Mexican-American War

Philip’s new 28mm Mexican and American figures made their debut last night at the community centre in a refight of part of the Battle of Buena Vista (1847), using ‘One in a Maximilian’ rules. Here are a few photos:

Chris, Kamall, Richard and I were the Mexicans, with a numerical advantage over Alex, Rob and Mark’s Americans, although the latter had better quality units.

Americans deploy after the Mexicans place their initial forces.

I deployed my brigade of Mexican cavalry on the right, later supported by Richard’s cavalry.

Infantry on the American right under Alex

Both sides’ initial deployment

I began the Mexican attack on the right with a cavalry advance

Mal advanced, then held the centre and began to soak up mounting losses from American artillery and infantry

Meanwhile Chris advanced in column against the American right

Mark’s position on the hill was strong, spouting offensive and defensive fire…

My attack was proceeding but I began to pick up casualties after failing to move twice a number of times

However, Mal’s command began to inflict casualties on Rob’s centre; its skirmishers being particularly effective

Mal’s second brigade arrived, as did Richard’s cavalry

While the front lines had not changed much, a gap between Chris’s and Mal’s brigade had opened up after the loss of one of Mal’s units

But Chris began to assault the American right, perched on a hill

Rob’s dice rolling was normal (bad) and he had failed to activate his cavalry, allowing Mal to pepper the American lines with skirmish fire

My cavalry had been forced to retreat in the face of artillery and infantry fire, with one unit lost, but I did now launch one unit in a charge

Richard was now in support behind my brigade, as I attacked

My horsemen were driven off, but I charged again with my lancers, who won a melee, pushing Mark’s infantry back

Rob activated the American dragoons in the centre, and swept Mal’s skirmishers away, advancing

After a few lucky rolls, and US infantry falling back again, my Mexican cavalry fell on the American left, destroying an artillery battery…

Although my cavalry implausibly lost a melee against the flank of one of Mark’s infantry units, Richard was advancing and adding to the pressure… the Mexicans seemed to be winning!

Meanwhile, Mal’s infantry had taken much punishment, and the Mexican centre was starting to crumble…

Rob’s dragoons swiftly exploited the gap

Chris’s brigade was contained by Alex and could offer no assistance to Mal

The game thus ended with an American victory.

This was an enjoyable and eagerly-anticipated game, and Philip’s new figures (partly painted by Phil S., with Napoleonic French used as the Mexican infantry) looked awesome. The Mexican cavalry did fairly well, but the army could have deployed better and used our artillery more effectively.

The Mexican-American War is a new period for the club. We have just begun to use the rules, ‘One in a Maximilian’ (also designed for the French intervention in Mexico), which seemed fine, if (inevitably) confusing at times. It’s interesting to note that neither side used squares against cavalry, which may reflect advances in infantry weapons since the Napoleonic wars, or the different functions of cavalry (which can dismount) during this conflict. Thanks to Philip for hosting, and Chris for assistance with the rules. Looking forward to the next game…