Battle Of The Rose Petal - Plains Indians Versus US Army

This is our second Plains Indian War and this time the Indians and soldiers are closer in numbers with a slight edge for the army but the soldiers have to reach the other end of the field and drive off or capture the Indians from the village

The Cavalry column and six pounder horse artillery starts on the board and must cross the Rose Petal Creek. It is commanded by Colonel Imfirst. The larger infantry column must be diced for but it arrives on second turn but must cross the river third turn. The creek is low but takes a half move to cross. General Rook arrives with the infantry.

The outer part of the Cheyanne village is in the path of the attackers and villagers are just awakening from a hard night on the whisky sold to them by trader Tomkins. Some of the keener braves have just returned from a raid on a Crow village. A thick fog covers the land and no-one sees the Long Knives until they appear above a hill. Even then, the far reaches of the scattered village remain oblivious.

Once the villagers are aware Mat dices for his mounted reserves but they are still too hung over from the night before and arrive a while after the battle starts.


                                                             The Indian end of the field

                             The infantry are still crossing the river as the cavalry races ahead.

                   As the early morning fog lifts the Indians see the Long Knives on the hill.

    Indians rush around in panic but the more experienced braves form a defensive line in the rocks and some mounted braves rush forward to block the White Eyes.

                           The mounted braves hesitate in the face of the dreaded long knives of the Long Knives. The cavalry form up but only depleted Company C charges. The Indians suffer a crippling c+harge but more arrive and overwhelm Company C.

                                  Company A dismounts and creeps through a patch of forest.

                   The Indians pour a hail of arrows into the brush and many cavalry fall.

                                                       The squaws run to safety.

             The infantry crests the hill. The cannon has been ineffective in its fire. (The crew are just out of site communicating with the cavalry to their left.

                         Will the infantry charge the Indians in the rocks or form up to fire?

                                   More Indian braves arrive determined to stop the invaders.

                                                            Company C is wiped out!

                                                     But the cavalry still comes!

                         The Indians make full use of the rock formations adjacent the village.

                           Waves of mounted braves crash straight into the infantry, mauling them but being destroyed in return.

                                                    Other infantry enters the forest.

                                            The braves swing their hatchets and war clubs.

                                                           It has been a bloodbath

                  Infantry enter the rocks after killing the Indians who were there then and shoot down everyone they can see in the village.

INDIAN VICTORY!

Mat's Indian village wins a costly victory. We set the game moves for 15 when it would continue on a roll of 5 or 6 which it didn't.  

The cavalry had great success with initial charges but mounted war parties kept coming and whittling down the cavalry to a fraction of their initial strength. General Rokk did stay close to the line of battle and urged his men on. When the infantry got involved their fire power caused great numbers of  enemy casualties and finished off the braves in the rocks despite their 4+ on a D6 save. The tribesmen suffered more casualties than the soldiers but still won.

The victory calculation was based on a count of individual figures plus a calculation based on the progress of the troops. Any of four units which reached the Indian base line would get the White Eyes 10 points. Any of four units denied this got the Indians four points. Not one unit of Blue Boys got to the edge although they did get to the rocks that edged the village. The Indians won by about twenty points.

This game was based, very loosely, on the Montana battle of the Rosebud. The outcome was similar except our casualties were greater! Our next game will be based on the Battle of the Little Big Horn which is ominous for the army. The force will be all cavalry this time although we will roll a dice to see if they get a Gatling! I am going to introduce personal traits for the leaders that will shape their actions. Sme of the Indians will have Henry rifles which is ominous again!