A Mexican Adventure From The Archives

I was doing another trawl of my PC's hard-drive last night, and came across this folder of photos. I think they used to be on my old website (of which The Stronghold was a part).

They were taken in 2003 and are of a Mexican Adventure game using 'Principles of War'. It featured and Imperial column, made up of poor quality Mexican units and better-quality Austrian troops was attacked by Republicans, who had a mix of regular and irregular units to manage. Sixteen years on I don't remember the details of the game, but the photos offered a few clues (there were some helpful titles).

This is the Imperial column on the march. In the background you can see one of the hidden unit 'blinds' which may or may not represent a command of Republicans.

The column was marching down a road towards a ford, and there was a farm on the other side (just out of shot to the right).

The Imperial cavalry breaks from the column to investigate possible enemy troop movements.

Republican cavalry appears on the flank of the column.

I think some Republican units must have appeared in front of the column as well, as this shows the Imperial foot forming up.

The opposing cavalry gets stuck in to each other.

The action develops. The cavalry fight is bottom right. To the top left are Republican guerillas, sensibly hiding in the scrub. Imperial infantry advances to clear them out. There are Republican troops in unknown strength on the other side of the stream.

Guerillas.

The Austrians form a line and advance on the irregulars.

The opposing commanders - the Republican CinC ...

... and his Imperial counterpart.

Some poor-quality Imperial foot pushed across the ford and occupied the farm, only to find themselves faced by the bulk of the Repulican's regular foot.

This was never going to end well for the Imperials.

Republican artillery added to their discomfort.

I don't recall the details of the final result, but I think the Imperial column was forced to fall back, unable to force a passage across the ford in the face of a determined Republican defence.

I might try to reconstruct this game using the Portable Wargame or some similar set.

All figures are by Irregular Miniatures and are, as you've probably guessed, 6mm. The buildings are by Hovels and Steve Barber.