Sharp Practice Indian Mutiny British v Mutineers

As I'll be spending a lot more time in Norfolk now I thought I'd check out a relatively local club, the Cowards club based in Hoveton. Having got in touch with them one of the members, Pete, kindly agreed to arrange an introductory game for me of Sharp Practice.

The period was the Indian Mutiny, something I've never played before, and Pete and I as the British took on two other club members commanding the Mutineers. The scenario was a rescue one where the Colonel's wife and her maid had barricaded themselves in an old tower while a mob of mutineers attempted to capture them. The British objective was to rescue the lady before the door could be broken down:

My command consisted of a group of British impact cavalry and two groups of British line infantry. The cavalry arrived quickly and set off on their mission at a canter:

Breaking into a gallop the cavalry catch the mutineers in the rear, so far so good!:

The mutineers are wiped out in one combat for no loss. Now all the cavalry have to do is dismantle the barricaded door and bring the lady back to safety. Should be easy enough?!:

Perhaps not so easy, while the officer encourages the ladies to dismantle the barricade the cavalry turn round as more mutinous mobs can be seen rushing to stop the rescue!:

Meanwhile the rest of the British force has been advancing to confront the remainder of the mutineer force. My British infantry have been very unenthusiastic though, moving at a snails pace:

The mob intercepts the British cavalry before they can get away with the lady. This is going to be trickier as, apart from the risk of being shot, the cavalry will have to charge frontally at at the walk this time to clear the rabble away:

In the centre loyal sepoys engage organised rebel sepoys. The rebels quickly gain the upper hand:

With their officer distracted by the rescue attempt the British cavalry prepare to charge again:

The cavalry charge once again:

In the centre the mutineer sepoys are pressing home their advantage:

The cavalry charge fails and the shattered remnants fall back:

Fortunately the mutineer's army morale broke at this point in a close game after a couple of units on the far right routed giving the British a narrow victory!

A fun game and great to try out a new period at a new club. Hopefully I'll make more visits in the future!