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...