San Ignacio

San Ignacio

Texas, June 15^th 1916

 I`ve been looking at ideas to create interesting and different games using the forces I have for Mexican Revolution. This game is based  (loosely) on a real event and whilst not as famous (infamous) as Pancho Villa`s attack on Columbus, New Mexico on March 9^th 1916 did happen even though it is often overlooked in most histories of the revolution period! 

 Historic Background

On February 20^th 1915 a group of disgruntled Mexican/Americans got together to sign a document calling for a general revolt that would bring about the independence of Texas, California, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona! Ultimately the group proposed the new territory would be annexed to Mexico, but called upon a general rebellion by Mexican Americans, Japanese Americans, African Americans and Native Americans, all of whom had suffered at the hands of the white majority. Who actually came up with the plan is not known to this writer, but what is known is that the organizers issued several manifestos designed to recruit followers on both sides of the border.  

 What followed was a series of minor raids carried out by followers of the group (or simply bandits) on properties in Texas. This actually just added to the problems suffered by Mexican Americans in the lower Rio Grande Valley as they began to face even greater discrimination and harsh treatment from the Anglos! But by early 1916 with the change of US policy now recognising Carranza`s government and US authorities jailing or hanging several captured raiders the threat seemed to go away.

 But after Villa`s raid on Columbus, former leaders of the group – Luis de la Rosa (a former Deputy Sheriff of Cameron County, Texas) and Estéban Fierros (superintendent of the Mexican railroad at Tampico) once again began recruiting. There was in fact a plan for a major invasion into the US around June 10^th, but the US authorities were warned and security tightened along the border and the invasion never took place.

However on June 15^th over one hundred men crossed into Texas and attacked San Ignacio, a small town about thirty-three miles from Laredo.

 San Ignacio, Texas

A small rural township with a dozen or so abode buildings. Fortunately for the population 150 men of the 14^th Cavalry were camped nearby and came to the town`s aid once news of the raid reached them.

Lucky for the town`s folk the 14^th was near at hand, they arrived and drove off the attackers killing some and capturing several more. The next day the cavalry crossed into Mexico in pursuit but failed to intercept the raiders who had fled. One of those Mexicans killed at San Ignacio was later identified as Federal Lt. Col. Villareal! Also one of the captured raiders claimed he was in fact a private in the Constitutionalist Army and not a bandit, he was just obeying orders!

 The Game

Now I could run the game as it happened, but decided I wanted to something a little bigger. I included a station halt at San Ignacio along with stock pens, etc and a two storied hotel. I also swapped the 14^th Cavalry detachment for elements of 9^th Infantry including a motorcycle platoon and an armoured car. In this game the Mexican attackers are well aware of the proximity of the US troops and have detached a small blocking force to delay any column whilst they loot the town.

 The Mexicans are after loot, they have objectives to seize where this loot – leather goods (saddles and horse furniture, etc), jewelry, cash money, foodstuffs; can be obtained.

1. The General store

2. The hotel

3. The rail halt, warehouses (2)

It will take 3 bandits 4 turns to search/loot each building, during this time they cannot fight!

My table

San Ignacio

10 civilians with rifles, shotguns or pistols (these start scattered among the buildings)

Platoon 9^th Infantry (half on duty at the rail halt, half off duty in their camp)

Mexican attackers

30 mounted bandits (note some wear Federal uniforms)

Mexican ambush force

20 men (have one package of dynamite)

9th Infantry relief column (arrive on table on turn 3)

Motorcycle platoon

Armoured car

Truck mounted platoon

Command car

The game

Early in the morning San Ignacio sleeps peacefully not knowing the storm is coming.

The mounted bandits move towards the town, split into three 10 figure groups - one group heading straight towards the station, one towards the camp of the 9^th Infantry and the last towards the sawmill.

The blocking force moves on foot towards the road and the old stone bridge over the stream.

Turns 1 & 2 just see the Mexicans advance on the town, the group heading for the sawmill reach it first and some men dismount to enter the shacks.

On turn 2 a US sentry spots the incoming rider and calls out a challenge, he is met by several shots one of which fells the soldier!

At the same time the second group of Mexicans launch themselves into the tented US Army camp, again the sentry challenges the riders and meets the same fate as his mate at the station……..

Turn 3 The Mexicans in the sawmill slaughter every Gringo they can find and begin burning the place to the ground.

At the station the bandits dismount and storm the station buildings, killing a couple more soldiers

At the Army camp a savage melee erupts as troopers desperately scramble from their tents and confront the rampaging Mexicans

Turn 4 the bandits leave the now burning sawmill and move towards the town, the melee at the army camp leaves most soldiers dead or wounded, they have taken a few bandits with them, the rest ride onto the town. At the station the bandits spread out and begin looting the warehouse.

Turn 5 the townsfolk roused by the noise grab their guns and move to defend their town.

At the far end of the table the 9^th Infantry relief column enters

The bandits receive rifle fire from the citizens

Turn 6 combat swirls around the town

The relief column comes under fire and deploys

Turns 7-8 the battle rages within the town, some bandits loot outlying houses and then set them ablaze

The bandits take quite a few casualties from the citizens, who stood tall and defended their woman folk and kids as they escaped the chaos

The 9^th Infantry engaged the blocking force using the armoured car and M/C LMG to great effect, causing several casualties and a morale check.

 Turn 9 the blocking force morale breaks and they flee back towards the border

This allowed the relief column to advance towards the town

In the town the Mexicans also reach a morale check, some of those not directly engaged start to withdraw with their loot.

Turn 10 the relief column over runs and captures several bandits

In the town the Mexicans are fleeing for the border, Shotgun Pete (later the town hero) kills two whilst defending the hotel (his second and third kills of the battle)

 Turns 11 & 12 the surviving Mexicans flee south leaving 50% of their number either dead or prisoners.

An interesting game, quite different from those I`ve run lately, more like a skirmish game than a tabletop battle. 

As you can see above the Mexican raiders lost about 50% of their men, its very difficult to fight against riflemen firing from windows or rooftops! They did manage to loot the two warehouses which I guess makes the raid a partlal success. 

The citizens lost several people and three houses were looted and burned plus the sawmill was destroyed and most of the workers killed! There will undoubtedly be calls for more Army patrols along the border.

The 9th Infantry did as well as can be expected, losing all but one of their men in the township and the relief column also lost a man.