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 MarÃa
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)
Dismounted
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
Wood yard and 19th Battalion camp
Station
Water and coal refueling station
Church and graveyard
Rurales HQ (looking east)
Rurales HQ (looking north)
El centro de Atapec
El mercado
The
game
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
Chato
leading a group himself comes down the hillside towards the Rurales
barracks, they are engaged by sentries from the roof
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
Major
Diez (the Federal commander) moves out of the hotel and takes his
staff and guard to defend the market square
Turn
7 fighting all across 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.
The
field gun crew are still moving their piece to cover the street from
the church.
Chato
has spotted the gun and moves with a small group towards it from the
rear
Turns
10-12 three turns of basically moping up for the Zapatistas and their
Indian allies, by turn 12 other than the odd Federal, the whole town
is in Zapatista hands – Viva la Revolucion!!
