Battle Report: 18th May 1999

1860's Mexican ~vs~ Spanish Colonial

(Robert Avery ~vs~ Dave Lancaster) .

1860's Mexican
Brigade	Unit	Fig.'s	Org.	Class	Weapons	Pts/Fig	Points
	CinC	1	.	..	.		100
Infantry	2inC	1					50
Brigade	Los Supremos Podres	30	6x5	RegC	mlr		300
	1st Battalion	30	6x5	MilC	mlr		300
	2nd Battalion	30	6x5	MilC	mlr		300
Cavalry	2inC	1					50
Brigade	Lancers	12	2x6	RegC	s, l		176
	Dragoons	12	2x6	RegC	s, mlc		176
Artillery	1st Battery	3	3x1	RegC	light mlsb FA		237
Brigade	Ammo Wagon	1					50
Volunteers	Personality	1					25
	Guerillos	30	1x30	IrregC	mlr		225
							1989

.

Spanish Colonial
Brigade	Unit	Fig.'s	Org.	Class	Weapons	Pts/Fig	Points
.	CinC	1					100
Talavera	2inC	1					50
Regt	1st Bttn	24	4x6	MilD	mlr		184
	2nd Bttn	24	4x6	MilD	mlr		184
	3rd Bttn	24	4x6	MilD	mlr		184
	4th Bttn	24	4x6	MilD	mlr		184
	Light Battalion	20	4x5	LightsC	mlr		240
Cavalry	2inC	1					50
Brigade	1st Line	20	4x5	RegC	s, mlc		300
	2nd Line	16	4x4	RegD	s, mlc		232
Artillery	2inC	1					50
	1st Battery	2	2x1	RegC	light mlsb FA		158
	2nd Battery	1	1x1	RegC	medium mlsb FA		95
							1981

.

.	1860's Mexican	Spanish Colonial
Foot	2400	2320
Horse	480	720
Guns	6	6

Report

The Spanish had decided to take advantage of the unrest in Mexico and invade:  attempting to regain some of the land that they had lost earlier that century.

Near a small village, on a largely open plain, the two forces both set up in a conventional manner: infantry in the centre and cavalry on the wings. Both sides would attempt to outflank the other’s left wing.

The battle opened with a very strong advance from both sides. Unfortunately, the Mexicans overreached themselves slightly, and were in serious danger of letting the Spanish outflanking force get behind their front line. The Volunteers, led by the village priest, were dispatched to hold up the Spanish, and performed superbly: setting up shop in a hedged field and halting and then routing the Spanish 1st Line Cavalry Regiment. The Volunteers were, however, soon routed in their turn, as the Spanish brought up the Talavera Regiment, supported by artillery: but had done enough to stabilise the Mexicans’ open flank and allow their own outflanking manoeuvre to happen.

On the Mexican right, their own outflanking force had run into a few problems. The Supreme Podres had been delayed, and thus the two Mexican cavalry units found themselves unable to advance further, as they faced a combined infantry, cavalry and artillery opposition. The Spanish sought to take advantage of this position, and charged the hesitating Mexican cavalry with their own 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the 4th Battalion of Line Infantry.

Unfortunately, the Mexicans had anticipated their move. The Mexican cavalry disengaged: to reveal a column of Supreme Podres, rapidly deploying into line with their CinC personally commanding them. The Mexican infantry opened fire at the charging Spanish at a distance of 120 yards: i.e. before fear-of-charge came into play, their commander rightly assuming that deploying foot in the face of charging cavalry was not good for the morale (+6).

Both Spanish units were stopped in their tracks and, next moment, the Podres charged the faltering troops themselves who, quite sensibly, turned and ran, but were routed from the field, taking their supporting artillery with them. The victorious Mexicans, not even pausing to reform, continued their charge and captured the Spanish guns: turning them onto the Spanish infantry.

Despite having four units routing, and the rest of the Mexican army advancing in good order, the Spanish commander (despite being stunned in an attempt to resist the charge of the Podres) decided to fight on; but the following phase of the battle saw the Mexicans rout the rest of his Line infantry: effectively leaving only the Talavera regiment and the medium artillery battery on the field.

Casualties

The Mexicans lost 120 Volunteers; 20 Lancers and 160 Los Supremos Podres.

The Spanish lost about 600 cavalry; 320 Line Infantry and 4 guns. The Mexicans would also have followed up the routing Spanish with their (untouched) cavalry: doubtless doing great injury there too!

Results

A total victory for the Mexicans!

Analysis

An excellent battle, concluded in about three hours.

The fortunes of war swayed both ways with, at the beginning, it looking as if the Spanish had managed to outflank the Mexicans. Fortunately, the Mexicans could deploy their reserve to delay this advance whilst they got their outflanking manoeveur in place themselves.

The real damage was done by the Mexicans disengaging their cavalry to allow infantry to deploy and fire at charging Spanish. This was a risk - it hadn’t worked in the Mexican/American battle fought last year - but this time the infantry fired before FOC and had their CinC and Opening Volley advantage: enabling them to stop the charge, before charging in turn themselves. This should be noted as a very risky manoeuvre: but one that works well if it goes right!

There were a number of extraordinary die rolls throughout the battle: two rolls of devastating fire and an out of ammo roll per side.