Pony Wars: The Homestead, Turns 9 - 16

The situation at the end of turn 8.

 Turn 9

The turn began with the arrival of the buffalo close to the north east homestead.

Hunters arrived to the south of the south east homestead and will seek out the buffalo.

Continued -

At the south west homestead the exchange of fire continues with another Indian killed. The 5 settlers though are now out of ammunition. Unfortunately for them the Indians pass their reaction test to the loss and continue circling the homestead firing arrows into the building. There only hope now is that help arrives before they are wiped out!

The now empty north west homestead proves an attraction for the nearby hostiles who move in for its destruction.

The US infantry in the pass struggle for survival. The section trapped in the pass is wiped out and half of the 2nd section at the pass entrance is killed. Lt Stott survives and commands the 4 survivors. 5 Indians are killed but not nearly enough to stop the attack.

The firefight continues at the north east homestead with any help from the US Infantry now obliterated. The settlers kill another Indian but another of their number is struck by an arrow leaving 3 remaining.

Sgt Ash with the 12pdr arrive at the central homestead.

The ammo wagon continues its journey passing the 3 survivors of the north west homestead and their escorts making their way to the fort.

The General in command at the fort becomes concerned regarding the worsening situation and particularly with the lack of reinforcements he has been promised. He mounts up his reserve cavalry in preparation for deployment should the need arise. (There is a points penalty if he and the cavalry reserve are used). 

Turn 10

With still no sign of reinforcements, the General decides he cannot wait any longer. Observing the approach of the escorted settlers and the imminent demise of the US Infantry, he sets out with his reserve cavalry. The least he can do is save the settlers and their escort from any Hostiles interference.

Lt Stott mounts a desperate last stand with his 4 remaining men. 3 of them are killed and Stott is wounded having killed 2 more Indians.

The north west homestead bursts into flames as the warparty do their worst.

Observing the smoke signals from nearby high ground, the 12pdr deploys at the central homestead ready to open fire. Sgt Ash successfully brings the settlers under orders when he sees a lone rider racing across the desert towards him.

The hunters also see the smoke signal and in response head for high ground.

Elsewhere another settler is killed at the south west homestead. A continued exchange of fire at the north east homestead sees another Hostile killed.

In the fort another ammo wagon is available to be deployed but is being held back for this turn.

Turn 11

Two more warparties arrive, one of which is seen by the Hunters. They change direction heading for the south fearing pursuit. They need not have worried as the 10 Hostiles were content to watch their panicked flight.

The second larger warparty of 20 hostiles immediately begin to surround the south east homestead. Upon seeing the Indians the settlers immediately occupy the larger of the 2 buildings. One of the settlers is killed in the process.

Having set fire to the north west homestead, the warparty heads for high ground.

Upon seeing the General and his half troop heading for them, the Hostiles broke off from wiping out the infantry, racing through the pass out of carbine range. The last 2 survivors of the 1st US Infantry are ordered back to the fort.

The 12pdr cannon in the central homestead opens fire on the smoke signal party but fails to register any hits. Sgt Ash heads out with his section intending to put a stop to the signals.

Turn 12

At long last, US Cavalry reinforcements! Major Benteen arrives with his troop near the burning north west homestead.

The Ammo wagon with its escort arrive at the central homestead. The settlers are ordered to load up their wagon in preparation for travelling to the fort. 

The 12pdr fires again with more success this time landing a shot plumb on the smoke signal party killing 2 of the 5 present.

Sgt Ash and his section dismount. They begin exchanging shots with the smoke signal party. Bottom left, the settler from the south east homestead races back to tell them what he has learnt.

Another warparty arrives consisting of 15 warriors who immediately head for the south west homestead reinforcing those already engaging the settlers.

The warparty that emerged from the pass having melee'd with the US Infantry, sees the buffalo and immediately rushes to protect them from any hunters.

In the background the settlers in the north east homestead have run out of ammo. They hunker down hoping to survive long enough for help to arrive as the arrows thud into the building.

More hostiles move to reinforce those that are laying siege to the south east homestead. The settlers only have enough ammo for one round which they make good use of killing 3 hostiles. In return they lose 2 of their own.

The General elects to give the pass a wide berth choosing the longer route to the north east homestead. 

Another ammo wagon leaves the fort and is about to pass the 2 Infantry survivors and the settlers from the north west homestead.

Turn 13

Turns 13 - 24 are level 2 on the cards signalling higher numbers of reinforcements for both sides.

A 50 strong warparty appears close to Major Benteen's troop. On seeing the cavalry the Indians immediately launch a charge at them. Benteen sees no option but to respond in kind with both sides ploughing into each other near the north west homestead.

Firing their colts and striking out with their sabres the cavalry killed 11 braves but lost 5 in return with the officers surviving unhurt. The hostiles pass their reaction test and the melee will continue.

Sgt Ash leads his men up the slope and attacks the smoke signal party, determined to put paid to this irritation. He succeeds, wiping out all 3, 2 to colts, but suffers the loss of a trooper.

The warparty about to take charge of the buffalo have second thoughts upon seeing the forces in and around the central homestead. They veer away keeping out of small arms range.

In the background, another settler is killed leaving just one female left in the north east homestead who takes her own life. 

The reinforcing warparty heading for the south east homestead launches into an attack on the building. The last survivor holds on despite being out of ammo preventing the braves from gaining access.

Turn 14

It is looking increasingly grim for the US Cavalry as another 30 strong warparty arrives on the south edge of the board.

As the melee involving Major Benteen's troop descends into a free-for-all, another small warparty decides to join in the fun! The melee does not go well for the US Cavalry. Only inflicting 6 casualties on the hostiles for the loss of 6 including Captain Berry. The melee continues with Benteen's troop now down to 9.

A section from 'A' troop, having delivered settlers from the north west homestead to the fort, head out to join the ammo wagon heading for the north east homestead.

Having wiped out the settlers at the north east homestead, the warparty were about to loot and set fire to the place when the General and his half troop made an appearance. The hostiles decided that it was time to leave and moved out to join another small warparty to the west. Unfortunately for them the 12pdr in the central homestead had the warparty's movement in their sights scoring a direct hit and inflicting 4 casualties. 

In the centre, Sgt Ash remounted his section having dealt with the smoke signal (middle top).

The lone settler that had been sent out from the south east homestead to scout the area arrived back at the homestead only in time to see it finally fall. Deciding there was nothing he could do and in an act of self-preservation he galloped back towards the central homestead (upper right).

The 5 hunters move their way across the board (right).

Another settler is killed in the south west homestead leaving 3 surviving without ammo.

As already mentioned, the south east homestead falls with the last occupant having taken their own life. The victorious warparty commences looting the property.

Turn 15

Colonel Cooke and his 'C' Troop arrive just as the victorious Indians begin to set fire to the south east homestead. 

Their sudden arrival startled the Indians who took to their heels. Those on foot busily looting the homestead hurriedly mounted up but the delay enabled the charging US Cavalry to catch them. This proved disastrous for the hostiles. Firing their colts and using their sabres they wiped out the 10 man warparty for no loss. The only downside for the US being that the newly arrived troop had ammo issues! They arrived with full colts (6 rounds each) but only a single round in their carbines. They are going to need an ammo wagon pretty soon!

The arrival of 'C' Troop could give the 3 surviving settlers in the south west homestead some hope as they survive a constant barrage of arrows.

A potential barrier preventing help to the south west homestead is the 30 man warparty who are only just noticing the mayhem to their right.

'B' Troop under the command of Major Benteen are now fighting for survival. Another small warparty has joined the melee from the east boosting the total strength of hostiles to 44 compared to just 9 surviving cavalry. Their only hope for survival is to generate an Indian reaction test by inflicting more casualties.

They came close with 6 losses each but now only Benteen and 2 troopers remain.

The situation in the centre.

The Indian warparty continue to put some distance between them and the cavalry in the homestead. 

The buffalo have stopped to graze!

The General and his half troop make their way towards the homestead (middle top).

The settlers in the homestead have finished packing their wagon but are held back until the cavalry deem it reasonably safe to commence their movement towards the fort.

Bottom right - Sgt Ash and his section along with the sole survivor of the south east homestead make their way towards the central homestead. The 5 hunters have seen the buffalo for the first time and begin the hunt.

Turn 16

Another 30 warrior warparty arrives, this time from the north emerging near the fort. Not good news for those attempting to go to the fort.

The final demise of Major Benteen and his 'B' Troop. Firing their Colts and swinging their sabres they failed to kill any Indians before being wiped out. In the background the north west homestead is almost burnt out when it can be re-occupied but with less cover bonus.

The Hostile warparty that had been moving away from the presence of US Cavalry, decided to have a crack and galloped back towards the General and his half troop. On seeing their approach, the General ordered the attack and his half troop in line abreast charged towards the mass of Indians. On reaching close range they opened fire with their Colts killing 2 Indians but losing a trooper to arrows.

In the central homestead the settlers are ready to move off but are held back by the Cavalry upon observing the worsening situation between them and the fort. They calculate a bigger escort will be needed! In the meantime Sgt Ash and his section replenish their ammunition from the ammo wagon.

The Hunters cannot resist a chance to bag some of the buffalo who have now finished their grazing and moved off again. The Hunters dismount and open fire killing a single buffalo but the sacred white buffalo remains safe.

To the south, 'C' Troop sees an opportunity to clear a way to the south west homestead. Charging towards the nearest retreating warparty their Colts account for 5 Indians for no loss.