Yesterday we played our second Sharp Practice game set during the Texas Revolution of 1835-36. Messrs Jim Bibbly, Silent Invader and Captain Blood gathered at my house for another days fun.
The History behind the scenario:
Beginning in October 1835, Texians laid siege to the town of Bejar (San Antonio). The last engagement before the Texians stormed the town came on November 26. On that day, scout Erastus "Deaf" Smith rode into the Texian encampment with the news that Mexican cavalry with pack animals were approaching the town to bring reinforcements to General Martin Perfecto de Cos at the Alamo.
The Texians were eager to stop the reinforcements, and had high hopes that the pack animals were carrying silver coins -- back pay for the Mexican troops. General Edward Burleson sent 40 cavalry under James Bowie and 100 infantry under William H. Jack to stop the reinforcements and seize the supply train.
The two cavalry forces skirmished west of town, with Cos sending infantry to the aid of the supply train. The Texas forces pushed the Mexican troops into the town and seized the supply train of 40 pack animals. The casualties numbered four Texians wounded, three Mexicans dead and 14 wounded.
When the Texians opened the booty carried by the animals, they discovered not silver coins but grass, intended to feed the army animals.
The Game:Texians: Silent Invader and Captain Blood. Mexicans: Jim Bibbly and myself.
The Texian force was divided into two groups of mounted riflemen, one led by Jim Bowie, the other “Deaf” Smith. They decided to dismount and occupy the rocks on either side of a valley that opened out onto the grass plains on the outskirts of San Antonio.
The Mexican players cautiously moved their supply train onto the board escorted by a half company of Presidial lancers and an infantry platoon. The commanding officer Capitano Santiago De La Bibbly moved ahead of his column nervously scanning the surroundings anticipating an ambush.
Unfortunately he failed to spot the two Texian groups and immediately came under attack from the expert Texian sharpshooters. The Texian plan was to shoot the civilian wagon drivers and drovers thus reducing the vehicles to a standstill.
This plan was to prove highly successful with the Mexicans failing to deliver significant damage to the Texians with their musketry who were well protected amongst the rocks above them. Corporal Gomez decided the only option was to take the high ground by force and launched a bayonet charge on “Deaf” Smith’s group. Smith obviously failed to hear the soldados scramble up the rocks and was quickly defeated. Smith just managing to escape the demise of his small command.
On the other side of the valley Jim Bowie was having a much better time, killing all the wagon drivers and also destroying the Presidial group who were unable to get into range with their carbines.
By the time Corporal Gomez had descended the rocks, reformed his platoon and moved across the valley Bowie was able to quickly and efficiently pick off his troops with his superior longer range rifles.
With the command decimated Capitano De La Bibbly and Corporal Gomez retired from the field leaving the victorious Texians to their Booty. So the game followed the historical course of events.
Texians painted by Bugsda, the Mexicans By Bugsda and Dave from my collection. Photos by Captain Blood.
Then followed a fictitious full on battle. more photos to follow.
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