Skirmish At Rooikopje Township.

 

A small detachment of the 1st Battalion Essex Regiment supported by a few sturdy chaps from the Black Watch, found themselves occupying an encampment on the outskirts of the Rooikopje Township in the Orange Free State. So bored were they that they even decided to mark their regiment in stone on the ground outside the camp, which seems to have become quite the thing these days.

The bugle sounded very early in the morning, the usual thing, a quick patrol around the town and back for breakfast, the Black Watch contingent provided the camp guard. Sometimes the locals provided eggs and milk, sometimes they didn't. On this morning the locals couldn't be found at all.

Today a surprise was planned for the morning patrol, a Boer Commando had evacuated the township and was in the process of taking positions when the British patrol wandered in. Taken a little by surprise themselves they quickly took positions and watched.

By the time the British had realised there was something wrong it was a bit too late, a familiar sound that put the fear of God in them erupted from the other side of the kopje, Mauser fire and a pom-pom. The first pom-pom shells overshot and set light to a building, the Essex lads had little choice but to advance.

Another salvo of pom-pom shells struck home killing one of the Essex boys, but they crept forward house by house. Meanwhile back at the camp, the Black Watch guards advanced towards the township in order to give support.

The pom-pom was obviously getting a little flustered at this point as the next salvo fell a little short on the top of the kopje, with the next shots being fired at the town the mounted Boers decided to use this as the signal to charge. The pom-pom shells managed to set fire to another house and killed a British soldier, the fighting in the township had been going in the British favour with several Boers killed, now it was the mounted men's turn sway the battle.

The mounted commando had no idea that there was a line of irate Scotsmen formed up across the road, and it came as a bit of a shock! Bullets whizzed everywhere, two Boers were killed and one Black Watch and one Essex lad were killed. The Boers rode off across the veldt taking their pom-pom with them, ready to fight another day.

One of the Boers left it a bit too late to disengage, he was taken prisoner. All there was left to do now was to tend to the wounded and bring in the dead, as it turned out there were 6 Boers and 6 British killed. All this before breakfast, I doubt there will be any eggs or milk from Rooikopje Township anytime soon.

Serbia 1456 - A Cavalry Raid.

Serbia 1456.

The siege of Belgrade is in full swing, striking out into the countryside around Belgrade Ottoman cavalry are harassing the Serbian peasants as the Sultan fears a local uprising. His fears are justified, his men see an undefended village to burn, they form up for battle.

This was unfortunate timing as the locals were starting to mass for the march to join Janos Hunyadi, the sight of the Ottoman cavalry struck fear into the peasants, but they girded their loins and stood their ground.

Battle is quickly joined, a clash of unequal sides, a highly trained cavalry versus a poor militia, although well armed and on home ground. The cavalry chop their way through but don't have it all their own way.

Peasant casualties are high, but Ottoman casualties are unacceptable, the cavalry charge scythes through the village, but they don't dally to burn it, they were surprised by the resistance they encountered.

Coming out of the other side of the village the Ottomans had no intention of returning, in fact they had a message for the Sultan, win the siege of Belgrade soon or retire to a more peaceful place, the peasants were indeed revolting.

Moldavia 1475.

The year is 1475 and Stephen The Great of Moldavia is feeling the pressure of a full blown Ottoman invasion. Crops have been burned, wells poisoned and livestock driven off, but still they come.

Sections of the Ottoman army are tasked with protecting the flanks of the main army, near a small village they chance upon some Moldavian stragglers, fancying their chances the Moldavians form up and battle commences.

The Ottomans immediately start the advance, the Moldavians send their archers and handgunners to the front and opening shots are fired.

The Ottoman cavalry thunders forward supported by their infantry, the Moldavian cavalry, although very much outnumbered, charge onwards to meet the Ottoman threat. Several of the Ottomans have succumbed to the arrows of their enemies.

The fighting is savage with both side causing great harm, the greater number of Ottoman cavalry began to pay off, the Moldavian survivors then had to deal with the Ottoman infantry and Janissaries, things were not looking good for the Moldavians.

Casualties on both sides were high, it was touch and go as to which side would buckle first, as it happened the Moldavians saw their chance to disengage and fight another day, some of them disappearing into the forest where the Ottomans dare not go.

Some Moldavians were captured, the lowly soldiers were butchered, one high ranking knight was executed, his head placed on a spike to warn other Moldavians not to anger the mighty Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman army carried on it's campaign moving slowly towards Vaslui.