Greetings! This is my first post in this section of the LAF, but I have many posts in some other sections. Glad to be here, though!
My wargaming buds and I bought a collection of 15mm Spanish-American War figs years ago at a flea Market at a convention. It's been a long while since we played with them, so we thought we'd break them out for last week's (Wednesday) game. We fought a battle inspired by the Battle of Las Guasimas, in June 1898 north of Santiago de Cuba. We decided to use Bloody Big Battles, and they actually worked out quite well for an engagement much smaller than those for which the rules were intended.
Our fight was a bit bigger than the actual fight. The US was attacking a fortified Spanish position in and around Sevilla, which sat in an open area on a wooded ridge, with a hilltop dominating the center of the field. The US attacked from the south with 3 "brigades". One had 2 units of the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry (Roughriders) and a section of Colt MGs. Another was a Brigade of the 1st and 10th US cavalry, with 5 units and 2 sections of Hotchkiss MGs. The third was a Brigade of infantry with 5 units.
the Spanish defended with 3 brigades of infantry with 3 units each, one with a section of light guns. The brigade with the guns occupied the area around the hilltop, and another just south of Sevilla. The 3rd occupied Sevilla proper. I played the US, and my gaming bud, Ted, played the Spanish.
The Roughriders attacked north up the road to Sevilla, while the cavalry brigade followed a stream to a road bridge, intending to attack from the east. All the cavalry were dismounted. The infantry brigade followed up behind the Roughriders. The Roughriders made first contact, taking fire from the Spanish guns on the hilltop. They deployed into line, and pushed forward through the jungle. The infantry followed up some bit to their rear. The cavalry brigade slowly worked their way upstream to the bridge.
As the Roughriders fought the Spanish forward positions, the US infantry brigade moved up, and started to deploy behind and to the left of the Roughriders. Good thing, too - the Roughriders were taking casualties. Fortunately for them, they were also causing casualties. All this while the US cavalry brigade crossed the stream, deployed into line, and moved west along the other road to Sevilla. This attack drew units from the Spanish forward positions to counter it, which took some pressure off of the Roughriders.
So, by now, we had US attacks moving in from the south and east, with the Spanish reacting accordingly. They had one brigade (on the hilltop) faced east, and another (in front of Sevilla) faced south. The brigade in Sevilla stayed put. The battle was reaching one if its critical points, as the US prepared to attempt a coordinated assault from 2 directions. Both sides had taken some casualties, but the real fighting was yet to come.
To be continued....
18 February 2011, 06:14:51 AM
