Background to the battle
During the campaign to relieve the besieged Egyptian forces in Khartoum, an expedition – led by Major-General Sir Gerald Graham – was sent to Suakin on the Red Sea coast of the Sudan to destroy the Mahdist forces led by Osman Digna. The British defeated Digna's army at the Second Battle of El Teb on 29th February 1884 but were unable to destroy it. A second attempt was made a fortnight later on 13th March 1884 and the resulting battle is known as the Battle of Tamai.
The British force comprised:
- Squadron from 10th Hussars
- Squadron from 19th Hussars
- 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
- 3rd Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps
- 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
- 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
- 2nd Battalion, The Royal Irish Fusiliers
- Royal Marine Light Infantry
- Royal Navy Naval Brigade
- 6th Battery, 1st Brigade, Scottish Division, Royal Artillery
- M Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
It is estimated that the Mahdist force numbered approximately 10,000.
The course of the battle
During the night of 12th March 1884, the British camped close to the position occupied by the Mahdists. During the night several Mahdist riflemen kept up a desultory fire on the British camp and inflicted a few casualties.
At daybreak the artillery open fired on the Mahdist skirmishers who were driven off. General Graham ordered the infantry to form up into two brigade-sized infantry squares and to advance. One square was commanded by Colonel Davis and the other by Colonel Buller. General Graham accompanied Colonel Davis' square.
The main Mahdist force was discovered hidden in a ravine by a scouting party, and General Graham ordered the Black Watch to advance and clear the enemy from the ravine. This left a gap in the square ... and a sudden Mahdist attack exploited this. As a result, the remaining troops in the square found themselves fighting a brutal hand-to-hand battle against the Mahdists.
The Black Watch fell back on the square, and after intense fighting and volley fire from Colonel Buller's square and dismounted cavalry, the square was able to reform. The British then resumed their advance, drove the remaining enemy troops out of the ravine, and caused the surviving Mahdists (including Osman Digna) to flee.
THE REFIGHT
The forces involved
British
- 1 x Cavalry
- 1 x Dismounted Cavalry (Skirmishers)
- 2 x Elite Disciplined Infantry
Mahdists
- 1 x Cavalry
- 2 x Ambushers (armed with swords)
- 3 x Spearmen
Opening positions
Turn 1
The British Line Infantry attacked the Mahdist Cavalry in the left sector. The British Line Infantry threw a 2 (plus 1 for being Elite) ...
... and in reply the Mahdist Cavalry threw a 1.
Neither side suffered any casualties.
The Mahdist Spearmen attacked the British Skirmishers in the right sector. The Mahdist Spearmen threw a 2 ...
... and in reply the British Skirmishers threw a 2.
Neither side suffered any casualties.
Turn 2
The British Line Infantry attacked the Mahdist Cavalry in the left sector for a second time. The British Line Infantry threw a 6 (plus 1 for being Elite) ...
... and destroyed the Mahdist Cavalry.
The Mahdists moved a unit of Ambushers into the left sector to replaced the destroyed Mahdist Cavalry.
The Mahdist Spearmen attacked the British Skirmishers in the right sector for a second time. The Mahdist Spearmen threw a 6 ...
... and destroyed the British Skirmishers.
The British moved their Cavalry into the right sector to replaced the destroyed British Skirmishers.
Turn 3
The British Line Infantry attacked the Mahdist Spearmen in the centre sector. The British Line Infantry threw a 5 (plus 1 for being Elite) ...
... and destroyed the Mahdist Spearmen.
The Mahdists moved a unit of Ambushers into the centre sector to replace the destroyed Mahdist Spearmen.
The Mahdist Ambushers attacked the British Line Infantry in the left sector. The Mahdist Ambushers threw a 4 ...
... and in reply the British Line Infantry threw a 2 (plus 1 for being Elite).
Neither side suffered any casualties.
Turn 4
The British Cavalry attacked the Mahdist Spearmen in the right sector. The British Cavalry threw a 5 ...
... and destroyed the Mahdist Spearmen.
The Mahdists moved their last unit of Spearmen into the right sector to replace the destroyed Mahdist Spearmen.
The Mahdist Ambushers attacked the British Line Infantry in the centre sector. The Mahdist Ambushers threw a 3 ...
... and in reply the British Line Infantry threw a 3 (plus 1 for being Elite).
Neither side suffered any casualties.
Turn 5
The British Line Infantry attacked the Mahdist Ambushers in the left sector. The Mahdist Ambushers threw first, and threw a 1 ...
...and in reply the British Line Infantry threw a 2 (plus 1 for being Elite).
Neither side suffered any casualties.
The Mahdist Ambushers attacked the British Line Infantry in the centre sector. The Mahdist Ambushers threw a 1 ...
... and in reply the British Line Infantry threw a 4 (plus 1 for being Elite) and destroyed the Mahdist Ambushers.
The Mahdists were now reduced to two units.
Turn 6
The British Line Infantry in the centre sector outflanked the Mahdist Spearmen in the right sector. The British Line Infantry threw a 5 (plus 1 for being Elite) and destroyed the Mahdist Spearmen ...
... and won the battle!
A video version of this battle report can be found here on the Wargaming Miscellany YouTube channel.
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A nice game and report Bob - I've been trying DotS with a divided Reserve Area recently, along with some of Mark C's scenery variants.
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