Part 14: The Great Southwest War

Chapter 7: The Great Southwest War

The first test of the Radical government's resolve is at hand. The results of this war is bound to shape the future of not only the Republic but the whole continent.



We mobilize our population. Two full divisions will be ready by July 1, and fifty thousand men are added to our manpower reserves.



Military upkeep is already forcing a budget deficit, so we implement a flat tax of roughly 36% to help fund the war. It is not enough to get us out of the red, but every bit helps.



Mexico is wasting no time and took advantage of our unguarded southern border. The invading armies are small though, with only one or two division each. The majority of Mexico's forces are heading to California, where US forces are about to mount a large invasion.


Houston's divisions are reinforced to maximum capacity. A twenty-two thousand men, the 1st Corps now numbers twice that of its original size, back in th Revolutionary War. Until the new divisions are ready, they will still be kept back in Austin.



Corpus Christi falls to the Mexicans, and soon it is joined by El Paso and San Antonio. Mexican forces are now seiging Roswell and heading toward Lubbock.



The US has begun to head south. Over 150,000 American soldiers in total are seizing what remains of Mexican California, and Mexican forces are sending any spare troops quickly across our border at San Diego to meet the American armies.



With the capture of three of our provinces our budget is not doing well. Wartime taxes of 50% across the board are introduced, the most the Radicals would ever allow themselves to take.



The first battles in the west are about to be fought, as American troops charge the Mexican army in Los Angeles. The Mexicans had already begun to dig in, but the Americans vastly outnumber the Mexican army there.



July 1st comes at last, and the two divisions are deployed to Austin, where they join Houston's army. With 42000 men under his command, Houston is eager to drive the Mexicans out of Texas. As soon as the new recruits are ready to fight, he will get his chance. (recently deployed/reinforced divisions need at least a week to get up to full morale, and morale is usually the deciding factor in most battles)



General Houston, 69 years old but still maintaining all his military cunning and drinking habits, is ordered on the offensive. The first battle in the Texan theatre will be in the city named after him, Houston.



Roswell falls to Mexican forces. We must hope that the American armies will capture California soon, so that they may come fight against Mexican forces in the east.



General Houston meets Mexican General Alvarez's forces in Houston. The Mexicans have apparently done more research into military matters than we have, and their forces are better prepared, but they are outnumbered 4-to-1 and make a retreat.



Following the victory in Houston, the Texan army is sent to liberate San Antonio.




Houston once again outnumbers the Mexican forces, and they retreat before sustaining heavy losses. San Antonio is liberated shortly after.



General Houston is sent to Corpus Christi now. He must work to drive out the small Mexican armies quickly; larger armies from the west are said to be heading this way, having been defeated by the Americans in California.



Before Houston can leave San Antonio, he is attacked by Mexican forces north of his position. They are unsuccessful, and Houston continues his march to Corpus Christi.



It appears Houston may be sharing his "private reserve" with his messengers, as it was hard to make heads or tails of the battle report from Corpus. We won though, and that is what counts.



A week later we recieve mixed news. Houston has liberated Corpus Christi, and the Americans have driven Mexican forces out of California and liberated San Diego. But Tucson has fallen to Mexican troops, and that surely means that the Mexicans are heading east. Let us hope that the Americans can stay on their tail.



Here you can see why we are worried. All the Mexican armies that are on the move are heading east.



General Houston is told to head north, to try to intercept a Mexican division in San Antonio that is heading north and to drive Mexican forces out of Lubbock.



The US decided to lend us four of their armies in California. We can by no means afford to pay their upkeep, so we return control of them to the US, but not before giving them orders to head east.



We decide to institute import tariffs to raise money. Our treasury is becoming quickly depleted.



Houston's army reaches Lubbock, having not been able to catch the Mexican division that was passing through San Antonio. We expect to hear of another victory for the proud Texan army.



Instead we suffer the first defeat of the war. Mexican forces arrived from the west shortly after the battle began, and Houston became outnumbered. He was able to retreat, but not before sustaining very heavy losses. His army now numbers only 25000.



Houston reinforces his army with what men he can find, but the war has not been kind to Texas so far, and he is unable to fully reinforce. The last of our manpower is used to bring his army up to 32000. But the larger Mexican army that defeated Houston is heading toward Dallas, so Houston and his men are told to return to Austin to defend the capital. Mexico is on the offensive now.



American armies liberate Tucson, and we begin the study of military strategies and technologies, an area we now regret neglecting.



San Antonio has fallen once more, and El Paso and Corpus Christi soon will too.



Argentina, who has been a trading partner of Mexico's for many years and has always been on good terms with them, allies with Mexico and joins the war on their side. Their army is reported small, and they likely do not have a navy, so it is unclear what role they will play in this war.



We unfortunately must raise tariffs even further. Our treasury is depleted, and the last thing the Republic needs now is debt. We hope that this war turns around soon, before we put too much strain on our people.