The following, short, AAR focuses on Scenario 5 - Raid on Los Algodones
This game took more time to set up than it did to play. I suppose this is fitting, as Scenario 5 revisits how William Stanley and 60 US and other international volunteers stole a train near Mexicali, and stormed into the small border town of Los Algodones, guarded only by some Rurales (rural police.) For a more even match, I recommend gamers supplement the government's side, or at the very least allow the defenders to fortify the town in expectation of an attack. Otherwise, this was a brief and enjoyable window into the first independent action of foreign volunteers on behalf of the PLM, precipitating the infamous Foreign Legion.
The Magónista international group arrived by train from the west of the table.
They dont even begin to slow the train until they've reached the station at the edge of town.
Townsfolk hear the break squealing, but, like the officers defending Los Algodones, have no idea what's about to happen.
The Rurales guard the customs house,
Patrols of two trot up and down the streets, but the bulk of the officers are at their station.
One patrol rides out to check on the incoming train.
They are gunned down by a volley of fire from the rebels on the train.
With the first shots fired, the foreign volunteers leap from the moving train. Half of them take the south side of town. Immediately, their flag bearer is gunned down by a Rurales patrol.
The good feelings on the government side ended quickly. The rebels unleash another volley and obliterate the small patrol.
This skirmish unfolds on the street directly in front of the Rurales' station. The officers inside take up positions at the windows and doors, and prepare to defend the building (see photo below, with roof lifted).
The officers in the station fire on the rebels, but have poor aim and cannot hit enough volunteers to prevent them surrounding the building.
On the north side of the tracks, a group of internationals secures the train station.
The rest of the party rides on toward the customs house.
Here is the view of the table after the first two rounds. The Magónistas, thanks to their train, already dominate the center of the playing space.
More mounted Rurales arrive to face the rebels by the officers' station.
They ride to their deaths, however. Rebels fire at them from the alleys.
The train slows even more now, as the locomotive reaches the customs house. Rurales there, as well as some private guards across the tracks, prepare to meet the rebels. They fire on the rebels, who are now closing in quickly on two sides.
Back on the south side of the tracks, Stanley's bunch decides to light the Rurales' station on fire.
The officers inside smell the smoke and know whats up. They flee for their lives.
But they face a gauntlet of international volunteers, who fire at them from the alleys and down the lane from behind.
None survive to reach the next street.
The destruction of the largest concentrated group of Rurales leaves the defenders in a desperate situation.
Back at the customs house, a gunfight breaks out. A Rurale patrol arrives to support the other officers there, dismounts and fires back at the rebels. Both sides take casualties, but the officers hold their positions.
The two rebels driving the locomotive ride up behind them. They leap from the train, and fire on the Rurales from behind. Their comrades across the tracks advance.
The rebels eliminate the opposition at the customs house, and surround the surviving private guards at the house across the street.
On the other side of town, the internationals advance quickly into the industrial section.
The Rurales put up some resistance. Each side loses a couple to gunfire, but the rebels are swarming the town.
As the last Rurales flee, the rebels take stock of the captured supplies and question the security guards.
They load up a truck and the train with supplies, to bring back to Mexicali.
Leaving a garrison behind at Los Algodones, the bulk of the new international section of the PLM army returns to Mexicali, victorious. Smoke rises from the Rurales' headquarters in the background.
This short game lasted 7 turns. The rebels lost 7 men. Of the 25 rurales, only a couple managed to escape across the border, and the rebels took 2 guards prisoner. As I mentioned at the beginning of this report, for a more balanced, but less historical game, increase the forces available to the governments side and consider fortifying the town.
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