Accident at Baro Gorge 1898, first game

This was my second run of accident at baro gorge, this time at my local modelling club. My opponent provided the terrain for the game so it looked brilliant set in an African scrubland. We used black powder as of last time and all the models i had used last time as well. I kept deployment the same for both armies and also the objective: fighting retreat. The only differences were that we used three brigadiers a side with no general for either force.
The unit stats were based around the Sudan scenario in the black powder rulesbook with the French taking the stats of the British highlanders and the Ethiopians taking the stats of the Beja spearmen (given first fire to represent limited ammunition carried by some warriors and without fanatics).
If you didn't read last time's game the basically the game is based on Colonel Marquis Christian de Bonchamps' failed march to Fashoda in 1898. Its well know that after many ambushes and the hostility of the local Ethiopians Bonchamps was forced to put back after an event known as the Accident in Baro Gorge on the border of Ethiopia and the Sudan (had Bonchamps succeeded in his march on Fashoda it is doubtful weather Kitchener would have sailed down the Nile to oppose him).

The 1st (guard) and 3rd platoons of tirailleurs, together with the company heavy machine gun were drawn up in line to form a rearguard with their backs secured to the trading post and the Oasis. They were under the command of Lieutenant Balliard with Colonel Bonchamps stationed on the roof of the trading post to observe procedures.

The 2nd platoon of Tirailleurs, under Lieutenant Louis Ney, was formed in march column along Baro road with the job of breaking the fifty or so tribesmen, under Timothy Sahle, preventing their escape. On his right flank Ney was supported by the Spahi cavalry, riding through the undergrowth to flank Sahle.

As the Tirailleurs stood formed beneath their colours, drums and trumpets playing they could see nearly a hundred or more of the natives coming from out of the undergrowth towards them, with their commanders Tewodros and Paulinus riding behind them.

At the other end of Baro gorge Tomothy Sahle stood atop his camel with his warriors denying the French any route of escape. If Sahle held then the French would be massacred to a man by Paulinus and Tewodros, it all rested on the shoulders of Lieutenant Ney to dislodge Sahle's natives and evacuate the rest of his force from the gorge.

Ney quickly ordered the 2nd platoon to advance down the road where they formed a line and opened fire on the natives. They took out a few of the warriors and sent the rest into disorder. The Tirailleurs then fixed bayonets in expectance of a charge and prepared  another volley. The Tirailleurs line would soon be tested with a charge from the natives and if it held then perhaps the charge would be turned.

The spahis, underestimating the urgency of their assistance, trotted gently through the undergrowth with their sabres drawn and shouldered. Their shattering charge could easily roll up Sahle's flank but would it be in time with their badly timed in-activeness. The 1st platoon under Lieutenant Balliard fell back to cover the 3rd platoon with their fire as well as protecting Ney's rear from the oncoming natives.
Bonchamps and the 3rd platoon on the other hand held firm, secured between the post and the oasis, straddling the road and with the Machine gun covering their flank.

As Paulinus spurred his warriors on along the road; Bonchamps ordered a volley which roared out from the line, crashing into the native warriors and taking several out. But the machine gun's supporting fire flew wide and tore up the ground instead. An unlucky piece of firing and, seen as it was so important to time the departure of the machine gun just right so as not to lose this expensive piece of equipment to the native tribesmen.

The charge was innevitable and crushing. A force of natives four times their number came crashing down upon the 3rd platoon and their machine gun. The charge was met by a strong volley from the Tirailleurs, followed by the firmly braced bayonets of the Algerians. The machine gun let off a sweeping wave of shots which tore through the ranks of natives in front of it.

Down the other end of the gorge the native line also broke ranks and charged for the 2nd platoon. They were met with a similar volley which took down several of the warriors, however they still closed with the French men and soon bayonets were clashing with shields and spears. But the third platoon held out against the tribesmen and sent half of them packing whilst holding the others up with their bayonets.

The lines were holding up well and the Spahis would be on Sahle's flank and then off down the road if everything went to plan. The machine gun looked like it would soon be overwhelmed and with it perhaps the 3rd platoon, but the guards were already moving to cut off the road lower down.

The machine gun crew managed to cut down a tribes man, but lost one of their own, however this with the casualties from the first volley was enough to send the natives opposing them flying in every direction. After this lucky escape the remaining crewmen quickly dragged their Machine gun up into the trading post.
The 2nd platoon was still fighting off Sahle, but now they were aided by the Spahis' perfectly timed flank charge. The 3rd platoon was also holding out well against the tribesmen, outnumbered nearly three to one the Tirailleurs still had the best of it, cutting down the natives with every thrust of their bayonets.
Lieutenant Balliard was also marching the 1st platoon back for the road, if the 3rd broke they could cover their retreat and open ranks to let them escape whilst holding off the rest of the natives. As with all fighting retreats it was a procedure of many complex manoeuvres in order to evacuate as many men as possible.

The 3rd platoon was still not giving an inch of ground and had even sent part of the Ethiopian line into flight but they had rallied a few paces back with the encouraging words of their war leaders. Bonchamps could see that the line was wavering even so, there would soon have to be a retreat but only once the guard platoon was in a position to cover them.

The spahis soon broke the natives, cutting them down as they ran before capturing Sahle and continuing down the gorge road. The way was clear for the French to make their retreat but they had now lost the 2nd platoon and should they loose another two they would be done for.

Bonchamps looked down upon the bayonet fighting from the trading post. The tribesmen were throwing themselves at the line with everything they had, but still the Tirailleurs held strong. The machine gun was by now loaded on a donkey and being hauled along the road, but it was a stubborn mule and it was slow going. Should the natives over run the 3rd platoon and the machine gun then all hope of Bonchamps maintaining his reputation and making it back to Eritrea would be gone!

Inevitably the 3rd platoon broke ranks and ran but they soon rallied around their colours and formed ranks just ahead of the 1st platoon. They were in a good position and any native attack on them would be one where they could meet it with equal numbers. The donkey was still not moving and the machine gun was in danger and falling into enemy hands.

The 1st platoon began to fall back as the natives sent their largest and down the road to meet the 3rd tirailleurs. But the 1st were all ready readying their rifles for a volley, as the other band of tribesmen made its way round the Oasis on the flank of the 3rd. It was the most decisive moment of the action! Should the 3rd be overrun, wavering as they were, then no doubt the machine gun would fall into the hands of the tribesmen. This one simple collapse would lose Bonchamps the battle, the reputation and possibly his life

However a volley from the 3rd platoon, followed by several thrusts of the bayonets, left the natives in flight. The other band making its way round the Oasis was quick to realise the hopelessness of continuing and left the Frenchmen to continue their march up Baro road.

Another decisive French victory and, as in our test game, as close as could be desired, though as in the test game again, the Ethiopians had the worst of it but could have still pulled it off even at the bitter end.
I've found for a scenario of my own invention this game works remarkably well with a similar outcome each time, but still with the closeness that makes a game enjoyable for both players.