Back At It: The Wazulu Campaign

Planing on meeting up with my mates and giving this another go.........

Conclusion Of Wazulidi

Battle Of Wazulidi

Nacukul Campaign Map B2

A bit more of nothing on this map sheet however, it connects
two rather important sheets !

Nacukul Campaign Map B1

This is the far right center map sheet showing the key

Inundi pass seized by the Flying column under the

command of Sir Martian.

Nacukul Campaign Map B3

The map sheets run from left to right 1 to 4 and top to bottom A to D
This map sheet shows the area in and around the Wazulu Royal Kraal
at Umgungundlovu

Nacukul Station Destroyed!

Well before the main force under the command
of Sir Arthur reached Nacukul Station smoke columns could be seen against the sky.

As Sir Arthur's division entered the destroyed station evidence of a massacre was clear.There were no survivors ether from the garrison nor from the small civilian community to be found.

Cavalry Skirmish

After Sir Martian's decisive victory over the Wazulu at Inundi
pass. He sent out cavalry patrols from his strong position at the northern end of the pass.

The western most of these patrols consisting of a squadron of
lancers and one of dragoons encountered and drove off a similar
sized element of Nabyssinian light horsemen. They were then
forced to retreat back to camp with the arrival on the field of a
larger combined force of Wazulu and Nabyssinians.

Flying Column Checks Wazulu Advance

The Flying column under the command of
Colonel Sir Martian Ashworth encountered
a single Wazulu Impi to the west of the main
Army. Sir Martian's command consists of
the Guards Camel Corps, 2nd Battalion 64th
King's Royal Rifle Corps,3rd Battalion 91st
Highlanders, 3rd Gurkhas, 13th Light Infantry,
23rd Punjab, 17th Lancers, 3rd Dragoons,
4th Bengal Lancers, one battery of Punjab
mountain artillery,one battery of 9lb RHA, and
six Gatling guns attached to various infantry
units.


The Wazulu Impi of 4000 warriors with a battery
of French smooth bore Napoleons as well as a
fairly large amount of French supplied rifles
struck at Inundi pass.









The use of artillery and rifles was a surprise to
British forces and caused considerable causalities
to leading light units in the battle. The 9lb-er
British guns won the range duel and soon destroyed
the Wazulu guns.

The massed fire power of the Highlanders and 64th
King's Royal Rifle Corps with Gatling gun support
stopped the Impi's attack cold.









The Wazulu right flank was struck by the combined
British cavalry, while the left was hit by 23rd Punjab
and 3rd Gurkhas. At one point in the battle the 3rd
Gurkhas distinguished themselves by charging down
a small hillock into Wazulu ranks, and with their Kukris
alone cut a swath through the Impi as the 23rd Punjab
fired from above.



The Wazulu having suffered 30 percent causalities at
that point disengaged and in remarkably good order
retreated back up the pass.

Scouts from the 17th Lancers later reported that the
Wazulu were moving at great speed toward the noth
east where a vast dust cloud could be seen in the
distance closing with the Impi.

Sir Martian prudently decided to pick out a strong position
at the northern end of the pass and send word to Sir Arthur
of these developments.

Force Moves Into The Nacukul Plain

The 7,000 man combined relief force marched
out of Port Victoria divided into three columns.
Sir Arthur in command of the entire force will
be with the main and largest column in the
center and heading directly to Nacukul Station.
The left column made up of Highlander and
Indian regiments, under the command of Sir
Harold Smyth will take the high ground to the
west. The right (Flying) column of light infantry,
cavalry, the Guards Camel Corps,and several
batteries of horse artillery.The Flying column
is under the command of the famous and
redoubtable cavalryman Colonel Sir Martian
Ashworth.

Wazulu Prince Evades British!

Crown prince Tenshakono and his entourage while in rout to
Wazululand from his diplomatic mission to the Nabyssinian capital
raided several Nashanti villages. The prince also eluded several
cavalry units sent to intercept him. Returning to the Royal Kraal
at Umgungundlovu with a treaty and several hundred head of cattle
to the praise of king Senzangakhona.

British Relief Force To Nacukul

A 5,000 man British relief force set
sail from England today for port
Victoria. There they will join a force
of 2,000 men dispatched from India.
The force under the command of His
Lordship Major General Arthur Witt.
Sir Arthur will march this combined
force north to Nacukul Station. Sir
Arthur will also assume command of
all of her majesty's forces already stationed
in the crown colony and in the operational area of the Nacukul Plain.

Nabyssinian And Wazulu Alliance

The Nabyssinian and Wazulu kings
reached agreement and signed a
general alliance. The formal treaty
of eternal friendship was signed in
the Nabyssinian capital by the
Nabyssinian king Ezana and the first
born son of the Wazulu king
Senzangakhona.

King Ezana called on all the chiefs of
his realm to form their levies and join
with the royal army at their nations'
southern boarder.

Nabyssinian Forces

Wazulu Impis On The March

Wazulu Amabutho forming into full Impis march from the
Royal Kraal at Umgungundlovu. Over 20,000 warriors were
seen moving north. Reportedly there is another estimated
10,000 warriors remaining in and around the vicinity of
Umgungundlovu.

Archaeologist Party, Feared Lost.

The Royal Geographic Society's expedition to the Uldomon gorge
lead by famed archaeologist Sir Henry Weller is feared to be lost.
The Uldomon gorge is located to the far north east of Tangara just
above the Nacukul Plain and just below Greater Nabyssinia. The
Weller party also had several other notable persons with in it's ranks.
The well known big game hunter Bruce McFarland, Sir Henrys' wife
Helen,and Sir Henrys' life long friend retired British army Major
Richard Melville. The well equipped expedition consisted of many
native bearers and guides, and a large armed contingent of ex soldiers
as well as a unit of Nacu askari all commanded by Major Melville.
Sir Henrys' expedition was to return to Nacukul Station within six
months of their departure, they have now been away eight months.
The expedition was as a safety measure provisioned for up to a
years stay.It is feared with the unrest on Nabyssinian boarder and
the Wazulu Impis raids to the south that the Weller expedition may
be lost. Public pressure is already being received by parliament to
send reinforcements to the area and to mount an emergency rescue
mission to find and save the Weller party.

Wazulu King Marshals His Impis Of War!

The Wazulu King Senzangakhona, was reportedly
greatly outraged upon hearing the news of
British intervention into what was always
considered by his people as their justified and
traditional raids on the Nashanti. King Senzangakhona
was quoted to say "After all the spring planting
is done, what else is there for my young warriors
to do?"The Foreign Office has learned that King
Senzangakhona being a traditionalist has long
resisted French and Italian overtures and offers
of technical help to include weapons. This has
changed, our agents have seen both French and
Italian advisors at the Royal Kraal at Umgungundlovu.
There was also one report of French troops seen at
Ulundi, although this can not be confirmed at this time.
The Wazulu King has called up all 35,000 of his warriors.
There also rumors of a Wazulu and Nabyssinian alliance
that is causing great concern in the Foreign Office. The
PM is to address parliament about the situation on the
Nacukul Plain in the next session.

Colour Sergeant Norman Awarded VC

Norman's VC citation in the briefest of terms. It states:
"Norman, Frederick . For devoted gallantry at the British
Camp on the Nacukul Plain, in having promptly rushed to
the rescue of Captain Williams of the same corps, when
wounded and in danger of his life, whom he carried to a
place of safety, to which the sergeant was brought in shortly afterwards badly wounded."

British Camp Attacked

Following the Wazulu Impis incursion on to the

Nacukul Plain Her Majesty's Government dispatched

a relief column under Colonel Charles Sutherland.

The relief force was to stop further Wazulu raids and

to assist and provide aid to the friendly Nashanti.

This was another game that followed one of

Gabriel Landowski's battles, this time it was
"Saving Sir Higginbottom - The Second Day "
http://www.damnedhumanrace.com/dhr/battle034.htm

Another fun game with a somewhat better outcome for
the British!

Wazulu Rampage On Central Nacukul Plain

Several Wazulu Impis (brigades) swept across the

central Nacukul plain attacking the local Nashanti
villages.The Impis broke into Amabutho (regiments)
to conduct attacks and cattle raids.

This battle was a pretty close re-fight of Gabriel Landowski's

"Washing of The Spears" using his rule book.

http://www.damnedhumanrace.com/dhr/battle023.htm

The game system was a blast to use, very easy and fast!