Alternative Chacabuco – A Lasalle Scenario

Francisco of Argentina and Texas has done some thinking about Lasalle for South American War of Independence. He calls the variant Necoechea after a renowned Argentine cavalry commander of the war. One of the first things Francisco tried was a variant of Chacabuco. I have fairly cheekily reproduced it here with minor edits to increase clarity. Note: this is not the same Alternative Chacabuco that John Fletcher published.

Historical Situation

Setting: Chacabuco, Chile; 12 Feb 1817

The battle is based on a what if scenario for the battle of Chacabuco. San Martin finished crossing the Andes with his army early in 1817, and in a fast action managed to engage and defeat a royalist army on Feb 12 before they could even be reinforced.

In this scenario we assume that the patriot army advances more cautiously giving the royalists time to bring reinforcements. The battle takes places in the surroundings of the Chacabuco farm ( instead of the original battlefield, slightly to the north).

The patriots advance on the farm in two divisions just as the royalists are about to take positions to await reinforcements from Santiago de Chile.

The patriot army took the role of attacker and the royalist took the role of defender ( the royalist chose the side of the table and deployed first). I did my best to get armies that would seem balanced.

Terrain

Note from Steven: It is obvious from the photo that Francisco didn’t use the map from John Fletcher’s book. In fact he set up a balanced table then let the royalist chose the side of the table on which to deploy. The Patriots deployed on the other sdie.

Table for Alternative Chacabuco - Lasalle : Necoechea - Francisco Erize
Table for Alternative Chacabuco – Lasalle : Necoechea – Francisco Erize

Patriot Player

Objective

Defeat the Royalists.

Forces Available

Patriot Order of Battle – Central Division

  • CiC: General Don Jose de San Martin
  • Central Division
    • Sub Commanders : Bernardo O’Higgins , Gregorio Las Heras
    • 1 x Small Infantry Unit – No 1 Chilean Infantry Bt – Amateur/reliab/SK 1
    • 1 x Small Infantry Unit – Converged Grenadiers and Cazadores (skirmishers) companies from bats. 7 and 8 in one unit – Experienced/Valiant/SK 2
    • 2 x Small Infantry Units – No 7 and No 8 Argentine inf bats.1 – Experienced/reliable/SK 02
    • 1 x Large Cavalry Unit – Three squadrons of Argentine Horse Grenadiers converged in one unit – Experienced/Valiant/Shock/Pursuit/Large
    • 1 x Horse Artillery Battery with four light guns

Notes:
(1) Note from Steven: I assume this is two battalions rather than a combined unit because Francisco does not say “converged in one unit”.
(2) SK 0 since their skirmishers are deployed

Deployment

Deploy second and take first turn.

Reserves Off-table

Patriot Order of Battle – Reinforcement Division

  • Sub commander : Soler
  • 1 x Small Infantry Unit – No 11 Argentine inf bat. – Experienced/reli/SK 1
  • 1 x Small Infantry Unit – Cazadores de los Andes inf bat. – Experienced/Reliable/SK 2
  • 1 x Small Cavalry Unit – squadron of horse grenadiers + one squadron of the general’s personal escort converged in one unit – Experienced/Valiant/Shock/Guard
  • 1 x Horse Artillery battery with two light guns

Royalist Player

Objective

Defeat the Patriots.

Forces Available

Royalist Order of Battle – Chacabuco

  • CiC: Mariscal Marco del Pont Sub commander Rafael Maroto
  • 3 x Small Infantry Units – Chiloe/Talavera/Concepcion inf bats.3 – Experienced/Reliable/SK 1
  • 1 x Small Infantry Unit – Converged grenadiers from all inf bats. – Valiant/Experienced/SK 0
  • 1 x Small Infantry Unit – Chillan inf bat – Reliable/Amateur/SK 2
  • 2 x Skirmish bases from the Valdivia battalion
  • 1 x Small Cavalry Unit – Dragones de la Frontera – Valiant/Experienced/Shock
  • 1 x Foot Artillery Battery with two light guns

Notes:
(3) Note from Steven: I assume this is three battalions rather than a combined unit because Francisco does not say “converged in one unit”.

Deployment

the royalist chose the side of the table and deployed first

Reserves Off-table

Royalist Order of Battle – Reinforcements

  • 1 x Large Cavalry Unit – Combined squadrons of Concordia Hussars and Carabineros de Abascal – Reliable/Experienced/Pursuit/Large
  • 1 x Small Cavalry Unit – Dragones de Chillan – Amateur/Reliable
  • 1 x Horse Artillery Battery with two light guns

Victory Conditions

As Lasalle.

Game Length

As Lasalle.

Scenario Special Rules

None.

Notes

None.

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