Mexican American War Game report

Hi all! I am back after a brief hiatus. We started our Mexican American War game last Saturday. It was a meeting engagement of sorts. The Americans victory conditions were to march through a town to continue to press the Mexican Army. The Americans, however, didn't know that their plan was discovered. The Mexicans in turn, organized themselves into a battle formation and began to move to block the American army at the town.

A little background here if I might. One of our gamers has painted up a beautiful Mexican army as well as Americans. They are 18mm figs and rather nice. The maker escapes me at this time. I plan on posting some pics of the battle soon as we will finish the game this Saturday. He added another Mexican militia brigade for this particular fight.

Overall, the Mexican army is not that good during this time frame. They have the numbers, look pretty, but overall, most units cannot fight that good. We use a homemade/modified from others, set of rules. The key thing about these rules is the firing. The poor firing for the Mexicans is reflected very well. However, they do have a few units that are very capable to standing up to the Americans. One particular unit is known as the Zapadores. This unit comprised of the cream of the Mexican engineers. They were trained as engineers, but were organized into a fighting unit that could rival any American unit.

Now back to the game report. I was nominated as El Supremo via my die rolling. So I split our army up into 4 groups as we had 4 players to cover the Mexican side. We had our magnificent cavalry covering our right flank. I had an infantry force of 3 regiments to the left of the cavalry, then my 3 regiments and finally the militia units to my left. We were moving North to South on the table, Americans obviously South to North.

I ordered our cavalry to try and flank the American column as they approached by following the West edge of the board. Our 2 groups in the center comprising of infantry were to advance and take up blocking positions. My group was to try and advance into the town. Our militia was to advance up the East end of the board as a distraction.

As the game progressed in the early stages, I managed to get my 2nd Light Regiment into the town and change them into skirmish formation. This is the only Mexican unit capable of this. They receive no negatives for firing or for morale checks while in this formation. The militia managed to make some progress up the eastern edge, and actually enter the town. The Americans also reached the town, but surprisingly did not initially enter.

My Zapadores and the 11th took up positions outside the town so as not to be forced into disorder and receive minus' for firing and morale.

While this was going on, the Americans brought up a cavalry regiment along the eastern edge. They slipped past the Militia and made it into our rear area as we advanced. He charged a Militia regiment, wrecking it. Continuing his momentum, he hit one of my artillery batteries, destroying it as well. This ended the American movement. Upon the die roll for the next turn, we as the Mexicans, won the die roll and opted to go first for the turn. I turned my Zapadores and I had another artillery battery ready to fire. The infantry group to my right managed to get another regiment involved to try and destroy the rampaging American cavalry! We unloaded our firearms and artillery into the massed unit and wrecked it as a fighting unit. They routed for a couple of turns, failing their morale. They were reduced to 1 stand. A morale victory for the Mexicans.

They Americans kept up a steady advance as expected. All moves/firing are based on actions the Regiment receives based on a die roll and the class the are rated as. A, B, C. C being the poorest. The Americans have no C's and the Mexicans have plenty. However, despite our handicap, we managed to move quite well.

On the right flank where our cavalry was located, things weren't so good. He had a hard time moving the cavalry. But when he did get 1 regiment to move, it charged a line of American infantry. Passing their morale which is a feat in itself, they closed in. Of course, the American line held and opened fire. They decimated the Mexican cavalry, leaving only 1 stand out of 8 to hopefully continue the charge. The Mexicans amazingly made their morale and closed in, sabre's at the ready. sadly, they were cut down with ease.

back to the center, the Americans managed to enter the town after showing the Militia men who were the better trained. The American Mississippi Rifles as well as a unit of volunteers cleared the Militia. On the Western side of the town, an American regiment conducted a charge of my 2nd Light. They were repulsed as the Mexicans let out an Ole!

The Mississippi Rifles and the volunteers moved forward only to be faced by the Zapadores. After a round of fire conducted from behind a stone wall, both sides survived. My Zapaores as well as my 2nd Light launched a charge and routed both units on the next turn. The 2nd Lights hit from behind and caught the American units in a pincer. While this was going on, my 11th Regiment formed column. On the next turn, they were able to get 2 actions. One of the American victory conditions was not to lose the supply train. The 11th, proceed to move their full move on their first action. With their 2nd action, they were within charge range of the American supply train! They charged! They lost a stand due to some accurate artillery fire, but would only fail on a 1,2 when rolling a d6 for a morale check. I rolled a 2! CHARGE OVER! They retreated back and currently pose no threat to the American supply train. I had the shot and took it. I would do it again.

The Mexicans were pressed hard, but are holding firmly at this time. We have several units to try and halt the American advance. We intend to do so this Saturday night! The final report will follow along with pics.