Conquistador unit composition

[Smokeyrone]

Using TSATF, where figures in a unit can have their own melee, firing stats (as opposed to a unit having one value), and 12 figure units.

Should I have like 6 arbiques/crossbow and 6 sword and buckle men?  Or a unit of shooters and units of melee guys?   I know more about Aztec composition than Conquistadores.

And cavalry?  Separate units or horsemen mixed in with infantry in a unit?

[Smokeyrone]

Am I just way out there? 

[OB]

I've no idea about TSATF so can't help there.

I do know that units of mixed missile men and close fighters were a common Spanish practice in Mexico and Peru.

Cavalry always seperate, often used in quite small groups.

[Smokeyrone]

I've no idea about TSATF so can't help there.

I do know that units of mixed missile men and close fighters were a common Spanish practice in Mexico and Peru.

Cavalry always seperate, often used in quite small groups.

Thank you! 

Now, I figure missle troops would also be adept at melee?

[OB]

That's not what the accounts tell us. 

Although the individuals might well be capable of close fighting that's not what they did.  Often they worked in teams of two, one loading, one firing.  The idea seems to have been to ensure a constant stream of missiles.  The only time they left off shooting was when no more ammunition/bolts was available.  If that happened it was time to worry.

[Smokeyrone]

That's not what the accounts tell us. 

Although the individuals might well be capable of close fighting that's not what they did.  Often they worked in teams of two, one loading, one firing.  The idea seems to have been to ensure a constant stream of missiles.  The only time they left off shooting was when no more ammunition/bolts was available.  If that happened it was time to worry.

Thank you, that helps a bunch.

[OB]

Happy to help.  Good luck with your project.

[Metternich]

   It is important to realize just how small a contingent the missile arm of Cortez' conquistador army was.  In his letters to  King Carlos V, Hernán Cortés stated he had 518 infantry, about 100 stranded sailors, 16 horseman and 13 men with arquebuses (rifles) and by the time he reached Tenochtitlan he had about 400 men with 15 horses and 7 cannons (note these would be comparatively small, probably falconets) and about 1000 men from Tlaxcala (indigenous allies). This is very well documented in his letters and in the inventory for his ships and supplies when he left Cuba.  Upon setting out for the interior from his landing in the Yucatan, Cortez had had 530 Europeans (soldiers and sailors from the burned ships), of whom Cortez only had 30 crossbowmen and 12 arquebus.  Although there were some pike, the majority of the conquistadors were sword and buckler men, or like the stranded sailors, using any weapon/tool that came to hand.  Also note that the small cavalry force would have an effect on the Aztecs (primarily due to morale) out of proportion to their numbers.

   As for Pizarro, the army with which he landed in the Inca Empire was even smaller than Cortez', but most importantly contained more cavalry.  Pizarro had a force of just 110-foot soldiers, 67 cavalry, three arquebuses and two falconets.

   A little-known fact is that after the conquest of Cuzco there was a brief "civil war" in Peru between two rival factions of conquistadors contending over which would control Cuzco.  One side consisted mostly of veterans of the Inca conquest under the Pizarro brothers (Hernando and Gonzalo), vs. Diego de Almagro and his lieutenant Rodrigo Orgonez.  This particular conflict (there would be others, including an uprising by Almagro's son, in retaliation for his Almagro's execution!) terminated in the Battle of Las Salinas (1538).  The Pizarro force was largely infantry, and numbered 700 (many of the infantry were veteran conquistadors, reinforced by a unit of Imperial arquebusiers recently arrived from San Domingo; plus two small wings of cavalry).   Almagro's force numbered 500 (almost half of whom were cavalry, well-seasoned fighters who outmatched Pizarro's cavalry).   Almagro also had 6 falconets (Pizarro had no artillery), but his infantry were primarily pikemen, lacking guns.  Almagro's superiority in cavalry was largely negated by the terrain (much of which was swampy).

[OB]

All good and interesting points to consider Metternich.  Hemmings Conquest of the Incas is a good read on the topic.  Likewise his Red Gold for further incursions.

Initially, Cortez's cannon were Lombards.  Light breach loading ships cannon. Cortez had them mounted on improvised carriages.  Once fired you removed the empty breach and replaced it with a loaded one.  I don't know how many breaches were available per Lombard. 

[Smokeyrone]

Great stuff.  Just got some Outpost cavalry from Badger.  They rock

[Ten Fingered Jack]

That's not what the accounts tell us. 

Although the individuals might well be capable of close fighting that's not what they did.  Often they worked in teams of two, one loading, one firing.  The idea seems to have been to ensure a constant stream of missiles.  The only time they left off shooting was when no more ammunition/bolts was available.  If that happened it was time to worry.

I read somewhere that a sword and buckler man was a third man in the team

[OB]

As Metternich notes above the Conquistador missilemen were very much the minority among Cortez's expedition.

[Maxromek]

Loads of great information here!

Any more book recommendations bar the ones mentioned already? Also, what is TSATF?

[OB]

Bernal Diaz The Conquest of New Spain is a great read.  First hand account by the author.

[Hitman]

TSATF = The Sword and the Flame by the late Larry Brom.