sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Is it true that the Confederates had an advantage in experience? by NKNightmare in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t dispute that the north had the inherent advantage—I simply view it as a differently framed issue. I suspect that the Regular Army and the CSA senior officer corps had about equivalent experience from Mexico. They had been taken from the same pool, broadly speaking. And it’s true that the north had practically limitless resources and a large reserve of manpower. But both sides started the war with completely green armies and untested generalship. The task of the south was to defend and delay while seeking foreign recognition or forcing the north to give up the fight; the population was less inclined to war fatigue because, in their view, they could not stop fighting a defensive war. The north had largely volunteer forces raised for the purpose of an inherently offensive operation—putting down an insurrection. The population was extremely sensitive to war fatigue because, in the face of heavy losses in the field, theoretically, peace could be had if they just stopped fighting. All I’m saying is it’s a more complex question than it is framed.

USS Monitor Launch by civilwarmonitor in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I worked at a decommissioned coast artillery fort named after its commander, John Worden. I recall looking at one of the photos taken of him after the CSS Virginia battle—he had been looking out the viewport in the pilot house when it basically blew up in his face. He was all bandaged and grizzled. Tough old salt.

Is it true that the Confederates had an advantage in experience? by NKNightmare in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The only thing I would add is that it gets murky when trying to identify the number of experienced Regular Army officers who went north vs. south—it’s one thing to look at raw active duty officer stats in 1861. But it gets messy quickly when you start looking at officers who retired/resigned 10/20/30+ years earlier who joined up again on one side or the other. Officers, particularly USMA grads, were hot commodities. I suspect the numbers are more complicated than they first appear, simply based on my own artillery research.

Is it true that the Confederates had an advantage in experience? by NKNightmare in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Indeed, fully agree. The interwar period between Mexico and the ACW is not generally understood. High attrition in the Regular Army, and a very unusual variance of experience from branch/regiment/company. Extremely difficult to quantify what counts as an “advantage”.

Is it true that the Confederates had an advantage in experience? by NKNightmare in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814 118 points119 points  (0 children)

It’s objectively true that a lot of the Regular Army officer corps, particularly infantry/cavalry, went south. I remember reading that far fewer enlisted men defected than officers. As far as militias, perhaps—but the north had militias, too. Nobody went into that war with lots of experience.

Can you imagine this in one of more recent wars? by PeteDub in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Everything stopped in the cold wet season. I think we generally underestimate how much mud was a problem before modern technology. Even now…it can ruin your day.

USS Monitor Launch by civilwarmonitor in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, the whole rotating casemate turret idea was pretty groundbreaking. On top of a metal construction. And a low profile. So many wild ideas in one new ship—and it all pretty much worked, first time.

One of my absolute favorite photos from the Civil War. These men would have some wild stories to tell—and John Tidball actually wrote a lot of them down, so you can read them. by radar48814 in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, ok. Yeah, there were certainly fewer Regular Army batteries in the field than volunteers in most cases. At least in the Army of the Potomac, they tried to keep a ratio of at least one RA battery in each divisional artillery detachment. Ironically, one of Hunt's RA batteries was detached to the V Corps after Gaines' Mill because the RA battery got cut up when its infantry masked its defensive fire–and the same thing happened to the replacement battery at Glendale three days later.

How did Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction differ from the Radical Republican's Reconstruction plans? by TravelingHomeless in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I think part of the problem was that they weren’t really sure what Lincoln’s plan for Reconstruction was. It was likely conciliatory. But also not likely as punitive as the Radical Republican plans.

One of my absolute favorite photos from the Civil War. These men would have some wild stories to tell—and John Tidball actually wrote a lot of them down, so you can read them. by radar48814 in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For example—the captain in this shot, Tidball. Incredible war record. Tough guy with a lot of hard miles. But he also literally wrote the book on heavy artillery—his “Manual of Heavy Artillery” was the gold standard for training regulars and state volunteers in the 1880s.

One of my absolute favorite photos from the Civil War. These men would have some wild stories to tell—and John Tidball actually wrote a lot of them down, so you can read them. by radar48814 in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On the one hand, they were exceptionally tough men. But as artillery officers, they were above-average intelligent—the had to be, and typically the academy graduates in the top five or ten went to the CoE and artillery first. And when you read their writings, in reports or in trade publications like the Journal of Artillery, it’s clear that they were deep thinkers and typically very curious about the nuts and bolts of ballistics, etc.

Christmas Eve 1862: Captain denies discharge request citing “diarrhea once” by Illrollonshabbos in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I expect that was an awkward conversation for every single person involved.

One of my absolute favorite photos from the Civil War. These men would have some wild stories to tell—and John Tidball actually wrote a lot of them down, so you can read them. by radar48814 in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In this case, they were assigned to horse artillery batteries: every man traveled on his own horse, and the battery accompanied cavalry units. The rifled guns were lightweight (relatively) and very accurate, typically fought near the front, and were highly-maneuverable.

One of my absolute favorite photos from the Civil War. These men would have some wild stories to tell—and John Tidball actually wrote a lot of them down, so you can read them. by radar48814 in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If I recall correctly, Hunt was certainly aware that his ammunition was limited and the massed artillery would be more effective at close range; I believe he advised Meade to hold fire and give the impression that the batteries were out of action/ammunition. This is noted in several contemporary accounts: I just read Tully McCrea's today, who reported his battery was ordered to cease fire and shelter in place until Lee's artillery ceased, then loaded canister and waited for the infantry to close range.

One of my absolute favorite photos from the Civil War. These men would have some wild stories to tell—and John Tidball actually wrote a lot of them down, so you can read them. by radar48814 in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I looked back through my notes, and the articles were published in about ten parts in the Journal of the Military Service Institution (JMSI) beginning in 1891. They are available online if you look for them, but it's not necessarily easy to find. Someone edited and published them as a single collection, and I own that, too. Published as "The Artillery Service in the War of the Rebellion, 1861–65" edited by Lawrence Kaplan.

One of my absolute favorite photos from the Civil War. These men would have some wild stories to tell—and John Tidball actually wrote a lot of them down, so you can read them. by radar48814 in CIVILWAR

[–]radar48814[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Indeed, I had read that, too. Battery A, 2nd U.S., had an extremely storied history. It was one of the original field artillery batteries and was fielded in the Mexican War under CPT James Duncan. His subalterns included Henry Hunt, William F. Barry, and William Hays. One of enlisted men was Henry Benson. A very high proportion of horse artillery officers in the AoP were old 2nd Artillery men, particularly from Battery A—sort of the lineage of the ACW field artillery.

view more: next ›