The Battle of Huaqui

I have been looking at using 'Dominion of Napoleon Bonaparte' for fighting battles of the South American Wars of Liberation. I had to go up to Sydney for work yesterday, so I took the opportunity of a two-hour train trip each way to draw up some ideas (and even tested a couple of them on the way home using pencil and paper and a dice-rolling app on my phone).

My primary source are the scenarios in 'Liberators! - Napoleonic Wargaming in South America - Volume 1: The War In The South' by John Fletcher. This is chock-full of information not just on the battles but also on how the armies were structured and fought. 

By the end of the day I'd put together seven scenarios, and when I got home I gave them all at least one run-though and some of them a more thorough testing.

I'll post them over the next few days. In this post I'll concentrate on just one.

Huaqui (20th June 1811)

The Battle of Huaqui (also known as the Battle of Guaqui) took place on 20 June 1811 near the shores of Lake Titicaca, on the border between present-day Bolivia and Peru. It was a major engagement in the Argentine War of Independence, where the Spanish royalist army decisively defeated the patriot forces of the Primera Junta of Buenos Aires.

In 1810, following the May Revolution in Buenos Aires, the newly formed revolutionary government sought to spread its authority across the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. The region of Upper Peru (modern Bolivia), still loyal to the Spanish Crown, became a key target. A Patriot army under Juan José Castelli and Antonio González Balcarce was sent north to defeat royalist forces and rally local support.

Initially, the campaign showed promise. The Patriots had won earlier battles, including the Battle of Suipacha, and occupied parts of Upper Peru. They hoped to inspire a general uprising against Spanish rule. However, internal divisions, overconfidence, and harsh treatment of locals undermined their position. Meanwhile, the Spanish regrouped under General José Manuel de Goyeneche, who had the backing of the Viceroy of Peru and better access to supplies and reinforcements.

By mid-1811, the Patriot army had stalled near Lake Titicaca, and morale was slipping. Despite signs that the Royalists were preparing to attack, the Patriots remained static, underestimating the threat. On 20 June, Goyeneche launched a well-coordinated assault on the Patriot positions near the town of Huaqui. 

Both armies had their eastern flank on the shores of Lake Titicaca, whilst each army was split in two by a ridge running north-south through the battlefield. The Patriots were simply formed up in two groups on each side of the ridge. The Royalists deployed some troops on it. The Patriot army was some 5,000 strong, whilst that of the Royalists numbered around 6,000.

Royalists: 2 x Column Infantry, 1 x Fortified Column Infantry (On Ridge), 1 x Elite Column Infantry (Flank Attack), 1 x Light Cavalry

Patriots: 2 x Column Infantry, 1 x unreliable Fortified Column Infantry (On Ridge), 1 x unreliable Artillery, 1 x Disciplined Light Cavalry, 1 x unreliable Disciplined Column Infantry (Numerous Peasant Reserves)

Royalists (Attackers)

Column (E), Light Cavalry
Column	Column (D)	Column
Column	Column (DU)	Column
Artillery (U), Light Cavalry (D), Column (DU)

Patriots (Defenders)

The Patriots were poorly coordinated on each side of the ridge, whilst the Royalists attacked aggressively and exploited the ridge as well as a pass through it to move troops from one side of the field to the other. 

The Royalist advance was swift and overwhelming. Patriot attempts to hold the line collapsed, and the army was thrown into full retreat. In just a few hours, the revolutionary army suffered a devastating defeat, losing thousands of men, supplies, and nearly all territorial gains in Upper Peru.

The loss at Huaqui shattered the revolutionary campaign in the north. The Royalists quickly reoccupied Upper Peru, and the Patriot army retreated in disarray. The defeat exposed the weaknesses of the early revolutionary forces and delayed further attempts to liberate the region.

Design Notes

As the first scenario in a series some of these notes will apply to all of them, whilst others are just for this battle. Aside from a few units from Spain towards the end, most infantry was locally-raised and often poorly equipped militia. Actually so was most of the cavalry. Units could fight bravely or flee the moment things went wrong. To this end I've classed most infantry as Column Infantry, as when two units fight you get wild swings of fortune including mutual destruction. 

Patriot cavalry seems to have been better used than that of the Royalists, so you'll find that they enjoy an advantage in most scenarios. Winning battles with a sweeping cavalry attack was very much a Patriot thing, as was losing them when that didn't work. With one exception all cavalry is Light Cavalry. 

Artillery was mostly light guns scattered through the army, so in most scenarios it will be single unreliable units and often present in one army where they had an obvious superiority.

As for this particular battle, the Royalist foot with advantages represents their exploiting the ridge and pass to wrong-foot the Patriots. Historically the Patriots didn't really have a centre, as they deployed nothing on the ridge. The unit they have there at the start represents an attempt to counter the Royalists that may or may not work. The Patriot army seemed to have a large number of indigenous ally troops in reserve, which I have represented by the 'disciplined' cavalry and infantry. Ideally the cavalry should be unreliable, as on the day these reserves simply ran the moment things went wrong, but I couldn't work it into the points and the cavalry does at least offer the Patriots some chance. The reserve foot is numerous but flighty. Basically if the Patriots roll well for their unreliable troops then they should hold the Royalist attack, but otherwise they are going to follow history.

International Naval Wargames Day 2025

August 6th, is the birthday of Fred Jane, author of 'Janes Fighting Ships' and, of course, pioneering naval wargamer. The day is celebrated as International Naval Wargames Day, and I convinced Catherine to play 'Galleys & Galleons' as our weekly Wednesday evening game (even though it was her turn to choose).

To be honest the day had crept up on me, so I didn't really have any time to plan anything ambitious. And I wanted to keep the game simple anyway, as we'd be starting fairly late in the evening. I decided to run my Punto Malpelo scenario from last year. In this action, set off the coast of South America in 1828, two vessels from the navy of the nascent nation of Gran Colombia - Guayaquilena and the Pichincha - attempt to break a blockade of a key river-mouth by a larger vessel of the Peruvian navy, the Libertad. The stats for all of the ships are in the post linked to above.

Catherine took the Peruvian interloper, whilst I took the Gran Colombians. The action starts with only Libertad and Guayaquilena on the field of battle. The Pichincha was slow getting into the action. Libertad has 24 guns, whilst the schooner Guayaquilena has a mere 14. The schooner had the weather gauge however - I had the two ships start on opposite edges but randomised where they appear. The Gran Colombian vessel appeared upwind of the Peruvian.

The appearance of the 20-gun Pichincha is diced for. When I played this last year I simply required a 6 at the start of the Gran Colombian turn, and it quickly appeared. But it seems that really its captain wasn't ready to commit until it looked like they might stand a chance in the fight, so I changed it for this game. The Gran Colombians couldn't start rolling - needed a 6 - until the turn after the Guayaquilena has fired a broadside at long range or closer. If the Libertad was damaged then there was a +1 to the roll. So the Guayaquilena had to close and shoot in order to stand a chance of any assistance.

The two vessels passed on converging courses, with the Guayaquilena doing its best to stay out of effective range of the Peruvian ship's heavier guns. The Peruvians fired first, but scored no damage.

Guayaquilena inflicted a hit with its opening broadside.

A return hit from the Libertad.

The nimble Guayaquilena danced around the Peruvian, and got in a couple more hits, leaving it seriously damaged. But the wind shifted against the Gran Colombian vessel and it had to pull away for some time, allowing Libertad time to repair the worst of the damage. A good job too, as, scenting victory, the Pichincha was coming up fast.

Libertad turned up into the wind as the two Gran Colombians captains brought their vessels down on it.

A broadside at the Guayaquilena failed to inflict any significant damage.

Guayaquilena passed across the Libertad's stern, but also failed to score any significant damage.

But both Gran Colombian ships were firing rapidly now, and the Libertad was struggling. It lost a mast too.

Guayaquilena survived another potentially crippling broadside; the Peruvian shooting was either abysmal of very unlucky.

More broadsides ...

... and the Libertad struck.

This was a fairly easy win for the Gran Colombians, although the fact that every time Catherine lined up a good shot she either rolled badly or I rolled well in defence meant that the shots didn't translate to useful damage. The Peruvian ship has some decent firepower, especially at close range. I exploited  turning ability as much as I could, forcing the Peruvian ship to conform to my movements instead of it controlling the battle. The plodding Pichincha was an added bonus.

So that's another International Naval Wargames Day over. Next year it will coincide with our regular wargames club night, so I will have to make sure we put on something bigger.

The Battle of Junin

I threw together this silly scenario from the South American Wars of Liberation for 'Dominion of Napoleon Bonaparte'.

Junin (6th August 1824)

By 1824, the independence movement in South America was nearing its climax. After years of fighting, Royalist forces still held much of the Peruvian highlands. Simón Bolívar, having secured victories in the north, now aimed to liberate Peru entirely. He gathered a mixed Patriot army - including troops from Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and Chile - and marched into the central highlands to confront the royalist army under General José de Canterac.

Bolívar’s campaign was bold but risky. His army had to cross harsh, mountainous terrain and maintain morale and supply lines at high altitude. The Royalists, though suffering from desertion and logistical problems, still posed a serious threat. On 6 August, near Lake Junín, both armies spotted each other and prepared for a confrontation.

Interestingly, Bolívar was not present at the actual battle, having moved ahead with an advance guard. He left command to General José de La Mar and trusted his cavalry to hold the line if contact was made. The Patriot cavalry numbered around 1,000 and it faced 1,300 Royalist horse. What followed would be a purely cavalry engagement, fought at over 4,000 meters above sea level, with no infantry or artillery involved. 

Royalists: 6 x Light Cavalry

Patriots: 2 x unreliable Light Cavalry (Surprised), 2 x Light Cavalry, 2 x Elite Light Cavalry (Surprise Attacks)

Royalists (Attackers)

Light Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Light Cavalry
Light Cavalry	Light Cavalry	Light Cavalry
Light Cavalry (U)	Light Cavalry	Light Cavalry (U)
Light Cavalry, Light Cavalry (E), Light Cavalry (E)

Patriots (Defenders)

The battle began with a surprise Royalist cavalry charge, which initially routed the Patriot vanguard. Royalist horsemen pushed deep into the Patriot lines, seeming close to victory. However, the tide turned when a Patriot squadron under Lieutenant Colonel Isidoro Suárez, acting without orders, wheeled around and hit the Royalist cavalry from the rear.

Caught off guard and exhausted by the altitude and long pursuit the Royalists collapsed in confusion. The Patriot cavalry regrouped and counterattacked, driving the Spanish horsemen from the field. The entire engagement lasted less than an hour. Not a shot was fired.

Though not a massive battle, Junín was a vital morale boost. It crippled Royalist cavalry strength and paved the way for the decisive Battle of Ayacucho four months later.

(I gave this a quick run through and it was as wild and silly as you might expect)

A Simple War Of Spanish Succession Campaign

This is a campaign designed for two players, although it could be extended to more with very little effort. It's designed for use with the 'Dominion of Marlborough and Peter The Great' rules, but could easily be adapted to other sets.

It requires a standard deck of playing cards with the jokers removed.

Deal each player a hand of six cards which are kept hidden from the opponent. Deal four cards from the deck between the two players. This is the pool.

Before each battle each player randomly selects one of their cards and places them face up in front of them. This is their stake. If a player only has one card left then they put just that in as the stake. If they lose it then they lose the campaign.

Armies can be determined by any means the players see fit, but there is a random army generator HERE

Fight the battle. At the end count up how many points of troops the winning side has left in play. Count untested unreliable units as still being unreliable, but any that passed and are in play at full cost. If the winning side has 8 or more points of troops left in play, then they have won a decisive victory.

The winner can then take one of their opponent’s stake cards OR one of the cards from the pool . If they win a decisive victory then they take their opponent’s stake AND one of the cards from the pool.

If a card was taken from the pool, then draw a card from the deck to replace it.

At the end of the third battle, and each subsequent battle, roll 2D6 and take the lowest score. Add to it the number of battles that have been fought. If the total is 9 or more then both sides are exhausted, and go to the negotiating table.

At the negotiating table each side creates the best five-card poker hand they can from their cards. If a player has fewer than five cards in their hand then they draw cards from the deck to make up the shortfall.

The player with the best poker hand wins the war.

When playing solo do not look at the dummy player’s cards. Deal one at random to be the stake in each battle. If the dummy player wins a battle then they will take the highest card or cards available. If there is a choice then they will dice for it. At the negotiating table draw one card from the deck and add it to their hand before checking to see what the best poker hand is for them. This is to offset their inability to manage their hand during the game.

Note that it’s entirely possible for a side to lose a run of battles but still get a good draw of cards and win the treaty negotiations. That’s politics for you.

And, for anyone like me who struggles with remembering these things, here's a list of poker hand, in order of precedence.

For the purposes of this campaign Aces are always (and only) high.
Suits do not break ties. The campaign can end in a draw if both sides have hands of equal rank.

Ranks - Highest card breaks ties.

Straight Flush - A run, all of the same suit.
Four of a Kind - Four cards, same value
Full House - Three of the same value and a pair of another value
Flush - All cards the same suit, any values
Straight - A run of values, any suits
Three of a Kind - Three cards, same value
Two Pairs - Two lots of two cards of the same value.
Pair - A single pair of cards of the same value.
High Card - The best card in your hand.

The Battle Of Pruth River - A Scenario For 'Dominion Of Marlborough and Peter The Great'

This is a scenario for 'Dominion of Marlborough and Peter The Great from a side-conflict of the Great Northern War. It's an excuse to get Ottomans on the table (and for me to use my Nottomans).

The 1711 battle of the Pruth River was a pivotal confrontation during the Russo-Turkish War of 1710–1711, which saw Tsar Peter the Great of Russia take on the Ottoman Empire under Grand Vizier Baltacı Mehmet Pasha. The battle was more a diplomatic and logistical crisis culminating in a negotiated escape for Russia, but I have set it up as a conventional battle. It represents a couple of days fighting, with the cavalry forces of both sides clashing before the Ottomans besiege the Russian camp.

The Battle of Pruth River (July 18-21 1711)

In the early 18th century, Russia was expanding its influence southward, especially following its victory at Poltava (1709) over Sweden. The defeated Swedish king, Charles XII, took refuge in Ottoman territory, encouraging the Sultan to declare war on Russia. Eager to establish Russian access to the Black Sea and check Ottoman influence, Peter launched a campaign into the Danubian Principalities (modern-day Romania and Moldova) in 1711 hoping to strike a decisive blow.

The Russian army was a large one of over 38,000 troops, supported by the Moldavian prince Dimitrie Cantemir, who had defected to the Russian side. However Peter underestimated the logistical difficulties and overestimated the support he would receive from local populations and allies like Wallachia. Meanwhile the Ottomans quickly mobilized a larger army - some 120,000 men - comprising Janissaries, Sipahis, and provincial levies, and they were also joined by Crimean Tatars.

By July, Peter’s army had advanced as far as the Pruth River, but became dangerously overextended, cut off from resupply, and trapped between the river and a superior Ottoman force. The Ottomans used their numerical advantage and superior knowledge of the terrain to surround the Russians near Stănilești.

Ottomans: 1 x Elite Line Infantry (Janissaries) , 1 x Elite Artillery, 1 x Pistoliers, 2 x Dragoons

Russians: 2 x Fortified Line Infantry, 1 x Line Infantry (Moldavians), 1 x Dragoons , 2 x Unreliable Dragoons

Ottomans (Attackers)

Line Infantry (E), Artillery (E)
Dragoons	Pistoliers	Dragoons
Dragoons (UR)	Dragoons	Dragoons (UR)
2 x Line Infantry (D), Line Infantry

Russians (Defenders)

Fighting took place from July 18–21, primarily as a series of skirmishes and defensive actions. The Russian infantry entrenched themselves in a fortified camp after becoming separated from their cavalry. Ottoman forces launched repeated assaults and maintained pressure through cavalry harassment and the deployment of around 300 pieces of artillery. Despite being surrounded and outnumbered, the Russian troops held firm in a desperate defence.

Russian supplies dwindled rapidly and disease and starvation set in. Sensing the vulnerability of Peter's position the Ottomans pressed negotiations. Despite having the upper hand militarily Mehmet Pasha was cautious, possibly fearing a drawn-out campaign, or having been bribed by Russian envoys.

The resulting Treaty of the Pruth allowed the Russian army to withdraw in exchange for territorial and diplomatic concessions, including the return of Azov to the Ottomans and the destruction of Russian forts. While a humiliation for Peter diplomatically, he avoided disaster. The Ottomans, despite their advantage, failed to exploit their victory decisively.

As with anything I post here, feedback is more than welcome, especially alternative views on the setup or  army compositions.

Design Notes: I gave the Ottomans elite infantry and artillery to represent the furious assaults on the Russian camp as well as the sheer weight of artillery they were able to bring to bear. Another option would be to make the artillery disciplined instead, which would increase its longevity against the Russian infantry. The Ottoman pistoliers represent some decent cavalry, using missile to weaken an enemy before charging. All other cavalry, on both sides, is represented by dragoons, and these could also represent Cossack foot units as well. The Russian cavalry went off looking to attack the Ottoman's supplies and camp, and became detached from the main army. Hence the unreliable rating. The initial setup means that the battle should flow from an initial series of cavalry actions to an assault on the Russian infantry in their fortified camp.