Post by Bill Zuelsdorff on Apr 12, 2002 11:03:48 GMT -5
I really enjoyed the article in March's Rock County Volunteer on Prone Fighting. Whne watching Civil War movies and how they show the men in their nice neat battlelines, one would wonder how only 600,000 casualties were had in the war. This article ponted out some good thoughts and made it seem more realistic as to how fighting did happen. After reading this article, I read another article in the North and South magazine titled The Hottest Place I Ever Was In by Gordon C. Rhea. It told about the cavalry battle at Haw's Shop on May 28, 1864. Here are some of the quotes from some of the participants of that battle which would go to reinforce the RCV article on prone fighting:
" Troopers on both sides simply hugged the ground and traded shots across a shallow no-man's land while opposing srtillerist waged heated duels."
"Stokes formed his troopers in the woods below Wickham's flank, keeping them low to avoid fire from Union Sharpshooters."
"'It was everyman for himself,' a New Jersey soldier remembered, 'and from behind trees, stumps and the fence we poured heavy fire upon the rebels behind a fence scarcely 30 yards away.'"
"'Dense undergrowth', a Southerner noted, 'served as a screen but not as shelter.' He remembered 'a rough and tumble affair, frequently carried on in thick cover, much in the Indian style."
"Unaccustomed to comabt Virginia-style, Dunovant's soldiers took serious casualties. A Jersey man later remarked that they 'show their inexperience by continually half-rising to fire or to look at our line, thus giving our men an opportunity of which our marksmen took onstant and fatal advantage.'"
"'Our line did not give way,' Hansell noted, 'but halted to face the fire and took advantage of every shelter they could.'"
I just found this interesting to have read about these tactics in the RCV and them to randomly pick up and read an articl and have the same ideas reinforced by the accounts of soldiers who used these tactics. Perhaps Hollywood should listen to what these voices from years gone by are saying.
" Troopers on both sides simply hugged the ground and traded shots across a shallow no-man's land while opposing srtillerist waged heated duels."
"Stokes formed his troopers in the woods below Wickham's flank, keeping them low to avoid fire from Union Sharpshooters."
"'It was everyman for himself,' a New Jersey soldier remembered, 'and from behind trees, stumps and the fence we poured heavy fire upon the rebels behind a fence scarcely 30 yards away.'"
"'Dense undergrowth', a Southerner noted, 'served as a screen but not as shelter.' He remembered 'a rough and tumble affair, frequently carried on in thick cover, much in the Indian style."
"Unaccustomed to comabt Virginia-style, Dunovant's soldiers took serious casualties. A Jersey man later remarked that they 'show their inexperience by continually half-rising to fire or to look at our line, thus giving our men an opportunity of which our marksmen took onstant and fatal advantage.'"
"'Our line did not give way,' Hansell noted, 'but halted to face the fire and took advantage of every shelter they could.'"
I just found this interesting to have read about these tactics in the RCV and them to randomly pick up and read an articl and have the same ideas reinforced by the accounts of soldiers who used these tactics. Perhaps Hollywood should listen to what these voices from years gone by are saying.
