First Battle of Hoover Dam

The First Battle of Hoover Dam is the colloquial name applied to the first offensive mounted by Caesar's Legion against New California Republic forces entrenched at Hoover Dam in 2277. It was one of the turning points of the NCR-Legion War.

Prelude
Prior to the establishment of the NCR military in the Mojave Wasteland, NCR scouts had reported that the Hoover Dam was more or less intact and completely capable of producing more than enough power for the whole of the NCR. As the soldiers began to pour in, Mr. House was able to secure the New Vegas treaty and prevent hostilities between most of the tribes in the region and the NCR.

Caesar's Legion, having met virtually no resistance so far in their conquest, saw the Dam as a strategic asset and river crossing. With it, they would take control of New Vegas, and Caesar would finally have his Rome. But in the NCR, he had found his Carthage.

The Battle
The NCR was unprepared for the assault, and the Malpais Legate initially had the upper hand, able to swarm NCR defenders over the Dam. The Courier: "So what happened at Hoover Dam and Boulder City?"Hanlon: "In big battles, Caesar deploys his legionaries in waves. Recruits up front, prime soldiers behind the recruits, old guard bringing up the rear. Opponents wear themselves out dealing with the first two waves, if they survive that long. When the veterans step up, there's not much fight left. Caesar can adapt, though, and when required, he can run any mix of legionaries as skirmishers and still retain order in the ranks." The Courier: "[Continue]" Hanlon: "Joshua Graham, Caesar's old legate, he's wasn't so flexible. When the Legion attacked Hoover Dam, General Oliver ordered his troopers back to the middle ground just after first contact. Graham pushed all of the legionaries onto the dam, filling the east side with recruits up front and veterans in the back, by the book." The Courier: "[Continue]" Hanlon: ''"But once they were in, they were stuck there. Oliver's troopers were entrenched and wouldn't give a foot. That's when we ordered the rangers and 1st recon sharpshooters to start picking off veteran legion officers from a high ridge west of the dam. That only lasted about a minute before Graham ordered the back ranks to push through to the front and rush the ridge." The Courier: "[Continue]" Hanlon: "Caused total chaos among the younger legionaries, and Oliver's troopers fell back to the side walkways and stayed out of the veterans' way. By the time the veterans got to the ridge, we were already in Boulder City. They followed us down there, but we were out before they realized what was happening." The Courier: "[Continue]" Hanlon: "We had packed the old city with C4 and dynamite. Crude, but it did the job. Those who didn't die in the blast were in no position to mount a defense. The ones left on the dam didn't know what to do. The troopers routed them. Graham pulled the remaining legionaries back, but the battle was over. He went south, back to the Grand Canyon, back to Caesar. And that was the last we saw or heard from Joshua Graham."''(Hanlon's dialogue) Lead elements of the NCR, including members of the 1st Recon Battalion and NCR Rangers, executed a tactical retreat west across the dam and into Boulder City while using their prowess in marksmanship to pick off the Legion centurions. The Legate, unable to adapt strategies in combat, ordered his legionaries to pursue the rangers. He did not realize the NCR had booby-trapped the city by laying explosives along their line of retreat and were drawing the Legion into a trap. When the Legion forces entered the city, the NCR detonated the explosives. This inflicted severe casualties on the Legion forces and crippled their offensive. NCR forces counter-attacked and eventually routed the Legionaries who fled east back over the dam.

Aftermath
Following the battle, the NCR soldiers retook the Dam and began making preparations for the inevitable Legion counter-attack. A memorial to the soldiers and Rangers lost in the battle was erected outside of the ruins of Boulder City.

Caesar ordered his Legate's execution for his incompetence in the battle. He was coated in pitch, lit on fire, and tossed into the Grand Canyon by the Praetorian Guard, setting an example for others. Some Legionaries believe the old Legate still lives on as The Burned Man.

Appearances
The First Battle of Hoover Dam is mentioned in Fallout: New Vegas and its add-on Honest Hearts.