Friday Night Games - Pony Wars

At the SAS Wargames Club we are lucky enough that Mike N. has a wonderful 15mm Pony Wars set-up that we are able to breakout and use every so often.

Action around the church and a settler's farm

I first stumbled across Pony Wars as a display game back in the 1970s, if I remember correctly at Farnborough Air Show, where it was being played by an enthusiastic group in a marquee by the original games designers (sorry I forget their names). Being a great Wild West fan, I was mesmerised  ignoring the aeroplanes and watching the game for as long as I could.

"Its too quiet, I don't like it Sir!" - more hostiles arriving

Anyway, this game was graciously hosted by Mike N. with Nigel, Phil  Rupert & Mike W. commanding the various Cavalry Troops in this scenario entitled 'Soldier Blue'.

Mike W's re-enforcement troop retiring towards the Fort,
note the empty saddles due to casualties taken

As per the film  the Cavalry has to destroy a village as well and ensure various settlers were protected in the Fort, whilst ever increasing numbers of hostiles appeared.

For those in the know, smoke signals aren't good!
But arguably not as bad as the drums!

At one stage, after the beating of drums  a group of 200 hostiles appeared, right next to a gun runner's wagon resulting in an instant upgrade to 50 of them to carbine armed status ...

Overview of much of the table, the Fort is to the right of the Church,
the Hostile's village is off picture to the left. Rupert's attack column can be clearly seen.

Nevertheless, Rupert's column reached the village and did its dastardly work, whilst Phil and Nigel collected in most of the settlers. Phil then setup a strong point in the Fort whilst Nigel's troop was chased across the table-top by various hostile groups.

Close-up of the lovely figures

Mike W's troop were re-enforcements that had arrived turn one at the end of the table, chased by a group of hostiles. They initially approached the village but were caught on high group by the pursuing Indians  whom they fought off.

Regrouping, the troop then headed for the Fort but ran across several hostiles groups, which they dodged before holding out in a church outside the Fort.

Early in the game, hostiles attack the cavalry re-enforcements,
who have reached high ground and formed a defensive position,
in the background can be seen the hostile village.

Thee firefights later they emerged  largely unscathed as Rupert work was done and the Cavalry's work was done....

Finally a close-up of Mike N's one of magnificent Buttes!
Ooh Err!