Redvers’ Reverse: The Battle of Colenso, 1899

Redvers’ Reverse: The Battle of Colenso, 1899 is a solitaire wargame covering General Sir Redvers Buller’s attempt to cross the Tugela River and relieve the Siege of Ladysmith during the Second Boer War.

The player commands the British forces, while the Boer commandos are handled by the game system. The challenge is not simply to attack, but to manage the same kinds of uncertainty, delay, command friction, and poor information that Buller faced historically. Orders are sent from headquarters to brigade and divisional commanders, but those commanders may not react as expected.

The game uses area movement at battalion and battery level, with strong emphasis on British leadership, Boer defensive fire, concealed firepower, terrain, morale states, and the pressure of time. Units may become disrupted, suppressed, or routed, while leaders can stand firm or panic. Boer confidence rises and falls according to events on the battlefield, forcing the British player to keep moving without having the luxury of a perfectly controlled plan.

This is a compact but demanding solitaire game for players interested in the Second Boer War, command friction, and historical battles where the difficulty lies as much in uncertainty and hesitation as in combat strength.

Contents include: one 17" x 22" map, 140 5/8" die-cut counters, a 12-page rulebook, and two gameplay charts.