Valverde 1862 in 54mm
A cold February day in 1862 in New Mexico two armies met on the Rio Grande. General Sibley's Confederate force were determined to block the Federal supply route and consequently a battle with General Canby's US forces occurred.
The Fifth Texas (lancers) arrive move two..(I converted and painted these over the last three days but still have some work to do on them). The bark represents the outline of a dry river bed on the Mexican side.
US infantry column crossing into the river.
Confederate cavalry drive off green US New Mexico cavalry and over-run a gun.
Retreating New Mexico cavalry.
A Confederate six pounder destroys the enemy 24 pounder but later misfires and blows up!
Another gun has its crew killed by enemy shooting and the cavalrymen take over the firing of the gun, inexpertly but eventually scoring a hit on enemy infantry.
US cavalry overrun the Texan dismounted cavalry. These attackers are the green cavalry formerly driven off but now rallied.
In the face of overwhelming US forces the few remaining Confederates retreat. (Although the figures in the foreground are Terry's Texas Rangers they were not actually present at the battle).
A more detailed report will follow.
SETUP AND BACKGROUND
Mike Blake sent me an article on the battle which helped me set up the deployment. The actual battle began at 8.45 AM and continued into the afternoon. Troops from both sides arrived at different times, with the Confederates outnumbered at the start, then the federals were outnumbered before the tables were reversed again and the Confederates were significantly outnumbered. I translated the arrivals times into game moves.
US forces reserves arrive from the Western side of the river and Confederates from the Eastern side.
At the start of the game the Confederate elite 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles was deployed on the eastern side of the river facing towards the Rio Grande and the US combined 1st and 3rd US Cavalry (elite) and the green 3rd New Mexican Mounted volunteers (green). Historically the US forces were cautious but mat handled them aggressively. We decided to use initiative rolls for each move (something we don't usually do). The roll results favored the Federal forces. In the actual battle the Confederates dismounted in the dry river bed which was opposite the actual river but they didn't get much chance to do that in the game as the US forces went on the offensive.
On move two US green infantry arrived and average artillery battery. (For the guns I halved the numbers for the game so one 6 pounder, one 12 pounder and 24 pounder ). At this point another unit of CSA 4th Texas mounted arrives armed with lances (average). In the game the lancers charge the US cavalry but are driven off. The 2nd Texas cavalry charged and overran one of the federal guns and drove of the New Mexican mounted unit (which later rallied).
Move three a CSA 6 pdr, Commander Sibley and the 4th Texas Mounted arrived. (Average)
Move 5 another CSA 6 pdr arrived.
Move 6 Three elite US infantry units arrived - 5th, 7th and 10th.
Move 7 Kit Carson's New Mexican volunteers arrive (superior in quality to the other volunteers counted them as average).
Move 10. Another unit of CSA 7th Texas mtd Volunteers cavalry arrives and a 6 pdr.
Move 12 US militia arrives, a half strength unit of green cavalry and general Canby arrives.
For the Confederates to win the game like they did in history they needed to gain great success early before the Federal numbers became overwhelming. Despite some success such as overrunning and destroying US artillery there were some bad events for the Rebs. These included a 6 pdr misfiring and blowing up, Confederate cavalry initially refusing to attack US cavalry that had penetrated the reb deployment zone.
One loss Matt's federal force suffered suffered was the loss of his 24 pdr when it crossed the ford. Our rule was all artillery and the bulk of the army had to cross the river on canby's arrival but mat sent his artillery piece across even before he had to. It was blown up by the Confedderate gun rather than the attack of the cavalry.
SPECIAL RULES
The Confederates had the 'Rebel Yell rule'. Once in the game this could be declared and all Reb units could move D6 (foot0 or D12 inches mounted with +1 to leadership for that move. The rebs also caused D6 extra casualties from short range firing and first round of melees to reflect use of shotguns and pistols.
Any green troops charged or witness to an adjacent unit overrun, destroyed ot failing morale also had to test for morale and would retreat if failed.
Mat and I are going to replay the battle but changing sides.
The Fifth Texas (lancers) arrive move two..(I converted and painted these over the last three days but still have some work to do on them). The bark represents the outline of a dry river bed on the Mexican side.
SETUP AND BACKGROUND
Mike Blake sent me an article on the battle which helped me set up the deployment. The actual battle began at 8.45 AM and continued into the afternoon. Troops from both sides arrived at different times, with the Confederates outnumbered at the start, then the federals were outnumbered before the tables were reversed again and the Confederates were significantly outnumbered. I translated the arrivals times into game moves.
US forces reserves arrive from the Western side of the river and Confederates from the Eastern side.
At the start of the game the Confederate elite 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles was deployed on the eastern side of the river facing towards the Rio Grande and the US combined 1st and 3rd US Cavalry (elite) and the green 3rd New Mexican Mounted volunteers (green). Historically the US forces were cautious but mat handled them aggressively. We decided to use initiative rolls for each move (something we don't usually do). The roll results favored the Federal forces. In the actual battle the Confederates dismounted in the dry river bed which was opposite the actual river but they didn't get much chance to do that in the game as the US forces went on the offensive.
On move two US green infantry arrived and average artillery battery. (For the guns I halved the numbers for the game so one 6 pounder, one 12 pounder and 24 pounder ). At this point another unit of CSA 4th Texas mounted arrives armed with lances (average). In the game the lancers charge the US cavalry but are driven off. The 2nd Texas cavalry charged and overran one of the federal guns and drove of the New Mexican mounted unit (which later rallied).
Move three a CSA 6 pdr, Commander Sibley and the 4th Texas Mounted arrived. (Average)
Move 5 another CSA 6 pdr arrived.
Move 6 Three elite US infantry units arrived - 5th, 7th and 10th.
Move 7 Kit Carson's New Mexican volunteers arrive (superior in quality to the other volunteers counted them as average).
Move 10. Another unit of CSA 7th Texas mtd Volunteers cavalry arrives and a 6 pdr.
Move 12 US militia arrives, a half strength unit of green cavalry and general Canby arrives.
For the Confederates to win the game like they did in history they needed to gain great success early before the Federal numbers became overwhelming. Despite some success such as overrunning and destroying US artillery there were some bad events for the Rebs. These included a 6 pdr misfiring and blowing up, Confederate cavalry initially refusing to attack US cavalry that had penetrated the reb deployment zone.
One loss Matt's federal force suffered suffered was the loss of his 24 pdr when it crossed the ford. Our rule was all artillery and the bulk of the army had to cross the river on canby's arrival but mat sent his artillery piece across even before he had to. It was blown up by the Confedderate gun rather than the attack of the cavalry.
SPECIAL RULES
The Confederates had the 'Rebel Yell rule'. Once in the game this could be declared and all Reb units could move D6 (foot0 or D12 inches mounted with +1 to leadership for that move. The rebs also caused D6 extra casualties from short range firing and first round of melees to reflect use of shotguns and pistols.
Any green troops charged or witness to an adjacent unit overrun, destroyed ot failing morale also had to test for morale and would retreat if failed.
Mat and I are going to replay the battle but changing sides.
Very nice game! Looks like it was a load of fun. I had never heard of this battle! There are not many times that happens with the ACW anymore, so thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt was fun, although I was disappointed the Rebs didn't win the battle, both times. I think I should have had a few more figures on the CSA side even though they were historically outnumbered. i think the CSA will have more chance in our next battle even though, historically they lost Glorieta Pass due to losing their wagons. I'm going to give the rebs some chance of saving their supply train.
DeleteI had no idea that lancers existed in respect of the ACW. You learn something new every day. Very nicely done scenario. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThe Texans had a few lancer armed regiments, apparently under the influence of their experience with Mexican lancers. but they were better off with their shotguns and pistols.
DeleteThe Yankees had Rush's lancers.
Thanks fellas. Just recently I found more articles and books on the subject. I'm doing Glorieta Pass next, possibly on the weekend. The Confederates will be more like the mounted rifles they were in these battles.
ReplyDeleteThe Confederates, especially Texan, battles against Apaches are also interesting. In this particular campaign the Apaches did manage to steal Confederate horses and kill some stragglers when the Confederate forces had to retreat due to Colonel Chivington's destruction of Confederate wagons and supplies. We'll see if that happens in the next wargame.
I was always more interested in the less well known Western battles, partly because my first introduction to American history was in my childhood through Westerns on TV.
Also, 'The Good, The Bad And The Ugly has references to Sibley the csa commander and Canby the union commander.
ReplyDelete