Games We Play
The American Indian Wars had a Great Battle Report from one of the Commanders Journal of the Department of the Missouri: “Colonel” Rory Bezecny writes:
A new E Squadron will be formed. It should be ready for duty by the end of this month.
I am preparing to lead a reconnaissance in force consisting of C&G Squadrons, Company A&B, artillery and Wagon Team 3&8. Major Hannan, commander of 1st Battalion, 2nd Cavalry will also accompany this mission. Our immediate destination is grid D10.
Early September battle at grid D10. Major Hannan and myself accompanied the column. We ran into Chief Little Buffalo. He said he would fight and kill us all. After he and his small party rode off I had the men set up a defensive perimeter and begin to dig rifle pits. The line ran east to west not too far south of the Platte River. Company A held the left flank, Squadron C was in the center dismounted, Company B held the right flank and Squadron G was in reserve with the wagon team. Pawnee scouts were mixed in with the three front companies. The night before the battle, the Indians danced and sang war chants. The next morning they sent infantry and bowmen through the tall grass toward our lines while a line of mounted warriors stood out of rifle range. The warriors rose up out of the grass to draw our fire. After about fifteen minutes the mounted warriors split into two groups and rode toward the left flank and center of our line. The warriors on foot followed them in. More warriors on foot, which had crawled in under cover of the high, grass and joined in the fight. The left flank began to crumble as hand-to-hand combat broke out. The artillery fired canister when the Indians got into range and caused many casualties. A small group of mounted warriors broke through the center of our line and were heading straight for me and my staff. Captain Jackson led G Squadron in a counter charge and wiped out that group. He then wheeled his squadron towards the left half of the line and drove off the warriors there. The remaining warriors had started retreating about the same time Captain Jackson was charging the left.
Little Buffalo was among the wounded left behind by the retreating war party. He had been knocked unconscious during a melee. He and the other prisoners will be taken to Ft. Laramie.
Captain Clark (my nephew) died of his wounds today.
Our wargame is designed to elicit personal recollection of the game and develop writing in journals to recount the game. It is under develoment and I am truly pleased with the output and environment being created. (Editor)
Related
- American Indian Wars Games We Play: Web Sites of Interest
American Indian Wars Rules: Expedition into the Western Plains and Indian Territory 1866-1876 Missouri Division
Back to Table of Contents Penny Whistle # 58
Back to Penny Whistle List of Issues
Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 2004 by Lion's Den Publications.
This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com