The North Durhams at the Wadi of Shadows

THE NORTH DURHAM'S FIELD COLUMN
A Sudan Campaign

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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

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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

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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!