THE NORTH DURHAM'S FIELD COLUMN
A Sudan Campaign
VOLUME I – SUDAN 1884–85
“Sketch Map – For Field Use Only”
The campaign follows the map from north to south along the Nile, touching each inset in turn.
SCENARIO I
“The Wadi of Shadows”
(Opening March Contact)
Situation
The column advances inland, leaving the Nile behind. Progress is slow through a dry wadi — steep banks, broken ground, and too many blind corners.
They are being watched.
Then the firing starts.
Table
- A winding wadi running diagonally across table (counts as broken ground)
- Steep banks (block LOS unless within 3” of edge)
- Rocky ridges overlooking sections
- Sparse scrub
 |
| A Rokcky Amubush, far worse than jusf a rocky one! |
Objectives
British
- Exit at least 60% of force off far table edge
- Keep formation intact (no more than 2 broken units)
Mahdists
- Inflict casualties (break 2 units OR kill officer)
- Withdraw at least half force
Special Rules
Hidden Enemy
Mahdists deploy hidden along wadi edges and ridges.
Confined Column
British begin in march column:
- No firing Turn 1
- Must spend 1 turn to deploy into line
Ambush Fire
First Mahdist volley gains:
- +1 to hit OR reroll misses
Campaign Effect
- If British badly mauled → start Scenario II with Disorder
- If Mahdists fail to inflict damage → British gain +1 Confidence
 |
| The North Durhams column, lead by Egyptian Fellahin |
 |
| I need to do a basing session with some major texturing to go in these. |
 |
| These are my Perry version of the Durhams |
 |
| Game in. The Mahdists come in off table. |
 |
| I used three groups of 12 melee warriors and 3 x 8 rifle/musket warriors. |
 |
| And the Durhams volley but the Mahdists close in |
 |
| View from above. |
 |
| Some of the Durhams fire knocks the enemy back. |
 |
| The charge falters. |
 |
| But in they come and the Durhams lose half a platoon. |
 |
| Meanwhile my Egyptian's knees are knocking |
 |
| The Egyptians rout. |
 |
| And they are destroyed. |
 |
| But the Durhams volley repeatedly. |
 |
| We are down to two groups, or one and a half more accurately. |
 |
| The Mahdists riflemen have a try. |
 |
| But the Durhams kill some of them first. |
 |
| I check the casualty pile for the Mahdists. It's well over 50% They fail the strike test. The Mahdists melt away into the desert. |
Losses
Seven Durhams
All of my Egyptian auxiliaries.
Nearly 75% of the Dervish.
British gain +1 Confidence
The Colonel of the Durhams now plans to mount his lads on Camels as the North Durham Camel Corps!
