The Flagstaff affair

 The Flagstaff Affair  

After an act of defiance as a Maori flag replaces the Union Jack, a small detachment lead by Lieutenant Whitemoore is sent to secure the hilltop flagstaff.

Background & Narrative

Word comes to Colonel Tiberias Farthingdale of the 58th Foot that a small hilltop flagstaff — a key signal and morale position overlooking Kororāreka — has been retaken by local insurgents. They have cut down the union flag and replaced it with a local rag of some sort.  Reinforcements are still days away, but need time to muster.

Ensign Clancy Whitemoore, battered but unbowed by months aboard a frigate getting here, is tasked with taking, replacing and holding the hilltop flagstaff long enough for reinforcements to arrive..

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Forces & Roles

British / Crown Forces (Players)

• Lieutenant Clancy Whitemoore, 58th The Rutland's, leading a small detachment of 58th Foot 
• "Captain Quilp Parkour, and his "company" of local Militia with a few forest rangers.
• A handful of sailors / veterans detailed from HMS Acorn

Insurgent / Rebel Forces

• The Greater Ariki with small bands of local fighters controlling the hilltop and surrounding scrub
• A lesser Ariki with his own followers and an improvised cannon salvaged from a wreck.

Map & Terrain

• Hilltop Flagstaff Location: A raised area in the centre or upper table edge
• Cover: Bush/scrub around approaches, light woods, rocky outcrops
• Fields of Fire: Open ground on approaches; rough/uneven terrain slows troop.

The hill itself offers little in terms of defensive advantages.

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Deployment

• Rebels deploy behind the hilltop flagstaff with a single ambush group.
• British deploy near their table edge.

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Special Rules & Mechanics

1. Holding the Flagstaff

• The main objective is control of the flagstaff marker.
• If any British unit occupies the flagstaff position at the end of a turn, they replace the flag using an action. 

• If the British still hold the flagstaff at the games end they win outright.

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Victory Conditions

British Victory

• Control the flagstaff at the end of the turn when reinforcements arrive, or
• Hold it until the game ends.

Rebel Victory

• Prevent British from holding the flagstaff, or
• Completely rout British forces before the end turn.

Draw

• Neither side holds the flagstaff at the end of the final turn.  The Maori may claim a moral victory if their flag still flies.

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Scenario Ideas & Twists

• Fog of War: one Rebel position isn't fully known until discovered by the end of turn one.
• Limited Ammo: historically both sides may be subject to limited ammunition.

The Game

The Flagstaff affair commences 

The view from the Pä

The Maori advance around the hill

And the 58th advance

The Maori left advance aggressively.  Maybe too aggressively. 

My shotgun armed Maori poke their heads up and get them shot off.  Three men down, one fatigue marker.

But the flag yet boldly flies.  I position a group to storm the hill  

And the 58th send a small group forwards under their Lieutenant.

I position a second Toa of Maori to assault the far left.

And the view from the 58th's position.  The Lieutenant prompts his men forwards 

The Militia "Captain" has a group bogged in the mud of the stream, which counts as a depression 

The 58th top the hill and spread their replacement flag 

But my Toa of Maori wait their chance to charge as we try to weaken them.  Four times we shoot at these guys!  They shrugged it off!

On the left I perform a haka and charge.  The 58th are unloaded, and it gets bloody.

The Greater Ariki prompts the attacking left to attack again.

On my right the lesser Ariki fights an attritional musket battle with the Militia 

The view from above as the 58th close in on the flagstaff.

And they take it!  But can they hold it?

I charge up, through a hail of incoming fire.  Two are killed but they stand.  They fight back and the Maori dice are terrible.  We take four shock and reel back shaken.  We take our flag with us though!

And the game ends.  Lieutenant Whitemoore has succeeded. 
The Colonel promotes him to brevet Captain. 

The Greater and Lesser Ariki sulk back behind the palisades.

An artist's depiction the fighting by Van Klomp, presently hanging in the National Gallery.

A Look Forwards

The Ōhaeawai Pā Reconnaissance

“The ground itself seems to be watching us.”

Narrative Setup

Colonel Sir Tiberias Farthingdale, 58th Rutland Foot, newly arrived aboard HMS Castor, has taken overall command. Confident, impatient, and already thinking in terms of artillery and assault columns, he orders Lieutenant Cornelius Farthingdale forward with a mixed shore party.  No nepotism in this family!

Officially, the task is reconnaissance.
Unofficially, Cornelius is being used to justify a decision already made.

Unknown to the British, the Pā is no crude stockade. It is a carefully engineered killing ground.

The Colonels biography "Carry on Tiberias" was published by Rutland Press in 1890.