A Rendezvous with José on the Road to Goliad - Song of Drums & Shakos Texas Revolution 1836 AAR

We’re starting a series of Texas Revolution 1836 games set between March 12 and March 18. They’ll be fictional skirmishes centred around the Goliad Campaign where Mexican General José de Urrea advanced into ‘Provence' of Texas. We’ll be using the Song of Drums and Shakos rules as written and 28mm sized figures from the Boothill range. The scenario for the initial game is a foraging one I found on the net and VPs are earned by both sides by recovering supplies from broken down wagon train along a road and causing casualties.

Cazadore Private José from the San Luis Battalion leaps across the broken down wagon to get to grips with the Texians!

The Sides…

Texians

New Orleans Greys
Nathaniel R. Brister Regimental Adjutant; Q 4 C2 Sword & Pistol Leader

Pvt David N. Burke; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Herman Ehrenberg; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Joseph H. Spohn; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt John Rees; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Horatio Cunningham; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Abney Holmes; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Alabama Red Rovers
2nd Corporal David Moore; Q 4 C3 Musket NCO

Pvt Benjamin Franklin Burt; Q 4 C3 Musket

Pvt James W Duncan; Q 4 C3 Musket

Pvt James E. Ellis; Q 4 C3 Musket

Pvt Samuel Farney; Q 4 C3 Musket

Pvt Simpson Tennant; Q 4 C3 Musket

Mexicans

Soldados and Cazadores from the San Luis Battalion

Captain Del Toro; Q 4 C2 Sword & Pistol Leader

7 x Infantry Privates; Q 4 C2 Muskets Wavering

Sergeant Banderas Q 4 C2 Light with Rifle NCO

6 x Privates; Q 4 C2 Light with Muskets 

Special Rules

-No Group actions are allowed by either side.

-it takes one action to gather supplies from the broken down wagon train once adjacent to it.

-A maximum of two 'loads' of supplies can be carried per figure.

-Bearing supplies does not effect movement.

-Bearing two loads of supplies means a figure can not load/fire, said figure can for free drop one load and fire/reload when they are activated.

The Situation...

Late February 1836; the Mexican Army led by Santa Anna had had crossed the Provence of Texas' border intent on putting down the insurrection that had gripped the state. The Texians were unprepared to face this foray and disorganised they hurriedly organised forces to resist the mighty Mexican Army, their chances were negligible but they would try their damnedest to succeed!

The AAR...

February 1836 under orders from President Santa Anna Mexican General Urrea's column crossed the Rio Grand at Metamoros entering the Provence of Texas. His orders were to secure the whole of its coastline which would isolate the Texian Revolutionaries ensuring their defeat!  After a rapid advance and a series of victories beginning at San Patricio and with the latest being the Battle of Refugio Urrea sent out foraging parties before pressing onto Goliad, supplies were crucial to continue the advance!

Captain Del Toro and his Soldados from the San Luis Battalion were told by locals of a broken down wagon train filled with supplies nearby and he quickly followed up their information.

Short on 'everything' as he amassed his forces at Goliad, Texian Colonel James Fannin who had been tasked by Sam Houston with halting or at least delaying the Mexican advance there decided to send out parties to scourge the surrounds and gather all the supplies that could be located. He asked for volunteers to carry out this detail and was swamped by enthusiastic and eager men! One foraging party led by Nathaniel R. Brister of the New Orleans Greys was led to believe there was an abundance of supplies along a remote road to the north west of Refugio, he ordered his men to find it unaware that Soldados from General Urrea’s San Luis Battalion were in the area…

It was early in the day and the sun was rising into clear skies when Del Toros and Bristers forces stumbled across each other in their search for supplies. The Mexicans got the hop on their foes and Banderas Cazadores quickly got to the broken down wagon train and started to gather its vital contents. They then opened up an accurate fire on the approaching Texians!

The Texians were poorly co-ordinated and reached the road in dribs and drabs putting them at a disadvantage and their fire was poorly directed. As they approached the Cazadores the men of the New Orleans Greys were surprised when the Mexicans ceased fire and leapt into close combat with them. In the short sharp melee the Mexicans gained the advantage and pushed the Greys back with Privates Burke and Holmes being wounded, these casualties along with several taken by the Alabama boys led by Corporal Moore led to a general withdrawal by the Texians (read here that they failed many of their Force Morale checks)!

A Mexican Victory ensued as the Texian Leader Brister decided not to try and reengage with Del Toros Soldados and continued to retire northward taking their wounded with them!

 

Some Pictures...

The Mexicans advance with Captain Del Toro bringing up the rear (he failed all his activations!).

Brister and his Alabama Boys reach the road...

Overview of our battlefield the Mexicans below the road with thew Texians advancing from the north above it!

Two of Del Toro's Soldados hit the ground under Texian fire while others recover supplies from a broken down wagon...

Sergeant Banderas (at left) orders his men to gather supplies...

Corporal Moore of the Red Rovers directs his men's fire but Privates Ellis, Farney and Tennant were quickly put out of action by accurate Mexican shooting halving his command!

Brister's New Orleans Greys fan out (read bad activation rolls) and in dribs and drabs engaged Sergeant Banderas' Cazadores.

Close combat breaks out...

...and the Mexicans prove their metal with the bayonet!

Captain Del Toro regroups his men as the Texians can be seen retiring in the background...

...the great Texian skedaddle begins...

...and continues!

The Mexicans prevail gathering ample supplies for General Urrea's column!

Summary...

We have not played SDS for quite a while because of a rule misunderstanding and a bad experience with an elite force fighting against a green force with the generally accepted turn sequence well we’re back again as the rules work really well with 'balanced' (ie no elites) forces. Tonight’s game was good and played out in pretty quick time. The Mexicans got a head start on the Texians with some good activations by the Cazadores this gave them a head start on the foraging which they did not surrender. We will revisit the Texas Revolution of 1836 again soon!

Battle of Northam 1069 AAR - Impetus 2 Rules

Last Monday we gathered on a cold evening to recreate the battle of Northam from 1069 on our tabletop. We used my 28mm sized figures and Impetus 2 Rules.

A quick summary of what is known of the actual Battle;

It was fought in June 1069 near ironically Northam. The sons of King Harold landed on the Devon coast with an invading force to reclaim their father’s crown the army was backed by Diarmait High King of Ireland. The defending army was made up of Normans, Bretons and Anglo Saxons led by Brian of Brittany who had fought with William. There were actually two battles during the day, an initial one was a raiding skirmish encounter then there was major action where the Brothers defended their boats while awaiting the tide (this is the battle we’re covering). The battle was bloody and a draw. The brothers withdrew on their boats and vanished from history last heard of in Denmark after losing the support of their Irish patrons…

Brian of Brittany urging his men forward...

The Forces;

The Godwinsons, Edmund & Godwine's Anglo Saxon Irish
Edmund Godwinson Reliable 4H Command
Godwine Godwinson Reliable 4H Command
2 x Huscarls
5 x Select Fyrd
4 x Irish Foot
2 x Archers
3 x Skirmishers

Norman Brenton Anglo Saxon Army
Brian of Brittany Reliable 4H Command
William de Vauville Reliable 4H Command
3 x Brenton Horse
4 x Brenton Heavy Infantry
2 x Brenton Javelinmen
3 x Select Fyrd
3 x Greater Fyrd
3 x Archers

Victory Conditions;

The Normans must capture the road edge behind the Godwinson Brother's Raiders for a Total Victory they score a Minor Victory Breaking the Raiders Army.

The Godwinson Brothers gain a Victory by Breaking the Norman Army.

Note - ignore Command Morale only monitor Army Morale for both sides.

Game Length; 8 Turn

The AAR;

Both sides faced off across a valley near Northam on that fateful June day in 1069, there were only a few hours of daylight left and the fate of William’s fledgling Kingdom hung in the balance! The Leaders of both great hosts ordered them to advance and it was not long before archers and javelin men were exchanging fire.

The Brenton Horsemen on Brian of Brittany’s right were sent a missive to turn the flank of the Raiders Army and end the battle swiftly so they charged forward! The long spear armed Anglo Saxons facing them under the direct leadership of Edmund Godwinson cunningly deployed so the mass of horsemen was broken up and hit multiple bands of warriors at the same time! The great surge of the Brenton Knights broke like a wave hitting the shore, many fell to the rabid spearman who drove them back! This one action smashed the Brenton Horsemen and they were no longer strong enough to play any decisive part in the battle, spent they retired under pressure to play little part in the rest of the battle spending it screening the Norman Army’s right!

Brian though dismayed at his setback urged his line of foot forward aware that William de Vauville's flank of his army were already in action against the invaders right wing!

After seeing off the Brenton Knights the Godwinson Brothers were confident they could defeat the enemy before them and pressed the advantage on their left with Edmund’s personal Body Guard leading the way! A grinding clash of shield walls occurred in the centre of the line with the Normans slowly giving way.

William de Vauville now proved his metal and launched his extreme left at Godwine’s flank, led by archers the local Fyrd had great success pushing back the Irishmen guarding this part of the Godwinson’s line! Gritty hard fought melees were now occurring all along the line and both sides believed they were on the brink of victory!

The whole battle line started to pivot around the central units, the Norman right pulling back while their left advanced! The fighting continued with heavy losses on both sides niether would break though!

The light was failing with the two battered lines still fighting and with darkness the fighting subsided. Brian of Brittany had failed to destroy the Raiders and capture their ships but importantly he was not defeated, King Harold’s Sons had not been defeated but their grievous losses and failure to establish a base for themselves on mainland England meant their attempt to regain their Father’s Crown was over, for now!

A DRAW!

The Raiding Anglo Saxon Irish Army lost 9 VDs 6 short of breaking

The Norman Brenton Anglo Saxon Army lost 10 VDs 4 short of breaking

Some Pictures;

Our Battlefield Raiders to the right and the Normans to the left…

Both sides advanced…

Edmund’s flank troops watch the Brenton Knights approach with confidence!

A few final taunts are exchanged before the biffo begins…

The Brenton Horse find their charge contacts multiple foot units thanks to Edmund’s clever deployment! They are soundly defeated!

The Horsemen are repulsed and Edmund’s foot soldiers attack them in turn!

Long Spears are useful against mounted troops as the Brentons found at great cost!

The overall situation after Brian’s failed attempt to roll up the Godwinson Brothers army with a great cavalry charge…

William de Vauville's local troops advanced on Godwine's Raiders with success!

The Brenton Foot form a line and move out, to the right their Horsemen can be seen under attack from Edmund's Spearmen...

Godwine's Body Guard engages and defeat some Fyrd...

...while more of his warriors come to grips with a Band of Select Fyrd they were not so fortunate!

de Vauville begin his attempt to turn Godwine's flank, but the sun was setting and time was running out!

All the while on the Raiders other flank they press the Brentons back!

The Brenton Knights continued to withdrew before the Raiding Forces!

With darkness gathering Godwine's Body Guard take a pounding from a second Band of Anglo Saxons!

The back and forth continued as a group of the Godwinson Brothers Irish grind more Brenton Heavy Infantry into the Ground! Despite losses both armies continue to fight on the action only  ceased with night falling.

Summary;

Well this was a hum dinger of a game, I planned for eight game turns but added a ninth on the night to see if the battle could be resolved, that didn’t help, it was definitely a bloody draw! We recreated history to a tee! The rules played well and we completed the game in around two and a half hours giving us a time for coffee and a chat. Everyone walked away having enjoyed the night!

Next time I think we’ll be play a Napoleonic scenario using Blucher Rules.

WW II West Front 1944 British vs Germans AAR - Iron Cross Rules

Played the third in our trifecta of Iron Cross Rules games last Monday, in this one the Jerries took on the Poms! we played the 'unprepared defenders' scenario set in north eastern France 1944.

The German's PzJg IV made short work of the British Firefly tank!

Forces;

British Attacking
1 x Churchill
1 x Firefly
2 x Sherman 75s

1 x Staghound Mk I

7 x Infantry Sections ( 1 x HQ, 5 with LAW)

7 x Trucks

2 x HMG

2 x Mortars

Germans Defending

1 x JgPz IV
2 x Pz IV Late

1 x PaK 40 with Transport

7 x Infantry Sections ( 1 x HQ, 4 with LAW)

3 x Trucks

2 x HMG

2 x Mortars

Game;

The Jerries were spread out whilst the British thrust their left forward refusing their right flank. The Allied Commander chose the pre bombardment option for this game and scored very well hitting several defending infantry units, the PAK and it demolished the PAKs towing vehicle!

The initial British advance was screened by smoke the Germans reacted by pushing a Panzer IV forward which was promptly reduced to a smoking pile of iron by the lumbering Churchill. Revenge was sweet though and the German JgPz IV took out the Poms Firefly as it probed through some woods.

The British left/German right now became the centre of the action!

Hot close quarter action as the British advanced into a hail of German fire, soon a Staghound was in flames and the German PAK was blasted by Sherman’s pouring H.E. into it. Now the Germans counter attacked, a Pz IV with a Platoon of Infantry (with LAWs) in support charged. A close range action ensued and it was a bloodbath! Two Shermans were cooked and some British infantry were routed but the attacking Germans were shattered, the Pz IV was a smoking wreck and the Platoon of infantry was scattered!

The British still had the edge and were ready to exploit the open German right when the Kampfgruppe Commander launched a final attack with his trump card, his mighty JgPz IV! The tank hunter rumbled forward and was offered a flank shot at the British Churchill but the Brits got the first shot off and it was a good one, the mighty Panzer rolled to a halt and was out of action (the British successfully interrupted the German turn, but on a second try using the HQ reroll option then rolled a 10 on the to hit die, followed by another 10 on the AP roll with a 4 on a D6 putting paid to the Jerry! Some lucky dice).

A small German incursion by foot troops occurred in the centre whilst the final tank dual was in progress but it was too little too late, even though it did put the fear of god into the British mortar support units one of which was wiped out!

It was now the end of turn 5, the Germans had lost over 2/3s of their force and had no armour left they conceded the battlefield to the British retiring their remaining forces, so a Pommy Victory!

Some Pictures;

The British refusing their right advanced onto the table as the pre attack bombardment ceased...

The Germans countered advancing a Pz IV which the British Churchill quickly destroyed!

In turn the Britsh pushed their Firefly forward which too was promptly knocked out the the Germans JgPz IV...

German mortars successfully pinned down some of the British Infantry...

Another British probe this time well supported by infantry resulted in the German PAK smashing the Staghound armoured car, the infantry and Shermans then pounded the PAK into oblivion...

With the German flank now open the British charged forward...straight into a German counterattack. The German Pz IV took out the leading tank...

The Pz IV was in turn knocked out by the second Sherman reacting...

The final stage of the German counterattack saw them knock out the last British Sherman, they were then pounded by the British Infantry supported by a Vickers HMG! The casualties were piling up...

In a final throw of the dice the Germans tried to take out the British Churchill...

Only to see another successful British interrupt and a very good shot...scratch another Panzer!

Our battlefield at the end of the action...

Summary;

Well another Allied Victory, a great game of Iron Cross with the Jerries having  their arses handed to them on a plate yet again! The concentrated British attack with some good dice rolling by Rolf ensured they took the day BUT it was a hard won victory losing four AFVs and some infantry, again the side with  surviving armour was successful. The Germans lamented their useless Pz IVs calling them POSs built in bombed out factories by non German labour! Each of the three recent games started with the first losses to the Germans being a Panzer IV which each time was hit critically and exploded! During this game Guderian gave Hitler a call asking for new dice but was told sternly there was no budget as Goering’s V1s had run over cost 😄.

Next time we’re going to have a go at a Dark Ages Battle with Impetus 2 Rules. Plus got a Blucher Napoleonic Scenario ready to go!

Quatre Bras AAR - Blucher Rules

Still posting old games one using Blucher Rules this time (I gotta look at Captain Darlings Blog soon too!). This game was actually one of last years that missed out on a post 😳! The OOB and scenario details came from the old Honour Forum run by Sam Mustafa which is now defunct, I think it may be in the files of his current Facebook page (not positive as not on Facebook!).

Ney's 6mm Army deploys for action the blurry Dutch/Belgians can be see in the distance!

Game;

From the outset of the game the French knowing time was against them pushed on aggressively; using two Infantry Brigades to mask the Dutch/Belgians deployed straddling the Brussels road near Gemioncourt most of the rest of the IInd Corps with Guard Cavalry support pushed down the Main Road toward Quatre Bras, meanwhile a Cavalry Brigade was sent to secure Thyle and the nearby bridge.

Wellington short on troops but with command pips a plenty funnelled his fast arriving army straight into action! The fighting to the south of Quatre Bras was brisk and ferocious with French Cavalry forcing the Allied troops into squares which their Infantry and Artillery poured fire into!

Sweeping past the foot slugfest the French Cavalry pressed on toward their objective but Wellington foiled them getting strong formations into Quatre Bras, frustrated the French horseman charged adjacent units before they had deployed inflicting heavy losses on them but they were unable to secure the important crossroads.

To the east strong newly arrived Allied reinforcements drove the French Cavalry Brigade out of the Thyle area securing it and the crucial bridge that linked the Allied Army to their Prussian friends around Ligny.

At this point the French had shot their bolt, now outnumbered and their units worn they fell back southward from Quatre Bras, a last brief but violent action around Gemioncourt saw it change hands returning it to Allied control and seeing the French back where they started!

An Allied victory, albeit at great cost…

Some Pictures;

Ney's IInd Corps face the Dutch/Belgians!

Our battlefield, Quatre Bras is in the foreground, the Dutch/Belgians can be seen on the far side of the stream and Ney's boys can be seen on the opposite edge of the table.

Wellington poses with the 'original' Dice Shako!

Ney orders the IInd Corps forward leaving two units to deal with the Dutch/Belgians.

 The lead units of both Armies columns meet south of Quatre Bra!

Allied infantry in form square south of Quatre Bras with French Lancers nearby they take a pounding from the French Muskets and Artillery!

French infantry sweep northward to the east of the Brussels road!

The French occupy Thyle...

French artillery fire on Allied units near Quatre Bras.

Kellerman's Cuirassiers advance!

Wellingtons position to the east of Quatre Bras, the Brigade to his right is 'hit' by French horse unprepared, they suffer terribly but hold their ground!

French Cavalry covering Thyle and the right flank are pushed back as more and more Allied units approach.

The Allied army builds up around Quatre Bras ruling out any chance of a French victory.

Summary;

Another victory to the Allied Army we have yet to have a French win with this scenario. I am actually surprised how almost every time they reach the crossroads only to get overwhelmed by the numbers they face as the game proceeds, maybe a variable arrival of D’Erlons Corps and unrestricted use of the Guard Light Cavalry might alter the balance. Mind you it shows that Blucher Rules are good as they replicate the days action well (given balanced dice rolls!).