The Empires Strike Back
Without warning a wave of Zulu roars a charge and crashes into the rank of surprised Rebs! Both sides take casualties but the troopers are definitely scattered and shaken! In the background the reserve horse file right...
...to take up position behind the thin red British line and offer their "support" to their allies' stiff upper lip!
From the wheat native swords spring to action all along the British line the fighting is extremely fierce, the most bloody of the entire engagement and both sides suffer heavy casualties!
The "Lost Patrol" of Reb cavalry charges back through the enemy lines taking up position behind the French and offer similar morale support as with the Brits. They felled a few Zulu but to their surprise lost a few as well! A straggling British soldier suddenly finds himself very near the front lines again!
The remaining native swords are cut down by French from the ruins - the Brits stop to cheer but are ut down by the remaining native rifles - who stop to cheer only to have the French on the Allied left open fire sweeping a hole through the center of their formation. Their chief is hit and down!
The scattered Red troopers on the Allied right flank form a new line in the light woods facing the Zulu wave..
British blue jackets man-handle their gun into position to enfilade the Zulu formation - if only the Rebs would move!
The French have held their fire until point blank range and sweep the immediate field clear of Zulu scattering survivors far back into the wheat fields! The Rebs give off a hearty cheer as they were to be hard pressed!
Back on the Allied left flank the French commander orders a right wheel and sends his rifles forward! The Legionnaires carefully pick their way through the tall grass emerging and firing enfilade into the native rifles!
Several of the rifles fall but the remainder flee towards the Zulu and relative safety!
The French Gardner and gunners however open fire destroying the rifles as they emerge into the light of day!
With the destruction of the native center and right flank the surviving Zulu commander fumes over the failure of the Right Horn of Zulu horde to appear at the backs of the enemy! To continue is futile and so he orders a withdrawal!
The French in the ruins cheer and celebrate their survival - the Allies have won!
The remaining Zulu unit in good order demonstrates in the face of the enemy as bullets whiz by! They are beaten for today but this enemy is far from defeated! With a single gesture the whole turn away and fade into the wheat...
The British blue jackets have a few words for the Rebs blocking their view but it becomes obvious that the enemy is beaten and withdrawing! The gun is ordered out of action and the artillery horse team ordered forward. The field is policed for the dead and wounded and a number of enemy survivors are taken prisoner. Victory!
French Infantry Left - Major Victory!
French Infantry Center - Major Victory!
French Gardner Crew - Major Victory!
British Artillery - Major Victory!
Rebel Cavalry - Victory!
British Infantry - Phyric Victory!
French Cavalry - Phyric Victory!
Native Zulu - Minor Defeat!
Native Rifles - Major Defeat!
Native Swords - Minor Defeat!
Native Artillery - Major Defeat!
Regards & Thanks to Douglas, Rob, Justo, Dirk, Bill, and Sal Sr. for their participation