Viva Villa! The Battle of Tierra Blanca, Mexican Revolution, 1913 (TSATF)

 It's been a while I know...

Sorry that it has been so long since I last posted anything. Life threw me some vicious curve balls over the last few years, and I didn't see them coming. I sort of lost my way, however, with the encouragement of all of my great friends and family I am getting back into the things I love. One of them being wargaming and all the "brothers" I have out there. I decided last summer to get "with it" and modify my boatyard site and start blogging again with all the things I have been up to. 

Last summer (2023) I took out my DVD of Villa Rides! (Yul Bryner, Charles Bronson, Robert Mitchum) and started buying and painting Mexican Revolution figures, terrain, trains, etc., to start campaigning in Mexico. I also finally finished my version of Chinese junks to present my version of the "The Boom" scene from the Sand Pebbles movie, which is another one of my favorites. I will blog about "The Boom" next, followed by my 2024 scenarios I am working on. 

Once I completed building the scenarios I attended four conventions last year and I put on the Villa scenario 4 times from May last year to this month (March 2024). Here was my schedule.

• May 2023 - HMGS PSW - Sand Wars - Mesa, AZ - Assisted Mad Guru with his excellent Camerone Scenario.
• September 2023 - HMGS South - Hurricon - Orlando, FL - Tierra Blanca and The Boom
• October 2023 - HMGS PSW - Mini Wars - Buena Park, CA - Assisted Mad Guru with Camerone and hosted Tierra Blanca and The Boom
• November 2023 - Colorado Military Historians (CMH) - Vet Wars - Tierra Blanca and The Boom
• March 2024 - Colorado Springs Gamers Association (CSGA) - Club Night - Tierra Blanca

It has been a busy schedule and it was all worth it. 

Convention Game Announcement for the Villa Battle:

Viva Villa!
La Batalla de Tierra Blanca, Mexico, Noviembre 1913
(The battle of Tierra Blanca/35 miles south of Juarez)

Description

Huerta executes Pancho Villa's good friend Presidente Madero, that was a big mistake! Villa's forces turn on Huerta and fight a two day battle. One of his Generals, Rodolfo Fierro, broke off from the main battle to destroy the Federales ammunition rain. This is Last Stand Dan's version of that battle. 

Rules: We used "The Sword And The Flame" from the late Larry Brom. 

Players: Anywhere from 6 to 8 

Table Size: 8 x 6

About the Battle

The main objective was capturing or destroying the ammo train. The Villistas had a large force and to add some intrigue to the battle, we allowed a large force to move into and up the dry river bed to attack from the rear. The Federales had their hands full. Staying in place protecting the train and the station while Villista cavalry and infantry, with their sticks of dynamite, surged all around them. Meanwhile, the train crew were stoking the coals and watering the engine to build enough steam to get them to safety. The train had to stay in place for 6 turns which seemed like a lifetime for Federal troops. They did get word out to the town and a cavalry patrol of ruthless Federale Colorados came up the rails in hopes of turning the tide. 

Of all the battles, the train did make it through once, by the skin of their teeth they made it to the end of the table to the tunnel. I mean, it was on the very last turn, using random card movement, it was either the Villistas throwing their last dynamite sticks or the train making it to the tunnel. With the high card drawn, the train made it with much elation around the table. All of the battles were a blast, and you couldn't ask for such a good bunch of good spirited players at each table. 

Thanks for all the clubs, events, friends and venues that allowed me to put on this game. Next year will be even more fun with the second Mexican Revolution battle, a scene from Villa Rides! and the next project which has my boatyard bristling with some boat construction. I won't spoil it for you. It's good to be back gaming again.

Enjoy the pictures and if anyone would like to get a copy of the TSATF QREF and Scenario modifications just let me know. 

Adelante!

Last Stand Dan

Standby for the next blog about "The Boom" battle and scenario build. Enjoy the pictures which is an assortment from all the games played with some notes.