If Y ou Are Not Interested In The Best 15mm Napoleonics Just Turn The Pae-e

ESSEX MINIATURES FRENCH NAPOLEONIC 1814·1815 PNl Old Guard adv. full dress PN2 Command pack: Officer, Sid. bearer, drummer PN3 Guard chasseur adv. campaign dress PN4 Command pack: Officer, Std. bearer, drummer PN5 Old Guard adv. greatcoat PNB Command pack: Officer, Std. bearer, drummer, great coat PN7 Old Guard/Guard chasseur adv., greatcoat and bonnet

de police PN8 Old Guard/Guard chasseur adv., greatcoat and chapeau PN9 Command pack: Guard or Line inl., Officer in greatcoat

and chapeau PN10 Line fUSilier, musket forward PN11 Line grenadier or voitigeur adv., musket forward PN12 Line fusilier adv., musket 45° PN13 Line grenadier or volligeur adv., musket 45° PN14 Line fusilier adv., musket upright PN15 Line grenadier or volligeur adv., musket upr ight PN1B Command pack: Officer, Std. bearer , drummer adv. PN17 Line fusilier standing firing PN18 Line fusiJIer kneeling firing PN19 Line fu silier adv. greatcoat PN20 Line grenadier or voltigeur adv., greatcoat PN21 Command pack; Officer, Std. bearer, drurmmer, adv. ,

greatcoat PN22 Ligh t inf. (Leger) carabinier , voltigeur o r chasseur adv. PN23 Command pack: (Leger) Officer, Std ., bearer,

drummer, adv. PN24 Assorted foot arti llerymen (B per pack) PN25 Cuirassier PN26 Command Pack: Cui rass ier Off icer, Standard bearer,

trumpeter PN27 Hussar (Shako) PN28 Hussar (COl pack) PN29 Command pack Hussar Officer, Standard bearer,

trumpeter PN30 Dragoon PN'3) £\i \e Oragoon PN32 Command pack: Dragoon officer, Standard bearer,

trumpeter PN33 Command pack; Infantry officer (mounted) PN34 Command pack: Napoleon & 2 Staff Officers (Mounted) PN35 Foot Guard Artillery in Greatcoat (6 per pack)

Each pack includes 8 Infantry, 6 Com-mand, 4 Cavalry or 3 Mounted Com-mand for $2.49

15mm NAPOLEONICS BRITISH NAPOLEONIC 1814·1815 PNB1 Line Inf. at the ready PNB2 Grenadier or light coy. at the ready PNB3 Command pack Officer, Std. bearer, drummer PNB4 Line or flank coy,ln greatcoat at the ready PNB5 Command pack Officer, Std. bearer, drummer in

greatcoat PN86 Highlander al the ready PNB7 Highlander knee ling at the ready PNB8 Grenadier or light coy. althe ready PN810 Command pack: Highland Officer, Std. bearer, piper PNB11 Rifleman advancing PN812 Rifleman kneeling firing PNB13 Command pack: 4 riflemen Officers, 2 buglers PNB14 Light inlantryman IIrlng PNB15 Light infantryman advancing PNB16 Command pack 4 Light Infantry Officers, 2 buglers PNB17 Assorted foot artillerymen (6 per pack) PNB18 Assorted horse art illerymen (6 per pack) PNB19 Light dragoon PNB20 Command pack; Light dragoon Officer, Std. bearer,

bugler PNB21 Heavy dragoon PNB22 Command pack; Heavy dragoon Officer, Sid. bearer,

bugler PNB23 Hussar PN824 Command pack; Hussar Officer, Std. bearer, bugler

BRITISH INFANTRY 1800·1813 (Stovepipe Shako) PN825 Line infantry advancing PNB26 Grenadier or light coy. advancing PNB27 Command pack: Officer, std. bearer, drummer PNB28 Artillerymen (6 per pack)

READY MADE ARMY PACKS · RMA600 Briti sh 1800·1814 RMA602 Frencn (1815) RMABOl British (1815) RMAB03 Pruss ian (1 815) RMA604 Briti sh Inlantry & Artillery Supplement (1815) RMA605 British Infantry & Artillery Supplement (1800·1814) RMA606 Brit ish Cavalry supplement RMA607 French infantry & artillery supplement RMA609 Prussian infantry & artillery supp lement RMA610 Prussian caval ry supplement

Essex ARMIES ($48.99) have 22 pacKs (about 160 pieces)

PRUSSIAN NAPOLEONIC 1814·1815 PPN1 Musketeer PPN2 Grenadier PPN3 Command pack: (Musketeers or Grenadier Officers, Std.

- bearers & drummers) PPN4 Fusilier or Jaeger PPN5 Command pack: (Fusi llers or Jaeger) 4 Officers. 2 Buglers PPN6 Landwehr Musketeer PPN7 Command pack: Landwehr Officer, drummer, std. bearer PPN8 Artillerymen (6 per pack) PPN9 Cuirassier P?N1Q Command pack: Cuirassier Officer, Std. bearer, trumpeter PPN11 Hussar PPN12 Command pack: Hussar Officer, standard bearer. trumpeter PPN13 Dragoon PPN14 Command pack: Dragoon Officer, Std. bearer, trumpeter PPN 15 Uhlan PPN1S Command pack: Uhlan Officer, standard bearer, trumpeter

Add $3 for shipping & handling to mail orders under $30. C.O.D. is an additional $3.

Telephone Hotline 304·547·0000 and use your major credit card.

Please mall check & your order to:

BOX 278 ROUTE 40 EAST TRIADELPHIA WV 26059

Painted 15mm Essex Boxed Armies-Call

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RENAISSANCE EARLY 16TH CENTURY POLISH RP2l Polish 'drab' inf., berdische axe. RP22 Polish 'drab' inf. arquebus RP23 Serbian Hussar with horse RP24 Lithuanian bojar cav., with

horse

POLISH-LATE 16TH/17TH CENTURY INFANTRY RP1l3 Polish guardsman with halberd RPl14 Polish in ., wi1h arquebus RP1l5 Polish inf., with musket and

berdische aze RP116 Polish inf., with spear RPl17 Command Pack: Three infantry

officers, three standard bearers RPl19 Peasant with arquebus RP120 German inf., with pike RP12l German inf., with arquebus

CALVARY RP122 Command Pack: Mounted General

with horse RP123 Single Winged hussar with horse (3

per pack) RP124 2-Winged hussar with horse (3

pack) RP125 Lithuanian hussar with horse RP126 Pancerni with horse RP127 Lisowski cossack with horse RP128 Rajtar with horse RP129 Arquebusier with horses RPl30 Dragon with horse RP13l Six assorted artillerymen

COSSACK RP197 Cossack pikeman RP198 Cossack inf., two handed axe RP199 Cossack inf., with arquebus/musket RP200 Cossack inf. , with arquebus/musket

and two-handed axe RP201 Cossack light cav .. lance, arquebus,

with horse RP202 Cossack Inf. officer (6 pack) RP203 Command Pack: Cossack General

and two 'Cheeky' Cossacks

MUSCOVITES RP189 Noble cav .. lance with horse RP190 Armoured cav., spear, with horse Rr'1g1 Armoured cav., bow, with horsp. " p 182 Light cav., bow witrl horse np193 Streltsi arquebusier. 2-handed axe RP194 Soldier pikeman RP195 Solider Musketeer RP196 Command Pack : Inf. Officer

(6 pack)

LATE 17TH CENTURY SMl Heavy Int .. with pike 8M2 Medium Int .. with pike 8M3 Musketeer SM4 Grenadier (For Officers. standard bearers. and Monmouths troops see ECW/30 Years War)

HUNGARIAN HF 18t1 RPld5

RP186

RP lr.7

RP188

EHC Knight with horse Armoured cav., with bow. lance. with horse Unarmoured cav .. bow. with horse Unarmoured cav., bow. spear & shield, with horse Levy int .. with bow

PERSIANS RP204 Persian qullur cav., lance. bow.

shield with Persian barded horse RP205 Persian quizilbashes cav., lance,

bow, shield, with Persian barded horse

RP206 Light cav. , bow, with horse . RP207 Persian mounted General With

Persian barded horse (3 pack) RP208 Tufangchis with musket RP209 Levy javelin man

TARTAR RP25 Tartar noble cav., with horse RP26 Tartar cav .. bow p.. shield with horse RP27 Tartar cav .. standard with horse

RENAISSANCE EQUIPMENT ($1.75 except as noted) RE2 Crossbowmen's pavise (8 per pack)

- $2.49 RE4 RE5 RE6 RE7 RE8 RE9 RE10 REll

Gallper gun and crew Swedish battalion gun (2 per pack) Set Swedish feather (2 per pack) Heavy gun Medium gun (2 per pack) Light gun (2 per pack) Saker . Protected wagon & four horses -$5.95

RE12 Gunner with ultra light gun (4 per pack)

RE14 RE15 RE16 RE17 RE18

Gabion (5 per pack) Late period organ gun (2 per pack) Gulay Gorod section Persian Turk gun Bombard on wheels (suitable for any Eastern army)

RE19 Moghul rocketeer with pack camel RE22 Four wheeled wagon with four

RE19

RE20

RE22

RE22a

RE23

RE23a RE23b

horses - $3.49 Moghul rocKeteer with pack camel Camel gunner with ultra light gun $2.49 Four wheeled wagon with four horses $3.99 Four wheeled wagon with four oxen $3.99 Limber and four horses $2.49 Limber and four oxen $2.49 Limber and two horses in tandem

MOGHULS RP210 Shilhidar cav., lance, bow,

shield with horse RP2ll Mansabdari cav ., with lance,

bow, shield with horse RP212 Command Pack: Three

mounted standard bearers with horse

RP213 Light cav ., spear, bow, shield, with horse

RP2l4 Light cav. , bow, shield with

RP215 RP2l6 RP217 RP219

horse Infantryman with matchlock Levy Inf ., with bow Levy inf. , spear & s hield Elephant, driver, 3 c rew with matchlock and one with ultra-light gun - $3.99

RP219a Armoured Elephant , driver, 3 crew with matchlock and one with ultra-light gun - $3.99

RP220 Elephant , driver, 4 crew with matchlocks - $3.99

RP220a Armoured Elephant , drive, 4 crew with matchlocks - $3.99

RP221 Elephant , driver, 4 crew with bows - $3.99

RP221 a Armoured Elephant , driver, 4 crew with bows - $3.99

RP222 Command Pack : Assorted ar-

RE18 RE19

RE21

tillerymen Bombard on wheels - $1.75 Rocketeer with Pack Camel -$1 .75 Elephant with General in Howdah - $3 .99

OTTOMAN TURKS (Use also for Feudal Turks) RP28 Mounted General with horse (3

pack) RP29 Early spahi, chainmail, with horse RP30 Late spahi, caftan , with horse RP3l Medium/Light cay, spear with horse RP32 Mediumllight cav., lance with horse RP33 Mediumlligh\ cav., bow, with horse RP34 Delli mediumllight cav .. with bow &

horse RP35 Delli mediumllight cav .. with horse RP36 Foot Command Pack: Janissary

Officers and Standard Bearers (3 each)

RP38 Jenissary with bow RP39 Janissary with crossbow RP40 Jannissary with arquebus RP4l Janissary with halberd RP42 Arab with bow RP43 Arab with spear RP44 Arab with arquebus RP45 Arab with sword & sh'leld RP46 Arnaut firing musket RP47 FanatiC with sword RP48 Foot Command Pack: Six assorted

gunners

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The Best 15mm Armies: Ancient, Napoleonic, Colonial, A.C.W. Renaissance, Medieval and 7. Y . W. Manufactured by Essex. ANCIENT RMAl V ik ing AMA2 Norman RMA3 Dacian AMA4 Sassanid Persians RMA5 Frankish 700-1072 RMA6 Palmyran RMA7 La te Roman RMA8 Brelon 700-1072 RMA9 Lombard 451-1018 RMA 10 Saxon 250-885 RMA 11 Ang lo Danish 885-1075 RMA 12 Anglo Normal 1072-'18 1 RMA13 Sub-Roman British 425-945 AMA14 Marian/Camillan Roman RMA21 Early German RMA22 Thematic Byzanti ne RMA47 Ancient British RMA48 Ancient Galli c RMA59 Vandal RMA60 Spanish Visigothic RMA61 Ita lian OSlrogolhic RMA63 Republican Roman/Gallic Conquest RMA64 Republican Roman Civil Wars RMA 73 We ls h 580- 1420 RMA74 Inca AMA75 Thrac ian RMA76 Alexandrian Macedonian RM A77 Alexandrian Imperial RMA 78 Lysimachid RMA 79 Maced o nian Early Successor AMASO Later H op lit e Greek RMA81 Early Hoplite Greek RMA82 In dian RM A83 Asiatic Early Successor RMA84 Macedonian Earl y Successor RMA8S Galatian AMAS6 Pyrrh ic RMA87 Earl y Archaemenid Persian AMA88 Late Archaemenid Persian RMA89 Bac trian Greek A MA90 Arab Conquest RMA91 Arab Empi re RMA92 Carthaginian

RENAISSANCE AMA15 Spanish/Early Italian Wars AMA 17 Florentin e Earl y 16th C AMA 19 Milanese Earl y 16th C RMA44 Fren c h/ It a lian Wars AMA45 Later Teutonic Knights RMA52 SCO I S 161h C RMA53 Iri sh 16 th C . RMA54 F rench 1600-1660 RMA56 Lale Swiss 1500-1550 RMA 16 Venetian La ter 16th C RMA24 English R enaissa nce RMA25 Scots Renais sance RMA26 Irish Renai ssance RMA27 Swed ish Renaissance RMA28 Early French Wars o f Religion - Catholic RMA29 F rench Hugueno t RMA30 Late Spanish RMA31 Hungarian Re nai ssance RMA32 Muscovi te Renai ssanc e RMA33 Cossack Renai ssance RMA34 Persian Renaissance RMA35 Moghul Indian RMA35a North Indian RMA36 17th C French RMA37 La te Polish RMA38 Imperialisl (30 Y .W .) RMA46 15th C Ottoman Turk RMA46a 16th C Ottoman Turk RMA46b 17ty C Ottoman Turk AMA49 Iri sh Catho li c Con federat e 1640s RMA55 Aus tri an H apsburg Mid 16th/Early 17th C AMA58 Landsknech l Regt . RMA66 16Ih/17 lh C Dulch

MEDIEVAL RMA65 Feudal F rench RMA67 F eudal Engli sh 1181 -134S RMA68 Free Company 1367-1390 RMA69 100 Y _W _ French RMA70 100 Y _W _ English RMA7 1 Low Countries 1400·14S0 RMASO Wars of the Roses (Lancs)

RMAS1 Wars o f the Roses (Yorks) RMAS7 Knights of 5t Jo hn Rh od ian AMA72 Teut o ni c Knights Late 15th/Early 16th C RMA62 Lat er Imperiali st 1450-1495

ENGLISH CIVIL WAR RMA39 Roya list RMA40 Early Parliamentary RMA41 New M ode l Army RMA42 Scots Covenanters RMA43 Scots Royalist (Montrose) RMA49 Iri sh Calh o li c Confederate 1640s

SEVEN YEARS WAR AMA501 Austrian RMA502 Prussian RMA503 French AMAS04 Briti sh

NAPOLEONIC

-Essex ARMIES ($48.99) have 22 packs (abDut 160 pieces) and total 1000-2000 points. They cDntain a painting guide and where possible units cDntain mixed poses.

RMA601 Brilish (1815) RMA602 French (1815) RMA603 Prussian (1815)

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR RMA200Uni on RMA201 Confedera te RMA202Uni o n - Infan try supp lement RMA203 Uni on - Cavalry suppl ement RMA204Confederate - Infantry supplement RMA20S Con federai e - Cavalry supplem en t

RMA 193 Earl y Brit ish (Sudan) RMA 194 British (Zulu Wars) RMA1 95Zu lu RMA 196 Briti sh (Sudan) RMA 197 Mahdi sls (S udan)

~~~ ~~g ~~i~'i~,~?l::~~ra~Stsdu~nJn)

Essex ISmm Seven Years War. NOTE: (Use French Napolenoic Artillery with Austrians & Prussians)

AUSTRIANS SP1 German fusilier SP2 Command Pack: Two German

SP5 SP6 SPl SP8 SP9 SP10 SP11 SP12 SP13 SP14

Standard Bearers, Drur.1mers, Officers German grenadier Hungarian fusilier Hungarian grenadier

Sharpshooter Grenze infantry Command Pack: Grenze Officers Jager Frei Corps Hussar with horse Command Pack: Hussar Officer, Standard bearer, Trumpeter with horse

SP17 Dragon with horse SP18 Command Pack: Dragon Officer,

Standard bearer, Drummer with horse

SP21 HDrse grenadier with horse SP22 Command Pack: Horse grenadier

Officers x 2, Standard bearer x 1, with horse

SP24 Cuirassier with horse SP25 Command Pack: Cuirassier Officer,

Standard bearer, Trumpeter with horse

SP28 Trenk Scher Pandour with horse SP29 Command Pack: Mounted General

with horse SP30 Command Pack: Assorted gun crew

PRUSSIANS (Use Austrians where not provided) SP34 Command Pack: Two Officer,

Standard bearer, Drummers Musketeer SP37

SP38 SP39 SP40 SP44 SP45

Fusilier Grenadier Command Pack: Assorted gun crew Hussar with horse Command Pack: Two Officers, one Trumpeter

FRENCH SP48 SP49

Line infantry Command Pack: Line Officer, Standard bearer, Drummer Grenadier SP52

SP53 SP54

SP55 SP56

SP59 SP60

SP62

Condes· :"egion, light info Command Pack: CDndes Legion Officer Dragoon Trooper with horse Command Pack: Dragoon Officer, Standard bearer, Drummer with horse Grenadier with horse Command Pack: Grenadier Officer, Drummer Cay. Trooper with horse

BRITISH: SP67 SP68

SP68a

SP68b

SPl1 SP72 SP73

SP73a

SP73b

Line infantry CDmmand Pack: Line Officer, Standard bearer, drummer Command Pack: Six Line Officers CDmmand Pack: Six Standard bearers Line infantry Grenadier Light infantry CDmmand Pack: Highland infantry Officer, Standard bearer, drummer, piper CDmmand Pack: Six Highland infantry Officers Command Pack: Six standard bearers Highland Grenadier

SEVEN YEARS WAR EQUIPMENT: ($1.75) SYWE1 SYWE2 SYWE3 SYWE4 SYWE5 SYWE6 SYWE7

SYWE8

SYWE9

SYWE10 SYWE11 SYWE12

41b cannon 81b cannDn 121b cannDn Howitzer 2·horse limber (in tandem) 4-horse limber Open top wagDn, 4 horses civilian driver - ($3_99) Open top wagon, 4 horses, civilian leading hDrses -($3.99) Open tDP wagon, 4 hDrses, driver in uniform and tricorn ($3.99) 4 infantry flags (square) 4 cavalry flags (square) 4 cavalry flags (swallDw tail)

Please mall check & your order to:

ItwAOOAMES BOX 278 ROUTE 40 EAST TRIADELPHIA WV 26059

SP77 SP78 SP79 SP80 SP81

SP83 SP84

Highland infantry Mounted Light Dragoon Mounted Dragoon Command Pack: DragDon Officer, Standard bearer Horse Grenadier Command Pack: Grenadier Officer, Standard bearer

Painted 15mm Essex Boxed Armies-Call

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] ~f)utt.i~tt NORTH AMERICA'S FOREMOST MINIATURE GAMING MAGAZINE

ARTICLES

HO, FOR THE HALLS OF MONTEZUMA 808 MARSHALL introduces the new theme year, The Mexican-American War ......................................... ......... .......................................... .. .. ...................... ....... . 5

A BRIEF VIEW OF THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR 808 MARSHALL with an overview ..... ....................................................................................... .. ............................... .............. ............................. ........... ................ ......... 9

THE BATTLES OF PALO ALTO AND RESCA DE LA PALMA 808 MARSHALL describes the opening battles ....... .. .. ............................................................ ....... .... .. ... ...... ... .. .. ..... ......... .. ........... ........................... .......... .... .. ......... 13

EMPIRE IV AND EMPIRE III COMPARED TRIP ALFORD reviews the changes brought about by the new edition ................ ................ .... .. ............................................................................ ............ ............. 21

TH E BATTLE OF VI LLA COSTA JIM BIRDSEYE describes a battle using Empire IV ....... ............ .................................. .. .......................................... ... .... .. .. ...................................................... .... ... ... .... 27

CAMPAIGNING IN THE ANC IENT WORLD JO H N BOEHM discusses the ways and means .. ..... .. ............. .. ....................... .... ....... .. .. ... .... .. .... ... ........... .. ..... .. .. .. ..... .. ...................... .. ....... ... ... ... ... ........ .............. .. .. .. . J.9

THE NASAMW ANCIENT COMPETITION FINAL SCOTT HOLDER reviews the final game ...... ............................................ ........ .... .. .............................................................................. .. ... .... ..... .............. ...... .... .. .......... 41

COMMAND DECISION DURI NG THE BLITZKRIEG BILL RUTHERFORD lists the component changes for the early period ........ .. .. .............. .. ...... .......................... ................................................................................ 51

LAING'S NEK GRANT SIGSWORTH reviews a Boer War battle and a scenario based on it ................ .. .. .. .... ..... .. .................. ..... .. .... ................ .. ................ ............................. .. ... 57

UMPIRING AT CONVENTIONS SETH OWEN presents some principles using Complete Brigadier rules .. .. .. .. ................. .. .......................................... .......... .. .......................... ............ ............. .. .. ... 59

SCENARIO DESIGN JON SOUTHARD with some interesting ideas to try ............................ ........................................ .................... .. ................................................................................. 60

DEPARTMENTS

THE REVIEWING STAND Figures, Rules and Reference Works .......... ..... ............ ............................................... .... ................ .......... ..... ........................... .. .......... .. 31

DOWN AT THE WARGAME CLUB with Don Featherstone .... ............ .. ................................................ .. .. .. ............................................ ...... .................. ... .............. 37

THE COURIER DISPATCH News of The Hobby .................... ........................... ...... .. .. .. .................... .. .. .... ....................... .... .. ................ .............. ........... ........ .......... 45

DISPATCHES FROM THE FIELD Letters to (or at) the Ed itor .. .................................... .. .... .. .. .................................... ... ................................................. .... .............. 62

VOLLEY FIRE What you like (or hate) about THE COU RIER ............ .. ...... .......... ........ ................................................. ................................ .. ...... .. .. .. .. ..... ........ ......... 64 PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTIONNAIRE ON LIKES AND DIS LI KES

COVE R: The Second U.S. Dragoons charge the Mexican guns at Resaca de la Palma in May 1846. U.S. Govemment Printing Office. , .

/

-45 a

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~I)uri~r MANAGING EDITOR: Richard L. Bryant

BUSINESS MANAGER: Leo Cronin ART DIRECTOR: joseph Miceli

ADVERTISING MANAGER: Tom Desmond THEME EDITOR: THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR

Robert Marshall

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS jim Amold; Ken Bunger; Robert Beattie; jim Birdseye; Lynn Bodin; john Boehm; Rodman Burr; Pat Condray; Todd Fisher; Bill Greenwald; jay Hadley; Ian Knight; Paul Koch; Doug johnson; Tom M cMillen; Bill Protz; Greg Rice; Bill Rutherford; Walter Simon.

STAFF CARTOONISTS: jim Birdseye jose Niera

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Bill Greenwald ON Banasik Pat Condray

THE COURIER DISPATCH: Greg Rice

STAFF ILLUSTRATORS Alan Archambault, AI Karasa, joe Matthews, Larry Schuman, Terry Manton, Bill Greenwald

TYPESETTING: Steve Brown

PRINTING: Quantum Printing

THE COURIER PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. Richard L. Bryant, President

DIRECTORS Richard Bryant, Leo Cronin, j oseph Miceli

THE COURIER is published approximately bi-monthly at Brockton, MA 02401 USA.

SUBSCRIPTIONS USA - $19.00; CANADA & S. AMERICA, surface rate - $23.00. UN ITED KINGDOM & EUROPE write to: Athena Books, 20 St. Mary's Rd., Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN1 2NP England. AUSTRALIA write to: Essex Miniatures Pty., Ltd., 40 Railway Parade, Lakemba, NSW 2195.

BACK ISSUES Recent back issues are available for $4.50, USA; $5.00 Canada & Foreign surface; $6.00 Foreign airmail. See last page of issue for listing. Monies in USfunds drawn on US banks or Intemational Postal Money Order. Subscriptions start with NEXT published issue after receipt of payment.

No responsibility is assumed for statements of fact or opinion made by the authors. No responsibility is assumed for unsol icited manuscripts, but all sub-missions are welcome, no query necessary. All sub-missions should contain a self-add ressed STAMPED envelope large enough to retu rn the submission.

This magazine and other publications ofThe Courier Publishing Company are sold with the understanding that every reasonable attempt is made to deliver them safely th rough the mails. The Courier Publish-ing Company is not responsible for items lost in the mails. Replacements will be provided at their usual cost.

ALL DOMESTIC DEALER INQU IRIES, ADVERTISING COpy AND INQUIRIES, DOMESTIC SUBSCRIP-TIONS AND ARTICLES to THE COURIER, Box 1878,

Brockton, MA 02403.

Entire Contents Copyright 1989 by The Courier Publishing Company, Inc.

VOL. IX, NO.1

THE VANGUARD

EDITOR'S NOTES

CONTENTS SUB TiTlES

I was recently taken to task by a couple of readers for " misrepresenting the content or slant of an article by my choice (if it was my choice) of subtitle on the contents page" . One felt that an apology to the readership was due(!).

Most of the time I generate subtitles as I am about to rush to the typesetter with the last item needed before going to print - the Contents page. Whenever possible I use a subtitle suggested by the author but most often have to generate my own based on M Y perception of the information and slant of the article. That perception is derived from the 3 to 5 readings I make of an article before it sees print in these pages. Though I feel that I must therefore get a fairly good appreciation of the article, in the final analysis the sub-title is meant to draw interest and is not a definitive boil-ing down of the article content. I am sorry for any misrepresentation that has occurred or will occu r as I continue this approach.

DO YOU HAVE A WAR GAME TABLE TO BE PROUD OF?

Many of you have wargame tab les that are the envy of your wargame group or you know someone that has one. The Courier wants to share this Cadillac of wargame tables with our readers. If you send in the detai ls of construction, photos, and sketches; we wi ll pick the best (up to 6) and publish the details, one per issue forthe next 6 issues. The best one of these as chosen by vote of our readers at the end of the series will receive a substantial award from The Courier. The award is yet to be determined but wi ll be decided on the second issue after the completion of the series or December 1, 1990, wh ichever comes first.

Entries must be of an actual tabl e used forwargam in g. Photos must accompany the article showing it in use as well as photos, sketches, and text describing construc· tion details to a detail where someone else cou ld duplicate it. This award is not for terrain (that may be attempted another time) but forwargaming tables and fi gure/ paraphernalia storage (if directly associated with the table) on ly.

judgement of the entri es is by The Courier Staff which is the final arbiter of all con-test rules and questions. There wi ll be no award if there are not at least three entries judged suitable for printing by The Courier Staff. All materials submitted become the property of The Courier Publishing Co. Inc.

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"HO, FOR THE HALLS OF MONTEZUMA" AN INTRODUCTORY HISTORY TO THE EVENTS

LEADING UP TO HOSTILITIES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO

BY BOB MARSHALL

U.S. Troops attacking the western gate of Mexico City - the San Gosme garita. - library of Congress.

The conflict which has become known to the modern reader as the Mexican-American War, began in the spring of 1846 and ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on May 19th, 1848. The events leading up to this conflict of arms dated back much further, and may be said to begin in the 1820's.

In 1821 , M exico announced to the Spanish government that its sover-eign authority would no longer be recognized and therefore, claimed its independence from Spain. Prior events strengthened the Mexican claim and so, with little to be done, the Spanish Viceroy, O'Donoju, agreed and signed the Treaty of Cordoba. The early years of the new government were not tranquil , however. Several changes in governmental control were made, some of a bloodless nature and some less sanitary. Addi-tionally, an invasion force of Spanish troops landed atTampico on August 18, 1829 and made an effort to regain control of their lost co lony. The invasion was defeated by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna on Sep-tember 11 , 1829. This impressive military accomplishment thrust Santa Anna onto the pedestal of a Mexican national hero, a position that he was to use frequently to his own advantage.

During this period of national growing pains, the various Mexican gov-ernments realized the importance of the vast, uncolonized area north of the Rio Grande known as Texas. This large and fertil e area was ripe for development, but Mexican officials had difficulty in obtaining Mexican citizens eager enough to relocate into the beautiful, yet remote, wi ld and untamed M exican frontier. As the region was so far removed from the set-tled portions of mainstream Mexican society, governmental contro l, regulation and protection was almost non-existent. But the governrnent officials sti ll longed forthe area to be settled and begin to assist in shoring up a faltering econorny.

A second alternative presented itself to the government officials. By offering American settlers at least 640 acres of prirne Texas land and the promise of tax free living for six years, the Mexican authorities hoped to entice American colonists into their country. Additionally, the settlers were requ ired to adopt the Roman Catholic faith and swear allegiance to the Mexican government. The,incentives proved sufficientformanywho turned their backs to their hornes in the United States and traveled to Texas to start fresh. "Gone to Texas" was an often seen sign hung upon vacant homes in rural districts of the American states.

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It was hoped that these American colonists wou ld not only aid in the prosperity of Mexico, but that they would intermin gle with the Mexican people and be absorbed into the Mexican culture. Many of the first citizens entered the Mexican territory in good faith, but others, men of adventurous spirits and restless natures, found the frequently changing Mexican government easy prey to unconventional and inappropriate behavior. These wild manners caused the M exican government to keep a close eye on the new settlements springing up in the Texas territory. The Mexican officials found that the great maj ority of the American settlers were not intermingling with the native population but were forming very distinct Americanized communities and were developing the distinctly separate identity of "Texicans". It was further realized that because of the isolated nature of these settlements, little governmental control was exerted to enforce the provisions of the settlement agreements.

As the Mexican governments changed, so too did the attitudes of these governments. Progressively, the Mexican authorities became more hard-line in their dealings with the Texas residents. In an attempt to stem the tide of immigration, President Bustamante urged the Mexican Congress to close off the border with the United States against further colonization and restrict trade with the United States. In 1830, severe laws were passed to enforce these suggestions. Troops were sent to enforce the new laws, but it is said that the commander of these troops, General Mier y Teran, unable to stop the flood and frustrated in the attempt, commit-ted suicide.

Affairs between the Texas settlers and the Mexican government declined steadily. In 1833, requests were made from the Texas residents that they be given full Mexican statehood and be separated from the State of Coahui la. Part of the explanation given was the need for a capitol closer to their homes for transactions with the M exican govemment. The Mex-ican officials refused to listen and jailed the Texas representatives. The declining relations and a new Mexican Constitution which further re-duced the individual power of the Mexican states brought the Texas set-tlements to a point of near open rebellion. Elected in 1833 to the position of President, Santa Anna further reduced government toleran ce for the Texas situation. Additional troops were sent to the area and the arrest of Texas citizens for trivial offenses was commonplace.

Escalation of confrontations occurred on both sides until eventual ly a claim of Texas independence was made. What followed has been recor-

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