The Texas Revolution: Scenarios written for One Hour Wargames

The Texas Revolution:

Scenarios written for One Hour Wargames

By Kenneth Van Pelt

Battle of Gonzales

Situation: The Battle of Gonzales was the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. It was fought near Gonzales, Texas, on October 2, 1835, between rebellious Texian settlers and a detachment of Mexican army soldiers .

In 1831, Mexican authorities gave the settlers of Gonzales a small cannon to help protect them from frequent Comanche raids. Over the next four years, the political situation in Mexico deteriorated, and in 1835 several states revolted. As the unrest spread, Colonel Domingo de Ugartechea, the commander of all Mexican troops in Texas, felt it unwise to leave the residents of Gonzales with a weapon and requested the return of the cannon.

When the initial request was refused, Ugartechea sent 100 dragoons to retrieve the cannon. The soldiers neared Gonzales on September 29, but the colonists used a variety of excuses to keep them from the town, while secretly sending messengers to request assistance from nearby communities. Within two days, up to 140 Texians gathered in Gonzales, all determined not to give up the cannon. On October 1, settlers voted to initiate a fight. Mexican soldiers opened fire as Texians approached their camp in the early hours of October 2. After several hours of desultory firing, the Mexican soldiers withdrew.[1]

Although the skirmish had little military significance, it marked a clear break between the colonists and the Mexican government and is considered to have been the start of the Texas Revolution. News of the skirmish spread throughout the United States, where it was often referred to as the "Lexington of Texas". The cannon's fate is disputed. It may have been buried and rediscovered in 1936, or it may have been seized by Mexican troops after the Battle of the Alamo.

Army Sizes:  Mexican Army: 4 Units. 1 Infantry, 1 Skirmisher, 2 Cavalry.   Texian Army: 6 Units 3 Infantry, 2 Skirmisher, 1 Artillery.

Deployment:

Mexican Army in zones 7,8,9 facing North.

Texian Army 1 Infantry and 1 Artillery zone 2.

Reinforcements:  The Texian army rolls a dice at the beginning of every turn and receives a unit on the North map edge on the roll of 4, 5, 6.  The Mexican army does not receive any more reinforcements.

Special Rules:  The Guadalupe river is difficult to cross and the ferry has been removed by the Texians.  To cross a unit must begin the move adjacent to the river and roll a 5, or 6 to cross. Texians add +1 to their die roll.

Game Length and Turn Order: 15 rounds and the Texians move first in each turn.

Victory Conditions:  Major Victory: Mexicans win if they make contact with the cannon artillery piece located in zone 2.  If they make contact the unit is captured and loses all remaining strength points. Marginal Victory: Capturing the gun and taking casualties or losing a unit.

Failure: Taking any casualties on the Infantry and skirmisher units.

Texians win a Major Victory if they are in possession of the cannon at the end of the game.

Inspiration:  One Hour Wargames by Neil Thomas and the Wikipedia site on the Texas Revolution.