The 7th Cavalry Saves the day!.....only just

Two troops of the 7th Cavalry were tasked with reconnoitring a hostile village- and found themselves in big trouble. They formed a defensive position ......and sent a rider off post haste to get help.

The Mission for the 7th - get to the survivors! The Indians had to stop them!

The handful of survivors....Custer style..... on a small hill holding out.

The nearby village and the relieving troops.

This War party spent most of the game skirmishing with the "Last Stand" group.
Under the rules, they can 'skirmsh' as a Free Action- move half and fire half effect.
 It very slowly whittled the Last Stand group down......but when they finally did get out into the open they were hit by the rampaging A Troop!

A sizeable war party...these guys moved towards the firing line of C Troop in the distance. C Troop dismounted and took up their firing position on the crest of the hill.... They kept the War Party pinned at the village edge for all of the game- I couldn't roll off the pinned marker!!

Mounted War Party arrives to  finish off the 'Last Stand'.

A mounted war party emerges from the village and ( passing their charge test!) hits C Troop!
C Troop was wiped out! By Turn three it was looking like the natives were gong to take a major victory!

The crucial moment- the ensuing melee between the War Party and A Troop.
A Troop narrowly won- followed up - and drove the hostiles away!

Vicious fighting as the relieving 7th Cavalry troopers drive off the surrounding Braves!
A Troop in the distance- B Troop in the front.

A war party charged by B Troop! They War party dissolved!

A war party skirmishing with the 'Last Stand' survivors. 
Getting them to skirmish was not a problem ( it's a free action under TMWWBK).
Getting them to charge and overrun the survivors....they failed their test every turn I tried.

The last of the survivors lending the fire power to the relieving forces.

A war party finally gets up the courage ( passing their test) to rush the 'last stand' group.
They got shot at and went to ground....I couldn't get them moving again!

The Great War Chief- his force depleted...or fleeing....he came close to pulling off a major victory.

D Troop- Spyros placed these on the hill overlooking the Indian village- firing at long range they kept one of the tribal units pinned for most of the game- I couldn't get them unpinned. 

A game that swayed back and forth - and could have gone either way. 

By the narrowest of margins, the 7th Cavalry managed to save the survivors and take the laurels for the day.