Texas Mounted Rifles: Texian Revolutionary Rangers/Cavalry

 

 

We're on a roll, cleaning off the painting table.  These fellows, Texian Mounted Rifles are finally complete.  They were War of 1812 mounted rifles I picked up in the bargain basement at Historicon a few years back.  I plan on using them to raid a Centralista supply column as soon as it get painted

 

 

 

I cut the hats and heads off several and replaced with M1828 forage caps modelled from Milliput.  The M1828 was replaced by the all-leather "Hogkiller" in the U.S. Army and it is speculated that purchasers in New Orleans would have procured surplus for use by the nascent Revolutionary Army.  I just think they look interesting to have a few mixed in with the black beaver hats, although that's what Henry Dodge and Rip Ford were depicted in from the period.

I'm thinking of building a new head for the Ranger Captain, making it more like
the fictitious Captain Scull of Larry McMurtry's novel Comanche Moon. "Bible and Sword!"

 

 

I was pleased with the way the '28 Forage Caps came out, although I think they
may look a little large for 28mm minis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come and Take It: The Battle of Gonzales 28mm Battle Report

Fording the river in force.

 After completing some new buildings and hills, I left the town of 1835 Gonzales set up on the dining room table before going to work.  My wife was disgusted, but the boys were excited to play the next morning.

Approaching the Guadaloupe.

 The original battle took place on 2 October, 1835.  It was a confused affair where Mexican Centralista forces and Texian Rebel Militia bumbled into each other, fording and re-fording the swollen Guadaloupe River.  At stake, an 18th c Spanish six pounder cannon (and the liberal Mexican Constitution of 1824), which for posterity would fire the opening salvos of the Texian Revolution (the cannon, that is.  Funny how these things start with the government disarming the populace).  From the advance, things did not bode well (at least in the 2014, 28mm version of this battle).  My troops came out as green on my roll for both infantry and cavalry.  This would mean a -1 on a few critical rolls and a moral modifier of +1 (the higher the MM, the greater likelihood of troops retreating or failing to respond to commands).  Too many late nights at Senora Portillo's Taqueria, quipped my son.  He rolled veteran troops for his artillery crew and riflemen...1812/Cherokee veterans under Jackson, I suppose.  He would get a +1 on many actions and a -1 MM, a greater likelihood that his troops will respond to commands (can move farther away from command/musician/flag bases) and are more likely to charge if ordered.

A shell-burst in the cottonwoods along the river.

 My cavalry took fire as the infantry moved to the ford, but were shielded by the trees.  Lt Castaneda's coat was torn by iron scrap...the first of three near misses on a wound effect roll.




Fusileros emerge from the cottonwoods to ford the Guadeloupe.

 As my troops emerged from the trees along the ford, they came under rifle fire from Texian militia led by newly-elected Colonel John Henry Moore.    Thankfully, the six pounder, commanded by war of 1812 veteran James Neill, took a turn to reload.




The old Spanish six pounder crewed by Captain James Neill and Texian militia.

 Since the cannon can only fire every other turn, the Texians were limited to directing rifle fire at the advancing fusileros. 




The fusileros draw first blood, but not before a trooper and cornet are checked
by Texian shrapnel.

 Until the next turn, when a shell burst tears a trooper from his horse midstream and wounds the cornet.  You will note the yellow wound counters.  Red wound counters signify a fatal wound, and allow play to continue, until casualties are removed at the end of the turn.

The fusileros advance, firing as Lt Castaneda leads his lancers around the right.

The infantry across, they form a firing line and cover the movement of the cavalry, who pass behind them. The hill and building now mask the fire of the Texian cannon, which begins to withdraw the central plaza of the town.



Colonel  Moore's Texians fall back to the cover of the town.

As the cannon withdraws, Moore's Texians fall back.  All except one fat rifleman were able to make the roll to successfully climb up the roof.



The fusileros charge, but are repulsed.

 Meanwhile on the left, the remainder of the fusileros charged some riflemen hiding in a thicket, but with their Sergeant already killed, they were repulsed. A few final well placed rifle shots would dwindle their numbers.  Loosing 50% and their leader, by the time they entered the town they were forced to retreat, inevitably failing their moral roll, allowing the Texian cannon to pivot to face the flanking lancers.

Texian riflemen finally pick off the Cornet and second trooper.

 On the right, the Mexican Lancers were following Lt. Castaneda in column, while taking flanking fired from the Texians, now on the roof (except the portly fellow who failed his climbing roll during the movement phase...again).  Another trooper and the wounded Cornet were killed-Castaneda suffered another grazing wound.  He wound not prove so lucky again.

The Mexican Lancers charge.

 Though green, the troopers follow Lt Castaneda, dangerously hemmed in by the narrow streets.  Charging in column against a loaded cannon does not normally work well.

...into the mouth of the cannon.

 Unfortunately for Lt Castaneda, the Texians had a higher initiative roll and were able to fire first...and the Lieutenant and three troopers were engulfed in flames and smoke from the cannon's mouth.

With their Lieutenant dead, the remaining troopers retreat across a nearby ford.

 Only three troopers made it across the ford.  Two would be picked off by rifle fire, leaving only one to tell the gruesome tale.  As my son explained, if you go to Senora Portillo's Taqueria on El Camino Real, south of Bexar, there is an old grey Mexican trooper, who will gladly tell the tale for a taquito or two.

The Texians...bloodied, but obnoxiously defiant.

A fun game, and unlike the actual battle (1 casualty) a bloodbath.  So much for history.

Working: Texas Rangers, Tennessee Volunteers, and a Colonial Frame House

     Currently on the table are my mounted rangers, some additional Texian Infantry and a frame house I knocked together.  The mounted rangers, at least, have been on the table for a while.  Part of my problem was I didn't have enough horses in full gallop.  Finally found a few more and added the fur saddle blanket, portmanteaus and bedrolls with putty.  Also, in keeping with the 1830's theme, I wanted to mix it up with the head gear, cutting off coon skin caps and round hats.  I replaced those with the wheel caps below.  I will paint these in civilian drab colors, however, it is hypothesized that some may have been surplus blue U.S. Army M28 caps on deserters. 



 

 

 

 

 

 

The frame house is made of birch coffee stirrers glued to foam board.  The stone foundation is foam insulation board.  Still needs further painting and the mat board shingle roof.  This will be the main house for a farm that also includes a barn and smokehouse (already complete).

 

 

Skirmish at Jackson's Tavern: Texas Revolution Battle Report

Mexican Cavalry column flanks the town, but not without taking fire from

Crockett's Tennesseeans.

                What's the best thing a historical wargamer can hear?  "Dad, can we play that game with the soldiers and the buildings?"  The answer, "Thank you God, they want to do something that doesn't involve the Wii!"  Enter the fictitious battle of Jackson's Tavern: 1835.   Small engagements took place across the border throughout the life span of the Republic, but...my son loves to play with his Davy Crockett figure (Probably has to do with the fact that his modifiers make him almost god-like).  This game was based off a watered down (for 7 and 11 year olds) version of a set of rules I had been writing...but actually, the watered down rules play far better. (With simple morale checks, such as if you lose 25% of a unit it must fall back by one movement (5 inches for Infantry).

Mexican standoff at Jackson's Tavern.

       The Texian forces consisted of a company of Tenneseeans under Col Crockett, Texian milita, two 6 pdr cannon and one General.  Points would be awarded for the capturing of standards, Generals and Cannon.  The Mexicans consisted of two companies of infantry, a squadron of light dragoons and one General.

Mexican advance on the hamlet of  Jackson's Tavern

        My sons each commanded a wing of the Texian army and my plan was to attack their front with my infantry, while the cavalry squadron rolled up the flank and seized the artillery.  Sadly, my 7-year old made excellent initiative rolls and I made poor troop quality rolls (roll 1d6 to determine troop reliability:  militia, regular, or veteran).

Mexican center company takes fire, but assault's Jackson's Tavern, where

Crockett's Tenneseeans are barricaded.

    The center company assaulted the tavern, where Crockett's Tenneseeans were barricaded.  Four Mexicans were dropped by rifle fire outside the tavern, but still managed to make it inside.  Having killed him a bear at the age of three, David and his comrades were able to push the Mexicans back outside and the had to hand combat resulted in the rout of my center company.

Interior of Jackson's Tavern.  The soldados enter, but only one comes out.

            Meanwhile, my right flank moved on the Texian left, avoiding any serious hits from the 6 pdr battery, for the moment.  The shifted from company into line and assaulted the Texians at the stone wall.

Mexican Company in column.

         They quickly pushed back the militia from the wall to the dog trot cabin and took up a firing position at the stone wall. 

The Mexican company looking into the muzzles of two 6 pdrs of Los Piratas.

 
      We traded shots between the Dog Trot and the stone wall and then my dragoons appeared on the right flank of the Texian battery.  While their ranks were thinned by acurate rifle fire, courtesy of the "Gentlemen from the Cane Break", they still posed a problem for the exposed battery.   Unfortunately, the Tavern was no longer threatened by the Mexican infantry and my eldest son had the presence of mind to pivot his gun towards the squadron and deploy his Tennesseeans on their flank.

All that remains of the Mexican Dragoons after grape shot and flanking

fire from Crockett's company.

         The dragoons disappeared in a cloud of grapeshot and rifle balls and only four emerged to charge into the guns.  This, not before the left gun belched flame into my company at the stone wall, and the Texian Militia charged from the dog trot cabin.  The result was yet another broken unit.

         

The broken company retreats with the colors.

           My ragged dragoons and decimated companies were forced to straggle back, having lost and infantry standard and a cavalry pennant, not to mention my general with the Mexican reserve (who was unhorsed on an abortive counter-attack.  So, simpler is better regarding the rules.  The boys get bored if there are too many morale checks or modifiers.  We kept it simple with modifiers based on troop quality and "heroic characters", like Colonel Crockett.  All in all, a great game, I like losing as long as I'm playing with my boys.

Historicon Day 1: Waiting for a game, Cog Wars

Our game for Day 1:  Cog Wars, Normans vs. Turks in the Med.

Mexican Fusileros assault a Texian blockhouse.

So, I haven't posted anything since before Historicon...guess I need to get back on the stick.  We went early Thursday morning to kill some time before our first game.  My eldest son painted while I played a Texas Revolution skirmish with my younger son. 

The Mexicans overrun the Texian skirmishers.  

 The game is a simple d6 game for the boys.  The playing cards are to determine damage after a roll to hit:  Red card=kill, black card=wound.

Light casualties are taken and the skirmishers are swept aside.

Mexicans breach the blockhouse door and fight their way to the second floor.

Last man standing.  The blockhouse is taken.

The best part of playing with your seven-year-old?  Hearing,  "Dad, can we play again?"  We did, and then headed over to Cog Wars.

The setup:  Fifteen cogs on a table, Normans vs. Turks.

The infidel approacheth.  (Both sides hurled insults against their respective faiths...
it was an ugly fight so typical of the medieval Med.)

My large Norman Cog and my son's smaller-but faster cog grapple and
board the infidel. 

Boarders Away!

The fight borke down into three separate engagements...and the Turks won.

Chance gave the Turks higher quality troops on their competency rolls...oh well.  We had a great time despite being sent to the salt mines of Tangiers.