A Bridge - Maybe Too Far, Maybe Not

The Khan, pleased with the showing the two great powers had made for his favor, presented a second objective. There was, he said, in a small village, another strategically important bridge over the river Blast. The Russians would occupy the village with the task of blowing the bridge. For their part, the British were to prevent its destruction. 

Whether fueled by personal ambition or out of earnest belief in the glory of their respective empires, commanders on both sides relished the opportunity presented. With both sides fueled by jingoist sentiment for the other, it was perhaps inevitable. Certainly, that is what the Khan had anticipated, as modern historians have since uncovered.

Of note, for the concerned, the village (its name and location lost to history) was properly evacuated prior to the start of hostilities to ensure none of the Khan's subjects fell victim to the European soldiers.

Early troop dispositions.

The latest in technology.

Russian forces hold their positions.

To the surprise of many, Lady Pennington, late of the Royal Geographic Society, sporting an ensemble from Grace Brothers of London, led the British mountain gun battery.

 

In the distance can be seen the Russian general riding out to inspire the men under his command.

A crowd forms on the British left.

Eager though he was, the Old Man was late to the party.

Lancers badly riddled by the Russian artillery charge into the fray. Better to die in glory than idly standing by.

The sound of the bagpipes resounded to the alarm of all concerned.

 

Moving a Gatling without horses is a long and tedious process.

Lady Pennington, with her eyes keener than any man, rained destruction on the Russian defenders.

An overview of force dispositions.

An again the bagpipes loomed close.

 

A violent scrum for possession of the bridge.

Cossacks and Highlanders collide!

A sacrifice by the sons of Scotland to push back the Russian battery.

Things got a bit sparse at the end. It was the British Gatlings that carried the day.

 

On this occasion, it was the Russians who were forced to concede. The British, thanks to their Gatling battery taking out the Russian engineers, managed to stave off the destruction of the bridge, but only after the first attempt to blow the bridge failed.

*******

Saturday, I fielded a reduced size version of Table Top Teasers #1 : The Bridge Demolition. The table was reduced to 3' x 3', and the forces reduced as well.

Attacker: two infantry, one cavalry, one gun, one Gatling, one commander.

Defender: one infantry, one cavalry, one gun, one Gatling, one engineer (a single figure), and one commander.

For the rules, I used my own Lancer Rifle Gatling, albeit with some on the fly modification for formations, as I played.

As I always play solo, that is not unusual, but in this case I played the British and diced for decisions for the Russians (their commander had diced as Aggressive). I was sure the British had lost until the die roll for the bridge's destruction gave them a few more turns.