Bringing up the Guns- Anglo-Sikh Wars

 

Yes, it is Elephant Time.  As you know elephants were used to pull field artillery in the Anglo-Sikh Wars. In 1857 too. I have 6 in all.

These are from Dixon’s Indian Mutiny range. Very nice indeed. Gun from Fighting 15s, gunners from QRF.

Nothing says India like an elephant.  

I have been careful to keep my elephants neutral, both sides can use them.  

Before buying the Dixon Nellies I bought some from Fighting 15s.  These are smaller creatures but attractively done. Their main demerit is that no limbers are supplied. Luckily for me Irregular Miniatures helped out with three Elephant Limbers. As you might expect Irregular sell elephants with limbers but that was not where I found myself.

You see the resulting combination here.  Passable I think.

 

This last is actually a Rajah’s Elephant. I had intended it for Duleep Singh. Alas, I find that Prince’s life is too tragic to contemplate-even in 15mm. His elephant now pulls a gun. 

Should you want an infant Maharajah on an elephant try QRF.  They have a splendid one.

I have a couple of bullock pulled limbers too. Here is one.  All very much end of project stuff you might think.  You would be right.

A British Army for the Anglo-Sikh Wars

My Anglo-Sikh War collection began in the last century. Consequently this post will remind me of what I have and what I might need to add.  Above, the Rifles.

I also need to rate my forces for the Anglo-Sikh Wars.  It has occasioned much thought and some revisions to my previous thinking.  Research will do that.  A good thing and of course the thinking doesn’t stop.

Mostly the British liked a 2-1 combination. That is two native units to one British one.  The latter could be Company or HM.  Apart from the irregulars all were trained in the British manner. Drilled seems a reasonable category for all of the Regulars.

There is the question of superiority of British units.  In fact there was little observable difference in performance or staying power. Yet, the British commanders thought that there was. To model this I’m trying out the British units as Drilled Elite and the Sepoys and Sowars as simply Drilled.

A second question is what of the vaunted British Fire Power?  Experimentally I intend to limit the potential +D3 result to British Infantry units. Sepoys will not benefit.

The cavalry also followed the 2-1 model

Another Brigade.  Note the Governor General's Body Guard in the back rank.

The final Regular cavalry Brigade. It could do with another unit of Bengal Native Cavalry.  Or, maybe I will just attach the Horse Artillery.

The Indian irregular cavalry were a key component of the Army.  You see three such units below.

The British fielded a lot of artillery often of lighter calibre that that of the Sikhs.

You see all of my British artillery below.

I realise I have no Bengal Native Artillery.

No shortage of guns though.

Various British Commanders below including two versions of Sir Hugh Gough.  Governor General Hardinge's there too.

You can see my entire Anglo-Sikh War British Collection on this page. It has been quite a journey. We will see the Sikhs next time. 

An Anglo-Sikh Wars Appendix for Republic to Empire

 

Here are some suggestions to enable you to use Barry Hilton’s Republic to Empire to game the battles of the Anglo-Sikh Wars.  These deal with Sikh Gorchurra, Akali, Matchlock men, Artillery, British infantry fire-power and more.

You can find the rationale for much that follows in my various articles on the Anglo-Sikh Wars posted on this blog.  Should Republic to Empire not be your cup of tea I hope you will still find the following of interest.  

Above, my final unit of Khalsa Regulars. The following pic's are the newest and last ones of my Anglo-Sikh Wars Collection. Yes, it is really finished-apart from some artillery elephants.

Traitor Generals

Should the Sikh General prove to be a traitor double cost of all MPs for Sikh Brigade Actions.  Roll a D6 on a score of 1 the General is a traitor and is removed from the Battle Field. I see a possible application here for India 1857 in respect of Sepoy units without a General Officer Commanding.

Cold Steel Assaults

Senior British Commanders liked to assault with cold steel.  Roll a D6, on a score of 6 two British Brigades enter the battle unloaded.  On a score of 5, one British Brigade does so.  Such brigades can only fire after their first attempted charge home.

Cavalry v Cavalry Broad Strokes

British and Indian regular cavalry fight Sikh regular cavalry as written in Republic to Empire.

Gorchurra and Indian irregular cavalry fight each other as written in Republic to Empire.

The Gorchurra

Gorchurra move as light cavalry in column of march and fight in column of squadrons.

Gorchurra are never disordered by melee.

Before melee they shoot, throw a D3 the result is the number of shooting dice.

Range is point blank.

Any casualties caused make opponents do an officer casualty check.

Armoured Gorchurra count as cuirassiers in melee.

British and Indian regular cavalry will pass through the Gorchurra post melee regardless of the combat result.

Gorchurra may then turn to face at a cost of 1mp.

Add Resolve Check minus to Gorchurra if under artillery fire.

Indian Irregular Cavalry

Indian Irregular Cavalry move as light cavalry in column of march and fight in column of squadrons.

Some Indian Irregular Cavalry shoot, if so equipped, throw a D3 the result is the number of shooting dice. Measure for range.

Indian Irregular Cavalry are never disordered by melee.

Add Resolve Check minus to Indian Irregular Cavalry if under artillery fire.

 

British regular cavalry

British regular cavalry, except charging Lancers, fight as disordered against Gorchurra. 

Post melee British regular cavalry measure their outcome move from the point that they passed through the Gorchurra.  That is, immediately behind the Gorchurra and facing the same direction of their initial charge.

Indian regular cavalry

Indian regular cavalry count, -2 on the Resolve Check Procedure if ordered to charge Gorchurra.

If an Indian regular cavalry unit refuses to charge, but holds position, they may shoot, throw a D3 the result is the number of shooting dice. Measure for range. 

Indian regular cavalry, except charging Lancers, fight as disordered against Gorchurra. 

Artillery

The Sikh regular artillery outperformed its British counter parts.  Rate Sikh regular artillery as veteran. British as trained.  There is good evidence from 1857 that Sepoy Artillery outshot and were more accurate than their British equivalents. So perhaps British Native Artillery should be rated as the Sikh artillery.  Sikh Irregular artillery as trained or recruit.

Matchlock Men

Sikh irregular foot using matchlocks or jezails shoot as Recruits.  This reflects the slower loading and various ranges of their firearms.

In combat they gain the “Pike” bonus and, as they are never disordered by melee, keep it.

British Regular Infantry

British infantry fire power was impressive.

Conditions in India often were not ideal.

The heat was hard upon the British infantry. Forced marching doubly so.

Sometimes their Generals threw them into combat without adequate rest and refreshment.

After deployment throw a D6. 

On a score of 1,2,3 the British infantry gain a D3 result of extra shooting dice as written in Republic to Empire.

On a score of 4,5,6 they do not.

I'm not applying this to Sepoy units.

Khalsa Infantry and Artillery

Khalsa Infantry and Artillery gain a D3 result of additional dice in the first round of melee.

Akali

Akali warriors should be Guard or Veteran.

They may shoot, throw a D3, the result is the number of shooting dice available. Measure for range.

In combat they gain the “Pike” bonus and, as they are never disordered by melee, keep it.

Where next on this?  We are going to see both armies and then a try out game.

 

Yellow Ribbon

 

I recently re-read ARCHAEOLOGY, HISTORY and CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE by Richard Allan Fox, Jnr.  The definitive work that cut through a century of wishful thinking,  self -serving nonsense and plain just getting it wrong.  Very good you say, and?

I have a hard copy of Greg Novak's Yellow Ribbon rules for the Plains Wars.   Amongst aficionados of the period Yellow Ribbon claims the Laurels.

I also have a box full of 15mm figures.  Last opened circa The Men Who would Be Kings.  I opened the box.  I had thought I was going to need horses for the horse holders.  Not so, I had already bought them but not painted them.  Grand.

Yellow Ribbon requires 16 figures per Company of cavalry.  Mounted and dismounted.  This I had.  I had more but not enough for a second company.  I also have Crow Scouts and some infantry.  There are some pack mules some where and figures suitable for Packers. One packer for 2 Mules, two Mules per Company.

I will do a second Company.  I also need some wounded cavalry figures.  They are an important feature of the game.

As for the Plains People I have loads of warriors.  Yellow Ribbon requires bands of 12 to 18 figures.  Mounted and dismounted.  These I have in great store.  I need more Indian women, children and elderly-dismounted only.

I could go more Tepees too.  Irregular again I think.  It is the cost effective option.

First though I need to make a QRS for Yellow Ribbon.  No small task.  The original is in small text, produced on machines that have long been obsolete, the pagination has gone wrong and the information could have been ordered better.  No matter, this is one of the Great Games.  Superbly conceived and covering all aspects of the War on the Plains.  In Yellow Ribbon Indians behave as Indians and the Cavalry need to take care.

Should you fancy doing the Plains Wars 10mm has much to recommend it.  Mine are 15mm. My point is the more space on the table the better.  

The West was vast and empty. Until it wasn't empty.  Hoka Hey!

In my next Yellow Ribbon post I will show you my first 7th Cavalry Company.  That means 16 cavalry mounted, 12 cavalry horses, and 13 dismounted cavalry.  Three troopers remain mounted as horse holders. Also two Pack Mules and a Packer to lead them.  That is the basic USA unit for Yellow Ribbon.  Mine represents Company K 7th Cavalry led by Lieutenant Edward Godfrey.

Some judicious additions have been ordered. They include a pony herd, a USA Wagon, additional troopers and Indian non combatants.

Above we see one of my Indian bands.  They are organised into Warrior Societies.  We will meet each of them as we go.

If you are new to the Plains Wars you might be asking What is so special about Yellow Ribbon?  The answer is simple.  The Indians behave like Indians did in the Plains Wars.

Do ride along with me as we head into the West.

India 1857 Musings

 

I found an interesting print of the war in India 1857.  A coloured lithograph from 'The Campaign in India 1857-58' and called "Mutinous Sepoys".  Points of interest include:

Two figures on the left wearing what looks like pale blue Company undress uniforms.  Are these artillery men or even dismounted cavalry men?

The red and green triangular flags in the background.  I have also seen images of these, often decorated, used as unit flags.

The red and green tack of the mounted soldier. Note too, he has been reading Captain Nolan and has ditched his unsuitable and restrictive Company uniform, kit and tack.  The poorly balanced and blunt British sword has been replaced with a sharp tulwar.  I recently read that for some units this had already been done officially as part of the learning from the Anglo-Sikh Wars.

One of the artillery men still wears his blue uniform coat.

The old Jemadar on his charpoy seems now in command.

As you can see it shows sepoys in a pre prepared position.  Presumably they are awaiting a British attack or besieging a British position.

It was enough revisit my paused Indian project above and below. 

 

A good result all round as I have invested a fair bit in it.  Model cities are time consuming projects.

Some Irregular Miniatures sepoys above and below. I nearly did them 6 to a base but 4 seems to suffice.

Note the flag.  I needed some good Indian flags for the Bengal sepoys so I made some. They show Hindu deities.  Accurate?  Maybe, close enough I'd say.  Some units continued with their original HEIC Colours.   We will see them too.

 

I thought I'd do a bit more.  First, HM 5th Northumberland Regiment.  Figures from Dixon.

Madras Presidency 1st Regiment below. Dixon again.  Everyone does this one.  It's the blue caps.

The flags are from Adrian's Walls made by "Nevermore".  A talented guy, generous too, he used to offer them free.  Anyhow, they are a good buy, but you will need to scan and resize.  The reason being a slight discrepancy in flag sizes. Easy enough and something I do anyhow.  Then again, it may not bother you.

I have some ideas for rules for the period. Or at least the crucial command and control bit.  

It is a tricky conflict to get a handle on. W H Russell who had covered the Crimean War arrived for the second part of it.  He noted an irrationality on the part of some of his British interviewees.  This shows up in some of our sources.  

The Bengal Sepoys, Russell was told, were all cowards who ran and fanatics who would fight to the death.  His informants found no contradiction in this.

They were not "one of the manly races of India" yet their key role in fighting the Sikh War seems to have fuelled their decision to try to expel the British.  

They had apparently acted without reason.  However, we find their wages had been cut by half in spending power. Their privileged access to the Courts unilaterally curtailed. Their independent Princely State annexed. That might have had anyone reaching for their tulwar.

The wider Indian politics were complex too as befits a multi nation/confessional Sub Continent.  India is a big place and was bigger again back then.

Reading through the whole affair is a bit like trying to cut up water.  Some believe one thing, others another.

 

That said Amarpal Singh has now turned his attention to it. His newest book is called The Siege of Delhi.  As he is the scholar who clarified what much of what actually happened in the Anglo-Sikh Wars we might expect great things. Let us hope so. I'll likely do a review.  

I've already read Hibbert, Russell, Dalrymple and Murray and more on the subject.

Also, I picked up a copy of Saul David's The Indian Mutiny for the price of a glass beer.  More reading ahead.

Meantime I'll paint more units.  

I hope to bring you more as we go.  Next time though we are back to the Crimean War.