Maximilian Adventure - Battle of Morelia - Dec 18, 1863

Battle of Morelia - Dec 18, 1863

The Republican forces of General Uraga have decided to attack the garrison at Morelia to secure their lines of communications and their supply route through the territory.

General Berthier and Marquez of the Imperial forces have arrayed their army to defend the town and the ridge to the right of the town.

This was a very enjoyable battle, with both sides going through the emotional swings only a Piquet game can deliver.

At one point the Imperialist thought the game was over, but the Red Hussars of the Imperial army saved the day. True drama at its best.

Mike Johnson - Imperialist Commander
Charles Caball - Republican right wing commander
Eric Burgess - Republican left wing commander

Note - I had two other players that couldn't make it.

Here are some photos of the game. Enjoy and we will be fighting the battle again next week with about 4 more units on the Republican side.

Here is the initial setup from the Republican point of view. Town of Morelia is the one in the middle of the battlefield.

View from the Imperial side.

Nice look at the Republican army ready for the assault.

Imperial infantry stand ready

7th Line of the Imperial Mexican Army

Turcos (light blue) and King's Battalion of the Belgian Foreign Legion defend to the front of Morelia.

The ground level view from the Republican side.

Here we can see that right flank of the Republican army advancing on the town. The yellow chips are Opp Fire chips the Imperials are using to blast the Republicans as they advance.

Turcos unleash a volley that kills two stands of the 1st Line regiment, and routs them!

Republicans attack the Turcos with the 4th Line and 3rd National Guard, destroying the Turcos and forcing them to rout! The Republican Morale is sky high now! One of the best Imperial units was just routed.

Republican 4th line ready to follow-up on the Turco's rout!

Strange looking tumble weeds blowing through the battlefield.

The Imperialist have other plans. They advance the Emperor's battalion (left) and the Red Hussars to stem the tide. The Red Hussars will earn glory  on this battlefield today!

Notice that there are not units around the Red Hussars as they keep hitting the Republicans in the flank and rolling up their forces. The Republicans are desperately trying to find anybody that can stop the carnage the Red Hussars have unleashed upon them!

Republican Army Roster for the game. They started with 20 morale chips and 19 units. Ouch! they did have an Army bonus of UP1 to all cavalry melee for the battle. This was all determined by the ACD (Army Characterization Deck) in the Piquet rules.

Oh crap! The Red Hussars get a Heroic Cavalry Move and smash into my Republican guns on the flank with very predictable results! Curse you Red Hussars!

Just before the overrun.

Mike's admiring his new captured guns.

It gives great pleasure to the general.

Nice ground level shot of the battlefield.

Republicans try to advance up the hill to attack the Imperials 1st Cazadores (Charles' new favorite word), but were sorely disappointed.

Feeding the beast!

Republicans get their light guns in action on the  right flank, but are unable to convince the Imperialists that they mean business.

Eric has finally had enough of the Red Hussars and brings in the D12 3rd Cavalry Regiment to dispatch them!!! Payback is a bitch!

Eric rolls and "Oh nooooooo", the Red Hussars rout the 3rd Regiment!!!

This effectively ends the game even though the 2nd Regiment of cavalry that followed did rout the Red Hussars, the damage they did was devastating.

The view from the church. The burial detail will be busy tonight.

The market continues with business as usual. :-)

Great game and can't wait to play next week!