Battle Report: 1st April 1995 Mexican Juarista ~vs~ French Interventionist (Robert Avery ~vs~ Richard Avery)

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Mexican Juarista Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points . CinC 1 . .. . . 100   2inC 3         150 Line LosSupremosPodres 30 6x5 RegC mlr   300 Infantry Zapadores 30 6x5 LightsC mlr   260   1st Line Battalion 30 6x5 MilC mlr   300   2nd Line Battalion 30 6x5 MilC mlr   300   3rd Line Battalion 30 6x5 MilD sbm   180   4th Line Battalion 30 6x5 MilD sbm   180 Line Dragoons 12 2x6 RegC s, p   176 Cavalry Lancers 12 2x6 RegC s, l   176   Rancheros 12 2x6 MilD s, mlc   140 Artillery 1st Battery 3 3x1 RegC medium mlsb FA   285   2nd Battery 3 3x1 RegC light mlsb FA   237 Guerillos Personality 1         25   1st Horse 10 1x10 IrregC s, mlc   115   1st Foot 32 1x32 IrregC mlr   239 Train Ammo Wagon 1         50               3363

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French Interventionist Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points CinC 1 100   2inC 1         50 Infantry Infantrie de Marine 36 6x6 RegB mlr   456   Zouaves 36 6x6 LightsB mlr   492   1st Line 36 6x6 RegC mlr   384   2nd Line 24 4x6 RegC mlr   276   3rd Line 36 6x6 RegC mlr   384 Cavalry Guides 12 2x6 RegA s, p   224   Guard Dragoons 12 2x6 RegA s, mlc   224   Lancers 12 2x6 RegB s, l   200   Cuirassiers 12 2x6 RegB s, armour   200 Artillery 1st Battery 3 3x1 RegB light mlrb FA   261 Train Ammo Wagon           50               3361

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. Mexican Juarista French Interventionist Foot 4240 3360 Horse 920 960 Guns 12 6

Report The battle opened with both sides advancing swiftly forward in column. Once within reach of each other, the battle divided into three areas of operation:  each flank and the centre. On the Mexican’s left flank, the regular cavalry formed into one vast column, six squadrons deep, and advanced towards the French through muddy fields. The French cavalry, Cuirassiers and Guides, charged forward as soon as they spotted the Mexicans. The Mexican cavalry wanted to counter-charge, but were held in check by their CinC who, expertly judging the ground, waited until the French had exhausted their horses before charging himself. This delay also gave him the opportunity to bring up the late arriving medium artillery and soften up the enemy prior to impact. The French cavalry, disordered and hit by artillery, broke under the charge of the Mexicans and routed backwards, pursued by their opponents. In the centre, the Mexicans deployed into line and inflicted some casualties on the advancing French, still in column. However, desperate to get a shot at the enemy, the Mexican battalions became intermingled, and the delay involved in re-ordering their ranks gave the French a chance to deploy properly. On the right flank, however, the French CinC had managed to hook around the Mexican’s flank: his two elite units of Zouaves and Marines faced only by three light guns and the D-class Militia of the Mexican 4th Line Battalion. As the battle ended, the French “hook” was just starting to threaten the Mexican flank seriously: the Mexican CinC desperately rushing his reserves over to meet this danger. Casualties The French lost 452 infantry: with the Marines and 2nd Battalion very badly hit (A Company, 2nd Battalion, was wiped out). They also lost 184 cavalry, with the Guides being reduced from 240 sabres to about 75. One of the French 2inC’s also suffered a spectacular death at the hands of the Mexican artillery. The Mexicans lost 669 infantry, with the Zapadores, 1st and 2nd Battalions being horribly massacred. They also lost 220 cavalry, with the Lancers being almost wiped out; and a few artillerymen. Results The battle was declared a draw. Analysis A great battle with lost of exciting swings of fate and much evidence of historical tactics. The dice favoured the Mexicans throughout, with the occasional wild roll of the French almost making up for this. Had the battle continued, the Mexicans would have had a hard time resisting the advance of the French left hook!