Texas Glory as history 1836

TEXAS GLORY AS HISTORY - THE 1836 CAMPAIGN

Or, How Santa Anna and Houston Played the Game

By Carl Willner

This campaign history describes how the historical 1836 campaign of the Texan Revolution, from the weeks of February 21 through April 21 (Turns 1-9 of the 1836 scenario) would have corresponded with the TEXAS GLORY game. The last three turns (Turns 10-12) were never “played” historically due to the capture of Santa Anna on Turn 9 (April 21, at the Battle of San Jacinto), which ended the campaign. The history covers the various actions permitted by the cards, taking into account all movement of land units, including movement by sea, and all battles that occurred during the period of the 1836 campaign of the Texan Revolution. The specific events on the action cards are assigned to a particular turn where a unique event clearly occurred that turn (e.g., Surprise, Deguello). The effects of supply on individual units are discussed in broader terms by turns and over the course of the campaign, and are sometimes though not always identified on a turn-by-turn basis. It is not always possible to recreate the historical events exactly as they occurred in game terms, given the unavoidable limits of what is possible in a playable game, but the game allows the general course of all the principal events of the campaign to be repeated.

1836 Game Set up. All pictures can be expanded by clicking on them.

The small navies of Texas and Mexico are not represented by units in the game, but reflected abstractly through the range limitations on sea attacks.   Historically, during the 1836 campaign, the Texan navy did a limited amount of commerce raiding, but generally remained at Galveston island where its primary mission was protecting the approaches to Galveston Bay, guarding against a possible Mexican invasion by sea. Meanwhile, the Mexican navy focused on escorting the supply ships needed by the army, which were arriving at Copano and Matagorda after the Mexicans retook these ports.   There were no fleet actions during the period of the 1836 campaign and only one instance in which a Texan warship engaged a Mexican one, on April 3, 1836 (Turn 6).

The campaign history shows that one side often moved three groups or individual units during a week, more often for the Mexicans but sometimes for the Texans as well, and during about half of the weeks at least two groups moved on each side, with instances of only one group moving usually related to events.   The card deck includes 3 cards with 4 CPs and 6 with 3 CPs, as well as 7 with 2 CPs, 7 with only 1 CP (including four events) and 2 0s (both of which are events).   To recreate what happened historically and enable the players to do as much as their historical counterparts, all three of the 4s and all six of the 3s must be used during the nine turns played, along with five of the 2s and four of the 1s (including three events with one action each), and neither of the 0s appearing during the nine turns. During these nine turns, the Mexicans have some advantage over the Texans in total actions, with 25 CPs for the Mexicans to 19 CPs for the Texans. The historical Texans, in game terms, have a particularly weak hand in the initial turns, reflected in the passive behavior of Fannin who allows himself to be outmaneuvered and destroyed by Urrea. However, a player’s choice to use his better cards in the early and mid game, as the historical Mexicans do in game terms, has significant consequences for his end game. Had the campaign continued past Turn 9, in game terms there would have been a dramatic slowing in the pace of the Mexican advance, with the best cards nearly exhausted and the Mexicans struggling to sustain their movement toward the final objectives in the last three turns. In real life it is likely that this would have happened as well, as the Mexicans encountered increasing difficulty continuing their campaign deeper into Texas due to supply, exhaustion and political concerns. Even without the decisive victory at San Jacinto or timely American intervention, the Texans would have had a good prospect of winning the campaign simply by holding onto the last victory objectives, and forcing the Mexicans to negotiate a peace.

Turn 1 (February 21) - The Arrival of Santa Anna and the Battle of San Patricio.
The Mexican plays a 2 CP card and the Texan a 1. The Mexican has the initiative and makes two group moves, activating the Santa Anna and Urrea leaders: 1) Santa Anna, with Sesma, Dolores, Jimenez, Matamoros, and San Luis Potosi, advance from Presidio Rio Grande to San Antonio and the Alamo, most of the Mexican units moving to the Alamo (across two separate fords) while Santa Anna remains in San Antonio with Dolores; 2) Urrea, with Cuautla and Yucatan, and the Tejano Garza advance from Matamoros to San Patricio (across two separate fords).

Historically, the Garza Tejano unit was really forming up and growing in strength over the course of the first three turns as Tejanos loyal to Mexico joined Urrea’s forces, but its entry has been simplified for game purposes.

The Texan makes one individual move, sending Kimball from Gonzales to reinforce the Alamo.

Historically this move occurred in the following week a few days before the Alamo was stormed, and if the Texans were to get the first move on turn 2, Kimball as a cavalry unit could try to enter the fort then as well, by moving into the Alamo hex and then retreating inside, at the risk of taking fire from any Mexican cavalry besieging the fort.

The Texans at the Alamo, including Kimball, decline battle and withdraw into the mission fort with all four blocks there, and are besieged. The Mexican passes on siege combat, while the Texan then initiates a cannonade for one round against the Mexicans with the Alamo Artillery (3 steps) and Travis (1 step), receiving counterbattery fire from Sesma (3 steps); no hits are inflicted on either side (the Mexicans would need two hits to inflict one on the Alamo defenders due to double defense). At San Patricio, Urrea (2 steps), Cuautla (3 steps), Garza (2 steps) and Yucatan (3 steps) attack Grant (2 steps, and the Cuautla and Garza cavalry and Urrea (all As) fire first and destroy the Texan B unit before it can retreat with no loss to themselves.

Historically, the elimination of this scattered Texan force took place in two battles, one at San Patricio at the end of this week that destroyed half of the force, and one early in the following week nearby at Agua Dulce that destroyed the other half.

Both the Mexicans at the Alamo (1 over supply limits) and the Texans inside (2 over supply limits) face the risk of supply attrition but suffer no losses. Gaona’s brigade, with Aldama, Toluca, Zapadores, Guanajuato and Queretaro, becomes available in the Presidio Rio Grande box for the Mexicans, while the Texans receive their Seguin Tejano cavalry unit (1 step) at Gonzales.

1836 Turn 1 Movement	1836 Turn 1 Texans are besieged in the Alamo

1836 Turn 1 End

Turn 2 (February 28) - The Fall of the Alamo.
The Mexican plays the Deguello event card, with only 1 CP but ensuring initiative over the Texan, who plays a 2.   For his one move, the Mexican activates Santa Anna and moves Gaona’s brigade to San Antonio and the Alamo from Presidio Rio Grande. The more powerful Zapadores, Aldama and Toluca battalions go to the Alamo for the assault, while Gaona, Queretaro and Guanajuato remain in San Antonio with Santa Anna, reducing supply attrition risks for the Mexican forces. Santa Anna and Dolores also advance to the Alamo.

Historically, Gaona force marched the three better infantry units constituting half of his brigade forward so as to be in a position to reach the Alamo for the planned assault in response to Santa Anna’s demands in turn 2, while the two others with his own HQ and artillery came up more slowly and missed the assault by a day; in game terms this is reflected in the limitations on the number of units that can be used to storm a besieged mission fort, and in supply considerations that lead units to be spread out.

The Texan then makes two moves: 1) Houston is activated and moves himself and Burleson from Washington to Gonzales, using a force march for Burleson (due to the extra point cost for the ferry en route) though Houston can reach Gonzales with normal movement; and 2) Horton makes an individual move from Victoria to join Fannin at Goliad.

Historically Houston left at the end of this week but did not arrive until the following week, while Horton also historically arrived the following week.

The Mexicans storm the Alamo with the Aldama (4 steps), Toluca (4 steps), Matamoros (3 steps), Jimenez (3 steps), and San Luis Potosi (4 steps) infantry battalions, Sesma (3 steps) and the Zapadores (2 steps). Only four of these seven units can storm in one round, but the three others can be brought up from reserve on the second round of the attack to replace shot-up units in the front line. At full strength, the Mexican storming units at the Alamo are a total of 23 steps.
Santa Anna and Dolores remain in reserve through the battle (though they could also have entered the battle on the third round of the Deguello battle if needed to replace other shot-up units).

Historically, the Zapadores were among the units sent in during the latter stages of the battle for the final assault, while the Dolores cavalry (4 steps) was also on hand for the battle but was held in reserve and used only to pursue fleeing Texans who tried to break out in the last stages of the assault; in game terms, the cavalry at reduced value of C1 is less effective storming a mission fort than any of the more powerful infantry present, and would be wasted in the role of storming a fort in this case unless the infantry units became severely weakened.

They are pitted against the Alamo fortress artillery (3 steps), Bowie/Crockett (2 steps), Travis (1 step), and Kimball (1 step, fighting at C1 rather than B2 because it is defending inside the fort), a total of only 7 steps but mostly with more effective fire.   The Texan fortress artillery and Travis (As) fire first, followed by Sesma (B), and then by the Bowie and Kimball units (Cs), and finally all of the three Mexican infantry chosen for the first wave (Toluca, Aldama, and San Luis Potosi, who will be replaced by Jimenez, Matamoros and the Zapadores in the second wave). In three rounds of Mexican attacks, made possible by the Deguello card, the Texans inflict 6 steps of losses on the Mexicans (2 from Toluca, 2 from Aldama, 1 from San Luis Potosi and 1 from Sesma), and are all themselves destroyed, except for the last step of the Alamo artillery which is captured and converted to the corresponding Mexican artillery unit.

The number of Mexican casualties at the Alamo has long been controversial, with much higher claims being made, but this level of loss is consistent with the Mexican casualty reports of some 70 killed and 300 wounded, of which many later died for want of medical care; an analysis of the ending strengths of the Mexican units that fought at the Alamo and survived the campaign, as well as the losses the Mexicans later suffered at San Jacinto mostly from units that fought at the Alamo, shows that the Mexican losses at the Alamo were likely in the range of 400 men and certainly not over 600, still 2-3 times greater than the men lost defending the Alamo.

The Mexicans are at risk of supply attrition for the forces at the Alamo (5 over supply limits, with the large force of 10 units there including the captured Alamo guns, and suffer a step loss from Dolores), though the victory improves their supply situation. As reinforcements, the Mexicans receive all their remaining units, which come in at Presidio Rio Grande – Tolsa, Morelos, Guerrero, 1st Mexico, Guadalajara, and Tres Villas, and the Tampico cavalry.   The Texans receive a militia infantry unit (2 steps) at Gonzales.

1836 Turn 2 Movement	1836 Turn 2 Mexicans assault the Alamo. After Round 1 of storming.

1836 Turn 2 Alamo assault continues. After Round 2 of storming. Texans eliminated in round 3.	1836 Turn 2 End

Turn 3 (March 7) - Houston’s Retreat Begins and the Battle of Refugio.
The Mexican plays a 3 CP card, and the Texan a 2 (with burn), giving the Mexicans initiative. The Mexican makes two group moves: 1) Santa Anna is activated (though he does not himself move this turn) and from the large group assembled at the Alamo, the Mexicans send the Jimenez and San Luis Potosi infantry battalions (6 steps) along the trail to Goliad to join Urrea, crossing the Cibolo Creek at Carvajal Crossing, reaching Espiritu Santo, and force marching to arrive at Coleto Creek, and also send Sesma with the Dolores cavalry and the Matamoros, Aldama and Toluca infantry battalions (12 steps) along the road toward Gonzales, stopping at the ford just before Gonzales, while Tolsa and his brigade, all of the seven Mexican units at Presidio Rio Grande, advance to San Antonio and the Alamo, combining with Santa Anna, Gaona, Queretaro, Guanajuato and the Zapadores who have remained there; 2) Urrea is activated and with the Cuautla cavalry, Yucatan infantry and Garza Tejano cavalry moves toward Refugio, sending Cuautla and Garza across the ford into Refugio. The Mexicans also use forage to add a step to the non-moving Alamo artillery after the Mexican forces at the Alamo initially leave, and before Tolsa’s forces arrive and put the Alamo back above its supply limits. The Texan then makes one group move: 1) Houston is activated and he, along with Burleson, the Militia infantry, and the Tejano cavalry, retreat from Gonzales back across the Colorado this turn through Burnham’s Ferry, placing the Tejano cavalry to cover the flank of the main army at La Grange while the militia is positioned at Alley. Before retreating, the Texan spends 1 CP to burn Gonzales, in order to deprive the pursuing Mexicans of supplies along this march route, though because all of his units are moving (and are already at full strength in any case) he does not add any forage step to a Texan unit.

Historically the Texans left Gonzales at the end of this week but did not complete their movement across the Colorado until the following week.

In the battle of Refugio, the Mexican Cuautla and Garza Tejano cavalry (As) fire first and destroy Ward’s Georgia battalion (a C with 2 steps) in a two-round battle, though Ward manages to inflict a one-step loss on the Cuautla cavalry in the first round.

Historically, the battle of Refugio took place at the beginning of the next week. Though half of the Georgia battalion escaped this battle, it failed to rejoin Fannin and never fought effectively again; after wandering around in the swamps, these troops surrendered to Urrea’s forces north of Linnville after he won the battle of Coleto Creek and took Victoria.

The Mexicans are at risk of supply attrition for Sesma’s force near Gonzales (3 units over supply limits, and suffer another step loss taken from the Dolores cavalry); between them, San Antonio and the Alamo can supply all but two units of the large force of 13 Mexican units there (6 for San Antonio and 5 for the Alamo/Concepcion, and the Mexicans suffer a step loss from the Tampico cavalry that moved up to the Alamo), while Fannin’s 4 units are supported by Goliad, and Houston’s army of 4 units has dispersed sufficiently to remain in supply. The Texans receive one reinforcement, the New York battalion (3 steps), which lands in Matagorda. There are no more Mexican reinforcement units.

Historically, the New York battalion came by sea from New Orleans.

1836 Turn 3 Movement	1836 Turn 3 Battle of Refugio

1836 Turn 3 End

Turn 4 (March 14) - Fannin’s Forces Destroyed at the Battle of Coleto Creek.
The Mexican plays a 4 CP card, while the Texan plays the Local Guide event with 1CP gaining initiative. For their one move, the Texans activate Fannin and finally abandon the mission fort at Goliad, moving with Fannin, the Goliad artillery and Wallace’s Lafayette battalion to the site of the Coleto Creek battle (Local Guide increases the hexside limit to allow them to move directly across the ford), while sending the faster Horton cavalry ahead separately through Espiritu Santo to Victoria (force march). Fannin’s decision to drag along the slow guns and the blocking effect of the Mexicans already at Coleto Creek means that most of his force cannot evade the Mexicans to reach Victoria first (had they tried to march up the road from Espiritu Santo toward Gonzales, the guns would have had to be abandoned and even the rest of the force would have been in the path of Sesma’s advancing Mexicans, with Houston already gone). The Mexicans then make two group moves and one individual move: 1) Santa Anna is activated (though he does not himself move), and moves Sesma from the ford at Gonzales with the Dolores, Matamoros, Toluca and Aldama units through Gonzales to reach the west bank of the Colorado at Columbus, while from the forces gathered at the Alamo, Santa Anna also moves Tolsa with the Guerrero and 1st Mexico infantry battalions and Tampico cavalry (14 steps) to the ford on the Guadalupe before Gonzales, and also sends the Queretaro and Tres Villas infantry battalions (6 steps) toward Goliad, crossing Cibolo Creek at the Carvajal Crossing and reaching Espiritu Santo; and 2) Urrea is activated and, with the Cuautla and Yucatan units, moves through Goliad and Carlos and continues on to Coleto Creek to join Jimenez and San Luis Potosi there; and 3) the Garza Tejanos also make an individual move to Coleto Creek (having been outside of Urrea’s command radius at Refugio since not a regular part of his brigade). The remaining step can be used for forage after the other units move to add a step to the Alamo artillery, now that the Alamo forces do not exceed their supply limit. In the battle of Coleto Creek, since Fannin is unable to continue his retreat and is pinned down by the Mexicans, he attempts to fight his way through in the first round unsuccessfully against Jimenez (C, 3 steps) and San Luis Potosi (C, 3 steps), 6 Mexican steps defending against 7 Texan on the first round. The Goliad artillery fires first (A, 2 steps), followed by the two Mexican infantry, and then by Fannin (C, 2 steps) and Wallace (C, 3 steps). This was the Texans’ one chance to break through in the initial round, but they fight poorly and only manage to inflict one step loss on the Mexicans, taken from San Luis Potosi, while suffering step losses themselves to Wallace and the artillery (had Fannin eliminated or retreated the two defending Mexican units on the first round, he would then have become the defender against the Mexican reserves arriving on the second round, and could have attempted to retreat from them into Victoria to join Horton).

Historically, Fannin chose to form a defensive position in the open with no water rather than press on to the nearby creek in hope of breaking through to safety, a fatal mistake. For game purposes, this tactical error is reflected in the form of some poor die rolls.

As the Mexican reserves come in during the second round – Urrea (A, 2 steps), Cuautla (A, 2 steps), Yucatan (C, 3 steps) and the Tejanos (A, 2 steps), giving the Mexicans a total of 14 steps in action, the two Mexican cavalry units and Urrea now fire first, followed by the Goliad artillery, then the three Mexican infantry, and finally Fannin and Wallace (who never actually get a chance to fire in the second round, being eliminated first). After two rounds, the Texans have lost six steps, with Fannin (2 steps) and Wallace (3 steps) eliminated, and the Goliad artillery losing a step, so that it is captured and exchanged for its Mexican counterpart unit. Fannin’s forces only manage to inflict a 1 step loss on the Mexicans with their artillery, the loss being taken from the Yucatan infantry.

This sequence of action at Coleto Creek slightly alters the historical entry into action of the Mexican units, as Urrea’s cavalry first cut off the Texans from further retreat before they were pinned down by the infantry, but it was the arrival of Urrea’s artillery and reserves on the second day of the battle that finally forced Fannin to surrender to avoid being destroyed where he was trapped in the open.

Urrea’s forces regroup after the battle, with Urrea moving to Espiritu Santo along with the Tejanos to join Queretaro and Tres Villas, bringing them under command control, while San Luis Potosi, Jimenez and Yucatan move back to Goliad along with the captured Goliad artillery and Cuautla remains at Coleto Creek, within Urrea’s command radius. The Mexicans are at risk of supply attrition for Urrea’s forces at Espiritu Santo (1 unit over supply limits) as well as for Tolsa’s force near Gonzales (2 units over supply limits, taking a step from 1st Mexico); Sesma’s 5-unit force is now adequately supplied by Columbus. The Texan receives one reinforcement, the Nashville battalion (2 steps), which lands in Linnville.

Historically, the Nashville battalion moved by sea from New Orleans along the coast, with the ultimate objective of reaching Copano; Linnville is the closest friendly port for staging a sea attack the next turn.

1836 Turn 4 Movement	1836 Turn 4 Battle of Coleto Creek

1836 Turn 4 End

Turn 5 (March 21) - Mexicans Mass on the Colorado and the Nashville Battalion Surrenders at Copano.
The Mexican plays a 3 CP card and the Texan also a 3, giving the Mexican the initiative on ties.   The Mexican makes two group moves: 1) Urrea is activated and sends the Cuautla cavalry and Garza Tejanos to Victoria, moving with the Tres Villas and Queretaro units to Goliad to join Jimenez, San Luis Potosi and the Goliad artillery (his entire force cannot cross the ford to Victoria yet on account of the town still being occupied by Horton), while the low-grade Yucatan infantry (within Urrea’s command radius as part of his original brigade) is sent to Copano, remaining behind for the rest of the campaign as a garrison around Goliad; 2) Santa Anna is activated and moves Tolsa with the Guerrero and 1st Mexico battalions and Tampico cavalry from the ford before Gonzales, through Gonzales to join with Sesma’s group which has paused on the Colorado at Columbus; while Santa Anna at last decides where to use Gaona and sends him with the Morelos and Guanajuato battalions (10 steps) from San Antonio to force march to the Colorado along the Camino Real (losing a step from Guanajuato), halting at the ford on the west bank before Bastrop, with the ultimate objective of continuing to Nacogdoches. The remaining Mexican CP is used for forage to build up the non-moving San Luis Potosi infantry at Goliad one step, bringing it back up to 3 steps, one short of full strength. This is done before the other forces under Urrea move to Goliad so that the supply limit of Goliad is not exceeded at the time of foraging.

The dispirited remnants of Ward’s Georgia battalion historically were rounded up at this time by the Mexican cavalry between Victoria and Linnville, without fighting, while historically, the Yucatan battalion was involved in the execution of the prisoners from the Fannin, Georgia and Wallace units that took place at the end of this week.

The Texans makes two individual moves: 1) the Nashville battalion moves by sea from Linnville to land at Copano behind Mexican lines in a sea attack, at a cost of 2 CP, and 2) in an individual move, the New Orleans battalion moves from Velasco up through Columbia, reaching Fort Bend by force march with a ferry crossing, en route to join Houston’s forces and hold the Colorado river crossing.

Historically, the New Orleans battalion had begun its march from Velasco in the previous week, and got as far as San Felipe and the Atascosito crossing before joining Houston’s later retreat across the Brazos.

Houston considered crossing the Colorado with his assembled forces to counterattack Sesma before Tolsa could arrive, but decided not to do so, reflected in game terms by the Mexican advantage in initiative this turn. In the battle of Copano the Texan Nashville battalion (C, 2 steps) is destroyed by the Mexican Yucatan battalion (C, 2 steps), with the Mexicans firing first (though both blocks are Cs, the Mexicans are defending) and no Mexican losses. At Victoria, Horton (B, 1 step) is eliminated by Urrea’s overwhelming force of the Mexican Cuautla and Tejanos cavalry (As, 4 steps total), as both A cavalry blocks fire first before Horton’s B can retreat, and the Mexican cavalry regroups after the battle, Cuautla going on to Texana while the Tejanos remain in Victoria as a garrison.

Historically, the Nashville volunteers surrendered in the face of the Mexican forces already present when they arrived at Copano, and were spared the execution suffered by Fannin’s forces.   As for Horton’s cavalry, the Mexicans took a number of Texan prisoners near Victoria, and though Horton survived, as did a few of his men who later fought with Houston’s cavalry, this cavalry unit did not appear in action again for the rest of the campaign.

Urrea’s forces at Goliad are at risk of supply attrition (2 units over supply limits, taking a step loss from Queretaro) as are Sesma’s and Tolsa’s at Columbus (4 units over supply limits, taking step losses from Guerrero and Tampico) and even Gaona’s near Bastrop (1 unit over supply limits, taking a loss from Morelos). The Texans receive Sherman (3 steps) as reinforcements at San Felipe.

1836 Turn 5 Movement	1836 Turn 5 Failed Texan Sea into Copano

1836 Turn 5 End

Turn 6 (March 28) - The Runaway Scrape, Texans Retreat Across the Brazos
The Mexican plays a 3 CP card and the Texan a 3 (with burn), giving the Mexican initiative. The Mexicans make three group moves: 1) Santa Anna is activated and leaves the San Antonio/Alamo area with the Zapadores and Guadalajara battalions, moving to Gonzales, while leaving behind the Alamo artillery to garrison the Alamo; 2) Urrea is activated and moves all his forces at Goliad except the artillery, including San Luis Potosi, Jimenez, Queretaro and Tres Villas, to Victoria to rejoin the Tejano cavalry there (because most of Urrea’s troops at this point are not from his original brigade, they must remain in the same hex with him to remain under command control and move as a group); and 3) Gaona is activated, and with the Morelos and Guanajuato battalions, crosses the Colorado and enters Bastrop where they remain for the turn.

By this point in the historical campaign, the Mexican cavalry had been reduced heavily by attrition; the Dolores and Tampico cavalry especially were shadows of their original strength with only 2 steps each (and actually closer to 1 step historically, though the game supply rules do not allow that rapid a loss since attrition must be taken from the strongest units), most of the cavalry having been dismounted and left behind in San Antonio as a garrison given their small combat value without horses. The Cuautla cavalry fared better, moving through areas where supplies were more plentiful.

The Texan then makes two moves: 1) Houston is activated and with Burleson, the militia and the Tejanos retreats from their positions along the Colorado river at La Grange, Beason’s Ferry, and Alley, most of the units moving to Groce’s Ferry while the militia goes to McFarland’s Ferry, and Houston also moves another block within his command range, bringing Sherman from San Felipe to join his main army at Groce’s Ferry; 2) the New York battalion at Matagorda moves to Columbia, escaping before Urrea arrives. Before Sherman leaves San Felipe, the Texan also spends 1 CP to burn it to deny the town’s supplies to the Mexicans, as the Texans prepare to retreat over the Brazos, though since the unit there is moving, it cannot take a forage step (and did not need one, being at full strength). There are no battles this turn. The Mexicans are at risk of supply attrition for most of their groups, including Urrea (1 unit over supply limits at Victoria), Sesma and Tolsa (4 units over supply limits at Columbus, losing a step from 1st Mexico), and Santa Anna (1 unit over supply limits at Gonzales as it has now been burned, losing a step from Guadalajara), but not Gaona who is now safely in Bastrop; the Texans have no supply difficulties as Groce’s Ferry can supply the 4 units there. The Texans receive Millard (3 steps) as a reinforcement at Harrisburg, reflecting the experienced “deserters” from the U.S. army across the Sabine beginning to arrive as volunteers.

1836 Turn 6 Movement	1836 Turn 6 End

Turn 7 (April 7) - The Runaway Scrape Continues, Mexicans Advance to San Felipe
The Texan plays a 4 CP card and the Mexican a 3 (with burn), giving the Texan initiative. The Texans make three individual moves: 1) Millard is moved up from Harrisburg to join Houston at Groce’s Ferry; 2) the New Orleans battalion is moved from Fort Bend across the Brazos to McFarland’s Ferry; and 3) the New York battalion is moved from Columbia to Velasco, staying ahead of Urrea. The Texans do not need to use the remaining CP (if a non-moving unit such as Burleson had suffered a loss in earlier force marches or due to supply, the Texans could uses the remaining 1 CP for forage at Groce’s Ferry to bring it up to full strength, as long as they do so before Millard arrives and puts the forces in that hex above the supply limit). The Mexicans then make two group moves: 1) Santa Anna in Gonzales is activated and moves Sesma, Tolsa, the Dolores and Tampico cavalry, and the Matamoros, Aldama, Toluca, Guerrero, and 1st Mexico infantry battalions, all at the Alley ford, across the Colorado to reaches San Felipe, while Santa Anna with the Zapadores and Guadalajara battalions also cross the Colorado at Alley and reach San Felipe, rejoining the rest of the army, and Santa Anna then continues with Matamoros, Aldama, and Toluca to Fort Bend while the rest of the main army remains behind in San Felipe; and 2) Urrea is activated and moves with the Jimenez, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro and Tres Villas infantry to Texana to rejoin the Cuautla cavalry, leaving the Tejano cavalry behind to garrison Victoria and guard against the possibility of further sea movement into Linnville (the need to cross ferries is now slowing Urrea’s advance significantly). The Mexicans also use 1 CP to burn Bastrop and collect a step of forage for a unit there, Morelos, that has suffered attrition losses, bringing it back to full strength. The Texans now face some risk of supply attrition at Groce’s Ferry (1 unit over supply limits), while the Mexicans face some attrition risks for the army under Santa Anna in Fort Bend (1 unit over supply limits) and more severe attrition risks for the larger army under Sesma and Tolsa in the ruins of San Felipe (6 units over supply limits, taking step losses from Tolsa and Guadalajara), highlighting the perils of trying to concentrate a large army with little available supply. Urrea continues to face supply attrition risks at Texana as well (3 units above supply limits), while Gaona’s smaller force at Bastrop faces some risk of supply attrition (1 unit over supply limits) as well now that the town has been burned, though this means that the Mexicans will not need to leave any garrison there when they continue their march. The Texans receive Lamar’s cavalry (2 steps) at Anahuac.

Historically the Texan cavalry was organized with Houston’s army at Groce’s Ferry, but now that San Felipe is burnt and occupied Anahuac is now the nearest victory town apart from Harrisburg where the cavalry can enter. Harrisburg might appear to be the more logical choice for Lamar to enter, to cover the line of the Brazos, but the Texans have made a strategic choice to leave Harrisburg open, bait to draw Santa Anna forward there which he snaps up on the next turn.

1836 Turn 7 Movement	1836 Turn 7 End

Turn 8 (April 14) - Santa Anna Strikes Across the Brazos, Houston Counterattacks and Cuts Off Santa Anna
The Mexican plays a 4 CP card and gains initiative over the Texan with a 2.   The Mexicans make three group moves: 1) Urrea is activated and crosses the Colorado at Cayce’s Ferry with the Cuautla, Jimenez, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, and Tres Villas units, and moving to Matagorda (which remarkably has not been not burned) with all his units except the Cuautla cavalry which remains just north of the town, still in Urrea’s command radius, to reduce supply risks; 2) Gaona is activated and, after receiving new orders cancelling the original plan to march directly on Nacogdoches and redirecting him to rejoin Santa Anna instead, leaves Bastrop, and continues down the Colorado on the east side stopping at Beason’s Ferry (which has more supply value now than the burned San Felipe); and 3) Santa Anna is activated and moves from Fort Bend with to Harrisburg across the unguarded Thompson’s Ferry with his entire “flying column” force, the Matamoros, Aldama and Toluca battalions, continuing on to New Washington while also bringing the powerful Guerrero across Thompson’s Ferry to garrison Harrisburg, and bringing the attrition-weakened remaining units of the main army, Sesma, Tolsa, the 1st Mexico, Guadalajara, the Dolores and Tampico cavalry, and Zapadores, up to Fort Bend, available either to reinforce Santa Anna or block any Texan counterattack over the Brazos as needed. The Mexicans use their remaining 1 CP to forage, adding a step to a non-moving unit – this can be the understrength Goliad artillery to secure the fort against any surprise attacks. At this point, Santa Anna has the options next turn to advance on Anahuac or alternatively to make a sea attack on Galveston, and is within striking distance of taking the last victory town needed to win the campaign.

Historically, only part of the three units with Santa Anna moved directly with him, the full Matamoros battalion and most of the two other battalions, Aldama and Toluca, plus two companies of the 1st Mexico, a total of 7 steps of infantry plus 2 steps for Santa Anna (700 infantry and 50 cavalry), while Cos (not in command of any brigade at this point, and so not in play in the game) with Guerrero was originally given an independent mission by Santa Anna to march down to Velasco from Fort Bend to clear up the Texans there, but then received new orders to join Santa Anna instead. Cos then brought up the Guerrero battalion and the remainder of the Aldama and Toluca battalions, plus two companies of the Guadalajara battalion, another 3 steps of infantry (Cos in reality had a total of some 500 men in Guerrero and the elements of the other battalions, but left 100 of these men behind on the march), just before the battle of San Jacinto in the following turn and before Houston’s scouts could cut off the available roads and bridges, blocking any other Mexican reinforcements.

Houston, receiving information that Santa Anna is with the moving force that left San Felipe, sees his opportunity too and moves with unusual aggressiveness.   The Texans make two moves: 1) Houston is activated, and with Burleson, Sherman, Millard and the Tejanos moves down from Groce’s Ferry to Fork in the Road, from which Houston, Burleson, Sherman and Millard continue on to Harrisburg (two crossing the ford over Buffalo Bayou and two others coming around its end), placing themselves in between Santa Anna’s force and the remainder of the Mexican army, while leaving the Tejanos on the opposite side of Buffalo Bayou due to ford hexside limitations, and the Militia at McFarland’s Ferry (also in Houston’s command radius) is sent to cover Lynchburg against a possible crossing by Santa Anna, while New Orleans remains at McFarland’s Ferry to cover the Atascosito Road against the Mexicans at Fort Bend; and 2) Lamar’s cavalry from Anahuac also moves up to Buffalo Bayou to join with the Tejanos on the opposite side from the bulk of Houston’s army. Only Houston (A) is able to fire before Guerrero (a C, like all the Mexican infantry), which is not hit and retreats to join Santa Anna’s force at New Washington. Santa Anna is cut off but could still win the war.   All now depends on who receives the initiative next turn.   The Texans do not face supply difficulties, with 4 units at Harrisburg, but the Mexicans still do to some extent, despite the dispersal of Santa Anna’s main army. They are 4 units over supply limits for Sesma’s and Tolsa’s forces at Fort Bend (suffering step losses from Tampico, Sesma, and Dolores, which are all now down to 1 step each), though Urrea’s force at Matagorda and Santa Anna’s and Gaona’s groups at least are now in supply.   As reinforcements, the Texans receive a militia infantry unit (2 steps) in Galveston.

Historically, Harrisburg was at least partially burned by either the Texans or the Mexicans, who both blamed the other for its destruction, but more likely the damage was done by Santa Anna. He was furious that the Texan Government, which had relocated there from Washington, had managed to escape him just in time and fled by sea from New Washington to Galveston. The appearance of the militia in Galveston as a Texan reinforcement reflects the movement of the Government there. In game terms, with Harrisburg changing hands twice this turn and Houston ending up making his camp there before the battle of San Jacinto, this burning cannot readily be recreated since burning takes place as a foraging action during movement, and neither side had the necessary CPs to do so.

1836 Turn 8 Movement	1836 Turn 8 Houston retakes Harrisburg

1836 Turn 8 End

Turn 9 (April 21) - Houston Strikes and Santa Anna’s Army Destroyed at the Battle of San Jacinto.
The Texan uses the Surprise event card, giving him initiative this turn even though the card provides only 1 CP and the Mexican plays a 2.   Initiative, both in movement and in controlling the order of battles, is essential for the Texan’s plans this turn.   The Texan activates Houston and moves him with Burleson, Sherman, and Millard from Harrisburg to New Washington, Critically, the Texans also move three other units also in Houston’s command radius, bringing New Orleans to Harrisburg to block any possible reinforcements to Santa Anna from Fort Bend along the main road, sending Lamar to New Washington through Harrisburg and Bolivar across a forest hexside (since the four-hex road limit directly to New Washington has already been fully used by Houston’s main force, and requiring Lamar to use a force march for the five total movement points needed), and having the Tejanos also move across Buffalo Bayou through Harrisburg and continue to Bolivar, where they remain to prevent any possible reinforcements that way through Columbia. The Texans have now made it impossible for the Mexican army at Fort Bend to reinforce Santa Anna this turn or for Santa Anna to retreat.

Historically the Tejanos, a very small unit with only about 20 men, did fight at San Jacinto but Texan scouts also played a critical role in cutting off any possible Mexican retreat across the bayou bridge and blocking further Mexican reinforcements, reflected by the role of the Tejanos here. The Tejanos could alternatively join the battle by moving back through the Lynchburg ferry, though all the other hexsides through which the New Washington/San Jacinto hex can be entered have now been fully used by other, more powerful Texan units. The New Orleans battalion represents the 200-300 men who remained in Houston’s camp at Harrisburg during the battle of San Jacinto; counting these forces, Houston had about 1100 men under his direct command at this point, apart from scattered militia and the New York battalion at Velasco which never managed to join up with Houston before the end.

The Mexicans have two moves: 1) Urrea is activated and, leaving behind the low-grade Tres Villas battalion in Matagorda as a garrison, moves from there to Columbia and Brazoria with the Queretaro, Jimenez, Cuautla, and San Luis Potosi units; and 2) Gaona is activated and comes from Beason’s Ferry to Fort Bend with the Morelos and Guanajuato battalions, rejoining Sesma and Tolsa there. Rather than sending their depleted forces at Fort Bend to attack the Texans in a futile effort to relieve Santa Anna this turn, which could not succeed before the battle at San Jacinto, the Mexicans have instead opted to bring up all of Urrea’s and Gaona’s stronger forces, putting them in a better position to attack across the Brazos in force the following turn if Santa Anna survives and rescue El Presidente.

Historically, Urrea left Matagorda during the previous week and reached Columbia and Brazoria on the 21st and 22nd, and then began to move some of his units across the Brazos in preparation for a march on Velasco, but this plan was abandoned after news arrived of the defeat at San Jacinto; though Urrea could continue his move through Columbia to Bolivar with his Cuautla cavalry or a force-marched infantry unit and attack the Texans there, this would still not save Santa Anna by giving him a clear retreat, since the Texan covered all possible lines of retreat with his advance and will choose the order of battles this turn. Gaona could also attack across to Harrisburg with one of his infantry battalions using a force march for the ferry crossing, but this similarly would not succeed in opening a retreat route for Santa Anna in time, as the Texan controls the order of the battles. Alternatively, the Mexicans could now have crossed the Brazos with the depleted forces already at Fort Bend and either attacked Harrisburg or moved north of Harrisburg, but this would not have enabled them either to reach Anahuac or to reinforce Santa Anna in time.

In the decisive battle of San Jacinto, the Mexicans have 12 steps (10 in the four infantry units, including 2 each for Aldama and Toluca, 3 for Matamoros and 3 for Guerrero, plus 2 for Santa Anna), while Houston has 13 steps (2 for himself, 9 for the Burleson, Sherman and Millard infantry units and 2 for Lamar’s cavalry unit). Though the Texans are the attackers, they gain Surprise through the event and by firing first eliminate seven steps of Mexican strength, over half of the Mexicans, in the first round of the battle (about an average result for the powerful Texan units). The Mexicans, less lucky, inflict no Texan losses with their remaining force of Santa Anna (A) and the four Mexican infantry battalions (Cs), now each at one step (rather poor die rolling, as on average they might have hoped to inflict about two hits even with this crippled force). The Mexicans cannot retreat with all routes blocked by the Texans at Harrisburg, Bolivar and Lynchburg, and must continue to fight, their only hope of success holding out one more round with Santa Anna so that the attacker would have to retreat. In the second round of the battle, Santa Anna fires first (A, now at one step, inflicting no damage), followed by Houston and Lamar (As, inflicting two steps of damage and killing two of the Mexican infantry battalions), then the few surviving Mexican infantry (two Cs, both at one step each, doing no damage) and the Texan infantry (Cs, easily killing the two remaining Mexican infantry battalions and the last step of Santa Anna). Santa Anna is captured trying to flee the disaster disguised as a common soldier, and is given away by some of his fellow Mexican prisoners who hail him as El Presidente. Again the Mexicans have fought rather poorly in the second round (though by this point on average they could only hope for about one hit with the remnants of their army) while the Texans are able to win the battle by achieving at least average results with their undamaged force. The entire Mexican defending force, including Santa Anna, has been eliminated with no losses to the Texans, resulting in an immediate Texan victory.

1836 Turn 9 Movement	1836 Turn 9 Battle of San Jacinto

1836 Santa Anna captured during the battle	1836 Turn 9 End

The lopsided historical result of San Jacinto – an army of at least 1150 Mexican troops, along with a couple hundred more men in support, killed or captured by a Texan force of about 800-900 men while suffering only about 40 casualties – can be readily understood in game terms through the use of the Surprise card that allows the Texans to strike first, and a bit of poor die rolling on the Mexican side. The Texans can be expected to do this well with their Surprise first strike, the three powerful infantry units together with Lamar and Houston on average able to inflict 6-7 hits, and if they suffer no losses in the first round can do the same again on the second round. However, the Mexicans fall short on both rounds of what they should have been able to do on average, as even their surviving units – Santa Anna 2 steps, and one step each of the four infantry battalions – could normally on average inflict 2 hits on the first round, and 1 hit on the second round even after two of the infantry battalions have been eliminated. A Texan army reduced by 3 steps on round two, coming off each of the three infantry battalions, could still on average expect to inflict 4-5 hits, but this is a much closer situation, and the Texans could fall just one short of what is needed to finish off Santa Anna, possibly enabling El Presidente to get out of Houston’s trap if the Mexicans move first the next turn. Had the Mexicans fought better at San Jacinto and covered Santa Anna’s escape, therefore, the campaign could have continued with a chance of Mexican victory. The poor performance of the Mexican troops, who were seized with panic and fled toward the end of the battle though there was nowhere to run, is reflected in game terms by below-average die rolls – much as Fannin’s tactical mistakes at Coleto Creek were. Battle has its risks for both sides and is not predictable.

Had the game continued past the battle of San Jacinto, the Texans would have had no supply difficulties for the main force of 5 units at New Washington, while the Mexicans would have again faced a risk of supply attrition for Sesma’s and Tolsa’s forces at Fort Bend, now joined by Gaona (7 units above supply limits, though any losses would now come off the stronger units in Gaona’s forces), but not for Urrea (Columbia and Brazoria being well able to supply his 5 units). The Texans would have received a reinforcement, either militia or one of the U.S. units placed in the holding box at Fort Jessup.

Total of action cards played:   3 4s, 6 3s, 5 2s, and 4 1s (including Deguello, Local Guide and Surprise). Remaining unused: 2 2s, 3 1s (including Runaways), and 2 0s (Comanche, Storm).

The game as history ended in a decisive victory for the Texans at the end of Turn 9, with the elimination (capture) of Santa Anna.   The Mexicans had taken both mission forts and several victory towns including San Antonio, San Patricio, Gonzales, Victoria, Bastrop, San Felipe and Brazoria (with Harrisburg taken by the Mexicans but recaptured the same turn), but not enough for a victory, as the Texans still held five victory towns (Nacogdoches, San Augustine, Galveston, Anahuac and Harrisburg).   After the defeat at San Jacinto, historically, the Mexican forces at Fort Bend, Columbia and Brazoria combined and began to retreat back across the Colorado and Guadalupe rivers to Goliad, which they reached by Turn 12 despite heavy rains along the way that turned the march route into a “sea of mud,” collecting up their garrisons from Matagorda and Victoria along the way.   Houston’s army continually shadowed the Mexicans, staying a little distance behind. Had Santa Anna somehow escaped San Jacinto or the Mexicans continued the war despite his capture (as Urrea and many of the junior officers would have preferred to do, being overruled by the chief-of-staff Filisola and the other senior generals) through Turn 12, to win they would also most likely have had to take Anahuac, the closest target in reach, where Santa Anna had planned to go after taking Harrisburg and New Washington. This would have required fighting their way through or past a powerful, concentrated Texan army at Harrisburg; Urrea and Gaona still had some good units to spearhead an attack, including Cuautla, Jimenez, San Luis Potosi, Morelos and Gaona’s own guns, but the rest of the army under Sesma and Tolsa was seriously depleted and apart from the Zapadores in little condition to push forward effectively. Galveston could possibly have been taken by sea attack instead, but to get there the Mexicans would have had to move from Matagorda or Brazoria with enough force to defeat the militia there plus any reinforcement unit that the Texan might have placed there at the end of Turn 9 (assuming the Texan drew a militia unit rather than a U.S. unit that would have to be placed at Fort Jessup), a one-unit landing (the most that is now possible) requiring 2 CPs and unlikely to succeed. Nacogdoches and San Augustine could still have been reached in time were there no Texan opposition, but with their remaining forces the Texans probably could have blocked a Mexican effort to get there in the limited time left even without U.S. intervention, considering the small number of good action cards remaining. Had Turn 9 been completed and the campaign continued to its end, U.S. units would also likely have started to appear in Fort Jessup from the reinforcement pool, but as no U.S. unit had been placed from the reinforcement pool in Fort Jessup before turn 9, U.S. intervention would not take place before Turn 12 – possibly protecting Nacogdoches and San Augustine, but not early enough to aid the rest of the Texan army in defending Anahuac or Galveston.

At the end of the campaign on Turn 9, the remaining forces were :

Texas - Houston (2 steps), Burleson (3 steps), Sherman (3 steps), Millard (3 steps), Lamar (2 steps) at New Washington/San Jacinto; Tejanos (1 step) at Bolivar; Militia infantry (2 steps) at Lynchburg; New Orleans (3 steps) at Harrisburg; New York volunteers (3 steps) at Velasco; Militia infantry (2 steps) at Galveston; total 24 steps available, with three U.S. units still in the reinforcement pool, along with two Militia infantry and one Militia cavalry.

Mexico - Sesma (1 step), Tolsa (2 steps), 1st Mexico (2 steps), Guadalajara (2 steps), Zapadores (2 steps), Gaona (2 steps), Morelos (4 steps), Guanajuato (3 steps), Dolores (1 step), Tampico (1 step), at Fort Bend; Urrea (2 steps), Cuautla (2 steps), Jimenez (3 steps), San Luis Potosi (3 steps), Queretaro (3 steps) at Brazoria and Columbia; Alamo artillery at Alamo (3 steps - 2 rebuilt by forage), Goliad artillery at Goliad (2 steps – 1 rebuilt by forage), Yucatan (2 steps) at Copano; Tres Villas (2 steps) at Matagorda; Tejanos (2 steps) at Victoria; total 44 steps available.   Though the Mexicans also had 1000 troops in San Antonio and the Alamo at the end, these were either dismounted cavalry from the Dolores and Tampico/Guanajuato regiments, or infantry wounded in the Alamo battle and sick troops, of little or no combat value.

Total combat-related losses:

Texas - 3 steps leaders (Fannin, Travis), 4 steps cavalry (Grant, Kimball, Horton), 5 steps artillery (Alamo, Goliad), and 9 steps infantry (Wallace, Ward, Bowie, Nashville), total 21 steps.

Mexico - 3 steps leaders (2 for Santa Anna, 1 from Sesma), 1 step cavalry (from Cuautla), 16 steps infantry (Toluca, Aldama, Matamoros, Guerrero, and 1 each from San Luis Potosi and Yucatan), total 20 steps.

Total other losses (attrition from supply and force march):

Texas - None. The Texans, who were retreating toward their sources of supply, on balance suffered little from attrition, desertions during the retreat being offset by new recruits.

Mexico - 2 steps leaders (1 from Sesma and 1 from Tolsa), 6 steps cavalry (3 from Dolores, 3 from Tampico), 7 steps infantry (2 from 1st Mexico, 2 from Guadalajara, 1 from Guanajuato, 1 from Queretaro, 1 from Guerrero), total 15 steps. The Mexicans suffered much more heavily from attrition than the Texans, especially in the cavalry and artillery due to losses of horses and draft animals, but the losses were not evenly balanced among the three main Mexican forces.   Urrea’s troops suffered few attrition losses, 1 step from the Queretaro infantry, even though they did face some supply risks along their march route, as they often were able to move through unburned towns during their advance and regularly resupplied themselves.   Gaona also suffered relatively little, 1 step from the Guanajuato infantry (the other step loss from Morelos having been rebuilt by forage), for while he did have to stop sometimes in areas without good sources of supply during his advance, he usually avoided forced marches and pillaged Bastrop for supplies.    Sesma, Tolsa and Santa Anna suffered the worst, as their forces were most concentrated and all the victory towns on their line of march after San Antonio had been burned by the Texans until they reached Harrisburg, so that they had little opportunity to resupply their forces. They lost 2 steps from Sesma and Tolsa, 6 steps from Dolores and Tampico, and 5 steps from Guerrero, Guadalajara and 1st Mexico (though part of the losses from the Guadalajara and 1st Mexico infantry regiments, historically, were the two companies taken from each, about 1/4 of their strength, that were used to reinforce Santa Anna and Cos at San Jacinto and make up for attrition losses among their other infantry battalions, and the one step loss from Guerrero reflects the men left behind by Cos who failed to reach San Jacinto). That the infantry battalions were in relatively better shape than the cavalry or leaders suggests, in game terms, that during parts of the advance some of them may have been in separate hexes from the larger groups as long as they remained within command radius. In game terms, Santa Anna managed to solve his command control problems at the expense of neglecting logistics. By concentrating his forces excessively on many occasions, he ensured that they remained able to move even after brigades had been intermingled and units were often not under their original commanders, and safeguarded against any possible Texan counterattack prior to San Jacinto, but he paid the price in serious supply attrition.

Apart from his poor attention to logistics, Santa Anna was probably overcautious in his mid-game after the fall of the Alamo, taking too long to dispatch Gaona from San Antonio on a mission while waiting to see what Houston would do, and remaining safely in the rear until he had sent all of his brigades forward and Urrea had destroyed Fannin’s forces before advancing himself, rather than leading his army from the outset and pressing the Texans more closely. To make up for this, he attempted a bold maneuver with his “flying column” as the campaign moved into its final phase, one that actually put him ahead of the Texan main army and could well have led to victory. However, he failed to realize that the Texans had laid a trap, separating El Presidente from the main body of his army. The most critical Texan failure, in contrast, occurred in the early game when Houston failed to compel Fannin to move more quickly and escape from Goliad, and Fannin tried to break out only when it was too late and he would have done better to defend the fort instead. Houston made up for this error by carefully preserving the rest of his army and building it up, and then seizing a one-time opportunity to strike back for a decisive win. Though Houston is sometimes criticized for overcaution, he made an exceptionally bold choice in the San Jacinto phase of the campaign once he realized that Santa Anna had moved out ahead of his main army, taking the calculated risk of inserting the small Texan army between two powerful enemy forces that, if better coordinated, could well have joined to crush him. Instead, Houston struck first and destroyed the weaker of the two Mexican forces with Santa Anna just in time, an outcome that while reasonable to hope for with a Surprise attack was by no means guaranteed, had the Mexicans fought better. A failure to kill the last step of Santa Anna in the second round of battle, even if the rest of the Mexican force was lost at San Jacinto, would have allowed the Mexicans to continue the campaign, and, if they gained initiative the next turn and control over the order of battles, to push across the Brazos and possibly rescue their leader before the Texans could finish the job.

Events used during the campaign: Surprise (at San Jacinto) and Deguello (at the Alamo) can be regarded as certain or likely to have occurred given the outcomes of those battles, and the use of Local Guide (at Coleto Creek) also helps to explain Fannin’s movements, giving him the initiative to escape from Goliad before being besieged but then overwhelmed by superior Mexican maneuver. Given the movement of the Mexican forces it does not appear that they would have had the opportunity to use other events in game terms (Runaways), as they never slowed down to a 1 action for any turn except when they played Deguello.   If the Texans had a Runaways card on Turn 1 or 3, they could have played it against the Mexicans and gained initiative even while only doing one move themselves as they did historically.   There was no turn during which one or both sides did not move at all, so the Storm and Comanche events did not happen during the historical campaign.