Captain Flashman could not forget the rumble in the palace. In just a few short hours he would be seeing Rhani of Jansi again but this time she would be leading a vast Pandy army. There was nothing for it, he began to write…..
“In reply to your Excellency’s telegram of last week, I beg to state that I consider it certain that I must incur the risk of certain loss in an attempt to relieve Cawnpore. A direct attack would cost me a third of my force, already demoralised by hard fighting and hard drink.
With regret , Outram ( General of the Army of the Honourable East India Company , Bengal Presidency)
Our hero looked up from his forgery. There stood two sepoys with a stare of disbelief. Flash drew his sabre and chased the uncomprehending guards out onto the parade ground…..
The “spies” we’re treated to summary justice but Flashman’s letter was never sent!
The 8th Hussars remember the cad who disappeared with the widows’ fund….
To force the way through, the British had three brigades of infantry and attached cavalry.
Hodson’s horse reported that a mutineer army is blocking the road beyond Cawnpore. The rebels seem to include a few former regiments of Bengal Native infantry, with accompanying bands playing British regimental marches and flying our flags! Dashed impertinence!
The cantonment on the British left would anchor the one flank. The river marked the right of the British line but the cavalry would have to hold against superior numbers of mutineer horse.
Roles would be reversed in this encounter. It was the British turn to stand as the irate mutineers advanced.
Flashman could contain himself no more! Never mind the regiment, Blighty or the Widows and orphans’ fund, ahead of him stood the statuesque figure of Rhani.
The lone figure of Harry Flashman raced across the field to meet his paramour. But, Harry could not have anticipated the reaction of the British cavalry, seeing only a British officer charging the bandit army.
A swirling melee took place along the river banks. More and more mutineer cavalry joined the fray. The unthinkable happened, the British horse units began to retreat. There was a sting in their tail though, Rhani was unhorsed and fell amongst the stamping hooves.
All along the line, the mutineer hordes tried to advance but British and Gurkha pluck held the tide.
The mutineers could not make any headway and the gallant Mike Lane called off his minions. It had been a brilliant game yet again. I hope the photos go some way to showing the quality of Mike’s collection.
Oh and Harry and Rhani never were found…….
