May 30th 1857 – Battle of Ghaziuddinnagar (and again on 31st May)

Also known as Battle of Ghaziabad

or the Battle of Hindun River (Hindon)

Background

As Barnard led the Delhi relief force from Simla be met up with Wilsons force from Meerut.  As they headed towards Delhi they encountered a Mutinous force at Ghaziuddinnagar (now called  Ghaziabad).  The Mutineers had secured the opposite bank of the river around the only iron bridge in the vicinity so denying the British a route for getting their siege artillery to Delhi.

The Indians engaged the British as they sought to secure the bridge.  the British sent the 16th Rifles to secure the bridge whilst the artillery engaged the Mutineers guns.

The horse artillery and the Carabiniers sought to find an alternative crossing to outflank the Mutineers position.  Before they had arrived the remainder of the British force had been ordered to engage the Mutineers and the 60th Rifles were ordered forward and directly engaged the enemy.  After a fierce fight the Mutineers fled abandoning their guns.

The British failed to consolidate on their position as the following day the Mutineers returned in force and again attacked the British position.  The British successfully saw off the attack but were not in any position to pursue the enemy.  Whether the Mutineers ever expected to defeat the British outright isn’t know but it should be noted that they did manage to recover their lost guns from the day before and take them from the battlefield before the British could stop them.

Situation

Iron Bridge across the River Hindun (river runs 18 inches into the table parallel from the Mutineers table edge).  The Mutineers hold one bank.  The British set up 6 inches into the table.  The Bridge is 100mm wide (2 bases) and set up 18 inches in from short edge.  A ford is placed 1 foot from the opposite short edge.

Objective

The British need to secure the bridge as well as capture the Mutineers siege guns before the game ends.

Special Rules:

If any British cavalry cross to the Mutineers side of the river then all Mutineers suffer from the ‘I think I need to be somewhere else‘ special rule for all subsequent Moral rules (-2).

British Lethargy: The British force was suffering from various malaise and are unable to pursue fleeing/faltering Mutineer forces.

Game Length: 7 turns

Initiative:  British have initiative for first turn

After deployment the Mutineers get two rounds of firing with their siege artillery

Forces

British under Wilson 

Wilson

16th Rifles – 6 bases (24 figures)

60th Rifles – 5 bases (20 figures)

6th Carabiniers – 5 bases (20 figures)

1 Horse battery – 3 horse artillery

2 x 18lbs Siege Guns – 1 siege gun & crew

Sappers & Miners – 5 skirmish figures

(probably best ignored for the game)

Mutineers

Heavy Artillery – 3 siege guns

3 Native Infantry Regiments – 6 bases each (24 figures)