All right, let's be honest. How many times have you read an article in a wargaming magazine that said, something similar to: "The Ashanti Expeditionary Field Force offers the widest possibilities for the wargaming enthusiast ever believed to be possible."? We all have. Well dear reader, here is another one of those same type articles. There is a major difference with this one, however; this one is true.
The Mexican-American War, despite the apparent neglect it receives from wargamers who tend to focus on the mainstream periods and conflicts, has vast potential for the wargamer looking for something new and challenging. It will be the aim of this article to present a brief introduction to the conflict and theaters of operations. This information will then be viewed as to how it may be utilized by the wargamer who views this as a possible period to explore for tabletop combat.
The period immediately preceeding the conflict between the United States and Mexico was a turbulent one for both nations. The citizens of Mexico had not yet settled into a form of government with which they were comfortable. Frequent revolutions and quiet political exchanges of power hampered any possibility for stability that the Mexican people hoped for. Greedy local officials and even greedier national officials lined their own pockets at the expense of their citizens. The economic environment of the Mexican government was also in a shambles. In order to try to pay debts to foreign powers, the Mexican government cut corners in an attempt to control expenses.
These cuts often adversely effected the military establishment of Mexico as the military was often issued old, unserviceable and obsolete military cast offs of other nations. Although the military equipment was in many cases of poor quality, the Mexican soldier of the time was arguably one of the best dressed in the world. Mexican military personnel were issued extravagant, even gaudy uniforms, that were quite out of place in the harsh environment that the Mexican soldier found himself placed in.
On the northern side of the border, the United States was going through its own political difficulties, and national growing pains. The desire for the United States to realize its dream of "Manifest Destiny" was shared by the vast majority of the population. However, means to achieve that end were often hotly debated. Immediately prior to the heightening of tensions between the U.S. and Mexico growing into the conflict known as the Mexican-American War (1846-48) Polk was elected as President due to his strong expansionist views. While the political maneuvering and rationales behind the conflict are beyond the scope of this article, it must be remembered that the call to arms was not a universally accepted solution to the tensions between the two North American republics.
Both of the nations involved in the war had a false sense of their own ability to carry on an armed conflict with a European style adversary. The U.S. and Mexico had great experience in dealing with hostile Native Americans, and Mexico was even able to boast experience in dealing with revolutions and counter-revolutions, and European adversaries, but neither country had any great experience in dealing with military matters on a large scale. This lack of experience did not hinder either country from going full speed ahead into a conflict that would last for two years.
For the wargamer who wishes to take up this interesting period of history he will find that there are numerous options open to him in size, area and scope. The conflict was not solely situated in the area of modern day Mexico. California, States in the U.S. southwest, and the Gulf of Mexico regions all were scenes of military action during the war. "What if" campaigns and battles could also be fought in the southern areas of the U.S. or in the Yucatan Peninsula area.
The sizes of the forces that met on the fields of battle in this conflict vary across the spectrum. This variation allows the period to be gamed at many different levels. Skirmish games are possible as a starting point until larger forces are amassed or as an end in itself. Frequent skirmishes took place during the war and it is in these skirmishes that the wargamer will find the greatest equality in the forces and their abilities. Historically, the smaller, skirmish size encounters were often a closer run dispute than were the larger field battles which found the Americans usually victorious. Several interesting skirmish actions can be found in reading even general history accounts of the war.
The ambush of Major Thornton at the beginning of the war by Mexican cavalry was a Mexican victory that would have great possibilities for an evening's skirmish. Another possibility for a skirmish scenario or campaign would be the Texas Rangers search deep into Mexican territory for General Antonio Cannales. Cannales, known as the "Chaparral Fox" due to his prewar raids into Texas with his irregular forces, was hated by the Texans who made this special effort to capture him. The Rangers never did catch up to him but the effort would afford excellent games.
If the gamer is looking for that one period that would allow him to break from his normal period of interest and wants to walk the line between skirmish games and large field actions, the Mexican-American War provides this option also. Small to medium field armies were employed by both sides during the war. One of the most famous marches of the time was made by the Doniphan Column. Doniphan, a volunteer from Missouri who was elected to command, suppressed a large area of Mexican territory with two battalions of volunteers and a battery of artillery. Similarly, the campaigns in California could be considered for medium size battles that would require a minimum amount of investment in time and money.
Battles in California offer options of forces totaling 1,000 troops for both sides as a norm. Using the smaller figure scale of 1:10, this would only be 100 figures total needed for a battle of historic proportions.
And finally, for those gamers who never seem to have enough figures and are looking to get into a period in a big way, the Mexican-American War offers that alternative also. The Mexican army at Buena Vista fielded a force of between 16,000 and 20,000 troops (depending on the source). The American troops under Scott on the way to Mexico City from Vera Cruz never exceeded 15,000 in numbers. These two forces represent the farthest extremes that a gamer would need, to field the largest possible forces used by either side during the war.
These totals, when compared to other more "popular" periods of interest are certainly within the reach of the average wargamer. Usinga figure scale of 1:20, total figures for both sides would not have to exceed 1700. A figure scale of 1:50 places that number even closer within reach.
The tactics of the time were a blend of Napoleonics and the American Civil War. All of the major field commanders of the period had gained their experience from service in or the study of Napoleonic warfare, many American generals having fought in the War of 1812. Mexican generals often had former military experience utilizing Naploenic tactics. Santa Anna himself had once been an officer in the Spanish army. These generals continued to use the tactics that they had for years. Combined with these established methods of warfare were those that had been learned on the frontiers against Indians. These tactics were continued by units such as the Texas Rangers and various volunteer units.
Theaters of Operations
Theaters of operations for the war may be conveniently divided into five main areas. First, Zachary Taylor's northern campaign. This covers the beginning and early stages of the war and is centered around the area of southern Texas and northern Mexico. Secondly, the operations in California which include combined land and sea operations and the military and political see-saw that occurred there. Naval and Marine landing parties played a large part in this campaign. The third area of operations would be in the southwest area of the United States and down into the western areas of Mexico. This would be the area that the famous Doniphan march passed through.
The fourth area of operations would be those of the Navy along the Gulf of Mexico and up the inland waterways from the Gulf. The Navy, on several occasions, made forays up the coast and into the larger rivers that poured into the Gulf, in orderto take towns, fortifications, ships and to interrupt shipping and trade. Several of these excursions up the rivers were led by steamers loaded with sailors and marines while the steamers would give fire support from the river.
The fifth and final area of operations would be that from Vera Cruz to Mexico City through which Winfield Scott led American troops. This campaign started with the first ever American amphibious landing assault. It ends with the first U.S. occupation of a foreign capitol. These five theaters offer several divisions within themselves that could be gamed, such as guerrilla actions and advance guards, rear guards and control of supply bases.
Each of these five listed theaters easily lends itself to wargaming. The scope of potential involvement in any one area is extremely versatile. One to one skirmish actions are possible in any of the listed areas. An advance scout into a hostile village in California by members of the California Battalion is just as possible as would be a naval landing party going ashore to assault a Mexican gun position that is preventing passage of American vessels.
On the other hand, these small actions may only be the prelude to larger scale actions that could be fought using a figure ratio anywhere from 1:10 to 1:50. Because the period has such a flexible capability, a campaign could easily be run allowing for skirmish and large scale combats.
Rules for the period do exist. When I first entered into my involvement in the Mexican-American War I thought that the choices of available rule sets were limited. With a little thought, imagination and luck, I realized that there were a number of rule sets available that would allow for actions during the 1846-48 period. Some of these are ready made forthe period. Others with only slight modification are quite suitable. And others are suitable as is, but it would appear that the author had no idea that they could be used for any period other than that for which he wrote them.
It is my hope that I have given the reader a short view into a period of North American history that I personally find fascinating and that historically changed the face of the North American continent. I further hope that I have provided the mental nudge that may be needed for the reader to look into the period for further study on his own with the eventual aim of trying his hand in the slightly off center and out of the mainstream.
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