Atapec, Morelos
December 1918
This is a fictional game set in Morelos during the Mexican Revolution. I am trying to write and expand my games into areas not usually covered, varying the oponents and challenges.
History
Morelos is a relatively young state, having only been created in 1869 by President Benito Juárez in honour of the independence leader, José María Morelos y Pavón. Morelos is also known as the home of Emiliano Zapata, one of the most famous revolutionaries of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Zapata’s cause was ignited by the inequities of the sugar industry that had thrived in Morelos since the early colonial period. Zapata would become the inspiration of the agrarian movement called Zapatismo which still exists in Mexico today.
By late 1918 after eight years of rebellion Zapata was on the defensive from the rampant government forces under General Gonzalez. Zapata`s forces had virtually returned to the hit-and-run Guerrilla tactics That had served them so well against the forces of Diaz through 1910 into 1911 before the dictator fled the country. Later after Zapata fell out with Madero over what he saw were broken promises, the Zapatistas used the same tactics against Madero`s government forces commanded by General Huerta 1911 who at the time was acting as a regional commander for the Madero Government after being given amnesty. Later still, those same tactics would prove equally effective against the forces of the now President Huerta (after his betrayal of Madero), which combined with the general rebellion across Mexico which eventually led to him (Huerta) fleeing the country too.
Zapata wasn`t really interested in anything except improving the lives of the Indians, peons and farmers who lived within Morelos. His forces were generally the least military of all the major factions, built around pueblos and villages, each group electing their own commanders. They generally did not train or fight as organised military units, refusing to wear regular uniforms or insignia (due to bad memories caused by Federal atrocities). Of all the factions the Zapatistas employed the smallest numbers of cannon and automatic weapons – mostly due to their aversion to military training and reluctance to absorb ex-Federals into their ranks! There were of course exceptions: some Federal officers and men went over to Zapata`s cause and this created some better organised units. Some Zapatista officers also saw the advantage of enforcing stricter training and discipline on their units, making them more military also.
Eventually the major flaw and downfall of Zapata`s movement and army was its non-military organisation, once separated from their home villages and towns, the units lacked the logistical support necessary for campaign, this became particularly evident once the Zapatista Army left its home states during the war against Carranza.
Federal commanders worked out that if they could isolate the “bandits” from their home villages, they could remove (or at least reduce) support. But even in 1918 the Zapatistas could still cause trouble and controlled large parts of the state and launched attacks, ambushed and harried their Federal opponents, this game represents one of those actions.
Game Background
Federal forces have occupied the Pueblo of Atapec, situated some 30miles south of the State Capital of Cuernavaca, which itself is 52miles from Mexico City. They are using the town as a supply base for their operations further west against Zapatista forces.
A local Zapatista leader, a Tlahuica Indian named Chato has decided to raid Atapec for supplies. Along with his own band (Indians from his own tribe), he has managed to convince Col. Miguel Gutierrez another Zapatista commander to add his own men into the attack also. The two groups, though allies are not under a unified command and will act independently against their common foe (the Federal Army). The townsfolk are citizens of Morelos so it is important that they and they property is left alone as much as is possible, the good will of the people is of critical importance.
Zapatista Forces
Chato`s Tlahuica Indians (see special game note 1)
Chato plus sub-leaders (see special game note 2)
This photo includes one 10-fig warband
3 x 10-figure bands - mixed arms; rifles & bows (see game note 3)
1 x 10 figure band of special scouts (see game note 4) – mixed weapons
1 x 6 figure band (mounted) – mixed weapons
Col. Gutierrez`s forces
1 foot company group (30 figures)
1 mounted group (10 figures)
Federal forces (see game special rule 5)
Major Fransisco Arturo Diez
1 company from the Federal 19th Infantry Battalion (30 figs)
1 machine gun from the Federal 19th Infantry Battalion
2 troops from the 9th Regiment of the Rural Guard Corps (20 men)
1 70mm field gun & crew (7th Artillery Regiment)
Note this photo includes the 19th Battalions Hotchkiss
Special game notes
1 All Tlahuica Indians gain +1 in melee
2 Chato and his two sub leaders add +1 morale to any Indian unit with command radius
3 Bow max range 6”
Range 1-3” - open 4-6, soft cover 6, hard cover 6
Range 4-6” – open 5-6, soft cover 6
4 Special scouts
These are highly skilled and add +1 to all dice (to hit, effects, morale, etc)
They move always as if they are one level of cover better (due to skill) so in the open they are considered in soft cover, etc
They are hard to spot causing a -1 to any spotting roles against them.
5 Off duty men
Due to the attack occurring at dawn, a portion of the garrison will be off duty, asleep. These will take 2-4 turns to organise themselves once the alarm is sounded.
My table
The game started around dawn with one platoon from Federal 19th Battalion asleep in their tents and one platoon of the Rural Guard in their barracks. Only one gunner was on sentry duty with the 70mm, the rest asleep in a nearby house. The Federal commander had taken the hotel has his personal quarters and had half a platoon from 19th Battalion as a personal guard. The machine gun was positioned on a roof top over looking the market square. The rest of the Federal command were positioned around the town, guarding the station, picketing the hill behind the town or sentries at the Rurales barracks and 19th battalion camp, some Rurales also provided roving patrols within the town.
The Zapatistas and Indians attack the town separately, Col. Gutierrez`s men coming from the east whilst Chato`s warbands arrive from the north and west.
The first few turns saw the rebels moving into position.
On turn 3 Chato`s scouts fail their sneak role and are spotted by Federal pickets on the hill above the town, who open fire! Also this turn the mounted Indian group run into a Rurales patrol on the edge of town and exchange fire – the general alarm is sounded!!
Turn 4 the mounted indians wipe out the rurales patrol, Chato`s scouts attack the Federal pickets on the hill, all other units continue moving toward the town or waking up in the case of the Federals.
Turn 5 Various Federals organise themselves, a group of Chato`s men launch a close assault into the 19th Battalion camp
Col. Gutierrez`s mounted platoon reach the water/coal station and are fired on, they decide to dismount and engage the Rurales patrol.
Chato`s mounted band come under fire from the Federal machine gun, they take casualties and become pinned down for the rest of the game!
Turn 6 Chato`s scouts finish off the federal pickets on the hill
Over in the 19th Battalion camp Indians engage in savage melee with Federal troops – the Indians getting the better of the fight!
The off duty Rurales now ready move out of the barracks toward the sound of fighting near the church where the last roving patrol is engaged with Col. Gutierrez`s infantry
The gun crew finally organise themselves and move to man their gun; their first shot kills some of Col. Gutierrez`s infantry moving along the road into the town
Chato`s scouts move down towards the market square. Major Diez sends an officer to take command of the machine gun team. The melee at the 19th battalion camp ends with the remaining soldier fleeing from the rampant indians.
Chato`s riflemen pick off all the Rurales sentries on top of the barrackss and move into the town.
The field gun lobs another shell at the Zapatistas by the water/coal yard
Col. Gutierrez`s dismounted cavalry are now engaged with the Federals defending the station
Turn 8 Chato`s scouts arrive at the market square and by chance find a blind spot in the Federal cordon, they open fire and shoot arrows into any visible targets – Major Diez falls!
Fighting for the station increases as Col. Gutierrez`s dismounted cavalry are joined by infantry. The Federal gun is now masked by buildings and the crew manhandle it to a better firing position. At the Church end of town after a bitter few turns of fighting against Col. Gutierrez`s infantry, the last Rurales are slaughtered by a flanking attack from Chato`s Indians.
Turn 9 Fighting around the station continues, more of Chato`s Indians have joined the fight for the market square, the officer commanding the machine gun, orders the gun crew to move the gun to cover the square, he and his men are now being targeted by Indian riflemen.
Chato has spotted the gun and moves with a small group towards it from the rear
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