Battle of Goliad Scenarios for OHW

Battle of Goliad

 Situation: The Battle of Goliad was the second skirmish of the Texas Revolution. In the early-morning hours of October 9, 1835, Texas settlers attacked the Mexican Army soldiers garrisoned at Presidio La Bahía, a fort near the Mexican Texas settlement of Goliad. La Bahía lay halfway between the only other large garrison of Mexican soldiers (at Presidio San Antonio de Bexar) and the then-important Texas port of Copano.

In September, Texians began plotting to kidnap Mexican General Martín Perfecto de Cos, who was en route to Goliad to attempt to quell the unrest in Texas. The plan was initially dismissed by the central committee coordinating the rebellion. However, within days of the Texian victory at the Battle of Gonzales, Captain George Collinsworth and members of the Texian militia in Matagorda began marching towards Goliad. The Texians soon learned that Cos and his men had already departed for San Antonio de Béxar but continued their march.

The garrison at La Bahía was understaffed and could not mount an effective defense of the fort's perimeter. Using axes borrowed from townspeople, Texians were able to chop through a door and enter the complex before the bulk of the soldiers were aware of their presence. After a 30-minute battle, the Mexican garrison, under Colonel Juan López Sandoval, surrendered. One Mexican soldier had been killed and three others wounded, while only one Texian had been injured. The majority of the Mexican soldiers were instructed to leave Texas, and the Texians confiscated $10,000 worth of provisions and several cannons, which they soon transported to the Texian Army for use in the Siege of Béxar. The victory isolated Cos's men in Béxar from the coast, forcing them to rely on a long overland march to request or receive reinforcements or supplies.

Army Sizes: Mexican Army: 4 Units Infantry.  Texian Army 3 Units Infantry 3 Units Skirmishers.

Deployment:  Mexican Army all 4 units in zone 5, the presidio.  Texian army may deploy on any table edge.

Reinforcements: No reinforcements.

Special Rules: The Mexican Units cannot fire or move until they activate with a roll of 4,5,6.  Once activated they are active and will fight the remainder of the game. 

The presidio should have four gates marked on each fort side facing.  These have a hit point value of 5 and will stop unit traffic until they are opened by the Mexicans or destroyed with combat by the Texians. Firing into the presidio target units take only half fire effect.

Game Length and Turn Order:  The game is 15 rounds and the Texians move first in each round.

Victory Conditions: Texians score a major victory if the capture the presidio.  Mexicans score a marginal victory if they get 2 units off the table.

Inspiration: