Mexican adventure campaign, battle of Fort San Hernandes

Our campaign is played on a fictional map, with fictional forces present.  See earlier posts for more information. The campaign is played by mail, and (large) battles are fought on the tabletop.If you would like to receive the campaign rule used, contact me.

Battle at Fort San Hernandes (G10)

Peter (Col. Peters) had maneuvered himself into a difficult situation. By keeping only one company and one artillery piece in the fort, it was barely defensible. Fortunately for him, his scouting cavalry had spotted the federal army approaching in large numbers.

Just in time, he was able to reach his five other companies, who were hunting down guerrilleros in the hills, and hastily ordered them to return to the fort. However, these units only arrived when the Federal army of Colonel Luis Enrique Emilio Celestial (Thomas), supported by the guerrilleros of Rio Antonio Zuavo "El General de las montañas" (Ronny), also entered the battlefield.

To buy time, Peter had sent his two cavalry units ahead on a suicide mission to delay the enemy as long as possible.

Thomas had not expected this, and his troop organization was not prepared for it (cavalry in the rear). His ten infantry units and two artillery pieces were the first to enter the field. In the second turn, his two regular cavalry units and two veteran cuirassier units joined, accompanied by four guerrillero units (two skirmishers and two “peasant” militia), as well as three irregular guerrillero cavalry units (one of them veteran). This was a ratio of more than two to one against the six zouave infantry units (all veterans), two cavalry (also veterans), and two artillery pieces. A federal victory seemed certain. As campaign leader, I too saw a federal victory with the destruction of Peter’s small army and the end of the campaign.

Thomas’s plan was to have half his army bypass the fort and block the second entrance, so that no French units could escape toward San Hernandes city.

The French cavalry, already nearby in the first turn, caused confusion and hesitation among the federal players. Moreover, the extended range of the cannons quickly brought artillery fire onto the federal units. The federals had not thought to provide siege equipment (ladders), so the artillery had to shoot at the gate (three accumulated flags) to destroy it. A piece of federal artillery was quickly deployed to start firing at the gate, but this hindered the movement of troops on that side of the table. On the other side, the French cavalry had to be dealt with, and the French artillery soon targeted the attacking columns. For the canon from the fort, the federal artillery became the target.

The effectiveness of the French artillery caused even more hesitation on the federal side (columns switching to line formation, position changes with skirmishers). The extra troops arriving in the second turn created chaos and insufficient space for the newly arrived cavalry to deploy. The successive charges of the French cavalry added to the chaos, and any trace of organization on the federal right flank and centre disappeared.

Eventually, the federal regular cavalry managed to scatter the French cavalry. But by then, the battle was already far advanced. The troops that were supposed to move around the fort had barely made progress, and of the troops meant to storm the fort, only three units had come close and had to wait until the gate gave way under cannon fire. These three units then saw a French zouave company appear, which had marched outside the fort and threatened them. The federal units attacked, and completely unexpectedly , the French unit was immediately broken. Would the Mexican Federals succeed after all?

But the three French reinforcement units had reached the fort and taken up positions.

The French artillery continued to inflict losses. Eventually, on the federal right flank, an attack was launched on the French skirmish unit protecting the artillery piece outside the walls. The French held their ground, and the artillery and skirmish units began to retreat in good order to the second entrance of the fort. Guerrilleros attacked again but paid for it with the destruction of one of their units.

The gate of the fort had given way, and the three federal units charged. Initially, they were successful and entered the fort, but the French responded and drove the federals back with heavy losses. Thomas had only one infantry unit in good order left near the walls, facing four veteran French zouave units entrenched in a fort, and judged that further attacks were futile, so he began the withdrawal of the federal army.

A French victory but a costly one. Due to the lack of cavalry at the end of the battle, the recuperation rate for the Mexican federals was better

 

Crisis 2025 wargame convention : "Race against Cancer" project with Cyclo the Game

 We were present on the Crisis 2025 Wargame convention with Cyclo the Game for selling the game for our Koers Tegen Kanker  (Race against Cancer) project. The non-profit organization “Koers tegen Kanker” (Race Against Cancer) was founded to reissue the board game Cyclo The Game. All proceeds from sales will be donated to the non-profit organization “Kom op tegen Kanker” (Stand Up Against Cancer), which supports the fight against cancer.

Three months since the release of Cyclo the Game and this is what I experienced:

When we show the box and contents of Cyclo the game, people are impressed by the quality and beautiful finishing by producer Art of Games.

Moreover, people get excited when we explain the working and possibilities of Cyclo. For young and old, short races on track, longer play when simulating any race on the road (classics or stage races) by combining the plates. Easy playing on the Cyclo Starter level, but with Cyclo Pro and the use of power tokens, chance cards, and taking the wheel, you get the cycling race feeling, pushing you to make decisions with every dice throw.

On top of this, all proceeds from sales will be donated to the non-profit organization “Kom op tegen Kanker” (Stand Up Against Cancer), which supports the fight against cancer.

Which in all, makes this game the perfect gift for friends and family or staff.

The game is issued in 4 languages:  Dutch French German and English

The game is for sale on the site of Bioracer: https://shop.bioracer.com/products/cyclo-the-game

More info of our project on the site https://www.koerstegenkanker.be/

Mexico adventure campaign, battle at Cuatlapanga in L9

Our campaign is played on a fictional map, with fictional forces present.  See earlier posts for more information.

The Mexican irregular cavalry and American volonteers, that had been beaten in a fight against the Belgian/Austrian force, had gone south after pillaging the bagage train of the Belgians, who had fled into the moutains seeing the large federales force coming after them.

The Austrains and Imperial dragoons had gone south finding supplies in Cuatlapanga in M10.

French Col. Peeters (Peter), commander of the French forces in Fort San Hernandes, learned about the combined force of Federales and irregular Mexicans coming towards him. He called for help from  French Col. Stevin (Steven) and Major De Brand (Patrick) of the Belgian Austrian Force.

Col. Stevin had gone into the Sierra Borrado to look for the rebels, but found La buffa empty and waited for more news. Learing about the large federales force on the way to San Herandes, he started to move West and South. Maj. De Brand Moved westwards over the road, but found the rebel force of "Capitán Fuego" (Siefried) on his path, the same for a company of Col Stevin zouaves advancing from M9.  Both sides called for reinforcements: the irregulars received assistance of 4 compagnies of federal militia (green) Dispatched by federal col. Celestal (Thomas), while the zouaves received help of 1 canon and crew, and 4 squadrons of veteran cavalry of  Chasseurs d'Afrique. Major De Brand had 2 weakend squadrons of dragoons, 2 companies of veteran Austrian jägers and a squadrons of Contra-Guerrillas lancers.

L9 is largly a mountaines square no well suited for cavalry actions.

Patrick had lost several officers in the previous encounter and had a reduced number of command dice.

The command dice problem also occured for both Steven and Siegfried. 

Stevens' zouaves had only one lower officer withone command die to controle both the company and the artillery piece.  The officers of the cavalery were both two dice commanders, but always the risk of not throwing a "C" or a flag. 

Siegfried had 4 command diece for his irregular cavalry and American volonteers, which would give him enough control, but for the 4 compagnies of militia, he had to throw 4 command dice seperatly as these unit did not belong to his command.

Federal col. Celestal (Thomas) had dispatched these milita units to slow down  the imperial forces and to prevent them from palying a role in the major battle which will take place at San Hernandes.

The French cavalry had dificulties moving through the hills and at a certain point were in danger from being attacked in the flank while advancing in column. 

The zouaves and the battery started targeting the American volonteers, and also the Austrian jägers in skirmish formation jointed in. The volonteers taking several casualties,  and were forced to withdraw. Two militia units deployed to face the dragoons and Austrians. After a first volley, the Austrian skirmishes charged, forcing back one militia unit to make a run,  but taking casualties themselves. 

Bad command dicing and the low number of command dice to throw was a problem for Patrick, not able to take full advantage of the weaknes of the milita units.  With turn 6 reached, Siegfried, according the campaign rules, was allowed to start retreating.  The Austrian jägers inflicted more casulaties to the milita unit but they waere able to leave the field without major losses. The irregular cavalry avoided contact al together, with the French cavalry not been able to join the fight.

The imperial forces were victorious, but the federal focres had reached their goal.  As the battle for San Hernandes is taking place at the same time in the campaign, no imperial reinforcements can be there in time.

 

7YW fictional battle in 54mm played on 28 September 2025

Steven had taken over the collection of 7YW figure from wargame friend Alex, who has serious health problems.

Steven asked to setup a Prussians vs Austrians battle for these figures.

We were 9 players and diced for who would take which role:

On the Prussians side: from left to right : Patrick with the Modena contingent ( 3 infantry , one battey), Peter with the first  largest part of the Prussians (8 line, 1 grenadier, 1 battery) also acting as CIC, follewed by Jonathan (6 line 1 battery, 2 medium cavalry), with the second Prussian force with infantry artillery and two units of cavalry, and last Adrien with a force from Hannover (4 line 1 grenadier, 1 battery). The Prussian infantry received a veteran status, the grenadiers were elite.

On the Austrian side from left to right: Ronny with French infantry (5 line, 2 grenadier) units and one artillery battery, then Geoffrey with 2 units of Austrian heavy cavalry, 2 infantry units and one artillery battery. Next me, Dirk, with with the Swedish force 2 line infantry, and 2 grenadier(veteran) units, and one hussar light cavalry, next Aberik with the major Austrian infantry (6 line, 3 grenadier) force including one battery , and last Steven with Austrian: two heavy cavalry units, one infantry and one light battery.

To reflect the period, we only used mars column and line formations, and an infantry charge could only be made with a flag command die. 

Ronny started aggressively but his charge failed, the unit destroyed on the spot, the supporting unit pulling back. The remainder of the game Ronny and Adrien kept each other in balance, musketry and charges from both sides kept them more or less on the starting positions, and unable to support their allies.

 

On the Prussian left, the advance of the Modena troops was pushed back with a charge of the Austrian cuirassiers, but due to musketry the Austrians had to pull back, Patrick with his Modena troops resuming his advance

In the centre, the larger forces of Austrian and Prussians did shoot at each other with artillery and long-range musketry for several turn, with little effect.

With the Swedes, I diced to play more aggressively. The hussars were used as decoy to attract the artillery fire, while advancing with the infantry.  Aligning with the infantry of Geoffrey. , and bringing my grenadiers close for close combat. Goeffrey also positioned his heavy cavalry for a charge. Facing him was Jonathan, doing the same with his cavalry. A clash was inevitable.

The Prussians were first to charge, but couldn't force a breakthrough

With the my Swedish grenadiers, I assaulted the Prussian line whle receiving support fire from the other units nearby.  A gap was forced into the Prussian line, but the losses on the Swedish grenadiers was to heavy. The second line of the Prussian able to eliminate the crippled grenadier unit, and restore their line.

On the Prussian left, Patrick turned part of his force towards the centre. At the same time Peter started his advance with his Prussian centre main force. 

The Prussians payed heavely for their forward move and charges.

Peter thought the battle was lost.

But then with  successful charges with the grenadiers and Mondena troops , sudenly, Alberiks main Austrian force came into trouble.

The Cavalry of Geoffrey had driven off thable the Prussian cavalry, but didn't succeed into breaking the infantry.  My Swedes had suffered heavely from the Prussian infantry musketry and artillery fire.  My command was all but broken

With no reserves left, The Austrian force had to admit defeat.