Background

The 1882 Egyptian campaign began when Arabi Pasha led a successful rebellion against the Khedive of Egypt over foreign control of its government. The Egyptians were initially trained and organized by the British. The average fellah was equipped with breach loading Remmington rifles, while Egyptian artillery batteries were armed with breaching 7.7 cm Krupp field guns. Otherwise, the Egyptian army mirrored the British.

The British intervened on the pretext of reestablishing the Khedive's rule in Cairo and controlling the Suez Canal, which they saw as a vital link to their possessions in the Indian subcontinent. London also set the Victorian troubleshooter Lieutenant-General Sir Garnet Wolseley to be the overall British field commander, while Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Seymour led British naval forces in the Mediterranean Sea.

The opening shots of the war began with Vice-Admiral Seymour's naval bombardment on of the forts at Alexandria. Once Alexandria had been secured, British sailors established order on the city streets through the persuasiveness of their Garnder and Gattling guns.

While the naval landings distracted Arabi Pasha's attention, Wolseley ordered the British Indian army from Bombay to the Egyptian port of Ismailia in the Suez Canal. British forces from England met the Indians and marched up the Isamalia Canal to the Kassassin Loch, where the Egyptians threatened to disrupt British supply lines (especially fresh water). The Egyptians put a rearguard as British General Graham's forces fought for the contested village. When night fell the fighting ended in a draw and the Egyptians retired from their prepared positions.

Scenario

A British force is advancing along the Cairo-Suez railway, only to unexpectedly meet an Egyptian force that is entrenched on the surrounding high ground.
Figure Scale: 1:10.
Ground Scale: 1": 5 m.
British Objective: The British want to hold the village of Kassassin and its valuable Canal Lock.

If British forces are in control of Kassassin and have forced the Egyptians to withdraw from their prepared positions, then they win a major victory. If the British only control the village, then it's a just a tactical victory. Egyptian Objective: Forcing the hated infidels out of Kassassin earns the Egyptian player a major victory. Anything else is a stalemate.

British Deployment: The British start on the southeastern edge of the board (see Map)

Egyptian Deployment: The Egyptian player may deploy his forces hidden in the Egyptian Deployment Zone (see Map).

Special Scenario Rules: Infantry or dismounted rifles may also be placed inside or on top of buildings if desired (though artillery may not be place inside buildings). The Egyptian player also doesn't have to worry about the TS&TF dismounted horse holder rule for his dismounted infantry. However, the TS&TF rules regarding British and Egyptian basic units crossing rivers still apply.

British Order during Action at Kassassin: August 28, 1882

York & Lancaster Regiment

Battalion HQ 1 Mounted Infantry Colonel.

1st Coy HQ 1 Captain w/sword & pistol, 1 Sergeant Major w/rifle
1st Platoon 1 Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 NCO w/rifle, 18 Privates w/rifle
2nd Platoon 1 Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 NCO w/rifle, 18 Privates w/rifle

2nd Coy HQ 1 Captain w/sword & pistol, 1 Sergeant Major w/rifle
1st Platoon 1 Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 NCO w/rifle, 18 Privates w/rifle
2nd Platoon 1 Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 NCO w/rifle, 18 Privates w/rifle

1/4th Dragoon Guards

Squadron HQ 1 Mounted Captain w/sword & pistol
1st Trp/1st Sdn 1 Mounted Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 Mounted NCO w/sword & pistol, 10 Mounted Privates w/sword & pistol
2nd Trp/2nd Sdn 1 Mounted Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 Mounted NCO w/sword & pistol, 10 Mounted Privates w/sword & pistol

N/A Battery, RHA

1 Imperial Battery Three 9 lbs. guns, 3 Officers, 9 Crewmen

Naval Detachment

1/B Naval Battery 1 Gardner machine gun, 1 Naval NCO, 3 Sailors

Egyptian Order during Action at Kassasin: August 28, 1882

1/6th Egyptian Infantry Regiment

Battalion HQ 1 Mounted Infantry Colonel

1st Coy HQ 1 Captain w/sword & pistol, 1 Sergeant Major w/rifle
1st Ptn/1st Coy 1 Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 NCO w/rifle, 18 Privates w/rifle
2nd Ptn/1st Coy 1 Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 NCO w/rifle, 18 Privates w/rifle

2nd Coy HQ 1 Captain w/sword & pistol, 1 Sergeant Major w/rifle
1st Ptn/2nd Coy 1 Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 NCO w/rifle, 18 Privates w/rifle
2nd Ptn/2nd Coy 1 Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 NCO w/rifle, 18 Privates w/rifle

2nd Sudanese Infantry Battalion

1st Ptn/1st Coy 1 Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 NCO w/rifle, 18 Privates w/rifle

1/1st Egyptian Dragoons

Squadron HQ 1 Mounted Captain w/sword & pistol
1st Trp/1st Sdn 1 Mounted Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 Mounted NCO w/sword & carbine, 10 Mounted Privates w/sword & carbine

1/2nd Egyptian Mounted Rifles

1st Trp/1st Sdn 1 Mounted Lieutenant w/sword & pistol, 1 Mounted NCO w/rifle, 10 Mounted Privates w/rifle

D/A Battery, Egyptians

1 Artillery Battery Three 7.7cm Krupp guns, 3 Officers, 9 Crewmen