Villa Rides! The Battle of Conejos (1916)

 Introduction

Pancho Villa’s forces are advancing toward Torreon, a strategic stronghold held by the Federale Army. Control of Torreon is crucial to Villa’s campaign, making it essential to seize the city. This semi-historical scenario, inspired by the 1968 movie Villa Rides!, represents Last Stand Dan’s rendition of the "Battle of Conejos" along the Nazas River. Tasked with capturing this heavily fortified position, Villa’s troops face a battle that could make or break his campaign against the Federales.

Join us for this bloody but entertaining “Hollywood” reimagining of the famous battle from the movie. We used the late Larry Brom’s rules, The Sword and the Flame, modified for the Mexican Revolution. The game was played on a 6x8 table and accommodates up to 8 players

.So this battle has been played at Hurricon 2024 and the CSGA down in the Springs. It is being put on one more time this year at our Vet Wars event at CMH in Denver. The weather is not cooperating so hopefully the snow slows down by Sunday. 

The Battle

Both battles so far have drawn 8 to 10 players, with everyone enjoying their roles as either Federale defenders or Villista attackers. I’d seen Villa Rides! years ago and always wanted to bring this battle to the tabletop. Creating the terrain was a rewarding process, with fantastic contributions from friends at Bill at Bill’s Gamer Garage, Bud at Bud's Blast Markers, Dwight at Dr. Jones Terrain, and Al at Askari Miniatures.

The scenario included special rules for each battle stage, with missions and objectives for all players. Both sides had plenty of cavalry for rapid maneuvers, Federales entrenched with artillery, and Villistas awaiting promised artillery support from reluctant allied generals—a nod to the historical tensions.

For the Hollywood touch, we brought in Robert Mitchum’s character as a gun runner in his Jenny, aiding Villa from the skies. Villa's forces launched a frontal assault from Palacio Gomez, across the Nazas River, aiming to capture this gateway to Torreon. After studying maps to locate where this “could” have taken place, I created my own interpretation of the battle’s setting.

The Terrain

The movie Villa Rides! was filmed in Spain, in the movie the town and bridge were even more massive than depicted here. But as gamers, we all understand the need to scale things down for the table. I’ll go into more detail in a future blog post, but for now, I hope you enjoy the pictures. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

And for those who have already played in this scenario—Gracias Amigos!

Last Stand Dan

Overall View of the completed battlefield. The Federale position at Conejos on the left bank and the Villistas attacking from the right bank.

And what's a revolution with Mariachi's!

View from the Federale left flank. Another good view of the bridge made from blue foam.

Villistas crossing the Nazas. You can see the bridge joint. I built it in two sections to be able to box it up for transport. 

Villa forces moving forward. 

The town buildings were made by Dr. Dwight Jones. He makes some good stuff! 

The Villistas assaulting across the bridge!

You can see the Federale Colorados waiting to be released!

Federale Militia were holding the entrance to Conejos. There morale was questionable but I won't mention a special rule for them since the battle is to be played one more time this snowy weekend here in Denver. 

On the Fed right flank more cavalry waits to be released with support of a couple of guns from this right flank emplacement and from the town walls. 

Villista cavalry on the move!

Family Play test #1. We had a great time. 

The river was only a foot deep but still slowed down movement. A couple of small sand bars gave a little more fire from the murderous Federale guns and mauser rifles.

Here is a shot with the infamous Capt. Lucas playing in the battle at Hurricon 2024, Orlando.

We had a great crowd in Florida, Sgt. Guinness on the right. 

Making decisions...

Cavalry getting into action.

A nice view of the Town. I will go through some of the build in a following blog.

More Colorados on the move!

The Villistas were able to get some artillery support in the way of some nice French 75's made my Askari Miniatures. 

And who remembers Robert Mitchim in his Jenny at the end of the movie? Everyone was taking pot shots trying to alter his dynamite drops. 

The open terrain the bridge assault had to cross. 

A Fed Krupp Gun firing from the wall. There one on each side of the town.

The Villistas were able to get more guns into action (if they rolled well that is!).

Air attack on the trench and barbwire. 

This shot was staged. The Villistas were able to roll for three available guns. But you didn't know which of the 4 commanders would get one each turn. 

The bridge assaulters could get cover from the bridge when fired from the flanks. 

We had plenty of Villa troops to do the job.

With Mariachis and Villa pumping up their morale the bridge assault was in full swing.

Federale Gun in action on one of the flanks. 

The infamous Red Colorados flag. 

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.