Years ago, with the Steve Weston Mexicans boosting our figures collection, and the Belgian link to the 1861-1867 war, (Empress Charlotte was a Belgian princess, resulting in a Belgian volonteer corps send to Mexico) , the idea of a campaign grew slowly.
And after more than a year of thinking and rethinking we started some weeks ago with the campaign.
The story as given to the six players, 3 federal, 3 imperial players.
In the Salinas de Alosta on the road between Monterrey and Mexico City, there has been a lot of guerrilla activity in recent months, and the French/Belgian/Imperial forces present are barely managing to keep the road open.
They are almost forced to retreat to the two forts.
Urgent French reinforcements are on their way to help clear the area. But the Federals have also set their sights on this strategic region...
The units are brought down to company level instead of battalions, but we still use are own About Bonaparte game with some modifications
On a fictive map in Mexico, the imperial and federal Mexican forces collide.
French forces have retreated to postions arround San Hernandes. A vanguard of Belgians, Mexicians and Austrians are located into Fort Lascada. Two Mexician guerrillerio forces, one in each moutain range, fight the Imperial forces. French reinforcements are coming in from Mexico City. But a Federal regular force is closing in from the North.
The Belgian commander, Patrick, received scouting information a large force was coming close to Fort Lasada, and he decided to move away, towards the town of Cajun de Alosta, shortly before occupied by irregular rebels. With no rebels found, and the federal army close on his heels, Patrick decided to make a stand.
The first battle of our campaign started.
Patrick had dispursed his units over the several buildings, turning them into isolated units.
First came 6 compagnies of regular federals, which stormed immeditaly the closed buildings.
Several turn of close combat turns sa one of the two Austrian, veteran jägers retreating, in the other building, a Belgian regular unit suffered heavy losses and the remains of the unit retreated.
With more and more federal troops entering the field, Patrick chose to retreat (a minimum number of turns of fighting are mandatory when plaeyer choose to fight), even though his veteran dragoons came on the table as reinforcements, as wel as his counter guerrilla lancers.
He wanted to make a heroical "last stand" with one of his Belgian units in memory of the battle of Tacámbaro
Keeping their position a few turns, the unit was all but eliminated.
The other units had bene able to retreat safely.
converted ACTA Napoleonic English as federal troops.
Mexican dragoons
The lancers (converted Steve Weston Mexican cavalry) sided by the Austrian jägers (Iron Brigade ACW figures).
ACW Federal troops are also used as Mexican federal cavalry and infantry. Confederate troops used as Imperial Mexican regulars.
Buildings by Peter ; almost all figures from Peter and Steven.
