Boer Tactics

He positioned his trained infantrymen on top of the first hill as the last line of defense. The militia was placed in front of the hill and the sharpshooters were place in front of the militia. The militia was the first line of defense and Morgan ordered his sharpshooter to target specifically the officers and cavalry and fall back in the line of militia before they get in firing range of the redcoats. Once the sharpshooter gets in position with the militia the British army advanced the attack the militia. The militia’s duties were to engage the redcoats for a short amount of then run away to the right side of the side of the hill. Tarleton expected the militia to run away. He sent one infantry unit and one cavalry unit after the militia. However, waiting behind the second hill was Lieutenant Colonel William Washington and his dragoon unit. The British cavalry didn’t expect to encounter another cavalry unit. Washington wiped out the Tarleton’s cavalry then flanked the right of Tarleton’s main element. Simultaneously, the militia ran around the hills to flank the left side. Tarleton found himself in a double envelopment. Tarleton receives 110 casualties, 229 wounded and 829 captured or missing, meanwhile Morgan suffered 25 casualties and 124

The observation and fields of fire favored the Franco-American forces. They were prepared to conduct reconnaissance on the British to gather intelligence that was useful in their attacks. They were able to destroy, neutralize, and suppress the enemy with effective artillery bombardments. The Franco-American troops were also able to occupy the abandoned redoubts, which helped establish fire superiority. The British were able to fire artillery in retaliation but fell short in accomplishing large amounts of damages. As the British crossed the river into Gloucester, they suffered a high number of casualties at the hands of the cannon batteries. At this point in the battle, Cornwallis did not have enough ammunition or supplies and

This paper will examine the British and American Southern Loyalist defeat in the Battle of Kings Mountain and discuss the assumptions the British made including loyalist support, logistic support, and terrain advantage.

During the battle, Patriot and Militia forces were outflanked, outgunned, and majorly outnumbered. The Patriots were even forced to used broken shovels, glass, etc. as artillery shells (www.shmoop.com). British forces however, quickly hammered down Patriot and Militia with artillery causing lines to scatter as artillery decimated the Colonists (www.hubpages.com). General Clinton carefully took the city little by little, effectively taking Charleston (however, this was unlike him as he prefers to wipe out a city in one major blow) (www.theamericanrevolution.org). Patriot Militia were completely unorginized as General Lincoln had much trouble keeping the army in order (www.theamericanrevolution.org). Since disease and morality was low, some men abandoned Charleston and moved to a safer place up North (www.hubpages.com). Fighting became heavy for six weeks, until the Patriot forces finally decided to surrender (www.postandcourier.com).

The tactics used in World War I were radically different than that of previous wars. The majority of the war was fought in the trenches, and the war itself seemed to have no end. Due to this, the psychological impact of the war was unlike anything that had been seen before. During the early days of the war, the soldiers, on both sides, seemed to lack the dedication that would have been necessary to exterminate their enemy. However, as the war progressed, the desire to avenge their fallen comrades overcame their ethics and they began to kill their enemy indiscriminately. Surviving soldiers experienced a phenomenon that was, at that time, referred to as shell shock. Today we refer to this phenomenon as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. At this time, this psychological condition was misunderstood and the doctors lacked the training necessary to effectively treat this condition.

Although Bloody Hill was one of charge and countercharge for the Confederates, the major problem was tactical positioning of the topography and technology. BG Slack and Woodruffs defense greatly outnumbered Lyon’s force as they were positioned down the hill and held inferior weapons. As Slack’s 2 regiments alongside Woodruff guns proceeded to move forward, close enough to be within range to shoot their shotguns and muskets, but the Federals would drive them back with artillery, small-arms fire, and short counterattacks. In order to hold Lyon’s advance, almost his entire force was engaged except for his reserve, the 2nd Kansas Infantry. Eventually, when the fighting died out all along the line as both Confederate and Union sides needed to reposition and recuperate to continue to fight as time went on. (George E. Knapp, 1953).

“It was not war-it was murder” (M.G. D Hill 1862). July 1st 1862, held one of the bloodiest battles during our civil war. Throughout the battle we have learned the importance of understanding your terrain and surroundings. Confederate also realized the relevance of controlling Malvern Hill from a military stand point. Throughout the mistakes of this battle it has taught us over time better ways to communicate, emplace, and maneuver artillery units as a whole. This battle plays a key role in the advancement of our military tactics and execution in the ways that we use artillery today.

Once the Redcoats were set up to the best of their ability, the militiamen continued to move forward. As the militiamen closed in the British fired the first volley, Private Abner Hosmer and Captain Isaac Davis were at the head of the march and were killed instantly. That volley was the start of the Revolutionary War and is now known as the “Shot Heard around the World”. The militiamen

Prescott planned to fortify Bunker Hill in order to disrupt British maneuvers and provide area defense. However, for reasons unknown Prescott and over 1200 of his men moved past Bunker Hill and fortified a hill even closer to the British encampment, Breed’s Hill. “That morning the Colonists frantically worked to build a fortification, a redoubt, and a rail fence that extended from the hill to the shore.”1 The British soon noticed the structure, and at 0200 British sentries notified General Howe of the activities. However, like General Gage, Howe regarded the Colonists’ militia as an undisciplined and untrained group of amateurs. So he dismissed the actions of the Colonists and did not immediately notify Gage. Howe’s failure to report the Colonists’ activities serves as Gage’s first mistake in the operations process of mission command. Gage rightfully viewed his army and navy as superior to the Colonists’ militia in every way. He knew the British military had hundreds of years experience at war, were uncontested at sea, had conquered two continents, and were better armed. He also knew the Colonists had little experience at war, no naval force, and limited arms and munitions. In consideration of these facts Gage did not recognize the Colonists as a viable threat. Moreover, he completely underestimated the power of their resolve as well as their capabilities. Subsequently, he didn’t feel the need to create Commander’s

Daniel Sickles was an outspoken politician who committed murder, got away with it, and almost lost the U.S. the Battle of Gettysburg. Sickles murdered his wife’s lover, pleaded that he was insane, and was acquitted. He was also a very bad general and cost the Union military the Battle of Chancellorsville and almost lost them the Battle of Gettysburg. As a politician, Sickles was the military governor of South Carolina during Reconstruction and preserved the Gettysburg battlefield, establishing it as a National Military Park. Background Information George Garrett Sickles and Susan Marsh Sickles gave birth to Daniel Edgar Sickles on October 20, 1819, in New York City.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that contributed to the failure in the British Southern Campaign in the American Revolutionary war. This paper will examine British and American Southern Loyalist defeat in the Battle of Kings Mountain, and discuss assumptions the British made, including loyalists support, logistics, long rifle, and terrain advantage. It is important to study past military actions to identify mistakes and apply lessons learned to current U.S. military operations.

The firing on that fort will inaugurate a civil war greater than any the world has yet seen…you will lose us every friend at the North. You will wantonly strike a hornet’s nest which extends from mountains to ocean. Legions now quiet will swarm out and string us to death. It is unnecessary. It put us in the wrong. It is fatal. –Robert Toombs. (Boerner paragraph 2).

When the British went to attack the fort, the commander of the colonists, William Prescott, shouted, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”, to conserve the limited ammunition. The British come within range and are mowed down by the colonists. But eventually the colonists run out of their ammo, and the British, now with reinforcements, storm the fort and force the colonists to retreat. It was a British victory, but at a heavy price.

Military strategy forever had been battles of attrition, men throwing themselves at each other until a winner was determined, this form of battle was replaced in Europe during the 16th and 17th century. The change in military strategy took place mostly in Europe, and the countries at the forefront of this were the Swedish empire and the Netherlands. The Swedes and Dutch changed many military strategies and practices which were in place for thousands of years and changed the standard for militaries. They helped to show the first realistic application of David versus Goliath, using smart tactics paired with a smaller army to destroy militaries of greater size. The two smallest nations in Europe took control and led the world in military innovations in the 16th and 17th century through competition and loss. The Swedes and Dutch managed to create fluid militaries which were able to overpower larger armies through deception and agility. The Swedish and Dutch nations during the 16th and 17th century gained military strength through the reformation of tactics, reorganization of the military, improvisation of weapons, and as a result changed the image and action of the military forever. The idea of a military revolution was first explored by a man named Michael Roberts in the 1950s. Roberts said that if the Swedish Empire and the Netherlands had not developed as they did, military strategy and organization would have not evolved for much later.

As the battle went on, the Prussian Army was fast approaching. When Napoleon received word of the impending Prussian arrival, he decided to send 20,000 troops, to his left flank, to intercept the Prussians. Although, this was a sensible approach, it severely weakened the main attack. The French finally push through and took La Haye Sainte (the estate in the center of the Battlefield) but, this would end up being a small victory in a battle that would have an inevitable outcome. The British retreated their men, behind the ridge, in an attempt to hide them from the French viewpoint. The French, thinking they had the British on their heels, sent their elite soldiers (Old Guard) up the middle of the battlefield and over the ridge. Unknowingly to the French, Duke Wellington hatched a plan to hide some of his troops. As the Old Guard begins its assault, of the British center line, they are surprised by British troops lying in wait, on their flanks, in the high corn fields. The Old Guard is routed by three horse batteries attacking their flanks. With the Prussian Army destroying the left flank of the French Army, Wellington sounds the general charge. The charge is successful in pushing back the French lines. Napoleon regroups his Old Guard and orders them to attack. By this time, the Old Guard is down to under 200 men. Once again, Wellington uses his plan to hide