Cowboys in Cuba

Mountain gun vigilant from the heights above

The first test of my Spanish-American rules is in the books.  Planning to host the Tuesday remote game and needing a working draft (well, QRS), I sketched the rules' concept out while away in Las Vegas last week.  Built upon earlier work, I figured the general game engine could work in a new setting.  After all, a game engine predicated upon unit combat effectiveness and cohesion ought to have broad applications.  No?

Anyway, without rules' critique and the stresses that remote gaming can generate (I save those for another time), let me try to recount the battle from my almost fresh memory.

Battlefield

The American forces are marching from Siborney toward Santiago.  In their path is a Spanish force situated in the hills along Las Guasimas Creek.  The US objective is to brush these Spanish aside and exit the table on the road to Santiago.  They have ten turns to accomplish this task.  For Tuesday's action, we had a full house with two Spanish players opposed by four American players.  The Spanish commander was able to place his force on table hidden along with an equivalent number of dummy markers.  Both units and dummies could move freely until spotted.

Hidden Spanish on the Spanish left.

Hidden Spanish on the Spanish right.

Typical of game hosting of late, the action kept me hopping.  Grabbing a screenshot or photo was catch-as-catch-can.

On to battle!

Americans arrive!

The American cavalry arrive with Wood and the 1st US volunteer Cavalry marching up the trail while Wheeler and Young take the main Siborney-Santiago Road.  The American plan hinges on pinning the Spanish in the center and outflanking both flanks.  To do this, Wood splits his command (1st Volunteer Cavalry, "Rough Riders") with four troops heading up the trail while four troops head off into the dense jungle to the left.  The 10th US Cavalry ("Buffalo Soldiers") hugs the right flank while the 1st US Cavalry marches down the road.

American plan of attack.

As the Americans advance, the 1st US Cav comes under artillery fire as it crosses the Las Guasimas Creek.  The troopers are pinned at the bridge.  The 10th Cav envelops the ranch as its occupants retire.  No contact with enemy infantry yet. 

Coming under fire

Wood's advance against the Spanish right.

The Spanish defenders laying in wait, spring up seemingly all around!  Mauser bullets split the air as the 1st US Cav comes under fire as it crosses the creek.  The troopers on the road are pinned.  Luckily, help is on the way as the 10th works its way around the ranch and threatens the enemy's flank.  Is there no concern for the potential enemy in the rifle pits on the heights above?

Contact!

10th Cav to the rescue!

On the Spanish right, Wood continues working his way rapidly around the enemy flank.  Spaniards in the trenches, thrown up across the trail, are easily outflanked and quickly engaged in a firefight in the jungle.   

Contact on the Spanish right! 

Seeing four of its six troops pinned, the remaining two troops of the 1st US Cav storm up the hill into the dense jungle.  Their bravery is met with a hail of bullets.  The troopers tumble back down the hill in disorder.

1st US Cav gets bogged down.

With the 1st US Cav pinned, the 10th Cav redoubles the effort to relief pressure on its comrades.  Attacking in strength, the Buffalo Soldiers force the defenders back.  The Spanish suffer heavy casualties in this sharp action.

10th Cav attacks!

The 10th Cav presses on.

The American attack on the Spanish left. 

Flushed with success, the 10th Cav presses on.  The troopers scale the heights and contact another Spanish defender. Two troops take casualties as they work their way up the slopes.  Spanish artillery fire from the mountain gun continues to harass the 1st US Cav at the creek.  For them, progress is slow.

10th Cav scales the heights.

On the Spanish right, Wood completes his encirclement of the enemy trench position.  The Spanish defenders are in a serious jam as they are pinned to the front and threatened on both flanks. 

In a pickle!

The hot action on the Spanish right continues with more Spanish infantry appearing near the crossroads.  These Spaniards halt the Rough Riders as they attempt to reach the objective.  Spanish artillery fire rains down on the enemy as the troopers clear the trench line and threaten the enemy rear.  The clock is ticking.

Heavy fighting...EVERYWHERE!

Hot action at the crossroads

Back on the Spanish left, the 10th Cav attacks.  Two troops up on the ridge attack along the ridgeline and into the waiting Spanish.  The Mausers rip through the 10th as it closes.  In ferocious close combat, the troopers are scattered.  Suffering heavily as well, the Spanish defenders fall back.

10th Cav Troopers meet their Maker on the heights.

With the Spanish defense collapsing back toward Santiago, the race is on to secure the crossroads.  In the heavy and prolonged firefight at the crossroads, Wood falls.  Quickly replaced, his next-in-line falls.  Officer casualties are high.

Race to the crossroads!

Stalemated at the crossroads and time expired, the heated action at Las Guasimas ends in a draw. 

The Americans believe if Wood had not fallen at this crucial time, victory could have been theirs.

Hard fought on both sides and an entertaining battle.  The game produced a narrative not unlike the historical event.  Well, except for the loss of Wood! 

Game finished in about three hours.

My retrospective on rules, game, and game play another time, after I recover.