Steve Turner, East India Company. Objective: prevent enemy from capturing redoubts. Kevin White, Mahratta Army. Objective: capture the redoubts. At the beginning of the battle, the smaller Company army began advancing first. One brigade, led by Colonel Harness, moved forward and to the left, forming line and taking up station with its left flank anchored on redoubt D. There they halted, having been ordered to cover the army's left flank. Two cavalry regiments took up position on their right. Meanwhile, the second brigade, commanded by Colonel Wallace, advanced straight forward, heading for the central ridge with the Company army 5 remaining two cavalry regiments guarding their flank. The Mahrattas advanced more slowly, although a mass of irregular infantry overran Redoubt A with little trouble. They proceeded to loot anything valuable from the redoubt and settled down to watch the rest of the battle. First Compoo of regular infantry advanced up the ridge very slowly, dragging their guns up an unexpectedly difficult slope. On their right, Second Compoo made better progress. As the infantry advanced steadily, hordes of irregular horse swept round both flanks, intent on harrassing the small band of redcoats. On the Mahratta right, the irregular horse encountered Harness' brigade, drawn up in line. A long-range volley emptied a few saddles, but the irregulars declined to get any closer and risk more casualties. When a battery of 6pdrs unlimbered on the small knoll on Harness' left, the irregulars fell back still further, to glare menacingly at the redcoats from out of range. On the central ridge, First Compoo reached the crest in time to see Wallaces brigade approaching, supported by a battery of horse drawn 'galloper' guns. The Mahratta unit wheeled into position to meet the redcoat advance as Wallace formed his men into line and fixed bayonets. The two opposing lines met close to Redoubt B. Musketry rippled up and down the lines of battalions. The Company's fire was more accurate, but the Mahratta Compoo had greater numbers. The guns of both sides added to the smoke and casualties. As the fire fight reached its climax, clouds of Mahratta irregular horse thundered round the end of the ridge and threatened Wallace's flank. For a moment, things looked dangerous for the redcoats, but the 5th and 6th Madras Native Cavalry trotted forward and faced down the Mahratta horse. The cavalry were hugely outnumbered, but, unknown to them, their opponents had orders not to take unnecessary casualties. In the face of the Madrassis' determined advance, the irregulars fell back. The threat to Wallace's flank dissipated. At last, the battle on the ridge reached a crisis. The Mahratta line began to waver. Colonel Wallace rode forward, urging his men into the attack. With a yell, H.M. 74th Foot and the 1/4th and 2/12th Madras Native Infantry surged forward with the bayonet. The Mahratta Compoo disintegrated into rout. The redcoats overran the compoo's abandoned guns. Wallace's brigade made to follow up, but the huge Mahratta artillery train now found itself with a target for the first time. Wallace's disordered ranks took some casualties before they pulled themselves together and rallied back over the ridge. Whilst this drama was taking place, the Mahratta Second Compoo had advanced unopposed onto the ridge and captured Redoubt C. With the rout of their comrades, this compoo found itself isolated, with Wallace on their left, Harness on the right and Company cavalry directly ahead. The compoo therefore retired in good order, though not before they had spiked the guns in the redoubt and removed any useful stores. Results EIC Pts Mahrattas Pts Colours taken 1 10 0 0 Guns captured 10 10 2 4 Casualties 7 14 2 4 Objectives 2.5 12.5 1.5 7.5 After points adjustment . 46.5 . 31 TO ENTER Note: You must be a SWA member in order to participate. MagWeb.com members may not participate unless an SWA member.--RL Simply send me orders of battle for two opposing armies for the period 1793 to 1815. The armies need not necessarily be evenly matched, as the points system will take this into account. The armies should be organised into brigades, divisions, etc. The only constraints are: Neither army should consist of more than 40 units. (Where a unit is an infantry battalion, cavalry regiment or artillery battery.) You ALWAYS include a SAE with anything you send in. Please send TWO copies of each orbat - one for me and one for the player. I am familiar with British and most European and Indian armies for the period - if you wish to submit other armies, a few words of explanation would be helpful. If you don't feel confident enough to set out two armies for this period, but still want to take part - fear not! Write in anyway and I'll do it for you. [Exactly what I did and really enjoyed assault Mount Everest! Kenn] Game 2 Back to Table of Contents -- Lone Warrior #130 Back to Lone Warrior List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by Solo Wargamers Association. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com