Mexican (1861-67) adventure (fictional) campaign, battle of Cuatlapanga

 

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.

After failing to take the Fort of San Hernandes, the Leader of the Federal force,  Colonel Luis Enrique Emilio Celestial (Thomas) was in a difficult situation.  Guerrillero leader, Rio Antonio Zuavo "El General de las montañas" (Ronny), which little army had suffered heavily in the battle for the fort, had retreated into the mountains. Fearing being caught between on one side, the forces of Col Peters and from the east  Col Stevin (Steven) (on the way from la Buffa to Cuatlapanga) and Major De Brand (Patrick) (In Cuatlapanga) Thomas had to make a choice on trying another attempt on taking the fort or, to try to defeat Patrick and Steven.

He chose the latter.

To hamper the concentration of French and Belgian-Austrian-Imperial forces, the other guerrilla leader, “Capitán Fuego" (Siefried) to made night attacks on the several parts of Stevens force.

Spread to thin, his attacking forces, received heavy blows. Two of his guerilla units destroyed, and after recovering, the French had suffered minor casualties. Far more important was that all the French units were now fatigued, implicating lesser fighting and firing power.  Part of the force (cavalry, artillery and one unit of zouaves) retreated towards the supply column behind Cuatlapanga. The “fatigued” marker is only removed after contact with a supply column.  The other infantry unis in the hills had no supplies nearby.

Due to al the moves of the 8^th turn, contact was made over 4 squares, making it a big battlefield.

The attack of Thomas was concentrated on the 2 squares of Cuatlapanga.

The major part of the French infnatry was moving from the Noth towards Cuatlapanga.

The Austrian Jägers and Mexican imperial infantry had taken up positions in the village.

The building occupied by the Austrians were assailed by the federal regulars while the Federal cavalry, including 2 units of cuirassiers, advanced on the Imperial dragoons. 

The latter against all expectations swept from the field on first contact.  The imperial forces were in problems from the start.

The Austrians in the village kept the assailants at bay for almost the whole game.

Fearing first the guerrilla cavalry, Steven kept the biggest part of is force, deployed in the North.

With the 4 militia and 6 regular units of the federal army coming up near the centre, Steven saw his error and did send more troops towards this new threat.  This federal concentration of troops only moved slowly through the hills; Steven was able to deploy a few units to counter this advance.

Isolated and fatigued, one unit only was able to slow them down for one turn and was destroyed.  One constant in the game was Thomas’ luck in dicing, in contrast with the throws of Steven. The fatige for almost French units was their undoing.  Moreover, Steven veteran cavalry (not fatigued) had 2 units destroyed by the federal cuirassiers.  The last French cavalry and infantry fire finished of the cuirassiers, but the French cavalry force had lost to much to still have impact on the game. The resistance of the Austrians in the village was finally broken.

With two more French units pushed of table, Steven didn’t see the possibility to turn this into a victory.  With the high French/Imperial losses, this was the end of the campaign.   The federals victorious. Peters’ troops in the fort now isolated, and no possibility of relief in a short time, no option but surrender.