Part I: Introduction

Models

Suitable figures are available from Essex, Connoisseur, Old Glory, Redoubt and (dare I say) my own Castaway Arts range. I’m tempted to arm some of my Sudanese regulars with spears as well as rifles, since they will have a melee advantage under my favourite “Sword and The Flame Rules”.

The native forces commanded by Wilson had been effectively river pirates and free agents for the past five months, so an irregular appearance is appropriate. Wilson noted that a few of the officers managed to retain their blue coats but most of the men were in very tattered apparel, and some had nothing but a long cotton shirt and a cartridge belt. Wilson described their appearance as ‘very quaint’. There was even a sergeant in Mahadist uniform. He had surrendered at Abu Klea, and was an excellent shot.

Model gunboats are available from many sources, including the new ones from The Miniature Armchair General. My own is a resin model with cast metal barricades from Merrimack Miniatures.

Terrain

The main requirement is of course the Nile. “It was the reason for everything....” as the movie “Khartoum” says. You will need a river wide enough to allow steamers to pass shore defences at a reasonable distance, yet narrow enough at other points to restrict passage. There were also the numerous islands, good places to tie up for the night or to defend.

The large engagement at Khartoum/Omdurman would be a sight to see on the tabletop, and may need to be scaled down, or fought in sections.

In the past, I’ve played river actions where the whole table is considered water, with banks, batteries or whatever represented along the sides of the table. This does look better than having beautiful model steamers with massed crews jammed into tiny creeks. It also helps to have a ‘rolling’ terrain, where the scenery at the table edge is moved to represent the progress of the ships.

Tactics

The Mahadist forces heavily outnumbered the British and Egyptians, in both troops and guns. Wilson’s forces managed to maintain fire superiority over their opponents, and kept their heads down and aim poor by firing on the enemy embrasures and parapets. Rules should take this into account, as well as the generally poor shooting of the Mahadists. Otherwise the games will end rather quickly and disastrously for the expedition.

Perhaps a game could be built around these firefights, with the boats firing first and causing a heavy minus on the fire factors of the shore defences and riflemen. The fire may also negate return fire completely, since the Mahadist gunners will have their heads down. This could be an exciting game, as the British and Egyptians may be unable to cover everything, and will have to choose where to commit their firepower.

Stewart's Dash to Khartoum The Final Attempt to Relieve General Gordon Part II

January 28
January 29
January 30-31
February 1-3
February 4 and Bibliography
Orders of Battle
Gaming the Action
Models, Terrain, and Tactics

Part I

Stewart's Dash to Khartoum The Final Attempt to Relieve General Gordon

Introduction
January 24
January 25
January 26
January 27