Indignant in India

In the hopes of stemming the tide against England in India the French have marched to the support of the Nawob Basmati, as related here.  Previous actions in the loose campaign had seen a British victory at Basmatipur, a French win at Arcot, another British victory near Madras, and now to here.  The remnants of Basmati's army have retired to their hill fort and he has demanded the French assist him.  Though not trusting him completely, the French agree and arrive with European mercenaries.  Taking the field on the Plain of Sorrows we would soon know that it was not mis-named.

Rules are Batailles de l'Ancien Regimes (BAR), colonial version by Bill Protz.  Movement and firing are card driven and features a 10:1 figure ratio.

Baggage train screened by Household troops and irregulars.

Rajah Ruttin Tuttin's forces approach Basmati's hill fort.

Lt. Nerveux, sent to the fort as an observer, watches from on high.

Basmati's forces are seriously out-numbered.

But succor arrives in the nick of time!

I was charged with getting a column of soldiers and baggage through to aid Basmati.  The timely flipping of cards allowed them to arrive without needing to dump the baggage for greater speed.  The only time the cards favored us all day.

Basmati's Household cavalry and irregulars engage and beat
the enemy.

Foreground left to right, la Marck and Lally (Irish),
Royale Bavarie and Ecossais under Lally.

The English send in their Sepoys to face ours and mercenaries.
Their right, our left, was heavily weighted.

Two massive native-crewed cannons raid death upon the French.

But a post-firing roll of "1" on a d6 means it explodes!

We initially advanced but the English held back on the right
so we stalled out of fear of being flanked.

The relief column lines the walls as battle is joined.

A massive elephant charge was too much for the irregulars.

The Highlanders and Royal Americans advance on us.

A new line is established but numbers are grim.

The other side of the fort looking towards Ruttin Tuttin's army.

Volley after volley crash into our brave men before they can respond.
Again... and again...

Desperate to turn the tide the Irish and Scots advance, only to
be met with more crushing volleys.

Our rallied and rested cavalry returns to the fray, but this is
not our day.

We wrapped the European side of the battle as the Nawob and the Guru's forces began negotiations.  The Sepoys and mercenaries were spent forces.  Only two "French" units were fresh and ready to cover a precipitous retreat.  We didn't know the details at the time but the Nawob accepted hard terms for peace and is now an English lacky.  We must now extract the remnants of our army.

While there we enjoyed a hot lunch and December birthday cake for two participants, one of whom I must modestly admit is your author, (In two weeks) and Der Alte Fritz himself, (Jim Purky).  This game and accompanying cake has been a tradition for a few years now.  Till next time, adieu.