Ambush!
Morelos
1918
This
is a fictional game set during the Mexican Revolution. I am trying to
write about different aspects of the revolutionary wars to expand my
games into areas not usually covered.
This follows directly after my earlier game:
https://baberonwargames.blogspot.com/2025/09/atapec-mexican-revolution-game.html
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.
Even
though the armies of the Carranza Government are now on the
ascendancy in the war as a whole, the Zapatistas and their various
native Indian allies can 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 found things hard going over the last month or so,
culminating in the defeat and capture of the Pueblo of Atapec by
Zapatista forces! Situated just 30miles south of the State Capital of
Cuernavaca, which itself is only 52miles from Mexico City! Atapec was an
important supply base for Carranza`s forces in the area, its loss (be
a temporary) was embarassing and the loss of the supplies – either
stolen or destroyed has been a major blow.
General
Gonzalez the local Federal commander needs to send a supply column
through “bandit country” to re-supply his forces in the field;
this is the basic background of my scenario.
The
convoy has to pass through the territory controlled by a Tlahuica
Indian named Chato (who led the attack on Atapec) and his followers.
Federal
orders
You
command a supply column, your orders are simple the wagons of
supplies and ammunition must get through at all costs.
Indian
orders
After
the success at Atapec your warband has gained more volunteers who are
keen to get to grips with the Federales. Your scouts have spotted a
large convoy moving up a nearby valley, this seems an opportunity for
them to gain experience and your band much needed supplies,
particularly rifles and ammunition. You must of course consider
casualties, if you lose too many warriors, others will be less likely
to follow you in future.
Federal
forces *
See note 1 below
HQ
CO,
driver & bodyguard (in car)
Convoy
several
large wagons of supplies
2
squadrons of 12th Cavalry each with:
30
mounted troopers in 10 man troops
1
company from the Federal 24th Infantry Regiment with
HQ:
CO, NCO, 2 men
3
x 10 fig platoons
Tlahuica
Indians
* See note 2 below
Chato
* See note 3 below
4
x 10 figure warbands (mixed weapons) * See note 4 below
Note - Chato is the figure in the white shirt and hat on the far right
1
x 10-fig special scouts (Mixed weapons) * See note 5 below
1
x 6-fig mounted scouts (mixed weapons)
Special
game notes
1.
Federal morale is not good and they suffer a -1 penalty for this game
2
All Tlahuica Indians gain +1 in melee
3
Chato adds +1 morale to any Indian unit with command radius, he
himself gets +1 on on rolls due to his skills.
4
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
5
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.
The Tlahuica Indians are out numbered roughly 2:1, they also lack firearms with about a quarter of their warriors being armed only with bows and melee weapons! This cannot become a straight up toe-to-toe battle. However Federale morale is shaky, whilst Indian morale is good which could balance the encounter.
Initial
set-up
The
Indian bands start the game concealed along the trail, I used marked
discs placed face down to randomise the deployment. The Federale
convoy has one cavalry troop out front, another to the rear and two
more on each flank; the infantry plod along with the wagons.
My
table
This photo shows my disposition markers
As
I was playing solo I decided to set the convoy up in column in the
center of the table to start the game - rather then slowly move every
figure, horse and wagon team for some 5 turns, which would have been
a complete waste of time! If playing with an opponent (or multiple
players) you of course can place the Indians anywhere and start the
convoy at the start of the trail.
Once
set I turned the markers to find out the Indian deployment
Obviously crosses mark deployment zones
By pure chance two Indian units flank the trail
Chato and his group ended up close by
This Indian group was very isolated and exposed
Chato`s scouts in a position to cut off any retreat
Mounted group held in reserve
Game
Report
Frankly
this was a very confusing and chaotic game, so I`ve written a brief
game report, illustrated by photos; but haven`t written it turn by
turn as usual because some turns blended into the next very quickly.
The
Federale convoy walked straight into Chato`s ambush, the lead cavalry
troop was shot to pieces, Other Federal units took casualties up and
down the convoy.
The
commander of the second Federal Squadron launched his troop towards
Indians on the right flank of the convoy,
They
met a hail of accurate fire, he and his standard bearer were killed,
his unit failed their morale and routed.
The
Convoy commander also died, hit twice (totally random and he had saving rolls which he failed) sitting in his car, his driver
and bodyguard leaped out and joined the escort fighting back against
their attackers, a flanking cavalry troop also charges those Indians.
At
the rear of the convoy the last cavalry troop dismounts and moves to
support the infantry defending the wagons, both units face Chato`s
highly skilled scouts.
At
the front of the convoy, infantry and cavalry battle the indians
concealed among the rocks
At
the rear of the column casualties mount among the cavalry
At
the front the indians begin to close on the lead wagon
In
the center a huge melee has developed, but the Federals outnumber the
indians and are gaining the upper hand, the indian mounted reserve
makes an appearance into the flank.
Federal
cavalry units at the rear of the convoy and on the right flank fail
their morale and break
A
melee develops around the lead wagon
In
the center the melee gets more intense
After
about ten turns, casualties have risen to critical levels among the
convoy defenders, most of what remains of the cavalry are fleeing in
whatever direction they can escape.
The
commander of the Federal infantry decides to cut his loses and blows
up the closest two wagons to cover his own retreat.
Chato`s
men butcher any remaining Federals and move in to loot the wagons
So
a total victory for Chato and his band, but he lost 26 out of 56
warriors (though under our campaign rules he would get 50% back due to the victory), but inflicted far greater casualties on the Federals and
captured three out of five wagons and a car (which they can`t use) so
not a bad days work.
I`m not sure about the scenario as a whole, convoy/ambush games tend to be a bit hit-miss.
The deployment markers worked OK, the melee rules still need work.
