Mexican American War - 18mm Eureka

I have to finish off a few stands of U.S. Sky Blues from a batch of 18mm MexAm war figs a got from Eureka miniatures a few years ago.  These figs are too nice not to show up on the battlefield. Two of the poses in this pic are some of the best I've ever seen.  The mounted officer I got was also one of the nicest sculpts I've ever seen but he was too big to fit in with the army I have, which is made up of Friekorps and Musket figs.  I painted this army long before the Old Glory line came out and I only have some of their Mexican line cavalry in it.

 Here are some pics of the army and a scenario we played at Mark Ritchie's last summer for the Battle of Churubusco.  This really makes me want to get these guys out again.

The Mexican-American War
August 20, 1847 Churubusco, The Campaign on Mexico City 

   As the American forces, led by General Winfield Scott, began the final offensive on Mexico City, the Mexican defenses collapsed at the battles of Contreras and San Antonio.  Remnants of the Army of the Center fell back to the village of Churubusco, just 5 miles from the capital.

   The Mexicans made their stand at the Franciscan convent of Santa María de Churubusco. Although the convent offered no advantage of height over the surrounding terrain it was positioned to protect a bridge over a small river that the U.S. forces had to negotiate to take the position. In addition to the stone walls of the convent, the defenses included a series of incomplete trenches the Mexicans had begun digging prior to the attack.

   Numbered among the Mexican defenders was the Saint Patrick's Battalion, known as the San Patricios.  The unit was made up of American deserters, mostly of Irish descent, who deserted in protest to their treatment in the U.S. Army.

   The approaching U.S. forces merged with pursuing forces coming from Contreras to assault the Mexican position which was now almost all that stood between them and the capital.

X-Wing on a chilly night

Yes, when it's -3 outside and feels like your in the grip of the icy cold of space, it's time for a few rounds of X-Wing. My son and I painted a custom star field game mat last weekend and have been playing on it since then.  With the assistance of a Star Wars Machines sounding board app on the Galaxy Tab it's a great time. 

Oh, I also thought it was a good time to try some new brews before I get heavily into Irish beers for St. Patrick's Day preparations.  I picked Fat Head's Sunshine Daydream.  Fat Head is out of Middleburg Heights in Cleveland Ohio and consistently produces good beers.  This is a 4.9%, 60 IBU Session Ale advertising Peace, Love, and Happiness.  Groovy man.  It's got a crisp hoppy snap to it without a lot of bite.  A good beer but a little more hops than I prefer in a my Session Ale.