The Battle of El-Qa - A Biblical clash of arms near Kadesh

Over the weekend a handful of the Rejects gathered at the Shed-o-War for a rare Biblical/Ancients game. Stuart got his collection of Egyptians and Hittites out of storage and three of us had a very entertaining set-to on Sunday. Colin took command of the Egyptians, with a slightly smaller but better quality army than the Hittites commanded by Surjit and me. The resulting game was an interesting tussle where first one, then the other side, had the advantage. 

After deployment, the Hittites (closest) put all their Chariots on the right wing against a deep formation of mostly bow-armed light troops.

Meanwhile, Colin deployed most of his archers on a small hill and had his smaller chariot force on his right wind facing spearmen on the Hittite left (my command)

Ready for the game to commence, neither side is sure their deployment is wise...only time will tell.

We placed all the Hittite Chariots on our right wind and Surjit's job was to break and turn the Egyptian flank. 

On our left flank, I had several units of good quality spearmen which I hoped would be enough to deal with the smaller Egyptian chariot force facing me. 

The Hittite centre was mostly medium infantry with spears and a line of bow-armed open-order units. 

The Egyptian chariots were smaller but one of those units are elite nobles. 

The Egyptian archers were leathal, but were grouped together rather than spread out so for much of the game they couldn't all fire at the same time. 

The Egyptian chariots rout my javelin men and smash into a unit of spearmen.

Fortunately the Spearmint held firm and won the melee, sending the Chariots back. 

Behind this I had formed a string line of spearmen, many armed with shields. They were able to repel a similar charge by the second Egyptian chariot regiment. 

IN the Egyptian centre, Colin was having a few command and control problems, with some units not moving because they were out of command range. 

Surjit's chariots start to engage with the light infantry screen, running down any units foolhardy enough to try and stand their ground. 

The centre looks pretty evenly matched, but the flanks are where this game will be won or lost. 

With the Egyptian chariots repelled my infantry began to advance. I still had to be wary of the remaining chariots, they could always come back and hit a flank, so I was cautious. 

By now Surjit's chariots have started to get behind the Egyptian flank. There is still heavy fighting to be done, but it looks like the Hittites have the upper hand at last. 

My spearmen start to take heavy casualties from the Egyptian Archers. Fortunately, the archers have decided to advance, closing the gap and presenting an opportunity for my men to charge in. 

The centre spearmen units are being decimated by archery fire, but either side of them are other units, including one which has not taken any casualties. It charges and reaches the flank of the Egyptian archer units. Payback time!

More Hittite Spearmen are rushing towards the front, but the battle is nearly over. My attack on the spearmen routs them and the follow-up charge routes another unit....

Meanwhile (in a blurry picture, sorry) Surjit has completely turned the Egyptian flank and is just one quick dash away from capturing their camp.

Colin wisely decided enough was enough at this point and conceded defeat. A great game that challenged everyone and made us all work hard for victory.