The other day a fellow gamer said to me: "Hey, I know all about Old California.... I saw the name.... Zorro." The comment of course, in jest, but the fact does remain that few people know about California before the 1949 Gold Rush. In my article on the Mexican War in California (Wargame Illustrated 124). I attempted to fill in a gaps in the general knowledge of this period. This article will address the colorful nature of skirmish warfare in Old California and offer three scenarios based on actual incidents Civil Unrest in Old California The landscape was dominated by the real power brokers, land barons and their aristocractic families. California was also ruled by a governor appointed by the Mexican government. Its first governor, Jose Maria Echenadia, arrived in 1825 with his battalion, known as the Fijo de Hildalgo, and an attachment of artillery. His troops were universally disliked in California. They were largely composed of convicts whose scandalous behavior alienated Californians. Thus, a rift began between the Californos and the Mexican government. This rift widened over the Mexican desired to control smuggling, which resulted in the closing of all ports save Monterey (in the north, 80 mi. south of San Francisco). This exacerbated the north-south tensions as the southern ranchers resented the expense of sending goods north for trade. With the squabbling between California and Mexico, and between the northern and southern aristocratic families, California remained in a state of political turmoil until the Mexican War. The military laudscape of California had its own peculiarities. California's defenses had be centered around a few Presidios or forts, Largely undermanned, the garrisons were regarded as the personal property of their officers who often owned vast expanses of land given as a reward for milita service. These officers provided the funds to keep these military forces operational (if just barely). With soldiers owing allegiance to their officers, not the state, California created a semi-feudal society. Uniforms of these soldiers varied greatly. The irregular nature of the soldiery and the difficulties resupply rendered a colorful patchwork of uniforms. Helen Shubert captured this best when she wrote The Men who Met the Yankees in 1846. On the march these pastoral dragoons must have cut quite picturesque figure against the summer-browned hills of the California coast. The colors of their scrap [paunchos] catching the sunlight. their leather cuirasses and defensas [chaps] flapping in the breeze a their Colored lance-pennants fluttering above them. An occasional shield with its castilian heraldry, to must have betokened the semi-feudal and languishing order they sought to defend Early uniformed troops had been more formal. Officers uniforms changed little in the 20 years prior to the Mexican War. Shubert describes them as being: ... trousers, light and dark blue or white, were long and close fitting.... the coat was either white or red. with large button reverse of green for red coat or gold for white, the collar stood high and in keeping with the reverse. A sash of scarlet was worn around the waist. ... The dress hat was the fore and aft type trimmed with a plume .. and with gold braid along the edges This description is clearly based upon comments from visitors to California during the 1820's, 30's and 40's who oft commented about the lavish uniforms of the officers. The other ranks usually fired less well in the uniform department. Dragoons. who formed a majority of the California defense force originally wore uniform of dark blue with silver buttons, and a low-crowned. broad brimmed, black hat. Under his pants he wore drawers of white and on campaign he wore a sleeveless leather jacket (in earlier days) and chaps. Other militia units were supposed to uniform themselves in blue pantaloons, a dark green coat, and a black shako. Alvarado's troops wore a black broad-brimmed hat with a white hat band silver button, white belting, black boots. red collar and sash. and dark green coat and trousers. Of the troops that came from Mexico, like the San Blas Battalion, their black shakos with brass plate, dark blue coats with raised collar and cuffs, white belts and trousers quickly disintegrated under normal use and poor supply. It's sad to say that in regards to uniforms, informality was formal in California. Catifornio battles were also distinctive. Historian Robert Kells describes them as being Comic operas.... full of sound and fury, signifying very little. Full of color and panache, the battles fell far short of being bloody affairs. One reason for this was the frequency of intermarriage between elite families. With the danger of killing a father-in-law, the elite Californio knew how far to push the skirmish. The underpaid, and often unpaid, common soldier seldom was ready to fight to the last man in a battle over issues of no concern to him. Troops were largely undisciplined: the elites being strong individualists arm hard to control, and the common troops of poor quality. Firearms varied greatly, from flintlock pistols to old English tower muskets, powder was generally of poor quality. The most effective weapons of the period were used in the saddle: the lance and the reata (lasso). The superb horsemanship of the Californios, comparable to that of the Plains Indians, made up for the lack of modern equipment. The Scenarios: There are a great many skirmish incidents and little wars upon which to base a game. For this article, I will only examine three Californio vs. Californio/Mexico conflicts. For a full explanation of these battles, and the events leading to each conflict, the reader is directed to the bibliography at the end of the article. All I shall attempt to do here is provide a setting and give a quick sketch of the skirmish with an alternate scenario for gaming purposes . (Note: all soldiers are mounted lancers with muskets unless stated otherwise.) Battle of Calmenga Pass, 1831: The Setting: Just North of Cahuenga Pass in Southern California, in the month of December. Battle takes place in an open field of tall grass on hillsides near the present day intersection of Hwy 101 and Hwy 405. The Event/Scenario: Personages involved in this event reads like a place-name guide to California. Californios resented the current governor, Lt. Col. Don Manuel Victoria. and his policy of sending well-known residents into exile (like J. A. Carrillo and Abel Streans). The exiles and others like Pro Pico and former governor Echeandia, organized a revolt and issued a pronouncement against Victoria. On December 4th, 1831, Victoria and 30 men of the Mazateco Squadron (under Capt. Pacheco) met up with the Rebel force of 180 (30 being the other half of the Mazateco Squadron under Capt. Portilla). then occupying a hill overlooking the pass. Victoria led his men to within shouting distance, having organized them into a line, 5 ranks deep. Pacheco and Victoria both called for the facing 30 Mazatecos to switch sides. Insults soon turned into violence as Avila, who had been jailed for sedition. charged Pacheco and killed him (and later went on the wound Victoria with his lance). The brief skirmish ended in two dead, with Victoria surviving his wounds and being sent back to Mexico. Had the other 30 professional soldier, the Mazatecos Linder Portilla switched sides, what would have been the outcome? Incident at Santa Teresa, 1844 The Setting: Oak studded hillside overlooking a valley floor with a spring and a rancho at the base of the hillside. Weather is cold, having snowed the day before, this occasionally happens in California! The Event/Scenario: Northern Californio distaste for the government could no longer be contain as open revolt began against General Micheltorena and his ill-mannered soldiers from Mazatlan. Don Manuel Castro and Juan Bautista Alvarado led the rebels to within a mile of Micheltorena's encampment at the rancho. Micheltorena's force is comprised of 150 infantry (and 3 artillery), the rebels (dismtd lancers with muskets) count 220 among their number. As both side position themselves for battle, Micheltorena offers a chance to parley. The outcome is a pronouncement offered by Micheltorena, eventually agreeing to send his thugs home to Mazatlan. (I promise he wouldn't keep.) No doubt that Castro and the others would have preferred a more defining outcome what would have happened if the attack would have been made? Battle of Cahuenga Pass, 1845: The Setting: Almost the same spot as the previous battle, along the Los Angeles River, The Event/Scenario: A continuation of the Santa Teresa event, this battle occurred on the 20th of February of the following year. Castro and Alvarado army of 284 men (and two cannon), then at Los Angeles. advanced north through the pass and into the San Fernando Valley, meeting Micheltorena's force of 375 men (infantry) and 3 cannon: 34 of the men are mounted riflemen from Sutter's Fort (under John Sutter's command). After a day of trading cannon salvos and storms of bullets, Micheltorena's force retired along the Los Angeles River to a spot 10-12 miles south of Encino. A brief battle was fought at that spot the next day before Micheltorena Surrender, and was sent back to Mexico. Figures and Rules John McEwan at Reviresco (1119 San Francisco Ave. NE, Olympia. WA 98506 USA) has recently added a few new figures to his Old California/Mexican War line in true 25mm scale. In my earlier article on the Mexican War in California (WI124), I outlined his line of Californios of that line the Mtd. and dismtd Mexican Lancers and the Presidial lancers are particularly appropriate and fit well with his new additions. New to the line is a rather familiar looking masked man with sword (both mounted and dismounted)! This may not add anything to the historical side of California, but it does make for enjoyablc skirmish gaming. An excellent dismounted "earthy Californio was a choice of two different heads) is also available, hand open and ready to receive a weapon from a superb weapons spruce (two different swords, meat cleaver. pistol, axe and knife), Another citizen advances with open hands, the figure bears a resemblance to an Americano. John has not forgotten the role of Native Americans in California and has created a one of a kind figure for this period: the figure is open-handed, ready to receive a spear or axe/knife. Finally, on the dragoon side, Reviresco offers 4 dismounted figures (in shako on guard duty, advancing w/musket, advancing w/sword, standing w/sword and broad-brimmed hat), one mounted w/shako, and one figure (closer to 1/72nd scale) with a broad-brimmed hat. John also makes superb wagons, artillery and limbers. As to rules, I still enjoy Featherstone's Skirmish Wargames rules, which are available through Time Rover Press (40124 Lone Oak Road, Zion, IL 600099, USA). I find that these rules will easily handle up to 20 figures per side (before getting bogged down in paper work). Another well-tested rules set is The Sword and the Flame, rules written for British Colonial games, but easily adapted to any period in the 19th Century. A Selected Bibliography Bancroft's History of California, volumes 3 and 4 ... ... if you can find them. Check your local university library for a copy. Bean, Walton and Rawls, James. California An Interpretive History. University of California Press, 1988. A good general history of California, best prior to the 4th edition. Kells, Robert E. Jr. The Spanish Legary: A chaotic Military in a Semi-Faudal Province. The Californians. October 1989. Knill, Ham. The Story of California and her Flags volumes 1-3 Bellerophon Books, 1996. Actually a set of 4 coloring books for kids about California's history ' its full of ideas and uniforms for the gamer. Osio. Antonio Maria. The History of California: A Memoir of Mexican California. University of Wisconsin Press. 1996. A good account of Californian history from a Californian point of view. Rosenus. Alan. General Vallejo and the Advent of the Americans. Heyday Books, 1999 Recently released in paperback. this book won an award for the best Western biography of the year. Shubert, Helen. The Men who Met the Yankees in 1846. California Historical Society Qtrly. March, 1934. A well written account of pre- American California militia. Back to MWAN #107 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2000 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com