Mir Ali Mirali - The battle Scenario C “to the last battle”
AbuZar saved the village and is the flag around whom dispersed tribesmen rally with new volunteers willing to avenge the past sufferance inflicted by Fullerton’s previous campaigns. He wants to run to intercept Fullerton column before reaching the safe entrenched camp in Mir Ali Mirali and new Poona squadrons released by Major Stockfish, happy to remain safely in Tochi Valley devasting and looting the last untouched villages.
One of the last but not least khan to join Abu Zar Khan was Wali Khan, the second son of Sher Khan, with supplies and animals raided during his journey. A new alley or a spy, ready to report everything to his father?
Fullerton before turning the head of his horse roared his menace: he will ride with the sole purpose to cause immense suffering among Afridis civilian population, indiscriminately killing farmers, cutting trees and destroying Mir Khan Khel.
But in this way he only showed his great weakness, as once Umra Khan teached to Wali khan :
“When you’re not strong enough to punish the camel, then go and beat the basket carried by the donkey.”
“The orders by my father are very simple. With the mounted throat cutters hired by my father we will be able to harass the devils running back and we’ll intercet and destroy them before entrenching in Mir Ali Mirali. They are from Wardak, directly from the capital Chaki and are mercenaries offered by the Amir as an alliance gift to Umra Khan, who deployed them to my father and that I bring with me to ensure no Ferenghees will return alive.”
“My own unit is formed by the cream of the army of my father and will show you how to fight” Wali Khan said proudly among the other nodding khans, all new arrived and more than willing to be Ferenghees avengers and show to Wali their loyalty to his father, the mighty Sher Khan.
“You cannot teach a Kuki Khel Afridi how fighting ferenghees, none of you were in Mir Khan Khel where the pride of Afridis was enhanced by our value!” roared Abu Zar “we start immediately!”
Waiting more reinforcement should have been the wisest option but he should show to all the khans who was the boldest khan and the chief of the army-“Let’s pass thru the hills on the right and arrive on the routed enemies to complete their butchery”.
Mmmh the troops sent by Sher Khan are fine but their khans two complete idiot, one bald as a coot and the other a forgettable fellow, whose only valuable intellectual property are his moustaches. They both are as sharp as a buzkashi ball…
Captain Liver run to the head of the column and informed Fullerton “Sir, may I beg you pardon but it seems many ruffians are trying to cut our path, many hundreds of them if you don’t mind”
“Captain we cannot lose a second, let us direct towards those houses to create a rock where their waves will splash ineffectively”
“Sir yes sir” and then shouting, “column follow me!”
At second turn the inept Shakor Khan did not manage to coordinate the possible attack at double and his mounted warriors remained standing while all the tribesmen were running shortening the distance.
Like wolfes, the pashtuns try to envelope the flying devils but must stop to take the breath, only the veterans driven by Naag Khan continue to run looking for the opportunity to attack the rearguard of Best’s guides, but they are also cautious because they know the bloody effective job the Sikh can do with their bayonets,
Liver’s baluchis sent a devasting fire on Naag khan killing 5 pathans, then the exceptional Liver raises his cry “At the double!” and his baluchis manage to accelerate at the double reaching the protection of few houses in the outskirts of Mir Ali Mirali
Shakor Khan toss 11 and his mounted warriors charge at double with a further 5, but the Sikh are really lions and stop them in a draw that avoid any pinning or pursuing.
Liver’s Baluchi kill other 2 mounted Wardak included Shakor Khan and they are pinned, just in time to avoid the joint attack with Wali, but the irregulars fire a devasting volley and then other 2 Sikhs are butchered by Naag veterans, killing one.
While Best rallied his guides, Liver and Dawes sent devasting fire on Naag Khan and on Kaalindi Khan with 4 dead each and pinning both and only the second succeded in rallying. It seems that Raj units can safely retreat.
But at this point Abdul Haq, the young Afridi emerging leader, advances and then passes the test for a second action , being an hero, and said “Brothers Remember Spinwam, the harvest destroyed, the wells polluted” and the Afridis unsheated their
tulwars “Remember Qaabiz’s wifes raped and killed” and the Afridis advanced “Remember Gaarwine’sons all killed” and the Afridis raised their tulwars “remember the beautiful Spinwam’s tower burnt and destroyed “ and the Afridis charged the British “Remember Eada’s goats stolen and devoured!” at the thought of the lost goats the tulwars hit ruthlessly and all Yorkshire unit but Dawes is cancelled!
Impressive and decisive…
Now only Tommie Liver’s Baluchi are between the Pashtun hordes and the safe defenes of Mir Ali Mirali.
Liver’s Baluchi regroup in close order and kills 4 Abdul Hag men pinning his unit, now this is the situation:
The fire of Wali’s irregular hits another guide and Lt Best with another guide join Dawes in his rout towards Mir Ali Minari. Now also Fullerton join them to organize the reinforcements sent to Mir Ali Mirali and rally the routed, only Tommie Liver stay entrenched in hard cover provided by the village against the 4 remained units, two battered but two fresh new.
Liver’s Baluchi fought like lions but nobody survived, last one being Liver himself that rallied once again his men without routing but were despatched by the man of Abu Zar,
who personally killed the heroic Cpt Liver who, with his sacrifice, allowed the safe retreat of the other officers.
In the mean time 10 miles west…
“Sir I’m LT Jaybrick, Paul Jaybrick, I’ve been sent with my Poona unit to join your column during the march to Thal. May I ask where the rest of your units is, Sir?”
“This is all my column, Tenant, or what is remained of it. You arrived just in time to escort us safely to Mir Ali Mirali and from there we’ll have to move quickly away, before those heathens arrive pursuing us! Thanks the mounted ruffians were routed, and this gives us the possibility to escape,”
LT Jaybrick looked to the horizon but no other troops were in sight; of 4 gallant and flamboyant units who left Tochi Valley only 3 officers and 1 private were marching Southwards. And now something was in view on the horizion, but they were not Raj soldiers…
To be continued
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May 28, 2023, 07:39:31 PM
February 01, 2011, 12:20:27 PM