Scenario 11: The Liberation of Sinoquipe, Sonora, April 27, 1911.

On April 27, 1911, Florencio Jaramillo led some of his column of over 300 cavalry forces to the town of Sinoquipe, Sonora. A bloody battle ensued, in which over 100 combatants perished, a rarity for the engagements of the Liberal revolution in northern Mexico.

Set up: Sinoquipe is a small town in the Rio Sonora valley, sitting on the West bank of the river. The east bank, adjacent to the town, is covered in farm lands. Trees ring the town of Sinoquipe, and are common, along with scrub, throughout the fairly-green valley. The landscape becomes more arid rising into the mountains on either side of the valley. The river and valley flow north to south. A road follows the river, running just west of the Rio Sonora, from Cananea in the north, passes along the western edge of Sinoquipe, and continues south to Mazocahio, and on to Hermosillo. A second road, running from the center of the town, heads west into the mountains and desert, and onto Altar Municipality. Jaramillo’s column likely approached the town from the south--where they had been active fighting in previous months, or from the western mountains, where they were also recently active. Attacking player may decide on which table edge to appear.

Conditions:

Clear - normal visibility 

Supply: 10 rounds of ammo for defenders, 7 rounds for rebels.

Forces: It is known that the defending force consisted of 86 Federal soldiers, and that Jaramillo’s column had at least 300 riders which included many Yaqui natives and many defecting soldiers, though which units and in what numbers Jaramillo employed in the attack are unknown. 

PLM Forces (up to 300 total):

Jaramillo and headquarters - 5 mounted rebels

Workers’ and peasants’ cavalry - 20 riders

Yaqui Cavalry - 20 riders

Rebellious soldiers’ cavalry - 15 riders.

Workers’ and peasants’ infantry: 

group 1: 30 fighters

group 2: 30 fighters

group 3: 30 fighters

Yaqui Infantry:

group 1: 30 fighters

group 2: 30 fighters

group 3: 30 fighters

Rebellious soldiers’ Infantry: 

group 1: 30 fighters

group 2: 30 fighters

Government forces:

Headquarters:  Municipal president, judge, and other elites , and runners 

Rurales: Garrison of 20

Federals:

86 soldiers

2 Machine guns and crew

Victory Conditions:

Rebels must capture the politicians and elites, and to raise three (or as many as available) red flags from the town’s central plaça. Government forces must prevent the above from occurring, and defend the town from capture by the rebels.

Aftermath:

This battle ended in a major victory for Jaramillo and his Liberal Column. They killed 62 soldiers, losing 39 of their own forces, before capturing and executing the municipal president, the judge, and two high-ranking Rurales, and raising three red flags over the town’s central square. Information for the above scenario came from  (Trejo 79) and (Trejo 90).