Getting Started with the Mexican-American War - Goonhammer Historicals

[muggins]

I did some sleuthing to find as much as I could about the Mexican-American War (it's my current 28mm project) - rules, minis, history, geography, politics, etc. and put them in a series of two posts that I want to be a great starting point for anyone interested in gaming the conflict. Check it out!

https://www.goonhammer.com/goonhammer-historicals-getting-started-the-mexican-american-war-part-one/

https://www.goonhammer.com/goonhammer-historicals-getting-started-the-mexican-american-war-part-two/

[Terryb]

Excellent information on your blog. Thanks for posting.

[muggins]

Excellent information on your blog. Thanks for posting.

Thanks a ton! I have enjoyed doing this research immensely.

[Emir of Askaristan]

Great summary. Enjoyed reading it.

Always fancied this period but I'm a 28mm guy and I'm not a fan of the offerings from 1st Corps or OG.
So I guess it's one less lead pile for now.

Keep up the good work.

[jambo1]

Superb summary, really interesting conflict and certainly one I would like to do one day, plenty of info in your posts.

[Old Contemptable]

I played several games using Santa Anna Rules. Very enjoyable, we used 28mm figures. I think they would work for 15mm.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/30458/santa-anna-rules-warfare-mexico-1820-1870-volume-1

[muggins]

I played several games using Santa Anna Rules. Very enjoyable, we used 28mm figures. I think they would work for 15mm.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/30458/santa-anna-rules-warfare-mexico-1820-1870-volume-1

I have to definitely check them out - to be honest I'm very familiar with Sharp Practice so I haven't stepped out of my safe zone so much.

Thanks to all who have commented!

[Redshank]

Really enjoyed reading your blog! Great to see some interest in MAW.

I am inching towards completing a northern theatre project using mainly Eurekas and the Old Glory/Blue Moon range:

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=137837.0

Since I started, Eureka have released Mexican Zapadores, which helps round out the range.

Please tell us more about your Mexican adventures!

[vtsaogames]

Two excellent blog entries, thanks.

A few comments: The fortress at Vera Cruz fell before Yellow Fever season started. If it had held out longer Scott's army would have been debilitated by disease.
As cheap as Congress was, the U.S. Army was fielded by a wealthy country, and had up-to-date equipment. The Mexican Army was that of a bankrupt nation. The French intervention started because Mexico was deeply in debt to Europeans.
Last, the U.S. Army had a tradition of submitting to civilian rule, the opposite of the Mexicans. Mexican officers were astounded when Scott obeyed a letter from President Polk firing him after the war ended. They were amazed he didn't just declare himself the local ruler.

I've always been interested in this war. But my apartment is nearly full of books, figures and terrain. And I'm long in the tooth.

[Doug E]

Muggins, excellent job, I thorougly enjoyed reading the blog posts.  Very informative, and you were spot on with your descriptions of the political climate in the U.S. at the time.

My Texan national pride compels me to address a couple of your comments, though. 

The U.S. did not take Texas from Mexico.  Texans took Texas from Mexico.  They may have mostly immigrated from the U.S. but were in no way acting as agents for the US government.  (In fact, many of them might have come to Texas to escape lawmen, creditors, or in-laws in the US.)  And it wasn't just the "Anglos", there were a fair number of "Hispanic" Texans who also fought for independence, just as there were wars for independence going on in other Mexican states.

Of course "assistance" came from the US, but it was a very small amount of assistance and was as likely coming from private sources as governmental ones.  How many countries at war don't get at least some assistance from other countries?  And how much more so in cases of Revolution?  The political climate of which you spoke can attest to the fact the public and the Congress would not permit the US to take Texas or anything else from Mexico.

Texas itself was just as divided on whether or not to seek admission to the U.S. and remained an independent Republic for almost a decade after winning independence.  During that time, Texas (without help from the U.S.) had to repulse several attempts by Mexico to retake Texas by military force.

Which brings us to the southern border and the Rio Grande River - but that's another discussion for another time.

--

Again, thanks for the links to the blog posts.  You mention wanting to do something along the lines of the second French intervention - which I am anxious to know more about how that's going.

Are you familiar with the Battle of Camaron?  I'm curious to see how that could be played on the tabletop.  Presumably, each Legionaire would be able to take cover behind two large steel spherical objects.

[muggins]

Muggins, excellent job, I thorougly enjoyed reading the blog posts.  Very informative, and you were spot on with your descriptions of the political climate in the U.S. at the time.

My Texan national pride compels me to address a couple of your comments, though. 

The U.S. did not take Texas from Mexico.  Texans took Texas from Mexico.  They may have mostly immigrated from the U.S. but were in no way acting as agents for the US government.  (In fact, many of them might have come to Texas to escape lawmen, creditors, or in-laws in the US.)  And it wasn't just the "Anglos", there were a fair number of "Hispanic" Texans who also fought for independence, just as there were wars for independence going on in other Mexican states.

Of course "assistance" came from the US, but it was a very small amount of assistance and was as likely coming from private sources as governmental ones.  How many countries at war don't get at least some assistance from other countries?  And how much more so in cases of Revolution?  The political climate of which you spoke can attest to the fact the public and the Congress would not permit the US to take Texas or anything else from Mexico.

Texas itself was just as divided on whether or not to seek admission to the U.S. and remained an independent Republic for almost a decade after winning independence.  During that time, Texas (without help from the U.S.) had to repulse several attempts by Mexico to retake Texas by military force.

Which brings us to the southern border and the Rio Grande River - but that's another discussion for another time.

--

Again, thanks for the links to the blog posts.  You mention wanting to do something along the lines of the second French intervention - which I am anxious to know more about how that's going.

Are you familiar with the Battle of Camaron?  I'm curious to see how that could be played on the tabletop.  Presumably, each Legionaire would be able to take cover behind two large steel spherical objects.

I appreciate your feedback! I definitely agree, it wasn't a gov't sanctioned thing - but my reading indicates that when Mexico stopped letting people settle from the USA (mostly from southern states, bringing enslaved people), and outlawed slavery in Texas, it was completely ignored. More people from the USA kept coming. While it wasn't a US govt action, Americans took Texas, in my opinion. I can see your side, for sure.

I actually know almost nothing about the second French intervention - my knowledge of Mexican history is very very bad, unfortunately, which is why these projects have been so much fun - learning so much. I wish I knew Spanish!

[Doug E]

Indeed, you are correct.  In the earlier days of "Norteamericanos" settling in Mexican Texas, they were all pretty carefully vetted to ensure the right sort of people were permitted, and there were requirements such as swearing their allegience to Mexico and converting to Catholicism (if not already Catholic).  For the sake of brevity, they can be referred to as Texicans.

IIRC, there were even instances of Texican militias taking action against those who weren't playing by Mexico's rules, though I can't provide specific examples at the moment.

When this arrangement started falling apart, it was because of many things happening simultaneously.  More and more people from the U.S. had started settling here illegally, while at the same time those who had come legally were growing more disillusioned with Mexico.  Santa Anna had suspended the Constitution which had given the settlers rights similar to those they had in the U.S. - and revolutionary movements sprang up in other Mexican states as well as Texas.  (Technically, both Texas and Coahuila formed a single Mexican state - even more reason for the Texicans to feel their unique situation was not appreciated.)  So basically, Santa Anna had switched from "states rights" to "strong central government (where I'm in charge)".

I'm sure you already knew all this through your research - I just felt compelled to respond to your comment because not acknowledging it felt wrong.  Then I did my usual thing of talking too much.

As for the French "intervention" in Mexico, if you're not already familiar with it, you might find the aforementioned Battle of Camaron interesting - not because of any major impact on the overall conduct of the war, but because some soldiers did some awesome soldiering. It was indirectly responsible for the relief of one beseiged city, which ultimately enabled the French to capture Mexico City.

Some great background info about the war, as well as a play by play of the battle, can be found here:
https://foreignlegion.info/battle-of-camerone/

Or you could simply look it up on Wikipedia.

Also, I wish I spoke Spanish too.  From time to time I entertain the fantasy of going back to school for a Masters or Doctorate in History - then I remember the foreign language requirement - something for which I have no aptitude.

So, have fun with your research - and your gaming.  I look forward to reading all about it.

[traveller]

Excellent info! Many thanks for sharing!