The Mad Fakir on the Arcot road

Game 3. The skirmish at Chinta.

The Mad Fakir has been stirring up trouble.

The British don't initially know whether he is:

• a religious agitator,
• a spy,
• an agent of the Sultan,
• an extremely troublesome chap.
• A mad man who believes he is Lord Hanuman, the Monkey god

Ranjit however knows that he is all of those things.  As well as exactly who he is.  Ram Shackle is another one of Randi's mad brothers.  

British mission

Send a single Company detachment to Chinta and investigate.

At least three British groups must enter Chinta.

But the main column must continue towards Ramesh.

Sultanate forces

Mostly:

• levies
• irregulars
• a few militia
• perhaps 2–3 cavalry
• The Bhuna returns, on an elephant.

The trick

The Fakir has deliberately spread rumours that the Sultan's main army is coming from Chinta.

Random event table

Whenever the British first enter Chinta:

1: Randi comes to believe that the elephant is Lord Ganesh 

2: Villagers provide false information.

3: 2 levy units attack.

4: Cavalry ambush.

5: The Fakir escapes but leaves evidence of Sultanate involvement.

6: The Fakir himself is captured.

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6th (Grahame's) Company — 2nd Madras

Captain Mr Gunnar Grahame III — Company Commander
“Brainy, dark and sarcastic”
HQ Group — The Veterans

• Ranjit “Randi” Ram — Sepoy, Batman to Mr Grahame
• Veteran NCOs/sepoys forming the company HQ group

Four platoon groups:

Group	Commander	Character
1	Subadar III Singh Dhoni	No sense of humour; middle-aged
2	Jemadar II Varun Aaron	Incredibly short-sighted; bold
3	Havildar-Major I Mohit Sharma	A coward of massive proportions
4	Havildar I Yuvraj Singh	Very thin and dour

Strength: 48 men
Training: Drilled
Musketry: Fair shots
Armament: East India Company flintlock musket, 46", with bayonet

LEFT WING (Grahame)

• Group 3 — 12 Veterans in tall hats.
• Group 4 — 12 men

RIGHT WING (Subhadar)

• Group 1 — 12 men
• Group 2 — 12 men

Light Group (Havildar)

• Group 5 — 12 men

The Game

I roll a 1.  Randi thinks the elephant is Lord Ganesh.  This will be interesting...

Chinta, a small village on the North road.

Lt Grahame's Sixth Company of the 2nd Madras march towards the village.

The Company deploys and readies   The enemy can be seen in the village.

It's the Bhuna of Dahl on an elephant and Ram Shackle, the mad Fakir.
Although the fanatical followed of the Fakir wait in cover.

The Bhuna has a large group of 18.  He exchanges vollies with the Left Wing under Grahame himself

Resolve tests passed, but men fall.  Randi reluctantly becomes a front ranker!

Further along the line the 2nd Madras fire is mighty.

And the Fakir waits.  Lately he has come to the conclusion that he is the avatar of Hanuman, the Monkey god.

The Madras tactics of volley fire are having an effect.

The Bhuna's light horsemennget out onto a flank, watched by the dour Havildar Singh with the light group.

And I roll the dice 1-3 Grahame charges the disordered Bhuna, 4-6 he presses on with the volley fire.  Fate rolls a 3 and Grahame orders a charge. "Now then fellows, fix those bayonets, what!"

Six vs five, three Green turbans fall, two Madras soldiers.  The 2nd pass the disorder test, the Bhuna rolls double 1.  The natives surge backwards 

Defeat as the Bhuna's large unit recoils in disorder, leaving Randi with the elephant wondering how the Bhuna vanished from that howdah!

Havildar Sharma, that huge coward, shoots the elephant right in front of Randi!

Confronted with the dying elephant Randi has an out of body experience as he is admonished by Lord Ganesh.  He is told he is a traitor to his people who must serve the British until the end of the Raj.  
Randi is disconcerted.  

The Fakir's attack

The 2nd Madras pour fire into the village.

And the light horse are still neutralised by the lights 

But the Fakir attacks.  It's the Subedars group and he sees them off with the bayonet.

The Fakir is routed and Captain Grahame wins the day.

A great game.  Rebels and Patriots did really well, and was far easier on the brain than Washington's Army.  But, this was a company level skirmish, so it leaned more to the Daniel Mersey set.

Great fun.

I still feel bad about the elephant though!

Randi reluctantly meets Lord Ganesh

 To Captain Whitmore Sahib, most worthy English gentleman,

Oh, Captain Whitmore Sir, it is I, Ranjit of the Rams, writing with news from Chinta and some matters of a religious nature which I think you should know. 

First I am well. This is important, because there was some shooting, there was an elephant, and there was also Lord Ganesh, so I am writing quickly.

We marched to Chinta with Captain Grahame and the Sixth Company. We were told that the Mad Fakir was there and that he was making trouble, but I knew who he was immediately. It was Ram Shackle, my brother, and he has always been a troublesome fellow, Captain Sahib, although lately he has become much worse because he now believes he is Lord Hanuman, the Monkey God.

I do not know why he thinks this. Perhaps because he is very hairy. Anyway, when we reached the village, there was the Bhuna of Dahl upon a large elephant, with many Green Turbans around him, and I thought this was bad news because the Bhuna has already escaped once after being captured by us, which proves that he is very good at escaping.

Captain Grahame formed us up, and the Bhuna fired. We fired, the Bhuna fired again, and we fired again, and the firing of the 2nd Madras was very good, Captain Sahib. I was pleased to be behind everybody, but then some of our men fell and Captain Grahame looked towards us, and I realised there were not enough men in front of me anymore.

So I had to become a front-ranker. I did not like this, because you see everything when you are a front-ranker: you see the enemy, you see their muskets, you see the bullets, and you also see the people behind you who are not front-rankers. I began thinking that perhaps I should have joined the artillery.

The Bhuna's men were becoming disordered from our fire, and Captain Grahame then looked at them and said, "Now then, fellows, fix those bayonets, what!" So we fixed them, and then we charged. There was a great fight, three Green Turbans fell and two of our men fell, but we passed the test of disorder and the Bhuna did not.

His men began going backwards, and the whole great body of them started recoiling. And then, Captain Whitmore Sir, the Bhuna disappeared. He was on the elephant, then he was not on the elephant, so I looked in the howdah and there was nothing, I looked behind the elephant and there was nothing, and I looked at the men running away but there was no Bhuna.

I think he may have become very small and hidden himself, or perhaps he has learned some new Indian magic. I was still standing there when Havildar-Major Sharma arrived, and you know Sharma, Captain Sahib: he is a very brave man when there is no danger.

He saw the elephant, he took his musket, and he shot it. He shot the elephant. Captain Sahib, the elephant fell down directly in front of me, and I was very surprised, and I think the elephant was also surprised.

And then I saw Lord Ganesh.

He was there in front of me. Not the elephant — Lord Ganesh — and he looked at me with his great wise eyes, and I said, "Lord Ganesh Sahib."

He said I was a traitor to my people. I said I was not, and I explained that I was a Sepoy in the 2nd Madras and that I had to obey my officers. He said that I must serve the British until they left India, and I said I didn't understand, and he said that It was a order, and I said yes.

Then he went away.

I do not know where. Perhaps he went into the elephant.

This has made me very worried, Captain Sahib, because if Lord Ganesh is watching me, I must be very careful what I do. I shall therefore continue to serve the Honourable Company with great loyalty, which is also convenient because it is what Captain Grahame orders me to do, so everybody is pleased.

Except perhaps Lord Ganesh.

I have not seen Ram Shackle again. This is probably good, because if he really is Lord Hanuman, then perhaps he will have some religious argument with Lord Ganesh, and I do not want to be in the middle of that.

There is also Naan Ram. I told her about Lord Ganesh, and she said, "Ranjit, you have been hit on the head." I told her I had not, and then I told her what Lord Ganesh had said.

She became very quiet.

Then she asked whether I had been thinking about Captain Whitmore again.

I said yes.

She gave me that glint in her eye, Captain Sahib. You know the one. Whenever your name is mentioned, Naan Ram gets this glint, and I have noticed it many times.

I still believe there is something she is not telling me.

I do not wish to trouble her, but I shall continue to investigate. After all, if Lord Ganesh can tell me what I must do, perhaps Naan Ram can tell me who my father is.

Your most obedient servant, Captain Sahib,

Ranjit Ram
Sepoy and Batman
6th Company, 2nd Madras Native Infantry

P.S. Captain Sahib, I did not run when the elephant fell. I remained exactly where I was for some time, and this was because Lord Ganesh was speaking to me.

P.P.S. If anyone says I was frightened, please do not believe them. I was experiencing a religious moment.

P.P.P.S. I think perhaps I was frightened.

Randi and the battle of Koya

To Captain Whitmore Sahib, most worthy English gentleman.

Oh, Captain Whitmore Sir,

it is I, Ranjit of the Rams, writing to you from the road back towards Fort George after the unfortunate affair at Koya.  I say unfortunate affair, Sir, because although we did not take Koya, there were many things which went extremely well.

At least this is what I have been told.

Before I begin, I must tell you that Naan Ram is very well.

When I mentioned your name to her before we left, she gave that particular little smile and there was a most remarkable glint in her eye.  She gets this glint whenever your name is mentioned.  I do not know why.

Perhaps it is because you are such a distinguished English gentleman. Perhaps it is because she remembers your excellent manners. Perhaps it is because she remembers the time you visited our village.

I have asked her, but she merely said: "Randi, you ask too many questions." Which I think is not an answer.

Anyway, Sir, to Koya.

The Sultan had prepared the place very carefully.

The road ran through the village, with cultivated ground and woods on either side, and opposite us were the famous Green Turbans

They were very green.  This is not merely their name.  I have seen them.  They are extremely green.

Their commander, the Balti Naan, had placed his European-trained Guard in the centre, with other troops amongst the fields and woods.

Our battalion advanced magnificently.

The European Company was on the left, and Captain Company advanced in support.  I was, of course, with Captain. This was fortunate because Captain Grahame is a very clever officer. He also has the useful quality of being between me and the enemy.

The European Company advanced and we advanced too.  The Green Turbans watched us.  They waited.  Then they fired.

OH, CAPTAIN WHITMORE SIR.

That volley was something to remember. Three elements of the European company were struck down almost at once.  Not a one was saved.  The Company Commander fell beside his men.

For a moment there was terrible confusion. I confess, Sir, that I thought perhaps this was not the moment to be standing in the front rank.

Captain Grahame however, held us together. He began to withdraw the company as the enemy flankers came forward.

This was a very sensible manoeuvre.  Some people might call it retreating. I call it preserving the Company for future operations.

Lieutenant Gloria's Company was also roughly handled.

Poor Lieutenant Gloria was wounded and carried away in the dhoolie ambulance sling.

She looked very brave. She also looked as though she would prefer to be somewhere else.

Meanwhile Colonel Reynolds was trying to take Koya in the centre.  This proved difficult.

The woods and cultivated ground were full of the Sultan's fanatics, who seemed to know exactly where to hide and exactly when to appear.

Our Sepoys advanced. The fanatics appeared. Our Sepoys fired. The fanatics did not seem sufficiently impressed.

Our Sepoys advanced again. The fanatics appeared somewhere else.

I began to suspect that the entire town was full of them.  Things were looking extremely bad.

But then, Sir, on the right—

Major Tudor Williams began shouting.

I have heard Major Williams shout before.

I have heard him shout at Sepoys.

I have heard him shout at officers.

I have heard him shout at people who were not even there.

But on this occasion he achieved a magnificent level of shouting.  He drove back the Sultan's flankers.

And I swear, Captain Whitmore Sir, that from where I was standing I could hear the great THUNDERING PIG.

I do not know whether this was Major Williams himself, or merely the sound of his voice echoing across the battlefield. But whatever it was, the enemy went backwards.

I told Captain Grahame that Major Williams was winning the battle on the right. Captain Grahame replied that Major Williams was always winning something.

Unfortunately, Colonel Reynolds could not take Koya. And Captain Grahame's Company could not hold the left indefinitely.

And so, despite Major Williams's magnificent efforts, the 2nd Madras was ordered to withdraw.

We marched back towards Fort George.

There was rather less singing than there had been on the way to Koya. The men were disappointed.  I was disappointed.  Captain Grahame was disappointed.

Major Williams was still shouting, although by this time I believe he was shouting mostly at the enemy for having won.

Still, Sir, there is one thing which may cheer you.

The Bhuna of Dahl has escaped.

Yes.  The very same Bhuna whom we captured upon the road.  He has somehow been released.

Apparently someone in the Honourable Company's administration accepted a considerable amount of money.

I am told that this is called a bribe.

I am also told that the Bhuna has promised that he will not return to the Sultan's service.

He gave his word.  A pinky promise. So that is all right.

I am sure we can rely upon him.  After all, he is a man of honour.

He was only the Sultan's fanatical henchman a few days ago. And he is now free because somebody has taken a very large sum of money.

But he promised. So there is no reason to worry.

I remain confident, Captain Whitmore Sir, that the 2nd Madras will recover its honour and continue the advance.

We may have lost at Koya. But Major Williams shouts that we did not lose.

He says we conducted a fighting withdrawal in the face of overwhelming opposition.

He shouted this very loudly.  Nobody argued.

I hope you are well, Sir. Please give my regards to anyone who remembers me.

And if you see Naan Ram, please do not mention that I told you about the glint in her eye. She says I am becoming too observant.

Your affectionate and most obedient servant,

Ranjit Ram, Sepoy and Batman, 6th Company, 2nd Madras Native Infantry

P.S.

Captain Sahib, I have been thinking.

If you are indeed my father, as I have always suspected, then perhaps I have inherited my military genius from you.

If you are not my father, I shall have to ask Naan Ram who is. She has just told me to stop asking questions.

There is that glint again.

The Green Turbans on the Arcot Road

Game 2. The Green Turbans in Koya

This is my first proper Washington's Army battle with the Madras army. Following a victory on the advance, and the capture of the Bhuna of Dahl, one of the Sultan's key henchmen, the British have reached Koya.

They discover that the Sultan has chosen his ground.  The road runs through the village, with cultivated ground and wooded areas around it.

The Sultan's European-trained infantry form the centre. The militia are deliberately positioned where they look considerably more formidable than they actually are, and somewhere behind them are the Sultan's cavalry.

British force

Colonel Reynolds brings his force up towards its full strength:

• 24–30 Sepoy bases
• The European company
• cavalry
• guns.

Koya Korma and henchman Balti Naan commanding the Natives.

• 12–16 European-trained Guard
• 8–12 militia
• 8–12 levies
• cavalry
• heavy guns

Scenario

The British must seize Koya.

The Sultan wins if he prevents this by the end of the game.

But there's a twist:

The Sultan's Guard cannot retreat voluntarily until they have lost 25% of their strength.

They're the men who actually believe that they are an army.

The militia and levies don't share their enthusiasm.

Comic subplot

Major Williams decides that the 2nd Madras needs to demonstrate "proper British aggression".

Ranjit concludes that this means:

"We advance until the Major stops shouting."

The Game

The battalion deploys with the European company on the left of the line.

It's an impressive force 

But the Baltic of Naan has brought his guard battalions

The advance begins

And the artillery cleared

The Europeans advance, supported by Grahame's Company.  Including Sepoy Rangit Ram

And the Sultan's guard kill three elements worth in one devastating volley.  

And the Company Commander falls beside his men.
Only Grahame with Randi's company can save this flank now.

Lt Gloria's Company is roughly handled.

Gloria is wounded and carried off in a dhoolie ambulance sling

Grahame begins to fall back as the Balti's flankers come on.

The Green turbans seem fated to win this battle 

Colonel Reynolds fails in the centre as he attempts to seize Koya.  The Balti's Fanatics are much better in this terrain than the Sepoys

And out on the right Major Williams shouting drives back the Natives flankers 
Randi later swears he could hear the "Thundering Pig" as Tudor Williams wins his side of the battle.

But having failed in the centre and been driven back on the right Williams heroic shouting isn't enough.  The 2nd Madras withdraw back towards Fort George

Spirits are dampened 

Later however, in a typical piece of Madras EIC corruption it is revealed soon after the battle that somone has taken a huge bribe from the Bhuna of Dahl and freed him, with his pinky promise not to rejoin the Sultan...

Oh, Captain Whitmore Sahib, most worthy English gentleman,

 

To Captain Whitmore Sahib,
most worthy English gentleman, somewhere in England.

Oh, most worthy Captain Whitmore Sir, it is I, Ranjit of the Rams, bringing you wondrous news from the road to Arcot!

We have advanced once more, Sir, following our glorious victory at Baddass, where, as you will remember, I was of considerable assistance to Major Tudor Williams by remaining immediately behind him while he was shouting at the enemy.

This time, Sir, the road to Koya was blocked. And not by a little obstruction either. There was a big old gun.

The enemy had placed it directly upon the road, which I consider to be a very rude thing to do, particularly when the road is being used by the British Army.

The enemy consisted of many levies, some horsemen, and the terrible followers of the Bhuna of Dahl, who are said to be fanatics.  I am pleased to report that they were indeed very enthusiastic.

Fortunately, they were enthusiastic some considerable distance away from me.  At the beginning of the action the Madras Horse went gallantly around the flank. They were confronted by the Bhuna's camel lads, who appeared to possess both camels and considerable confidence.

There followed a mounted fight of great violence.  I watched it carefully.  From behind the line.

The Madras Horse prevailed, Sir, and the enemy horsemen were driven away. This demonstrated once again the superiority of disciplined troops over people who have brought camels to a cavalry battle.

Meanwhile our centre advanced upon the enemy levies.

The great gun was still troubling us, but our fire brought it down, and there was much rejoicing amongst the men.

Then the Bhuna and his flankers came forward. They fired upon us with devastating effect.

It was at this moment, Captain Whitmore Sir, that I discovered an important military principle.

When the enemy fires devastatingly, it is desirable to have several rows of one's own comrades between oneself and the enemy.

I therefore moved tactically into the back row.

This was not cowardice.

It was depth in the defensive formation.

The Third Company, meanwhile, suffered badly but stood firm. At last they went in against the Bhuna's flankers and drove them back.

There was much shouting.  There is, I have noticed, a considerable amount of shouting in war.

Major Tudor Williams then rode out to hold the flank, displaying the magnificent shouty courage for which he is becoming famous.

Then came the moment upon which the whole battle turned.  The Madras Horse had ridden completely around the enemy position and appeared behind their lines.

Behind them, Sir!

The enemy suddenly discovered that they had Madras cavalry where British cavalry ought not to be.

There was a charge.  There was more shouting. And then—

THEY RAN AWAY!

The enemy was routed and, most remarkably, the Bhuna of Dahl himself was captured.

I am informed that this is a great victory. I entirely agree.

After this, the remaining enemy made one final desperate attempt to retrieve the situation.  More fanatics came rushing in from the flank.

They shouted.  We shouted.  They shouted louder.  We shouted considerably more professionally.

At this point our Company advanced and saw them off. It was a magnificent display of Britisher discipline and Madras courage.

I saw this from the second line.  Behind some larger Sepoys.  The enemy finally broke, and the road to Koya was ours.

Thus the 2nd Madras has once again defeated the Sultan's men and continued the advance along the Arcot Road.  The Bhuna is captured, his cavalry is beaten, his gun is silenced, his fanatics have been dispersed, and the road is open.

I believe this means that we are winning.  Although I fear perhaps that the Sultan's army itself remains somewhere ahead.

I remain,

Your most obedient servant,

Ranjit Ram
Sepoy and Batman,
6th Company, 2nd Madras Native Infantry

P.S. Captain Sahib, I have been told that the capture of the Bhuna is a matter of considerable importance. If you should require someone to explain to the Colonel exactly how it happened, I shall be pleased to do so.

I should mention that I was watching very closely.