Arbol Solo
Our Mexican-American 1846 game
The Jackson Gamers played this, our last 2003 game at Hobbytown in North Jackson on December 5th. Unless otherwise credited, all photos are by Ed Sansing.
The Americans on the advance
Bill Estes (on left) exaults as the Gringos move forward. Bill, Robert Whitfield (on right) and Ed Sansing (not shown) were the American players. Photo by Jay Stribling
This was a very simple game. The game master (Jay Stribling) had planned one of his "three objectives" game and tried to use three towns, but could only find two to use. A stone-walled cemetary on a hill caught his eye so this became the third objective. The United States Army had to hold all three objectives to win a decisive victory, two of the objectives for a tactical victory, and if they held only one objective, the game was a loss.
The Mexicans could win an overwhelming victory by holding all three towns, a decisive victory by holding two towns, and enough of a victory to brag about by holding only one town.
The fighting swirls in the center
Along with the American inability to break the Mexican line, now there is Mexican cav in the American rear.
The Americans holding the graveyard brace themselves
The Americans holding the graveyard brace themselves as the Mexicans they had pushed out rally and return and the Mexican light brigade closes.
In the BROM STANDARD RULES, with the Mexican War Data Charts, which we used for this game, the Mexican army has penalties, compared to the Norteamericanos in Firing, Command response (the ability to move), Morale, and Close Combat (fighting hand to hand). They must compensate for this by numbers, and empasising their mounted arm, which is less inferior than other parts of their army. Their artillery is equal to the American artillery when engaging targets in the open, but is unable to move and fire in the same turn, unlike the Gringos' cannons.
A column of Presidial lancers
The second brigade of Mexican cavalry canters forward. Ed Sansing's (Old Glory 28mm) presidial companies lead while older Minifig "true 25mm" figures painted by Eric Teuber bring up the rear. Photo by Jay Stribling
Mark Stevens watches the Mexican Light battalions go!
Mark commanded the elite light infantry units, brigaded together. They had been about to storm the heights on which the cemetary was located, when Fred Diamond's line infantry battalion took the position from the rear. Photo by Jay Stribling
Mexican forces in the center
Bill Reiman's command held the town in the center of the table. The Americans had poor command response and morale here and never were able to assault this town. These neat lines of troops did not last for long once the shooting started. Photo by Jay Stribling
The ground was flat in this game, broken by the Cemetary to the north, and a central and a souther town. There were several patches of chapparal (rough, thorny, rocky overgrown land) scattered about, which was an impediment to movement and a vision block. Also, in the the American rear, there was one tree - Solo Arbol - thus the name of the game.
The graveyard is again in Mexican hands
One turn later the graveyard is again in Mexican hands due to Fred Diamond's bayonet assault which gains the open rear of the position, and scours the inside pushing the Gringos out of this position.
The American Left Flank
On the American left (Robert Whitfield's brigade) watches the Mexican advance. Several men have climbed to the upper floors and throw taunts at the enemy.
Looking at the Cemetary on the U.S. Right
Looking over the center to the graveyard. The Americans try to consolidate their position as Fred rallies his troops and the Mexican light brigade moves from behind the middle town toward the fight. At the foot of the graveyard the U.S. Dragoons have failed to close - yet again!
Towards the Southern town
The Mexicans close on the center with infantry and cavalry while their far right flank goes steaming to the rear as the effects of poor morale hit.
The Gringos in our game were:
Bill Estes, Ed Sansing, Robert Whitfield
Two Mexican commanders - Jay Stribling (on left) and Bill Reiman (seated)
The hand of the Mexican commander-in-chief reaches out and with nerves of steel (and some real nifty dice rolling) steadies his command.
The Mexican commanders in our game were:
Fred Diamond, Mark Stevens, Bill Reiman, Jay Stribling, Phil Young
The noon meal
At about 1:15pm, the Jackson gamers traditionally strolled down the sidewalk to Lenny's Sub Shop for a sandwich. However, a new eatery, the magnificent King Buffet has opened, only three stores down from Hobbytown. The Jackson gamers gave serious attention to the steaming plentiful food, with resultant damage to their waist lines.
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