Napoleon of the West

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Project Entry by denzien

Why the Alamo

February 4, 2022

Tutoring 9

Skill 7

Idea 8

1 Comment

The Alamo is one of those famous battles that I knew nothing about. A few years ago I picked up the Alamo supplement for Warhammer historicals old west game. It added rules for mass battles, sieges and s campaign for recreating the war between Texas and Mexico. Recently I've grown interested in the wars after Waterloo but before the American civil war that don't get much love. Having a war between Mexicans dressed like Napoleonic french Vs frontier men and militia gives me a different feel to 19th century gaming

So going back to America 1836 we have large areas that once belonged to Spain. After Mexico gained independence it was also running California and Texas. The new constitution seems to have been ignored by general Santa Anna who like Napoleon took over a country after a revolution. Many Mexicans in Texas wanted a return to the constitution but with so many Americans settling in the country any rebellion against the regime was going to turn into a war of independence. Which they would win and would remain an independent country before joining the union in 1845. A nice what if here had that not happened

Santa Anna led his army into Texas to defeat the revolt against him and there was very little real opposition but his mistreatment of his enemies and splitting his forces would lead to disaster. The Alamo like Rorkes Drift was a tiny battle at the start of the war but had big implications later on. After a 13 day siege the Alamo fell and General Urrea defeated all Texans forces along the coast. Things were bleak for Texas despite electing delegates to s new independent government they and their small army was on the run.

Santa Anna chased Houston's army until he over stretched his army and the Texans desperate for revenge defeated the Mexicans at San Jacinta. Using the scenarios in the book I'm going to recreate this short war

A bit of research of the forces involved. one of the barriers to gaming this war was the lack of miniatures and I looked at converting Napoleonic french. But then I found Boothill miniatures who are a small company who specialises in just this conflict. So first bags of Mexicans has arrived.