at the river, Jemedar Dravid orders his sepoys to charge the Sikh skirmishers who run away...
Back at the village Havildar Kholi orders his men to open fire on the enemy lancers...
Their aim is a bit wayward and they only inflict a couple of points of Shock on the enemy cavalry.
Pushing his men forward through the orange trees Kilmore spots Tendulkar's men in the village and orders his Sikhs to open fire...
With devastating results! Two sepoys fall dead and both groups of mutineers take Shock!
Slowly the main Sikh force marches across the parched Indian land...
As Bingham's lancers charge into Kholi's group of mutineers!
One sepoy is skewered by a bamboo lance and Kholi takes a light wound, but whilst the sepoys are forced back they remain in the fight!
Unfortunately their luck did not extend to their comrades as the mutineers in Roti came under more fire from the Sikh skirmishers - the drummer took a musket ball to the head!
And the two groups were decimated by some unerring Sikh musket fire! (The gods of wargaming had clearly blessed Phil's dice here).
Back at the river, Dravid's sepoys engage Havildar Shiet's remaining skirmishers...
The outcome was rather predictable with half the Sikhs falling to sepoy bayonets!
The survivors broken, flee the field of battle...
Some running quicker than others!
Back in Roti Daffadr Kumble charges his sowers in on the enemy lancers!
Whilst one sowar makes the ultimate sacrifice for India, three lancers are taken down and Lieutenant Bingham is wounded!
The lancers flee...
Having routed Havildar Shiet's skirmishers, Jemedar Dravid's brave sepoy rabble spot the main Sikh force bearing down on them...
Major Hugh Janus snaps his Sikhs into line...
Firing a volley into Dravid's men, several of whom fall dead!
Back in the village a detached group of sepoy skirmishers try to hold back Lieutenant Kilmore's advancing Sikh skirmishers...
But are overwhelmed by the Sikh firepower.
Still their brave sacrifice might allow for Jemedar Ganguly to get Naan Poppadom to safety...
Behind them Subedar Tendulkar and his remaining men come under more Sikh fire...
Three more brave sepoys fall dead and Tendulkar and the two surviving members of his group make a swift tactical withdrawal!
At this point the Mutineer Force Morale had fallen to 2 and Naan Poppadom was still some distance from safety...
Fortunately Havildar Gavaskar was nearby and orders Ganguly to get a move on!
Eight inches from their primary deployment point and safety - I roll seven on 3D6!!! (the gods of wargaming are clearly having a laugh...)
Kilmore's Sikhs open fire on Tendulkar and his battered group...
No casualties are inflicted but the group is forced back further and the Indian Force Morale teeters on 1!
However Tendulkar is now within command range of Ganguly and his men, and Gavaskar is also near by - I just need one of them to activate before Hugh Janus for Naan Poppadom to be escorted to safety and victory will be mine! (even I can roll one on 3D6!).
But no! Hugh Janus comes out first and he orders his Sikhs to fire a volley into Jemedar Dravid's sepoys...
The sepoys crack, forced back by the weight of Sikh firepower! Three 'Bad Things Happen' tests have to be rolled - amazingly two are passed but the third isn't and the Indian Force Morale hits 0 with Naan Poppadom just one inch from safety! Curses!!!
Despite the loss I think that was probably the most fun I've had playing Sharp Practice, and it showed that even if you think the game is over (as Phil - and I - did when Naan was found by the mutineers in their first search of a building), luck can change quickly on the battlefield and defeat snatched from the jaws of victory...
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