One of the problems for the wargamer interested in gaming the Seven Years War in India is how to make a good, balanced scenario from battles where the winning side is frequently outnumbered 20 to I? Plassey is a good example. Clive was outnumbered 500)0 to 2,800 and won a decisive victory. Much of this was due to the marked superiority of his troops (a torrential deluge that dampened the powder of the enemy didn't hurt either). A game where one side has mostly guard class troops and the other militia smacks of native bashing and who wants to play the Bengalis? Perhaps this scenario would be best run as a solitaire or "the players against the system" type game.

The above problems notwithstanding, this author recently set up a game based on the third battle of Pondicherry (1761) with the scenario title of "Screaming He-Devils of Calcutta" (actually the battle was quite a distance from Calcutta but somehow "Screaming HeDevils of Pondicherry" just didn't have the same impact). This battle is noted for the fact that it marked the end of French influence in India and because both commanders were Irish: Lally for the French and Coote for the British. The rules used were "Warfare in the Age of Reason" (I've heard a rumor that there are other rules) with the following modifications:

1) The French and their Indian allies had two camel gun units. These were treated as light artillery batteries but had only 3 gunners instead of the usual four (to keep their effectiveness down). As they fired on the move they did not need to unlimber to fire as per usual but could simply move and fire (taking a -1 for moving).

2) All French and French allied leaders were mounted on elephants. These moved as armored cavalry. If, due to combat results against leaders, they had to retreat or their leader was killed or captured the elephants rampaged. First a six-sided die was rolled to determine the direction ( the old 1 - 6 on a hexagon type pattern) and then 2 six-sided dice were rolled to determine the distance of the rampage. Any troops that the elephant trampled during its rampage, friendly or enemy, took 1 casting loss and made a morale check.

3) To simulate the lower rate of fire of the big Indian siege guns they were allowed to fire only every other turn.

4) The British had off board naval gunfire support. 3 British sail of the line models were anchored off the left flank of the British (on the map the British left is anchored on the shoreline) and provided naval support that could cause 0-3 casting casualties per turn. The placement of these shots was randomized and a few hits were scored on British troops.

5) All Indian units had a morale grade of 1 (in AOR 1 is the worst, 4 is the best). British sepoys had class 2 morale while French sepoys were class I but shot like class 2. All French and British regulars and company troops had class 3 morale (it might be better to give the company troops class 3 and the regulars class 4).

The background to the scenario was this: After Lally's defeat at Wandiwash the French retreated into Pondicherry which was, evidently, somewhat fortified. Colonel Erye Coote invested the town with siege works. At one point Lally launched a daring sally to attack the British works and camp which almost, but not quite, succeeded. After the further excitement of a hurricane sinking some British ships and destroying part of the siege works the exhausted French surrendered.

The scenario represents a portion of Lally's attack and , in lieu of hard data on troop breakdowns and positions, much of the set up is basically interpolation. Referring to the map, the top frame is the starting position of the forces. The field works were worth 3 "withdrawal factors" and the British camp 4. The naval gunfire came in from off map on the British left. The battle began with the French allies on the right and left attacking the flanks while the strong section of French battalions (Lally, Lorraine, and Compagnie battalions) attacking the right of the main British position.

The lone French allied native siege gun deployed on the hill with a field of fire on the right flank British sepoys and managed to get in a few licks despite its low rate of fire. The French native horse on the French left gained the upper hand immediately as one British native ally unit routed off board at the sight of the first charge (this kind of thing happened quite often historically). The other unit became locked in an inconclusive melee that was eventually won by the British ally cavalry much later in the battle. The French center closely engaged the British right and, after initially taking considerable punishment from the English medium howitzer and 12 lb. batteries, began to make themselves felt by their foes. During this action the French commander, Lally, was wounded and, after his elephant stampeded into his own men, temporarily retreated while the field surgeons dressed his wounds.

On the French right the levee foot made a desperate, forlorn hope attack on the partially fortified British left all the while paying for it with a ceaseless barrage of naval ordnance. This attack was hopelessly shattered but not without a major success. Even as the attack failed a freak accident place Colonel Coote, the English commander, in the clutches of the screaming he-devils. He was dragged off, never to be seen by English (or Irish) eyes again.

By 6:00 pm the extreme right and left of the British line was buckling. The French allies had captured a field work section and were, at one point, in possession of the camp. The English commander adroitly repositioned his guns and drove them out with sustained bombardment. Neither side failed their withdrawal check (a somewhat rare event), and night fell with both armies exhausted but the British in control of their camp, thus giving them a near-run marginal victory.

Following the game the French commander expressed the opinion that he wished that "the fleas of a thousand camels" would rest in the beard of the British commander. "May the dung beetles of a thousand elephant droppings live in your shorts", the English leader replied, not to be outdone. It continued in this vein until this gamemaster made everyone pick up the figures and go home.

MLSCELLANEOUS NOTE: USE OF ROCKETS IN "AGE OF REASON".

To simulate the ineffective rocket units make them a medium artillery unit, subject to all the regular modifiers, but if a hit is scored on cavalry it disorganizes the target, and causes a morale check, instead of causing a casting casualty. They have no effect on infantry or artillery (except camel guns).

SOURCES

A Dictionary of Battles (1715-1815). Calvert, Michael and Young, Peter. Mayflower.
Atlas of the British Empire. Bayly, Christopher and Stone, Norman. Facts on File.
Uniforms of the Troops in French India. Chartrand, Rene'. "Scabbard" magazine, May l982 (thanks to Ken Bunger).
Armies of the Wars in India, Stevenson, Paul. "Miniature Wargames" magazine nos. 8,9,11, and 13.
With Clive to Plassey. Stevenson, Paul. "Miniature Wargames" magazine no. 93
Honor and Fortune: Warfare in India from the Great Moghuls to the Great Mutiny. Whitehouse, Howard. Ulster Imports.

NOTE ON MOVIES/TV

The only movie on the period known to this author is the 1935 epic (?!) Clive of India starring Ronald Coleman (as Clive) and Loretta Young (as the unneccesary love interest). On a 1 to 10 scale this movie rates a -35 and is possibly the worst historical drama ever made and is in a class with "The Conquerer" (with John Wayne as Ghenghis Khan). However, everyone should at least watch the battle of Plassey scene which features spears the size of small telephone poles that only hit sideways, elephants that pick up enemy soldiers by biting them on the head, and elephants that strangle their foes with their trunks. This always produces the greatest laughs at the SYW Association meets.

One television production stands out as having an 18th century battle scene (actually a very small skirmish) in India. The 1980's three hour movie "Master of Ballantrae" has a combat in India sequence but don't bat an eye or you'll miss it.

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