The Second Battle of Carrizal (Mexican Revolution game)

The Second Battle of Carrizal

 Chihuahua, Mexico, 24th June 1916

This is a fictional battle set during Pershing`s hunt for Pancho Villa following the infamous Columbus raid on March 9th 1916. The action follows directly from a historic event where US Cavalry fought Mexican Federal troops at Carrizal and is presented as a “what if” type game. It is also an excuse for me to field my entire 1916 era US force in a full on battle scenario, taking advantage of my table being already set-up for Mexico, I just re-jigged it for a new scenario.

 Please read the history below and the scenario outline to get the full picture.

The Action at Carrizal, 20th June 1916

By June Pershing’s frustration with the campaign was getting the better of him, his mood was not helped when he received a telegram from General Jacinto Trevino, commander of the Carrancista Government forces at Chihuahua on June 16th.

The telegram read –

“I have orders from my government to prevent, by use of arms, new invasions of my country by American troops and also to prevent the American forces that are now in this state from moving to the south, east or west of places they now occupy. I communicate this to you for your knowledge for the reason that your forces will be attacked by the Mexican forces if these indications are not heeded.”

This telegram was like holding a red rag up to a bull, Pershing immediately sent off a telegram of his own warning Trevino that he would continue to hunt the bandits and seek information on the bandits whenever and wherever he felt fit and any hostilities resulting would be the responsibility of the Mexican Government!

On June 18^th Pershing personally ordered two troops of the coloured 10^th Cavalry to reconnoiter the land around Villa Ahumada both to check on the rumour of a large Carrancista force (maybe 8-10 thousand strong) gathering near there and also because another rumour suggested Pancho Villa was hiding in the hills above Carrizal.

“C” Troop commanded by Captain Charles Boyd with Lieutenant Henry Adair as his second in command. The troop was also accompanied by Mormon scout Lem Spilsbury, these were the only whites in the unit. “K” Troop was commanded by Captain Lewis Morey. Both commands set off independently from separate starting locations to converge west of Carrizal. It appears neither officer was told that the other was on their way and Morey claims to have been surprised when he came upon Boyd and his command at the Santa Domingo ranch on the afternoon of June 20^th.

The foreman of the ranch an American, W.P. McCabe told the two officers that roughly two hundred federal soldiers were garrisoned at Carrizal which was located roughly seven or eight miles east of the ranch. Another 200+ federals were also at Villa Ahumada only a few miles north-east of Carrizal. At this point Boyd who was senior and therefore in overall command decided to advance through the town, both Morey and McCabe warned him of possible Mexican resistance, but Boyd was convinced that - “all Mexicans are cowards and they’ll run away at the first signs of a fight”

The two troops advanced towards the town moving parallel to a rough dirt road, “C” Troop to the left and “K” Troop to the right. Whilst watering their horses at an irrigation ditch they were approached by a group of Mexican soldiers including Lieutenant Colonel Guillen. Through Spilsbury (acting as interpreter) Boyd told the colonel of his intent to pass through the town “looking for bandits”. The colonel returned to the town to confer with his superior – General Felix Gomez; who came out himself and advised the Americans that he had orders to prevent them from traveling further, by force if necessary.

Once again Boyd acted in an off-hand manner and insisted on continuing his advance with “C” troop on the left and “K” Troop on the right about 200 yards away. During the conferences Mexican soldiers both mounted and on foot including armed women could be seen taking up position behind ditches and cottonwood trees. Two machine guns were brought forward and snipers could be seen on top of the houses. More mounted soldiers could be noted moving around Boyd’s left flank and out to Morey’s right; the Mexicans had a great tactical advantage.

Unperturbed Boyd ordered both troops to advance, after a further 300 yards he gave the order to dismount and advance on foot; it was at this point the Mexicans opened fire……

Boyd was shot three times before he got fifteen yards, the last through the eye killing him! Adair although wounded continued to lead his men until he ran out of bullets, at which point he casually returned to the pack animals to get more belts; there he was hit again and died in the arms of one of his men. Within minutes “C” Troop had lost both officers and several men killed and others wounded, all discipline collapsed and the survivors broke and ran, or cowered in the ditches.

“K” Troop was faring no better, they managed to advance about twenty yards before taking cover in a shallow roadbed with enemy on three sides. Morey formed a triangular defence by platoon, which worked for a while until he was hit in the shoulder where upon the morale of his men broke and they ran. Attempts to rally them with bugle calls failed and the retreat turned into a full blown rout.

The result of the action was twelve Americans dead, another fourteen wounded and twenty-four (including Lem Spilsbury) captured. The Mexicans suffered far more casualties - maybe as many as 40 killed including General Gomez.

The entire incident nearly blew up into major diplomatic war of words between the two governments, luckily cooler heads prevailed and the American prisoners were released.

Period photos of the captured Americans

Gaming this actual historic action

The terrain was rough open fields with small patches of cottonwood trees, the two irrigation ditches running north-south were about 800yrds apart. The rough dirt road ran east-west from Carrizal toward the Santa Domingo Ranch and beyond another lesser track ran parallel to the eastern irrigation ditch. There was a lone adobe farmstead by the western irrigation ditch north of the road. Both dirt tracks are well worn and will provide soft cover, the ditches will act as trenches being 2-4 feet deep.

I would give the US players (best run with two – Boyd and Morey) a free hand with how they deploy. Historically the two troops separated by 200yrds could not mutually support one-another. Quicker more decisive action by the Americans may have allowed them to rush around the Mexican flank, north or south of Carrizal; this could change the whole outcome of the battle.

With two mutually supporting troops the Americans could also organize a staged withdrawal once the Mexicans open fire, thus limiting casualties and avoiding the rout as happened historically.

The level of Mexican casualties reveals two things; the quality of the US marksmanship and the poor discipline of the Mexicans, if the Mexicans just held their ground and fired from cover the casualty rate for them would have been much lower. The machismo and need to “be a man” of the Mexican soldier may be partially responsible for this.

My Scenario

Upon hearing of this incident, the deaths and captures of US cavalrymen by Mexican Federal troops, General Pershing blows a fuse! He immediately orders Lt. Col. Cavell commander of 1st Battalion 6th Infantry to organise an all arms force and “Show those damned Mexicans whats what”! Col. Cavell isn`t happy with the order, but knows better than to question a very angry Gen. Pershing, so gathers what units are to hand and heads off to Carrizal with all speed. His force, built around elements of his own 1st Battalion but includes “C” Troop from the 10th Cavalry (colored) - thirsting for revenge after what has happened to their comrades! He also has a gun section from the 6th Artillery and a special experimental motorised unit!

Mexican Forces (Lieutenant Colonel Guillen)

HQ

5 platoons from the Federal 26th Battalion

2 units of civilians (10 - figs each, rifle armed)

75mm field gun & crew

Machine gun team

                                                                          Scenario note

Machismo! Even though they have plenty of hard cover, the Mexicans are inflicted by Machismo and will try to show bravery, even when caution would be a better idea. So even when they have hard cover, treat as soft!

                                                  Field Force Cavell (Lt. Col. H. R. Cavell)

HQ: Command car, supply truck

1st Battalion 6th Infantry Regiment: 2 infantry companies

Automatic Weapons Platoon 6th Infantry (mule packed): Colt MMG, Benet-Mercie LMG

Infantry Gun Platoon 6th Infantry Regiment (2.95” gun plus crew) mule packed

“C” Troop 10th Cavalry (colored) – 2 mounted platoons + HQ

Gun section 6th Artillery Regiment – Ehrhardt 77mm gun + limber and crew

US Army Special Motorized Company with: (see below)

Jeffery`s Armored car

Truck mounted platoon (Jeffery`s Quad truck) 10 men inc Benet-Mercie LMG

Motorcycle recce section: 5 men inc Benet-Mercie LMG

Special scenario note

US Army, Special Motorized Company: I`ve created this unit just for this game, it never existed historically. I`ve only ever read one brief note which claimed Jeffery`s armored cars actually crossed into Mexico, they were deployed along the border, but I`ve not read any accounts of them seeing action. The quad trucks certainly were used in Mexico to transport supplies, carry water and also as mobile telegraph stations. The motorcycles and cars were also used both on the border and into Mexico during the expedition.

Period photos and whilst I`m sure these were staged for the cameras, but you get the general idea

My table

Table notes

The fences and walls around the various fields are just to mark the boundaries of the plowed/farmed areas, they do not hinder movement for infantry or cavalry – though the primitive wheeled vehicles are road bound for the most part. However the various fences and walls do show where there are piles of cleared rock and scrub around the fields (which are also lower then the surrounding land due to the work) and a figure can be prone in these dips (treat as soft cover). The irrigation ditch also privides soft cover (as do the banks) but once again do not hinder movement (except for the vehicles as noted above).

The game

The Americans deployed across the table, the HQ moved to occupy the farm, the motorised company stayed on the road as a shock reserve. The 77mm set up opposite the farm with orders to bombard the town starting with the building flying the big Mexican flag! The two infantry companies were to advance one each side of the track, “A” Company (left) had the 2.95” gun with them; “B” Company (right) took the machine gun platoon with it. “C” Troop from 10^th Cavalry was to come from the far right and swing wide into the Mexican left. The Mexicans start the game fully alerted to the US advance warned by their scouts. They had a fairly wide spread deployment, with men in reserve to send to any threatened sectors.

Turn 1 the Americans start their general advance, the 77mm gets the range with its first shot, which lands just in front of the targeted building killing one of the sentries! Unfortunately their position is spotted by the Mexican officer observing for their gun!

Turn 2 the advance continues, the 77mm again drops a shell just short of the target building! The Mexican `75 fire directly at the US gun rolls a magnificent 12 on 2D6 and wipes out its target!

Turn 3 with his only gun gone, the US commander decides to commit his motorised column straight down the track. The rest of the advance continues.

Turn 4 the advance continues, the Mexicans move their gun to cover the ford across the irrigation ditch.

Turn 5 the general US advance continues with the both the infantry and cavalry approaching the irrigation ditch. The Jeffery`s armoured car reaches the ford and is promptly targeted by the Mexican `75, which not only hits, but wipes out the threat!

Turn 6 “A” Company reach the ditch and begin to cross, the motorised company pass a morale check, then dismount and prepare to join them.

Further up the table the 10^th Cavalry cross the ditch and advance on the town. 

The Mexicans begin to move troops forward against the infantry and to their left against the cavalry.

Turn 7 “A” Coy is across the ditch engaged with Mexican infantry, their CO decides to set the 2.95” up on the south bank of the ditch to give support to his attack.

“B” Coy is also into the ditch as is the motorised Coy

On the US right the cavalry is hotly engaged with Mexicans

Turn 8 fighting continues along the south side of the ditch, superior US marksmanship is causing casualties among the Mexican defenders. The Benet-Mercie LMGs of the motorised Coy add weight to the US fire! The Mexican Hotchkiss makes moving directly up the track suicide, so the motorised Coy split left-right seeking a more protected advance.

Over on the US right the cavalry are gaining the upper hand, but Mexican reinforcements are arriving and the `75 is being moved by its crew to engage them also!

Turn 9 2^nd platoon of “A” Coy arrive on the flank of the Mexican position which is covering the ditch and hit it with a storm of accurate enfilade fire, at the same time a Benet-Mercie LMG sweeps the position and the 2.95” lays its first shell bang on target – the result is virtually every Mexican is dead or wounded!

This all happens just as a large group of locals and Federals arrive to reinforce the line, I rule they must take a morale check – they totally blow it and flee back the way they came…..

On the US right the Mexican `75 fires at the cavalry causing casualties

But most the Mexican defenders are now gone and with gideons flying and bugles sounding the cavalry advance.

Turn 10 on the US left the 2.95” plants another shell near the retreating Mexicans to speed them on their way, this forces a morale check on other nearby Mexicans who join the rout...

“A” Coy and half of the motorised Coy are now moving toward the town!

In the center “B” Coy are moving towards the town, their CO has set up the Colt MMG on the southern edge of the ditch to support his advance, he take the Benet-Mercie LMG with his company which is now joined by the other half of the motorised Coy.

On the right, a brave Mexican Teniente (lieutenant) leads a brief counter-attack against the cavaly, he dies bravely as do most of his men!

Turn 11 “A” company continue their advance, the 2.95” starts dropping shells into the town!

“B” Coy are engaged by the Mexicans for the first time including the `75, the Colt MMG sprays the tops of the buildings trying to clear snipers

On the far right the cavalry CO falls, but the Exec bravely leads the charge and they continue to advance.

With overall numbers of casualties rising and the US troops advancing everywhere I make Lieutenant Colonel Guillen make a morale check – blows it badly, his nerve breaks and he orders a general retreat!

Turn 12 “B” Coy advancing on the town, the Colt MMG still sweeping the rooftops kills the gun commander/spotter

“A” Coy are held up by the Federal Hotchkiss

The Cavalry move into the town from the Mexican left

Lieutenant Colonel Guillen and staff flee his HQ

Complete and total victory to the Yanks, though it could have gone either way with the early loss of the 77mm and then the Jeffery`s armoured car. Good use of the support weapons and better command/control won the day.