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All excellent observations! Neil, thanks a bunch for that story -- one for the ages, although a touch "unbelievable." C'mon, the military cannot be that stupid. Sounds like a myth.
On the other hand, Neil's original observation seems to me to be spot on. The only way to keep order was to keep all elements within sight. Now we have phones built into helmets, GPS and goodies to maintain order and the keep the plan coordinated. Then, the bane of a plan was for the force to lose order -- cohesiveness. Without the intended concentration of force -- witness Shiloh -- some, if not all effectiveness evaporates.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
The military pays Haliburton $75 a pop for a case of soft drinks. It also buys its own MRI's back from that same company at an inflated price. Ah well, they're not THAT dumb. They use OUR tax money. Now on a lighter note, I'd best quit for the night. One more post and I'll get stripes. Perish the thought.
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
I'll agree that $75 is hard to believe, but you gotta know that it'll cost more than $10 to get it there. Then there's the distribution to various points in country with emphasis on civilian (Iraqi) employees. What do you think would be a fair price? Sorry to force you to another stripe.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
The U.S. Government does the shipping for Haliburton. Haliburton then inflates the price and sells the goods to the military. Iraq has been a finacial windfall for Dick Cheney's old company. Ole, don't worry about being responsible for my stripes. I'll get caught with some likker, trading a sesesh coffee for tobacco, or thrashing an officer. Oh,oops, wrong reality.
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
I'll get caught with some likker, trading a sesesh coffee for tobacco, or thrashing an officer. Oh,oops, wrong reality.
Calicoboy
hehe... my friend my friend, leave no witnesses; a knife to the base of the skull, between the second & third ribs or a stray shot in a skirmish. All age old & delightful ways of dealing w/ incompetant officers.
Oh by the way... my commision is BREVET. No one in congress in their right mind would confirm me as a Brig. Genl... wait a minute scratch that stellar incompetance is defined by politicians.
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
Fascinating thread, fellas. I know i'm jumping in a little late, but heres my take on the original question.
Perhaps the military prejudices against the backwoods militia types such as Dan Morgan would have something to do with the refusal to change. Most of his initial command was equipped with rifled muskets i believe. Unfortunately, Halleck held that attitude and many a northern boy died because of it, and many a southern one died due to the lack of cash and materiel to purchase or make such weapons.
Have you ever read The Devil's Brigade. It details the history of the First Special Service force led by Maj. Gen. Robert T Frederick and was the ancestor of today's special forces. The struggle to get a mission for his men shows just how far the military went in order maintain its traditional MO. The French army had this as well, Foch's comment on the number of casualties it takes to train a major gen. a case in point.
Respectfully,
Matt
__________________ Great-Great Grand Nephew of George H. Pfau, 4th NJ Vol Infantry
When I was in the military and reporting to a new unit, the words I most dreded to hear where, "But we've never done it that way before!"
I submit that this is not just a military trait, but a most basic human one. Very few of us like change. Just go home after work one day and discover your wife has changed the furniture in the living room around in a fit of redecorating.
But for some reason, the military I was in (1971 to 1991) hated change, fought it at every turn, especially after the Vietnam War. It was only when the Lt.'s, Captains, and Majors involved at the pointy end of that conflict got promoted to Generals did you start to see some serious change. That, and President Regan's push to improve the US Military during his two terms. When we went to Gulf War I, we were the best, in training, equipment, morale, spirit, you name it, we were tops.
I only pray God we keep learning from our mistakes and never go back to that old attitude, "But we never did it that way before!" ever again.
If we do, a lot of young kids will pay for it, with their lives.
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
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