A Little Action in Mexico

Initial American Dispositions

Richard brought his 15mm Mexican-American War collection out onto to the tabletop for this week's game.  Rules in use are Shako II.  I took command of the American forces under General Taylor while Graham took command of the Mexican Army.

The American Army was distributed into two divisions.  The American objective was to prevent the Mexicans from taking the bridge and occupying the town that sat astride the arroyo.  Asked to develop a plan of battle, the American forces were deployed as shown in the map above.  Unfortunately, Mexican scouts reconnoitered the area and much of the American positions were identified.  What General Taylor knew is that the Mexicans were approaching in significant strength.  He needed to deploy his limited forces to best defend his positions consistent with his orders.

Given the situation, General Taylor drafted the following orders to his divisional commanders (north is at the top of the map above):

Taylor to 1st Div Commander:

General, scouting reports suggest that a large body of enemy are bearing down upon our position.  Estimates suggest that we are heavily outnumbered.

Your primary objective is to hold the bridge and town to the south of the arroyo.  This line must be held at all costs.  2nd DIV will hold their advanced position on the north bank of the arroyo for as long as practical before falling back through your positions.  Once passed through your positions, 2nd DIV will take up defensive positions upon whichever hill is athwart the enemy line of advance.  From that position, 2nd DIV will support your efforts to hold the arroyo line.  US Cavalry and horse artillery are to support 2nd DIVs left for as long as practical.  With your forward cavalry and artillery, do not abandon the role of supporting 2nd DIV until 2nd DIV has begun to fall back.  If hard-pressed, fall back across the arroyo and protect our left.   If the enemy is floundering in attacks against 2nd DIV, do not hesitate to provide assistance in a vigorous counterattack if requested by 2nd DIV.  The arroyo is everywhere fordable.    

Taylor to 2nd Div Commander:

General, scouting reports suggest that a large body of enemy are bearing down upon our position.  Estimates suggest that we are heavily outnumbered.

Your primary objective is to delay the enemy advance for as long as practical.  Do not yield your line north of the arroyo too soon and do not allow yourself to become isolated from 1st DIV.  Make the enemy pay for assaulting the village but do not risk everything on holding your position.  Conduct an orderly retrograde to the south bank of the arroyo when your position is in jeopardy.  Do not risk waiting too long to begin your retrograde movements.  When falling back to the south bank, 1st DIV will support you.  Fall back through 1st DIV and take up positions upon whichever hill the enemy is concentrating its axis of advance.  The US Cavalry and horse artillery will protect your left until hard-pressed by the enemy.  They will then fall back to the south bank of the arroyo.  If the enemy is floundering in front of your current position, do not hesitate in calling upon 1st DIV to launch a decisive counterattack.  The arroyo is everywhere fordable.   

With that, how did the battle play out?  Please read on.

The Mexican Army reaches the battlefield deployed into four columns.  With all of the cavalry on the Mexican right, their elite infantry is situated on the opposite flank.  All four regiments of Mexican cavalry rush out onto the plain.  In the opening exchanges between opposing skirmishers, three out of four skirmishers on the field are eliminated.  This could be a short game.

The Mexican cavalry are surprised to discover a lone regiment of US cavalry facing them.  The American horsemen charge into the enemy, destroying one and routing a second during a breakthrough.

The remaining two Mexican cavalry regiments bypass the fighting and make a beeline toward the arroyo.  Having recovered from retiring in front of the American cavalry, the Mexicans attack again.

The Texas Rangers on the American right are disrupted by enemy artillery and fall back in search of safer ground.  The US cavalry falls back to recover but is charged by the Mexican horsemen.  These Mexican cavalrymen suffer a similar fate and are routed by the Americans.  Having lost half of its numbers, the Mexican cavalry commander carries onto the hill overlooking the town. 

In the center, artillery is exchanged with the outnumbered Americans taking more than they dish out.  Mexican infantry continues its advance toward the town.

Mexican artillery is very effective in the gun duel.  First the Mississippi Rifles are scattered forcing the American artillery to abandon its position with heavy losses.  The rangers fall back to the southern section of town.  The American horse artillery begins to make its presence felt as the Mexican auxiliaries deploy.  

At half strength, the Mexican cavalry fails a divisional morale test and flees the field.  With his left no longer under threat, Gen. Taylor breathes a sigh of relief.

On the Mexican left, the column begins to cross the arroyo while the center column bears down upon the northern end of town.  Seeing the Mexican cavalry put to flight, the US cavalry charges a Mexican line battalion guarding the Mexican right.  The Mexicans form a hasty square and drive off their American attackers.  That is embarrassing.  The northernmost building comes under assault from the enemy.

The horse artillery scatters a line battalion as the Mexican center column swings toward the town.  The northernmost building is under heavy assault.  One attacker is thrown back but two make it into the eastern half of the block.  At this point in the battle, the commander of the US 2nd Division orders his command to fall back from the north side of the river as prescribed in pre-battle orders. 

As night falls, the 2nd Division is withdrawing back across the bridge and through its supporting 1st Division.  Unfortunately, the American battery is lost in the commotion.  With a solid defense set up in the southern portion of town and astride the bridge, the 1st Division is prepared for any enemy assaults.  The horse artillery continues to inflict casualties on the enemy as it scatters another Mexican battalion.

With no cavalry reserve, the Mexican army may have difficulty protecting its line of communication from marauding cavalry.  As hostilities cease, Gen. Taylor is still firmly in control of the vital bridge and the southern half of town.  Should the Mexican Army resume fighting in the morning?  That may be a question for the post-battle inquiry. 

For the Mexican perspective of the fighting, please visit Graham's battle account at Way Down South, Mexico Way.

Thanks for reading!