"Texas Revolution 1836" Topic

Hello,
Besides the Alamo and San Jacinto, are there any other battles of the Texas Revolution worth war-gaming? Also, any good info on the U.S. Regulars that served in the Texas Army?

Goliad comes to mind. Granted Fannin surrendered after they went to square, but IIRC it would be the only other place for a pitched battle.

What about the initial capture of San Antonio?

also 1st skirmish at Goliad:
link

I hope Blue Moon does the Texas War for Independence in 18mm

link

The first battle between Texas and Mexico happened four years before the Alamo

Blue Moon is ahead of the curve and already has these well under way along with FFL and war of 1812 to go along with our Napoleonics. Also the three musketeers are being worked on. The first of the Ceasers gallic wars are also in hand. The Gauls are just mind boggling!!
The Texas war of Independence is also loaded with alot of "what if" scenarios. What if Fannin had made it to the Alamo, What if Houston had nade other moves, Santa anna does not split his forces after the Alamo?
Regards
Russ Dunaway

I had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours walking through La Bahia.

link

It is quite a formidable construction (restored today) and only about half the size of the Alamo compound, so much more defensible. If Fannin had had adequate supplies and had stayed there, fortified, it would have been at least as dfficult for the Mexicans to take as the Alamo, and maybe more so.

Also, any good info on the U.S. Regulars that served in the Texas Army?

As far as I know, there's no one real source that documents the motivation or amount of U.S. Army regulars that began to show up in the Texian Army's ranks. Generally, they were deserters, either from the then-concurrent war going on in Florida against the Seminole Indians or from nearby American outposts close to the U.S.-Republic of Texas border, namely Fort Jesup, Louisiana. Contemporary reports note that a majority of these deserters still wore their U.S. Army-issued uniforms, either the old grey fatigues or the newer sky blue kersey.

Don't recall where i read it, or the source, but it seems the US regulars at Jesup were "encouraged" to desert, and some of their non-coms went along, and they served together as regulars at San Jacinto.

Wouldn't be the first time a power sent "volunteers" into a war it couldn't condone in public. If Houston really was Jackson's agent . . . .

Thanks for the heads-up Russ!
FFL and the Texas War For Independence are must haves for me. I'll relive my childhood with hours spent playing with that Airfix FFL fort and the Marx Alamo set.

Russ;
Sure and it's War of 1812 in 18mm AFTER I've plunked down so much coin for it in 25mm.

Now, FFL is another story. I've neither the Legion nor Arabs yet.

Well, I always look forward to whatever you come up with.

Eric

These releases will include the Alamo, La Bahia, the Church and town near the Alamo, fort Zindernoof,etc.
I myself am going to do the FFL and TWI along with the gallic wars in a very big way. I did the gallic wars once with 1000s of gauls in 28mm and although it was beautiful I was never happy with in as there was really no room to manuver.
Imagine every gaulic tribe representsed with at least 100 figures and the larger tribes more -- !!! Now thats proper warbands!! Each roman cohort with 100 figures !!
Of coarse all painted by the the always dependable Neil and his Reinforcements by post team.
Regards
Russ Dunaway

grenadier76, La Bahia is an interesting choice. The battle of Coleto Creek has always had fascinating "what if" potential and requires no buildings, just an open prairie, some woods and undulations of the terrain in the center of the board to give cover to Fannin. A hopeless situation?

Russ, wonderful news…I look forward to your posts about the releases. AARs are always welcome, too.

Really, models of la Bahia, too? Great. I understand it was the largest presidio west of the Mississippi for a long time and was fought over repeatedly during Mexico's own war of independence from Spain. Will there be figures for those battles, too?

Russ, this is great news! Any hint as to when they will be released? Will there be an 18 pounder for the corner gun ramp?

Also, don't let history get in the way of doing a fun game. The old Courier had a fictional battle fought during the Texas Revolution. Looked like alot of fun.

Remember too that war continued between Texas and Mexico for years after San Jacinto. There were expeditions and battles throughout 1841-43. See Salado Creek, Arroyo Hondo, etc.

link

There were also the Texian fights against the Comanches.

Ah, Russ, you are my hero! Seriously! War of 1812 and Texas Revolution… ahhhhh, sublime…. All this to go along with the other lines you are producing. Just too happy :-)

These lines should be well under way by Historicon while still plowing through the Nappies, more WW1 and some ACW.
Regards
Russ Dunaway

Anybody have any links that describe or has plans of the 18lb gun used inside the Alamo? Having plans will make it easier to get this piece made for the Blue Moon 18mm range.

Also, any photos of La Bahia would be helpful as it speeds up the process of getting buildings made for the period.

Woo hoo! Three musketeers line? Excellent! As always, Russ, you guys are so adept at taking my hard earned money. :)

Heck in 18mm one could do the Alamo at 1:1 man:figure ratio! Of course painting 600 Mexicans myself seems a bit daunting, but imagine the sight of the assault columns. Simple rules like Musket and Mohawks would be ideal.

I do the Alamo at 1:1 in 28mm. It does take a 6' by 8' space.

I wrote rules that work well. I use 250 Texians, and have about 700 Mexicans painted. I don't remove Mexican figures as the columns take losses, but put down dead markers. The Mexicans get 600 of them, and if they run out, the Texians win the game.

I love OG's 18mm, but if I were to do the Alamo again I think I'd do the 10mm one.

There are a few photos of La Bahia at link

The guns in the Alamo were Mexican army pieces, so any picture of those would be accurate, I think.

If you guys are doing the Alamo in 18mm, PLEASE consult Mark Lemon, THE ILLUSTRATED ALAMO 1836. The Hudson and Allen 28mm model is MAJORLY incorrect. There are models of the artillery in Lemon's book as well.

Battles apart form the Alamo and San Jacinto?

How about:
Gonzales and the 'Come and Take it ' gun,
The Grass fight
Mission Conception
Seige of San Antonio
Colette creek

I am sure there are a few more, bu these spring to mind at the moment.

I agree with doc mcb! Mark's book is great reference in making any scale model of the Alamo! I'm using it as a guide to do my own in 28mm with the Hudson and Allen chapel and Boot Hill miniatures!

Can't wait to see what Blue Moon releases!

Yeah Mark Lemon's book is aweinspiring… TEXIAN ILIAD is worth reading for the actions of the war (Bowie & Travis were in a battle together pre-Alamo) you can get it on kindle

LotOW ALAMO is useful guide too

Often overlooked is the capture of the Texan force in the old mission at Refugio, a prelude to the Mexican attack on Goliad.

link
link

I have always enjoyed the Texas Revolution, probably because I have lived in San Antonio for quite some time. There are many small skirmishes and I was always fascinated by the street fighting in San Antonio.

I remember a book years ago that was a what-if scenario. If I remember correctly it was based on the idea that the Alamo garrison defended Mission Concepcion instead. I have been meaning to read it but life keeps getting in the way.

Someone, I think Al Nofi in his excellent little book, pointed out that in proportion to numbers engaged this was one of the bloodiest wars ever fought. Of course, alternating massacres tends to produce that!

One of these years, when PRIDE OF LIONS is finished, I want to do a convention game as follows:

1841 or so: both sides dispatching expeditions to conquer border territory. Tables arranged in a large hollow square, with room for players INSIDE as well as OUTSIDE. Factions are: 1. Texian government with its regulars and rangers; 2.a filibustering expedition (for whom the only good Mexican is a dead Mexican) which the Austin government encourages to go invade Mexico (they'll win or lose but either way be out of everyone's hair);3.Tejano ranchers led by Juan Seguin, pro-Texian but vulnerable between two sides and also no friends of the filibusters; 4. a Mexican army sent to invade Texas again; 5. and on an inside table that can be moved against any table in the hollow square, the Comanches.

Movement will be pretty linear, because with available water etc. armies pretty much move along well known routes. So essentially the filibusters and the Mexican army pretty much are limited to one of two routes around the hollow table.

Russ, will you also be doing flags for the Texians and Mexicans in the TWI range?

BootHill has some downloadable flags.

Never heard it called the Revolution before. I'd call it a rebellion or a secession but not a revolution.

If you win it is a revolution. If you lose it is a rebellion.
They won.

"BootHill has some downloadable flags."
So they are free and in 18mm size?

Not free, no. 5 pounds And I think you'd have to downsize them to print as 18mm.

There are 15 or 16 different Texian flags, as well as a selection of Mexican.

Any idea where there might be some info on the uniforms of the various volunteer units at the Battle of Coleto Creek? It is my understanding that there were a number of volunteer units there that made-up the Texan Army.

I checked a print that I have in my game room of Texas during the revolution. It lists 48 engagements in the war… Most of them quite small. Where applicable it lists the number of combatants,

Here is a more obscure moment well before the revolution with Santa Anna involved.

link

I would describe a revolution as taking over an existing state. It takes Rebellion or Secession to break off a new one.

By the way WH are selling off the Alamo rulebook at £6.50 GBP

Any word when the Blue Moon Texas Revolution will be released?
Thanks

Travis