Sikh Wars-Three Battles at Bhudowal-Part 1

We have looked at the First Sikh War battle of Bhudowal before. If you missed it you can read about it by clicking the Bhudowal tag below.  I don't have a seething mass of terrified camp followers to accompany the British baggage wagons so we must just imagine that they're are there.

I thought it would be fun and instructive  to first play the battle as it was fought, second as it would have been if General Smith had pressed home his attack and lastly if General Rajodh Singh had done the same with his. 

At the end of the triad we might have some insights into how well Piquet Field of Battle handles the Sikh Wars.  I’ve listed the forces previously so let’s go straight to the game in which General Smith intends to march across the front of the Sikh entrenchments.

You might think that attempting to mirror what Generals Harry Smith and Rajodh Singh did on the day would be somewhat limiting, dull even.  I wondered myself.  Fear not, it proved to be an interesting encounter.

The British set off at a fine lick still in their broad column of march formation with a unit of Bengal Irregular cavalry looking after the slower moving baggage train.  This brought them into range of the Sikh artillery.

The Sikh guns opened up and tore into the 53^rd Foot that had the misfortune to be on the outer side of the column.  The 53^rd weathered the first cannonade but the second had them running.  Brigadier Gough soon steadied them with a rally.

Sikh Gorchurra swept out of the glade and lurked out of musketry range.  The Bengal cavalry and the 53^rd moved into to line to face them.  The Gorchurra trotted up and skirmished shooting from the saddle to no good effect.  The Sikh Commander had hoped they would charge the still shaky 53^rd and ideally do for them and Brigadier Gough. They didn't, poor dice and an odd number.

The Lancers and the Bengal Horse artillery sped up the inside line of the column and secured the entrance to the sand dunes where safety for the army lay.

The 47^th BNI now felt the impact of the Sikh gunnery took a pounding and broke.

The baggage train was beginning to lag a little behind the column.

General Smith was pondering a charge on the Sikh guns.

The 53^rd gave the skirmishing Gorchurra a volley with little good result, they had lost too many men. 

Brigadier Gough was now attempting to rally the 47^th BNI which he managed and sent them marching after the column. 

In an attempt to create some space the Bengal Irregular cavalry charge the Gorchurra and succeed in driving them back. 

General Smith kept the column moving and so far most of the army was unscathed.  
  
The baggage couldn’t move through Gough’s two battalions and so was further delayed.

General Rajodh Singh was beginning to think he should go on the offensive.  For the Field of Battle players reading we have already run through the card deck.

The skirmishing Gorchurra close ranks and charge into the unloaded 53rd.  The 53rd are destroyed.

The head of the British column is now safely wending its way through the dunes with Brigadier Gough and the 47th BNI seeking to catch up.  The Lancers and the Bengal Horse Artillery continue to provide a rear guard.  

Save for the somewhat lonely Bengal Irregular cavalry the baggage train is now unprotected. 

The Bengal Irregular cavalry have changed their facing as they are now threatened by two units of Gorchurra.

The 47^th are cannonaded but suffer no additional losses and have now reached the rear guard.

Khalsa skirmishers and Horse artillery supported by more Gorchurra are advancing on the British rear guard.

The Khalsa Horse artillery hit the 47^th causing a run for the shelter of the dunes.

The Gorchurra charged the Bengal Irregular Horse who after a brief melee make a break for it.  

The British baggage train is now captured by the Gorchurra.

In Field of Battle terms, the British are now down to 3 Army Points.

The 47^th finally make it to the dunes followed by General Smith and Brigadier Gough who is getting a reputation for being lucky.

The Lancers wait for the Bengal Horse Artillery to limber up and they both withdraw.

That was the Battle of Bhudowal played according to what we know of the original script. 

General Rajodh Singh could say he inflicted casualties on the enemy, held the field and captured the British baggage train.

General Harry Smith had his two Indian guides shot for taking the column into harms way.  He would later remark that Ranjodh could have done him serious harm if he had been inclined to do so.

The outcome was pretty close to the real one saving the loss of the 53rd.   

For me, nothing beats Field of Battle.  It is my favourite rule set.  Even though most of the troops on both sides did not engage the game did not lack for drama.

Next time we will have General Smith storming the Sikh entrenchments in a Bhudowal What if.  It promises to be a very bloody Bhudowal.