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Battle Report
 

Battle Report: 19th July 1994

Mexican Juarista ~vs~ French Interventionist

(Robert Avery ~vs~ Richard Avery)

.

Mexican Juarista
Brigade

Unit

 Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points
. CinC

1

 . .. . . 100
Line Los Supremos Podres 30 6x5 RegC mlr . 300
Infantry Zapadores 30 6x5 RegC mlr . 300
. 1st Line Battalion 30 6x5 MilC mlr . 300
. 2nd Line Battalion 30 6x5 MilC mlr . 300
Line Dragoons 12 2x6 RegC s, mlc . 176

Cavalry

Lancers

12

2x6

RegC

s, l

 .

176
Artillery 1st Battery 2 2x1 RegC light mlsb FA . 158
Guerillos 1st Horse 10 1x10 IrregC s, mlc . 125
. 2nd Horse 10 1x10 IrregC s, mlc . 125
. 2nd Horse 10 1x10 IrregC s, mlc . 125
. . . . . . . 2185
.

French Interventionist

Brigade

Unit

Fig.'s

Org.

Class

Weapons

Pts/Fig

Points

  

CinC

1

 

 

 

 

 100

Infantry

Zouaves

36

6x6

Lights B

mlr

 

 492
 

Line Battalion

36

6x6

RegB

mlr

 

 420

Cavalry

Guides

12

2x6

RegA

s, mlc

 

 224
 

Dragoons

12

2x6

RegA

s, mlc, p

 

 236
 

Cuirassiers

12

2x6

RegB

s, mlc, armour

 

 212
  Lancers 12 2x6 RegB

s, l, mlc

   212
Artillery

1st Battery

3

3x1

RegB

light mlrb FA

 

 279
               2175
.
. Mexican Juarista French Interventionist
Foot 2400 1440
Horse 1040 960
Guns 4 6
 

Report

A French flying column encounters a sizeable Juarista army:  battle commences.

As soon as dawn broke, the Mexicans advanced quickly - with the French edging forward more cautiously.

On the right, the French had invested a small village with two companies of Zouaves. Each of these, within stone buildings, was charged by a unit of Guerillos cavalry. Despite only being able to shoot through windows and loopholes, the French repulsed the Guerillos:  routing the third unit off the field as well with artillery fire.

Meanwhile, on the left, the French Guard Cavalry had advanced to meet the Mexican Line troops: whose 1st Battalion immediately disengaged from the French charge hoping to lure the French onto the rifles of the 2nd Battalion, traipsing through the somewhat boggy fields. Unfortunately, the French foresaw this danger and pulled up short.

In the centre, the two sides advanced towards each other: the Mexicans quickly, the French slowly. At extreme range, aware of the casualties the French artillery were inflicting upon them, the Los Supremos Podres let loose a massive volley that caused minimal casualties, and charged towards the hated invaders.

To their surprise, breaking the habit of receiving at a halt, six companies of French infantry (4 of Zouaves, 2 of Line) counter-charged them. The two sides clashed and, again to the surprise of all, impacxt was drawn: and a massive melee involving upwards of 2000 men developed.

After several minutes of incredibly fierce and bloodthirsty melee, with massive casualties on both sides, the weight of numbers of the Mexicans overwhelmed the individually better French, routing them off the field.

Unfortunately the Mexicans, as they celebrated their victory, but shaken by their own casualties, were charged by the French Cuirassiers. They fled without a second thought:  joining their colleagues of the 1st Battalion who had been routed by a flank charge by the Guides.

With only their 2nd Battalion, guns and Line Cavalry left, and facing 4 cavalry and 1 infantry units, plus artillery, of the French, the Mexicans accepted defeat: althoug they were consoled by the fact that the 2nd Battalion managed to briefly rout the Gudies through flank fire.

Casualties

The Mexicans lost 305 Guerillos cavalry (over 50%); 236 Los Supremos Podres; and 296 Zapadores for a total of 837 men.

The French lost 182 Zouaves; 344 Line infantry; 56 Guides and 18 Cuirassiers: for a total of 600 men.

Results

An extremely close and costly victory for the French.

Analysis

A very good battle: exciting to the last, fought with historical tactics.

After the Mexicans lost the Guerillos cavalry right at the beginning they looked doomed, but then the incredible French counter-charge, drawing of the impact, and the winning of the melee looked as if they might reverse the result.

The key action at that point was the French disposing of the 1st Mexican Line Battalion with the Guides: after that, the Mexicans just did not have the troops left to carry on the fight.

A good result, but a definite bloody nose for the French, even if they did eventually win.