Battle Of Adoucha As Reported By Winston Churchwood

My initial instinct was to ride with the Cortesian Expeditionary Force but the Ras of Lionia offered me a special access to his army. It is the first time I am able to have a ringside seat from the perspective of an African nation.

The Ras, or Emperor Theoroare The Third of Lionia has been extremely hospitable to me, considering it is only a decade since Redia defeated his armies. Although the heat here has been oppressive and the flies relentless I have enjoyed the tour of the Lionian antiquities and sacred artefacts. The church murals shimmer in their luminosity, nothing equal to European equivalents, of course, but approaching the best of the European lower Middle Ages art.

Which brings us to the Lionians cherished Ark of the Covenant, or at least that is what they claim to have. In fact Thoroar claims to be a direct descendant of the Queen of Sheba and Solomon. This object was hidden in the village of Adoucha but this is the exact path taken by the Cortesian army of General Garcia Mendez.

A splendid battle has occurred and I have had a first hand seat from the Hill Of Skulls (site of an ancient battle). The Cortesians are attempting to secure the village but the Lionians are approaching extremely rapidly.

Below: Cortesian infantry and Gatling gun approach Adoucha from the South West.

Hordes of Lionians race towards the town from the North.

On the Cortesian right flank mounted Cortesian infantry are charged by Lionian cavalry/ At first the Lionians drive them back but then the Cortesians prevail.

 The elite Cortesian Contras are caught trying to deploy in from to the buildings so it is limited in its firing at the approaching Lionians.

The Lionians converge on the Cave of Secrets to guarantee the safety of the Ark of the Covenant..

Cortesian infantry volley fore and then melee with fanatical Lionian warriors.  The Corteians wipe them out, only to be faced with another fresh horde!

Meanwhile, the Corteian right flan collapses and the Cortesians flee to re-group on the other side of the village. The arrival of a crack Chilean cavalry unit saves the day as it charges the approaching warriors.

                            The Contras do great damage to the Lionians but are finally overwhelmed.

                                                      Cortsians fleeing

                                             What they are fleeing from.

                                    The Chileans vanquish one horde only to have to face another. it attempts to flee and is shot down by Lionians who are now close enough to be effective with their rifles.

                               A Cortesian defensive line is prepared but any hope of controlling the village ceases.

                             The Lionians charge, only to be decimated by ranked firing and finished off in melee.

                                         Another picture of the Chilean charge.

                                     Mounted Cortesian mounted rifles dismount to fire but are cut down by enemy fire.

                       Lionians advance across the Cortesian Right flank.

                             Finally the Lionians get a gun into place and send a shell into the Cortesians.

                               

                                 The Cortesian Gatling gun. This managed to save the Left flank and then the crew saddled up and placed the gun on the hill. The crew then targeted some Lionians withdrawing to safety the artefact. The trees protected them from casualties.

                             A Lionian warrior, to get a better view, mounts the Adoucha two storied building. get a better view

                                             The Ras is blessed for his victory, by his priest.

The Cortesians, in their attempt to take the town, were overextended and could not bring to bare the full weight of their fire power. It was only narrowly that they escaped complete annihilation. However, the Lionian suffered twice as many casualties, not surprising given their condensed column charges. The Cortesians were outnumbered two to one and the terrain did not favor them

History will view this as one of those few occasions when an African army defeated a European one, (or at east a half European one). In any case I'm off now to get into the shade have a gin and tonic with the Ras.

WARGAME RULES

I used my American Civil War rules with the addition of faster movement for 'natives' and higher melee ability. Most Cortesians had a dice roll for each six figures higher for cavalry) while Lionians had a roll for each four. Full casualties for column targets, half for battle order and quarter for sjkirmish targets with dedctions for range - -1, -2, -3). Lionian close combat troops also had very high morale and an impact bonus. The Cortesian cavalry had a higher impact bonus but enemy numbers meant there was a danger of being overwhelmed. Troops also got a bonus for proximity of the commander within 40cm. Normally this was a bonus to leadership but the Cortesians became 'A class' in melee as well.

NEXT GAME

Ruritania invades Lionia!