Friday, February 13, 2015

Getting Under Way -- A recent skirmish game in 54mm set in Mexico during "The Maximilian Adventure" in 1866

Ciudad Santa Dale_dawn_1866_on the coastal road from Vera Cruz north to Matamoros

French troops escorting a vital ammunition train sheltered overnight in the deserted town

The French used the Mission as headquarters, awaiting reinforcements from Matamoros

French sentries stand-to, scanning the horizon for Mexican Republican troops

Republican troops loyal to Presidente Benito Juarez occupy hills to the southeast

Another Republican unit approaches unobserved from the southwest

Commandante Jorge Aquas-Caliente signals his comrades "Begin the attack!"

Egyptian-Sudanese infantry, allies to the French, open fire on the advancing enemy

The supply convoy gets underway while French and Egyptian infantry forms a rear guard

The defenders attempt to blunt the Mexican attack

Teniente Ronaldo Colafrio leads another unit of pistoleroes in from the east

Republican troops close in on the Mission, firing on the run

Republican troops occupy the wooded hilltop northeast of the town

Tirailleurs algeriens lay down heavy fire on the Republicans advancing from the east

The Mexican squad takes casualties, but does not run

Pvt. Mohammet-dihn mans the bell tower, firing on the advancing Republicans

Commandante Jorge's troops reach the Mission

Juan Valdez spurs on the reluctant pack animals

The Republicans dash forward, eager to seize the pack animals

The pistoleroes close-in on the French rear guard

Commandante Jorge urges his men forward -- "Capture the supplies!"

The Algerians are overrun and destroyed

French reinforcements arrive -- Mexican fire brings down one of the pack mules

The Republicans try to prevent the supply convoy's escape

The French rear guard -- nearly-destroyed, but fighting on

The French relief column arrives and deploys on the north side of town

French troops occupy the ruined Tequila factory as the supply convoy flees northward

The Republicans have the town, but howl in fury as the supplies escape their grasp