"Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign

[giorgio]

A NEW FAITH

Wana, a campfire in the outskirts.
“You see Ghilji, I would give all my new goats to know what the mighty Mulehead, may the only Ruler bless him, is thinking about the news arrived from North”
“from North only troubles come, but your new goats stolen to blasphemic Afridi, Azim. The news brought by the caravans are really concerning all of us. A new heresy Red and Silver, teached by fakiri dressed as Muezzin is contaminating all the north. They say that even Powinda’s ghazis are bending to embrace the new truth, may Osprey destroy them and leave their bones to the vultures”
 “Ghaffar bring here the fork to test this jezail balance, you lazy mule” Ghilji shouted to a third man, bringing a fork, his prayers carpet and his own musket, a brain new one with some cirillic inscription on it.


“This jezail is perfect” said a proud Azim aiming under their rocks “I would like use it against any faith enemy, or ferenghee either heretic”
“I have heard that new fanatics have dispatched a lot of Afridi south of Thal” Ghilji commented
“And many Waziri too” Ghaffar said with a strange smile
“You are right, old goat head, they believe in strange new rule, red as blood and silver as steel. Their pray is “10 is good, 6 is bad” and they kill whoever refuses to use 10 sides dice. Can you believe me? 10 side, I think that even 6 are too many. You should have 2 only sides, 6 for you and 1 for your enemy” Ghilji continued
“10 is foolish” Amir insisted
“Since Pashtunwali has been established all believers has used only 6 side dice. Even the blasphemic heretics” (stopping to split on the ground) “even those pigs use 6 side dices”

A chora reflects the sun rays in a sparkle of light, soon covered by a red surface of blood. Red and silver… Blood and steel … the infection is everywhere now!
The only survived Pashtun unwrapped his carpet to pray with deep voice: “10 is good, 6 is bad”

In the meantime many warriors, already contaminated (or enlighted?) by the new Rule are marching furiously against British defenses in Shewa and a new leader is driving his fanatics for the glory of the True Ruler: will d10 dominate the world?!?

[Skorda]

Cant wait to embrace the new faith.

[Rhingyll]

                                                                     


Constantin Poenaru was born in Bucharest. Poenaru attended the local officers’ school from 1859 to 1861, followed by the École Supérieure de Guerre in Paris. A second lieutenant from 1861, he rose to captain in 1867 and to major in 1872 and commanded the military engineers’ battalion from 1872 to 1877. When the Romanian War of Independence broke out in 1877, he saw action during the Siege of Plevna. In 1880, Poenaru was promoted to lieutenant colonel and he became inspector of military engineers. In 1882, he was made commander of the first engineers’ regiment in the Romanian Army and was sent with a Romanian infantry brigade to assist with the construction of the Trans-Caspian Railroad. The brigade worked on the railroad until 1888 at Samarkand. He had hoped to see the completion of the railroad in Tashkent at which point he would retire from active service and return to Romania. But such was not his luck The brigade was ordered to head in a general southeast direction towards British India. They were to construct bridges across any waterways they encountered. They would be re-supplied on a monthly basis along the route they had created. All went well until they reached Mastuj in the NWF. The brigade had completed a new wooden bridge, basically as an alternate to the existing rope bridge, but had not been re-supplied for two months now. He had sent a messenger back to Samarkand but as of yet had no reply. Poenaru’s only option was to halt and wait. A week or so ago, a British mapping expedition had camped within a few miles of the southside of his bridge. They posed no threat to Poenaru, and left the area after a few days, heading east along the Gilgit River valley. But the always cautious Poenaru decided to construct some defensive breastworks on the southside of the bridge. His men needed something to occupy their time as well and this little project would do. Poenaru’s Romanian Brigade consists of the 2nd Line Infantry, 1st Battalion of the 6th Dorobantsi Militia, and a detachment of the 3rd Chasseurs.



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Conflict at Mastuj, Northeast of the fort at Chitral

There are several postings on page 50 and 51 of this thread that provide the prelude to this battle.
Romanian scouts have informed Colonel Poenaru of a British force heading toward Mastuj along the Gilgit River. He has deployed his troops in a defensive manner in case the British attack. The ambitious Colonel Kelly, upon approaching Mastuj, has decided to halt his march to help relieve Chitral and instead gain some points by taking the town of Mastuj from the Romanians (whom he considers to be Russians) in the name of the Queen.

Colonel James Graves Kelly “Long Nose”
2 units of 32nd Punjab Pioneers
1 unit of 4th Kashmiri Rifles
1 band of Punjabi Levis 
1 section of 1st Kashmir Mountain Battery – Light Gun 
1 detachment of the 51st Kings Own Highland Light Infantry

Colonel Constantin Poenaru
1 unit 1st Battalion 2nd Infantry Line Regiment
1 unit 2nd  Battalion 2nd Infantry Line Regiment
1 unit 1st Battalion 6th Dorobantsi Regiment 
3rd Chasseur Battalion

The 51st Highland LI and Kashmiri Rifles clear the woods of the Chasseurs on the eastern flank but at a heavy cost to the Highlanders. The artillery keeps up a constant barrage on the 2nd Line defending the wall in front of the river. Meanwhile the right and left wing of the 32nd Pioneers advance forward in the center towards the wall and bridge. The Levis push rapidly forward on the western flank taking light casualties from the Romanian fire behind the wall.
Poenaru moves up from his reserve position with the remainder of the 2nd Line and crosses the bridge to oppose the advancing right wing of the 32nd Pioneers. Meanwhile a detachment of Chasseurs who had been out foraging arrive back at Mastuj. Kelly urges the Kashmiri Rifles forward and the attack and melee Poenaru and his 2nd Line. Poenaru was push backed slightly from his position but remained in good order. The Levis managed to work they way around the wall and attack the 2nd Line defending it. The defenders hold off the attack and the Levis back off to regroup. Poenaru pulls back off of the bridge and the newly arrived Chasseurs take up his previous position on the bridge. Fire from the 2nd Line behind the wall pushes the Levis back a little further and disorders them. The remnants of the 51st Highland LI fire out of the woods at the Romanian Chasseurs on the bridge inflicting light casualties. Kelly and his depleted Kashmiri Rifles take cover in the woods. The pressure of the battle has become to much for the engineer turned soldier Poenaru and he flees out of the town with his surviving unit. Things were looking up for the Romanians until this turn of events. The Romanian 6th Dorobantsi Regiment has finally decided to get into the action and is attempting to cross the rope bridge on the western side of the town. Accurate marksmanship from the Chasseurs on the main bridge drove the remaining Highland LI out of the woods and rendered them no longer effective. The 2nd Romanian line behind the wall continued to take casualties and eventually lost the position to the Punjabi Levis. Steady fire from the Kashmiri mountain gun drove the remaining Chasseurs off the main bridge, Seeing this, The Dorobantsi Militia realized that the day was lost, and as the only remaining fighting force left of the Romanian side, they decided to beat a hasty retreat back across the rope bridge and headed north to find Colonel Poenaru. Long Nose Kelly had taken more of a beating than expected and now had top halt his march towards Chitral in order to assess what was left of his victorious but battered force.

[JBaumal]

Bob, great AAR, the table and troops look awesome too!

[Umra Khan]

Great post, cool pictures of the battle, a bloody victory for "Long Nose"

[giorgio]

The Message

Cold winds are whispering among the rocks. Captain Arwin Torrished is splitting his orders to his Subedar Kamal Singh, but he doesn’t think they are so urgent. Nobody would be so crazy to stay outside with such a freezy weather.

Almost nothing is visible, at least at his eyes, but suddenly a Sikh sentinel shouts from his patrolling area “Stop there, stop or…” Crack, clear and sharp the noise of the rifle arrives amplified by the muffled silence all over around him.

“What’s that, what’s happening” Arwin shouted to his subedar, already running to the sentinel to understand what’s happening.
“Sir, a man sir, arrived left or lost this paper wrapped around a rock and disappeared unhurted, Sir, very unfair from him if you agree…”
“mmmh this is written in very poor English… all my… we have to alert immediately the colonel, my horse, bring him here immediately”

Few minutes later in the HQ…
“So Arwin, what’s the reason of this urgency! I had to interrupt an important political discussion to ride here!” Colonel Bartholomeus Furtinghs said, thinking to the sweet kisses of Lady Barrington, the young wife of the gallant tenant Barrington, whose pride was second only to his ingenuity.
“Sir, with your permission, I just intercepted this message, very urgent and very important!”
Furthings took the letter thinking “intercepted” if they did not want it, you could remain the whole night over there watching bare rocks”.

“Mmmh, this requires a prompt reaction, Bob!” Furthings shouted cantering quickly towards his HQ, followed by the faithful Robbie, the regimental mascot.
“Sir, yes sir” answered the young tenant Robert Caldwin, riding as fast as he could.
“Bob call immediately all the officer in my office! I M M E D I A T E L Y !!!” Colonel shouted while poor Tenant Caldwin galloped to alert all the officers.

What is the content of the message left by the mysterious Pashtun? A trap or a safe clue? And what about the new sect of B&S cultist? Are they going to be quickly squeezed or they will be the new rising stars? Many are the homemade modifications, as many as the stars which enlights north Waziristan (at least according Wana border maps). Everything changes in this strange land… all but the power of Mulehead!
To be continued…

[Umra Khan]

In one of the many Peshawar's alleys , a faithful servant approaches Zaman Khan...
 "Zaman, you can assure the Great Umra, may the Lord protect him, that his message has been delivered..."

[giorgio]

It is never the dog’s fault! Prequel

Gentlemen – said Furtinghs with his cool temper with a stiff upper lip – I have received information which require most attention and a prompt answer. – showing theatrically the paper -
In this paper among rantings about true rule, heresy etc it is written that  new Rule followers are rallying and they are a serious danger for our communication with Bannu.
Arwin!
Sir, yes sir – captain Arwin Torrished answered standing up like a spring
Organize a flying column and verify the situation between Shewa and Gumatti, intercept and destroy any resistance, spread some civilization to these ruffians, really they’re the scum of all empire… Ah and take with you Barrington too, we should be in the position of needing some new topographical measurements.

Arwin thought poor Guy, you have a too pretty wife and the Colonel needs free movements, well bringing her here was a stupid choice and now you have to suffer the burden.
“Ah Captain, said Furthings mellifluously, if you don’t mind, I appreciate you bring Robbie with you. He is very fond of you and It will be a safe walk through the country and he must become more used to the fight environments”
“Yes sir, sure sir” so you do not want trouble and distraction in your activities with lady Barrington…
“Ah a last remark: take care of it as it should be very dishonorable if our mascot gets hurt, is it clear? Remember your next promotion...”
“Yes, no issue with that Sir”
Hereafter for our patient and loyal viewers a general map with our brigades deployment kindly provided to our editor by the Bannu HQ for our most respectable readers. In next issues details about Army list, all available only in the special insert of Peshwar Tribune, soon available only in the best shops of the Frontier.

[giorgio]

It is never the dog’s fault! The Battle

The dark shadows were falling quickly, too quickly. Subedar Rawind Patil was thinking they had lost too many time to find out where that pesky dog was hidden, after chasing few flocks and all for the honour of the regiment.
Now the column was still far from the safe trenches in Gumatti and probably they had to suffer other troubles from the evasive enemy, able to hide and then suddenly hit back to exploit any minimum distraction.
His thoughts were broken by the noise of snipers and the cry of orders. His suspects were quickly becoming real:

Many fanatics under their leader Sardar Abdul Khan were arriving running towards the little village outskirts.
On their left fanatics were approaching the ordered Raj companies

While on our right they occupied the main building and broken ground

But a Sikh company was ready to occupy the minor building starting a fire on the Pashtun, retrating

On the right a gallant charge by yellow devils destroy the afghan cavalry

While Poona Horse are coming to exploit the victory

On pashtun’s right the ghazi try to charge the Raj companies

A British company must retreat but a devasting volley destroy the ghazi unit

While on Raj right the lancers are in pursuit of routed cavalry

The Sikh company joins the sister unit and Capt Arwin Torrished with his precious dog reach the terrace of the building to admire the triumphant Raj units.


At this very moment the tide changed: the lancers were swept by the Pashtun aiming and firing, hidden among the rocks.

Arwin went out of the building to join the Poona and provide attrition points to the retreating afghans, but these rallied under their Khan leadership and a devasting fire killed both him and Robbie, the mascot.

Without the commanding officer and the lancers, the remaining units rallied and ordinately retreated towards Gumatti, crying for their mascot killed by the heretics fire.
But why Arwin run out of the building ? In the Victoria cross proposal is written that he run out ordering a charge to win the day and giving time to other units to safely disengaging.
In the Peshwar officer mess they say he run out to stop the lancers charge, as he, from the building, detected the hidden rebels.
But the old subedar had his explanation: Robbie saw a hare among the rocks and jumped out of the building. Arwin, remembering his promotion was related to a safe come back of Colonel’s dog, run out to take him back, just to realize they were arrived under the reforming Pashtun jezails length of fire…

From the tribal units a deep cry raised higher and higher: 10 is good, 6 is bad!!!
What will happen? What will be Colonel’s reaction to his dog death? But is he really dead? And what the reaction of the local Malik to this winning new Rule?
All these and much more in next posts, all played in Genoa Garibaldi wargaming club, the club for the discerning Khans…

[Basementboy]

Fantastic looking game

[giorgio]

Prequel - If you want something to be done well, do it yourself

The Ghilzais are exultant, the new Faith demonstrated its strength, with steel and with blood the victory awarded the righteous, who show their enthusiasm with a frenetic traditional Atthan dance.

Sardar Abdul, often described as a coward raised to power after wedding with the great Abdur Rahman Khan's youngest daughter, today had proved that he knows how  fighting against the Ferenghees.
The easy victory after killing the unwise English officer chasing doggies, made him greedy for a second victory. The column's pursuit brought him to his rear line.
Now, his father-in-law sent to help (control?) him Aayan Asad, a scholar of the new faith, a taliban and novice of the holy Imam Mirza Ghulam Ahmad the true Masīḥ of the new Ahmadiyya faith.

His elite Pathan Tribesmen with blessed Jezails are in place… ready to give a little more taste of Ghilzais steel to the British. Hereafter tribal army details:

There will be more Steel and more Blood to taste.
In the meantime after the awful murdering (is it true?) of Robbie the mascot and  Cap-tain Arwin Torrished’s death, Colonel Bartholomeus Furtinghs arrived late on the field just to find a wavering British leaderless column. His plans with lady Barrington were fooled and he joined the column, very upset indeed.

Colonel Furtinghs took the lead, reinforce the British company with his escort force and with the Lieutenant Barrington, Geographical Engineer, pointing the directions they have to march to; embarrassing meeting? Not for old Bart, that's for sure, embarrassed for what? Nothing happened (unfortunately…). They planned a marching order on a new safer route to Shewa… just to discover that the new road is not safe at all!
Hereafter the British army list.

Army list are for Blood & Steel with few amendments.
The more careful readers will have already detected that the reinforces for both armies are still not on the battlefield… what is that meaning???

[giorgio]

If you want something to be done well, do it yourself

“You see Barrington, this new route will bring us to the safe trenches in Gumatti”
“But Sir, with your permission, my maps suggest to..”
“Oh shut up, the instinct of an old veteran like me is worth more than dozens of your  papers, in few hours we’ll be back safe , ready to prepare a punishment raid…”
His words were broken by cries and distinct cracks coming from the overstanding rocks “It’s an ambush!”
“Dishonest old satyr, you wanted my only love, today you’ll find what you deserve, I don’t care for my life if that means your death! Stupid ignorant, I fooled you with my wrong maps, and today you’ll pay for all your crimes”

The plan designed by Colonel Furthing is quite simple: containing Pashtun advance and envelope them on the right with 2 cavalry units, allowing Col Furthings himself to cut their control of the road to Gumatti.

The Pasthun are determined to destroy a couple of Raj units, avoiding the column safe return back to Gumatti. And the real battle starts with their slow advance on Raj’s left, to conquer the center hills and ambush the Raj units on the right.

The Afghan snipers, hiding among the rocks,  took their toll hitting the Poona cavalry, before they could organize an effective counter fire.

On the Raj left the British company led by the brilliant young Lt Tenant Ralph Sterring-ton, begin to send a volume of fire on the slowly advancing  pasthuns.

The Poona horse are surprised by the ambushing Pashtun devasting fire and rout.

And then are finished by the Afghan cavalry well aimed fire

While in the center an advancing Sikh company is devasted by the ambushing hidden Pashtun jezails.

The Afghan cavalry see the retreating Sikhs and charge, but before hitting them are victims of the supporting twin Sikh company , repaired by the building external wall, which allow the remaining 2 Sikh retreat and save the day.

Saved the survived Sikh, Furthings order his lancers to charge and discard the Pashtun unit on the right, and join them conquering his objectives.

On the left the pashtun cannot get in touch with English unit, but in the center the other British company is attacked and wiped out giving a substantial draw.
At this point both armies must check their morale, both failing, but the fanatic Imam allows a reroll for the afghans which get the field!

Furlinghs must retreat to find another route and his reserves, which today should be desperately needed. Where are they?
And what about Barrington’s missed revenge?
The answer and much more in next Peshwar Tribune issue, do not miss it, now available also in Genoa wargaming club Garibaldi, the club for the most discerning Khans.

[Mad Guru]

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!!!!!
Am I seeing things or did this latest post start out with young Lieut. Barrington revealing to the "Old Satyr" Col. Furthing, that he had PROVIDED FALSE MAPS SPECIFICALLY SO THAT SAID COLONEL WOULD FOLLOW THEM TO HIS OWN DEATH, even if that meant the entire command -- Barrington himself included -- would end up dead as well?!?!?!?!

You can't just ignore something like that... can you??? 

Wouldn't the good -- or bad, or indifferent -- Colonel make a distinct note of it and the moment he was able, take appropriate action against young Barrington???

Goodness sakes alive, Oh, Evil One, even you must see this plot thread requires immediate post-haste attention!

Personally, I say it qualifies young Barrington for court martial and summary execution.  After all, he just put not only the Colonel but the entire command at risk of death, which happens to equate to DEFEAT -- which I'd say makes him a straight-up TRAITOR to the Queen Empress, the Union Jack, and all the Royal Navy's ships at sea.

HRUMMMPH.

John Bull and the many readers of Puck Magazine, as well as The Illustrated London News -- and YES, even your own favorite periodical AKA: The Peshawar Tribune -- shall all demand the same!

So, in all His Immodest Humility, predicts the Mad Guru.

[giorgio]

Mad Guru, sad fakiri of the fake heresy, as usual you are misleading the point: Barrington is a traitor for love, BUT Colonel just ignored his maps, taking the wrong road because he just know which is the right one!
So the poor (mad) Engineer made all his work ...for nothing. Probably we will find him again, now it seems he lost the rest of retreating RAJ but not sure we won't find it again in Gumatti, with his pretty wife.
As per Peshwar Tribune, well it is not used to follow gossip without before checking the facts and...nothing appeared pointing to Barrington as a traitor, even Col Furthings  did not notice anything. He choosed the direction, it was of course the right one, only coincidences denied  his safe return to Gumatti!

[borriste]

I would just like to underline that the young and beautiful (perhaps too beautiful) wife of Lieutenant Guy Barrington, the compromised Geographical Engineer of the Brigade, was born in St. Petersburg.
...does anyone smell a tsarist agent?
you know what they say: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier"