Background
The siege of Cawnpore was a key episode in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The besieged East India Company forces and civilians in Cawnpore (now Kanpur) were duped into a false assurance of a safe passage to Allahabad by the rebel forces under Nana Sahib. Their evacuation from Cawnpore thus turned into a massacre, and most of the men were killed and women and children taken to a nearby dwelling known as Bibi Ghar. As an East India Company rescue force from Allahabad approached Cawnpore, around 200 British women and children captured by the rebels were butchered in what came to be known as the Bibi Ghar massacre, their remains then thrown down a nearby well. Following the recapture of Cawnpore and the discovery of the massacre, the angry Company forces engaged in widespread retaliation against captured rebel soldiers and local civilians. The murders greatly enraged the British rank-and-file against the sepoy rebels and inspired the war cry “Remember Cawnpore!”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Cawnpore
From Empress Miniatures website Article:
Official Despatch for the Battle of Cawnpore.
Brig-Gen. H. Havelock C.B., to the Deputy Adjutant-General of the Army, dated Camp, Cawnpore, 20 July 1857.
Sir,
1. I have the pleasure to announce that the triumph of the Mahratta pretender, Nana Sahib, adopted nephew of the late ex-Peishwa, Bajee Rao, has been of short duration. The treacherous proceedings by which he compassed the destruction of the force under the gallant Sir Hugh Wheeler, have already been reported to the Commander-in-Chief. I have now to announce the complete discomfiture of his force, under his personal command, and the capture of his cannon, followed by the reoccupation of this station, which, since the 6th of June, he has been devastating and desecrating by every form of cruelty and oppression.
2. He filled up the measure of his iniquities on the 15th; for, on hearing that the bridge at the Pandoo Nuddee was forced, he ordered the immediate massacre of the wives and children of our British soldiers still in his possession in this cantonment which was carried out by his followers with every circumstance of barbarous malignity.
3. My information was in every respect good, and I ascertained that he had taken up a position at the village of Aherwa, where the Grand Trunk Road unites with that which leads direct to the military cantonment at Cawnpore.
4. His entrenchments cut and rendered impassable both roads; and his guns, seven in number (two light and five siege calibre), were disposed along his position, which consists of a series of villages. Behind these his infantry, consisting of mutinous troops and his own armed followers, was disposed for defence. It was evident that an attack in front would expose the British to a murderous fire from his heavy guns sheltered in his entrenchment. I resolved, therefore, to manoeuvre to turn his left. My camp and baggage were accordingly kept back, under proper escort at the village of Maharajpore, and I halted my troops there two or three hours in mango- groves to cook and gain shelter from a burning sun.
5. My column then moved off, right in front; the Fusiliers led, followed by two guns; then came the Highlanders, in rear of whom was the central battery of six guns, under Captain Maude. The 64th and 84th had two guns more in their rear, and the Regiment of Ferozepore closed the column. My troops, defiling at a steady pace, soon changed direction, and began to circle round the enemy’s left. They were shrouded for some time by clumps of mango; but as soon as the enemy comprehended the object of their march, an evident sensation was created in his lines. He pushed forward on his left a large body of horse, and opened a fire of shot and shell from the whole of his guns. But he was evidently disconcerted by our advance on his flank, and anxious for his communication with Cawnpore. My troops continued their progress until his left was wholly opened to our attack, and then formed line and advanced in direct echelon of regiments and batteries from the right. A wing of the Fusiliers again covered the advance ex tended as riflemen.
7. The opportunity had arrived for which I have long anxiously waited, of developing the prowess of the 78th Highlanders. Three guns of the enemy were strongly posted behind a lofty hamlet well entrenched. I directed this regiment to advance, and never have I witnessed conduct more admirable. They were led by Colonel Hamilton, and followed him with surpassing steadiness and gallantry under a heavy fire. As they approached the village they cheered, and charged with the bayonet, the pipes sounding the pibroch: need I add that the enemy fled, the village was taken, and the guns captured.
8. On the left, Major Stirling, with the 64th, was equally successful against another village, and took three guns.
9. The enemy’s infantry appeared to be everywhere in full retreat; and I had ordered the fire to cease, when a reserve 24-pounder was opened on the Cawnpore road, which caused considerable loss to my force; and, under cover of its fire, two large bodies of cavalry at the same time riding insolently over the plain, the infantry once more rallied. The beating of their large drums, and numerous mounted officers in front, announced the definite struggle of the ‘ Nana’ for his usurped dominion.
10. I had previously ordered my volunteer cavalry to adventure a charge on a more advanced part of the enemy’s horse; and I have the satisfaction to report that they conducted themselves most creditably. One of their number, Mr. Carr, was killed in the charge.
11. But the final crisis approached. My artillery cattle, wearied by the length of the march, could not bring up guns to my assistance; and the 1st Madras Fusiliers, 64th, 84th, and 78th detachments, formed in line, were exposed to a heavy fire from the 24-pounder on the road. I was resolved this state of things should not last; so, calling upon my men, who were lying down in line, to leap on their feet, I directed another steady advance. It was irresistible. The enemy sent round shot into our ranks until we were within 300 yards, and then poured in grape with such precision and determination as I have seldom witnessed. But the 64th, led by Major Stirling and my aide-de-camp (who had placed himself in their front), wore not to be denied. Their rear showed the ground strewed with wounded; but on they steadily and silently came; then with a cheer charged, and captured the unwieldy trophy of their valour.
12. The enemy lost ail heart, and after a hurried fire of musketry gave way in total rout. Four of my guns came up and completed their discomfiture by a heavy cannonade, and as it grew dark the roofless barracks of our artillery were dimly descried in advance, and it was evident that Cawnpore was once more in our possession.
13. The points of this victory I shall have afterwards to describe. The troops had been thirteen hours in their bivouac, when a tremendous explosion shook the earth. ‘Nana Sahib,’ in full retreat to Bithoor, had blown up the Cawnpore magazine. The first movements of the Mahratta indicated a determination to defend himself desperately. Reports from the front assured us that he had assembled 5,000 men, and placed forty-five guns in position for the defence of his stronghold. But his followers have since despaired, and I have taken possession of Bithoor without a shot.
14. I was joined by the steamer Burrampooter [sic] this morning, which is now in easy communication with me.
15. I must reiterate my obligations to the officers commanding my detachments and batteries; to Major Stephenson, Madras Fusiliers; Colonel Hamilton, the leader of my Highlanders, who had his horse shot; Major Stirling, 64th, who is slightly wounded; Captain Currie, 84th, severely, I fear dangerously, wounded (since dead); Captain Maude, artillery; Captain Brasyer, commanding the Regiment of Ferozepore; and Captain Barrow, commanding my small body of horse. Lieutenant-Colonel Tytler’s zeal and gallantry have been beyond all praise.
It was my desire to have offered my thanks in like terms to Captain Beatson, Deputy Assistant-adjutant-general; but I can now only record my opinion over his grave. He was attacked by cholera on the morning of this fight; and though he did his duty throughout it, and bivouacked with the troops, he sunk in three days under the violence of his disorder. Lieutenant Moorsom, Her Majesty’s Light Infantry, assisted in carrying my orders, and dis played great courage and much intelligence.
I have already mentioned the conduct of my aide-de-camp in front of the 64th throughout the fight; he was seen wherever danger was most pressing, and I beg specially to commend him to the protection and favour of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.
I enclose returns of killed, wounded, and missing, and ordnance captured.
I have, &c.
H. Havelock,
Brigadier-General,
Commanding Allahabad Movable Column.
The Game
TJ showed up with his matt, as he was the only one that had one big enough! DF provided all the other terrain and all the troops. All the figures were set up on the tabletop. However, the main Rebel army was set up, but would only appear later in the game (none of the players knew when that would be). So, the game would start with the two brigades of rebel forces holding the tree villages and the mass of British attacking that position. We had anticipated that this force would not last long, against such numbers. However, that turned out to not be the case!
The fighting in the villages started with the British gaining firepower advantage. They tried to use this to shoot the rebels out of their positions, but the Sikhs proved for resilient in their buildings than expected. The British then launched their battalions forward into the forward two villages and on the flank to overrun the heavy artillery.
The initial assaults in the villages were thwarted by the valiant rebel defense. The heavy guns on the other hand did not last long from the flank charge. The rebel skirmish fire was telling throughout these assaults, pinging the British and causing hem to hesitate and reform after each attack.
As the attack began to bog down, the Brits worried about the main rebel army showing up and started sending half their forces to the flank to protect against a mass attack, while using the other brigade to clear the villages.
The rule of numbers finally caught up with the rebels. The first village fell, followed by the second. The British reformed after each and went in again. The final thrust against the last village took some time, as the British tried to shoot their way in first.
I the end, an all out assault was launched and the final rebel hold outs had been cleared. However, way too much time had been taken.
The main rebel force arrived as the British tried to clear the back have of the villages. It surged forward to try to overwhelm the British to their front. With the timely arrival of their artillery, the British were able to repulse the advance.
With the arrival of more and more of the British from the village attack, the rebels went on the defense to deny the British the breakthrough on the road that they needed. The British fire was very effective in shooting up the rebel forces. However, with insufficient infantry to launch and all out attack, the rebels were able to hold on and hold the road.
With that, the British would not be able to clear the road and claim victory. The day would go to the rebel forces and would result in an ahistorical Sikh victory!
- Manteuffel