Pony Wars: The Homestead, Turns 17 - 24

 

An overview at the end of turn 16 looking north.

Turn 17

An overview of the situation around the central homestead.

Zooming in on the action. The hunters decide that survival is more important than continuing the buffalo hunt and quickly join the US Cavalry at the central homestead. There are simply too many Indian warparties on the prowl!

Continued -

The General leading his reserve half troop clash with the warparty to the south of the north east farmstead. The short but brutal melee leaves 8 Indians dead for no cavalry loss. Any Indian thought of continuing the fight evaporated and they turned to flee the field.

Another 30 man warparty arrives entering from the south west corner. Ignoring the action at the south west homestead they make their way eastwards.

They will soon be met by another warparty retreating from 'C' Troop. The cavalry, firing from the saddle kill 3 Indians for the loss of a single trooper to arrows.

Turn 18

A stagecoach escorted by the 'Ringo Kid' enters at the worst possible place. The 4 occupants together with Ringo take a deep breath and gallop towards the mountain pass to the north of the southwest farmstead. So far their gamble has paid off with the attention of nearby Indians elsewhere. They will make for the central homestead representing the staging post where it will remain for 3 turns before heading off the board.

Colonel Cooke in command of 'C' Troop makes the difficult decision of abandoning the south west farmstead. A lack of ammunition is playing on his mind and with the approach of more Indians preservation together with replenishing his ammo becomes a priority. He diverts his troop towards the central farmstead. 

An opportunity to escort the central homestead settlers emerged, although one not without risk. The hunters were brought under orders and used as part of the escort. 'C' Troop approaching from the south and the General's half troop from the east signalled the dash to begin. 

A bonus for the US cavalry was the presence of the buffalo herd who majestically swept westwards oblivious to the chaos around them. The large Indian warparty approaching from the west turned their attention towards the central homestead and the emerging column found the buffalo squarely in their path causing the warparty to split. Several cavalry opened fire with carbines downing a single Indian for no losss.

The 12pdr and ammo wagon remained behind at the central homestead looking forward to the arrival of 'C' Troop! The cannon fired a shot towards the approaching Indians but missed.

The 2nd ammo wagon, now joined by it's escort, continued moving towards the centre.

The warparty that had arrived to the west of the fort closes in on the increasingly congested centre. A fort 6pdr fires on them at long range failing to make an impact.

Turn 19

To the south, two warparties merge and begin to move towards the centre.

An overview of the activity around the central homestead.

On seeing the column escorting the settlers and hunters, the nearby Indian warparty launches a charge hoping to wipe them out.

The buffalo decided it was time for another graze placing them in the path of the hostiles. As a result the warparty split into two with the one on the left intercepted by the General and his half troop, and on the right by the US Cavalry escort. The hunters and settlers had been instructed to make their way to the fort.

The melee on the right was lead by Captain Graham including Sgt Ash' section. They charged into the hostiles killing 8 for no loss causing the latter to withdraw.

The General on the left lead his charge killing 7 for the loss of 2 troopers. Unfortunately for him he sustained a wound but survived to carry on. The hostiles will also withdraw after that defeat. 

At the top of the photo, the ammo wagon escort saw the vulnerability of the settlers having lost their accompanying cavalry and decided to race towards them to help in their defence trusting on the wagon to cover the short distance remaining to the central homestead.

Elsewhere, the settlers were finally wiped out in the south west homestead. Not a good look for the US Cavalry!

Turn 20

The build up of hostiles in the south continues with the arrival of a 50 hostile warparty that immediately heads for the nearest high ground.

Nearby the victorious hostiles begin looting the south west homestead. While their attention is drawn to the booty it allows the stagecoach to put some distance between them.

'C' Troop arrives at the central homestead and takes advantage of the lull in fighting replenishing its carbine ammunition. There is no colt ammunition in this particular wagon and for that they will need to visit the arriving second wagon. 

The buffalo have resumed their wandering flanked by retreating warparties. Another warparty threatens the progress of the settlers (top left) loosing arrows at them. The US Cavalry lead by the General rushes to intercept them and a mix of carbines from the settlers, hunters and cavalry successfully kills 2 Indians but unfortunately for the General he is struck by an arrow inflicting his second wound!

A 3rd ammo wagon has become available in the fort but now is not a good time to move out in the absence of an escort.

Turn 21

Another 50 man warparty arrives near the south east homestead.

A very significant threat is building to the south. Here a 50 strength warparty head for the high ground and a 60+ warparty makes its way across the desert. When the 50 new arrivals is added it is a cause for concern for the US Cavalry.

Having set fire to the south west homestead, the warparty circles the burning buildings savouring the sight.

Luck runs out for the stagecoach as it is sighted by a small warparty who immediately launches an attack.

All available cavalry launch a charge at the nearby warparty threatening the settler column. Lead by the General, not only do they succeed in preventing an attack on the civilians, they inflict a slaughter on the hostiles killing 14 for the loss of 1 trooper. The Indians fall back heading for high ground. 

The great mass of Indians to the south are seen by 'C' Troop who dismount lining the perimeter of the central farmstead. The 12pdr is in range and great excitement emerges from the troopers as it fires a shell directly into the great mass of mounted Indians. That excitement is dampened however, when it transpires only one hostile is killed.

Turn 22

The main body of Indians in the south see 'C' Troop at the central homestead and begin making their way to engage them. The other two warparties make their way to high ground.

Having had their fill of setting fire to the south west homestead, the small warparty heads up the nearest high ground (on the left).

The Ringo Kid rides at the charging hostiles blazing away with his carbine (he is allowed 5 shots compared to the normal 1). The 4 stagecoach occupants add their fire and between them down 3 Indians for the loss of 1 with Ringo sustaining a wound. This was enough to scare off the remaining Indians but a disturbing situation was surfacing behind the stagecoach.

I fresh 30 man warparty has arrived and immediately races towards the stagecoach. 

A small warparty joins the buffalo to ensure they safely exit the gaming area.

Sgt Ash is tasked with pursuing the defeated warparty that had been attempting to intercept the settlers column. Another 4 Indians are killed for no loss to the cavalry section.

The General leads a half troop made up of 3 depleted sections towards the central homestead. 

A section of cavalry escorts the settlers and hunters as they close in on the fort and safety.

'C' Troop spreads out in a single line to maximise firepower. They are at extreme range for their carbines but hopefully will strike a few of the rapidly closing mass of Indians. A ripple of fire from the troop combined with a blast from the 12pdr hit precisely nothing!

Turn 23

Sgt Ash continues his pursuit of the small warparty who are now beginning to ascend high ground seeking safety. An Indian is killed but not enough to generate a reaction test.

The 'Ringo Kid' and the stagecoach occupants may have beaten off a small warparty, but they now find themselves pursued by a much larger version.

He manages to kill one of the pursuers evading the hail of arrows. One though finds its mark killing a second occupant of the stagecoach. What's more the 2 survivors on the stagecoach have fired off the last of their ammo. It will now be down to Ringo to fend off the attack.

A warparty ascends the high ground directly to the south of the stagecoach.

A 50 strong warparty begins to ascend high ground to the west of the south east homestead.

Naturally, one of them senses a photo opportunity!

As the large warparty charges towards the thin blue line at the central homestead, they suddenly swerve  to loose a volley of arrows at the defenders. For their part, the cavalry and cannon pour fire into the great mass killing 7 hostiles. The Indian arrows account for a single trooper and one of the cannon crew.

Looking further out, the activity has caught the attention of a 50 hostile warparty that now swoops down off the high ground to join in the fun.

From another angle it is quite apparent that the warparty ascending the high ground at the top of the photo will see the developments below them and may also add their weight to the attack.

At the bottom left of the photo, the General and his half troop closes in on the homestead.

Turn 24

Having safely deposited the settlers and hunters in the fort, their cavalry escort immediately departs with the ammo wagon containing much needed shells for the 12pdr and additional colt ammunition. Bottom left - Sgt Ash decides he has done enough pursuing the small warparty who have now gained high ground, and moves to provide an additional escort to the ammo wagon.

The General has now seen the fleeing stagecoach pursued by a large group of hostiles and changes the direction of his half troop in an attempt to save them. The 'Ringo Kid' blazes away with his carbine killing an Indian with the cavalry accounting for a second. Arrows rain down on the stagecoach with two finding Ringo. He does not escape this time and is killed knowing that, so far at least, he has saved the stagecoach.

A huge new 100 man warparty appears on the scene who promptly launches into a charge towards the stagecoach.

'C' Troop with the artillery is beginning to disturbingly take on the appearance of a last stand. They kill 10 Indians but lose 4 more troopers and the artillery commanding officer. Capt Calhoun-Adams of 'C' Troop is also wounded. All to arrows fired by the encircling hostiles.

An overview of where all the action is occurring. The US Cavalry now have to contemplate how they are going to fight their way back to the fort against such overwhelming odds.

No more cards are turned for the rest of the game putting to an end any hope of US reinforcements.