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What's the proper way to quantify this? (and is "quantity" a proper criterion for judging which was "worst:?)
I think in my mind I was considering overall ferocity, number killed and wounded, and hand-to-hand engagements. I agree though, maybe there should be certain criteria.
Regards,
John W.
__________________ Ancestors in CSA Army: 51st VA, 54th VA, 45th VA, 50th VA, 24th VA
Ferocity, yes, also bloodiness? A tough, and gruesome, exercise to consider.
I don't know if one could say any one complete battle was the "worst". One could point to parts of different battles which where particularly ferocious and bloody - the cornfield at Sharpsburg, the crater at Petersburg, the repulse at Marye's Heights at Chancellorsville, the Bloody Angle at Spotsylvania .....
Is there any one battle where the most ferocious and bloody fighting lasted the longest in relation to the total length of the entire battle?
__________________ -
"It was a very peculiar time." - Franklin D. Cossitt
Ancestors in USA Army: 6th IA Inf, 11th IL Cav, 1st AL Cav; 122nd NY Inf; 6th MI Cav; 35th MA Inf; 100th IL Inf; 1st CO Inf/Cav; 22nd IN Inf
Worse battle...
Worse for whom? Wellington in the depths of post battle depression after Waterloo, said there was nothing as melancholy as a battle won, except a battle lost. In any battle we can assume the winners felt better than the losers. Fredericksburg was a terrible defeat, but another a great victory.
The sheer number of dead? An atrocity, or shameful cowardice? Particularly nasty(which usually means at close range or hand to hand) fighting? Was it raining, like an Spotsylvania? Who can answer such a question?
Okay, I'll refine my question. Every battle had its moment(s) of horror. I ask you....where was the worst place to be in the war....for a Yank....and for a reb? I'll throw up a couple of "jump balls". For a Yank....Maryes" Heights at Fredricksburg. For a Reb...the field in front of the Federal line during "Picket's Charge". Now, I have other opinions on this; but theses are obvious starting points. I'll weigh in on my thoughts on this later; but I'm curious as to what y'all (yous all?) think. Yanks and Rebs where is the number one spot you would NOT want to be during the war?
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
for a CSA soldier, stay away from the 1st corp line during Anderson's charge towards Hancock's troops at the Wilderness 1864. Being shot and burnt to a crisp in the woods has to be one of the worst ways to die.
Yankees, Cold habor June of 64.
Matt
Last edited by milhistbuff1; 12-03-2005 at 11:15 PM.
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I agree though, maybe there should be certain criteria.
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