Nyezane 1879. Game at NBHW

On Friday night we had a game of Black Powder based on the scenario of the Battle of Nyezane 1879, The first pitched battle of the Zulu Wars. This battle is known as Wombane by the Zulus, another alternative is Inyezane.

The scenario was taken from the Black Powder 2 rule book, modified slightly to account for available figures. We played this, as usual at the club, using 2/3rd distances.

Opening positions. Excuse the lack of draft animals, forgotten on the night.

Initial positions have the British, having started to break camp and beginning to move off across the river and along the track, spot Zulus ahead of them. Units of Natal Native forces along with Royal Naval and Infantry are pushed forward to engage and protect the column.

The British objective is to get three wagons and escorting units off the far end of the table or break two of the three Zulu brigades.

The Zulu objective, prevent this.

The rear guard

As part of the British team our plan was to form a corridor of troops either side of the road and push along as fast as we could go. So of course having won the initiative for the first move we mostly failed our command rolls allowing the Zulus to hit our left flank pretty much in their starting positions.

British right flank starting positions.

We soon managed to get support to this beleaguered flank however and British firepower soon started to take it's toll, not before one unit of redcoats was overwhelmed though. The Natal Native contingent were left to face the oncoming Zulus alone, again more tardy command rolls from me with their British support, this they managed to do for a couple of turns before they inevitably broke. But they did hold long enough for my troops to finally get into position.

Natal Natives engaged while their "support" finally gets into position. Naval units fully embroiled on their left.

By this stage the initial Zulu assault on our left had been destroyed and while some troops moved up on the left flank others were redeployed to the right to bolster the defence against a large Zulu force sweeping down off the hills.

The assault on the head of the column soon saw the naval gattling gun and rocket team overrun before support was finally brought up to halt and then repulse this Zulu force.

Right flank just before the Natal native contingent broke.

With this second Zulu brigade now broken and the third just reaching the British lines, and destroying the artillery, the game was called as a British victory despite suffering higher casualties than their historical counterparts.

A fun game for a Friday night and something different from this conflict.

As usual more photographs can be found in the club's Facebook album

Tony.