Night attacks.

[Trooper "D"]

We did a lot of night training and I remember it going well for the most part. But I remember most of our night attacks being platoon attacks, so they were not usually big enough to turn into a cluster.

Typical would be staging in an assembly area. A night movement of about three klicks. Final preparation at an objective rally point. Then a platoon night attack and consolidating on the objective.

It's easier to pull off night operations smoothly when fewer troops are involved for sure.

I was at a battle at Tiera Rejada Ranch near Thousand Oaks, CA and we did a night scenario. Cornfeds were behind a long defensive earthwork and we started firing at dusk. They had a big production light to cast some light so the crowd could see something besides muzzle flashes at dark. Still could barely make out the Yanks advancing except when we saw the muzzle flashes from their ranks. We'uns behind the parapet were lined up open order so we stretched further. They kept ordering Fire by File from the Left so the crowd could see the sheet of flame go down the firing line. I understand it was impressive to behold. We couldn't divine the range though so I doubt it would have been effective fire even at close range. I just aimed towards the white stripes moving over that black mass out their. It was really all I could make out.
I recommend night maneuvers to position for an attack at first light rather than a night assault.
Cheers!

 

[Stone in the wall]

I think Col. Mosby did some night work. Seemed to work out for him. Once again, small numbers in the operations which is definitely easier. Success also was due too having giant brass b--ls in order to casually ride into a US camp as if they belonged there and act naturally.
"Act Naturally". That reminds me of a Ren and Stimpy where they sneak into a prison through the toilet. They are sitting in bowl when footsteps sound and Ren says something like, "Stimpy, someone is coming. Quick! Act natural". So they both start floating around like, well....like floaters in the bowl.
I'm twisted, I know. I still laugh when I think about that. Sorry for going off topic.
Cheers!

Thanks for bring that up. Both Mosby and McNeil were able to capture Union Generals under the cover of darkness. They did often strike at night, and was over quick with out much of a fight. What comes to mind his the ill fated joint effort of Mosby and Frank Stringfellow (Known as the most dangerous man in the Confederacy and a $10,000 bounty on his head).

Jan 9th 1864 in the bitter cold and deep snow covering the roads Mosby with about 100 Rangers left Upperville. Stopping around 8pm at Woodgrove, Ranger Heaton's home.. Resting there for a few hours. Headed North again a met up with Stringfellow and his scouting party, who had found Major Henry Cole's HQ and enemy strength. Reaching Loudoun Heights Stringfellows group separated From Mosby"s to capture Cole's HQ. Around 3am just as Mosby was about to launch his attack gun fire erupted from Stringfellows position. To this day I don't think anybody ever knew what happened. Then horsemen came riding towards Mosby, thinking they were Federals orders a charge not knowing its Stringfellows group they fired at each other until the mistake was discovered. Being the only ones on horseback they were easy the pick out by Coles awakened men. Mosby was forced to retreat, leaving his dead and wounded behind. He did send an offer to exchange prisoners but Cole declined it. Of Coles men Mosby left 6 dead, 14 wounded, and left with 6 pow and 60 horses. His own losses 4 dead, 9 wounded (4 mortal) and 2 captured.

 

[Western Reserve Volunteer]

Great thread everyone. An interesting note: I recently discovered that the Artillery was issued "dark lanterns" as part of their kit. Presumably, this was to light the way during night movements.

 

[Western Reserve Volunteer]

I think Col. Mosby did some night work. Seemed to work out for him. Once again, small numbers in the operations which is definitely easier. Success also was due too having giant brass b--ls in order to casually ride into a US camp as if they belonged there and act naturally.
"Act Naturally". That reminds me of a Ren and Stimpy where they sneak into a prison through the toilet. They are sitting in bowl when footsteps sound and Ren says something like, "Stimpy, someone is coming. Quick! Act natural". So they both start floating around like, well....like floaters in the bowl.
I'm twisted, I know. I still laugh when I think about that. Sorry for going off topic.
Cheers!

I've always been partial to the scene where Ren is in the sugar bowl shouting at Stimpy, the lid on his head like a hat and the spoon sticking out of his mouth, and clattering against his teeth as he speaks. That was some great foley & animation work.

 

[Trooper "D"]

I've always been partial to the scene where Ren is in the sugar bowl shouting at Stimpy, the lid on his head like a hat and the spoon sticking out of his mouth, and clattering against his teeth as he speaks. That was some great foley & animation work.

Oh good. I was worried that I was the only one who watched Ren and Stimpy.
"Happy, happy, joy, joy"

 

[WScott]

As the war went on it seems that attacks would begin earlier and earlier. Much of the Overland Campaign seemed to have as much activity at night as during the day. Grants left hook move after the battle of the Wilderness commenced at night with Sheridan expected to "clear the way". The fighting at the mule shoe in Spotsylvania commenced before daylight and the attack on Fort Stedman in Petersburg started "in the dark". Night attacks are not popular now let alone during the Civil War.

 

[Western Reserve Volunteer]

There's been a lot of talk about "second sleep" as of late, and how electricity has rather deranged our natural sleeping patterns... I wonder if this also plays a role in what you are able to do at night, with repositioning or attacking? On one hand, if everyone is naturally up in the wee hours of morn for a while, you might as well have them doing something productive. On the other hand, perhaps attacking very early in the morning when people would naturally be asleep would grant you a measure of surprise... but then you'd have to deal with your men's own exhaustion, and that might mitigate any advantage otherwise gained.

Night movements might also simply be the extension of daylight pursuits: during the early West Virginia campaign the Cleveland Light Artillery experienced the privations of war for the first time when whilst pursuing the retreating Confederate Army they were forced to march all night, through rain and mud, over hilly terrain.

 

[Stone in the wall]

Great thread everyone. An interesting note: I recently discovered that the Artillery was issued "dark lanterns" as part of their kit. Presumably, this was to light the way during night movements.

Although, with a hand held torch instead of lanterns. Mort Kunstler's excellent painting "Confederate Christmas" shows artillery moving through the woods at night with a "Christmas Tree" tied on top of the barrel.

 

[thomas aagaard]

if we look outside the civil war it is not hard to find night attacks...

In Spain Wellington stormed a number of fortress at night.

in 1849 danish forces attacked out of the besieged fortress town of Fredericia.
(thanks to full control of the seas, the Danish force within the fortress had been reinforced so it outnumbered the besiegers.)

In 1864 the Prussians made an amphibious assault across 100-200m of deep water by boat.
Thanks to woods they where able to get both men and boats into position in cover, and then the attack was started late at night so the danes did not notice the boats until they where almost across.
Then after driving the Danish beach defenders back they spend about 30 minutes organizing and then with daylight they started pushing inland making room for the 2nd wave to land. And by then there was sufficient light for them to do organized warfare.

And Iam sure there plenty more cases.
But what they have in common is the fact that the enemy is in some sort of fixed defense.
The attack can be planned. You know where the defenders will be and you can instruct the men where to go.
You might even be able to practices the attack somewhere else.

What is much harder to find is large attacks during night as part of a fieldbattle. And then they will usually be the days final desperate attack to win the day before nightfall.

And if one try looking at pre gunpowder battles I expect the result to be much the same.

 

[WScott]

In December, 1813 the British Army (550 men) conducted a nighttime crossing of the Niagara River and then marched 3 miles to attack and capture Fort Niagara (some 400 men). The American army was advised of the possibility of a nighttime attack but the forts commander Captain Nathaniel Leonard was lax in his responsibilites and wasn't even there when the attack took place, he did get there in time the next morning to be captured.

 

[gunny]

I kind of can't believe that no one has mentioned Franklin. The sun was setting as the Rebel troops advanced towards the Federal works. They began to strike the lines at 4:30 and it was dark by 5 p.m. This was a definite example of a full-fledged all out night assault by better than 2/3rds of an army's entire strength.

The outcome was as would be expected against a strongly fortified position defended by no less than 22 artillery pieces in a static position with a frontage that was less than 1,600 yards from end to end.

Command and control was clearly the most distinguished mishap at this battle. Even though a breakthrough took place early in the fight, the front line had no way to communicate to the reserves that a breech had been made. The field was so darkened by the smoke of battle and waning of light that no outcomes could be discerned until the breech had been plugged. Any couriers sent to the rear to send reserves in to exploit the breech would be too late as reserves were nearly a half mile in the rear. This was a problem that plagued the Confederate army in the west on more than one occasion.

By the time the reserve approached the main line they were struck with the same destructive and even more destructive fire - as they didn't have to worry about retreating forces in their front.

Although there was a minor success by a portion of Lee's corps more than an hour after darkness with the capture of a Federal flag and the breech of the enemy line once again, the darkness prevented others that may have come to exploit the breech within only a short distance and the gap was plugged by Federal reinforcements once again.

Any true night attack without significant moonlight was destined to fail. Even those with a full moon would likely suffer the same command and control issues that daytime presented - only five or more times worse.

 

[Yankeedave]

The night attack of the Union 3rd Corps upon itself during the evening of May 2, 1863.

 

[thomas aagaard]

The night attack of the Union 3rd Corps upon itself during the evening of May 2, 1863.

can you point me to a text about this?

 

[Stone in the wall]

can you point me to a text about this?

I'd like to know more too. Below all I could find:
By the light of a bright full moon, Union Major General Daniel E Sickle's corps launched a midnight attack o May 3rd 1863. According to a New York Times war correspondent "This night attack was the most grand and terrific thing of the war. The moon shone bright and the enemy could be seen at good musket range. Tariq Malik: Astronomy Detectives

If it the attack so grand and terrific why isn't it common knowledge?

 

[WScott]

How could the 3rd Corps plan and execute a night attack when they lost their Corps commander, many officers, about 4,000 men (1/3 its original strength) needed to be resupplied and recuperate after several hours of savage fighting?

 

[Yankeedave]

They were trying to fall back from Hazel Grove. They began to engage each other in the dark until things could be sorted out.

 

[Stone in the wall]

How could the 3rd Corps plan and execute a night attack when they lost their Corps commander, many officers, about 4,000 men (1/3 its original strength) needed to be resupplied and recuperate after several hours of savage fighting?

They did lose division commanders Whipple and Berry.

 

[Yankeedave]

Much of the fight of Jackson's attack took place in the darkness. Jackson himself and A. P Hill were shot in the dark.
Pleasanton's cavalry tried to evacuate Hazel Grove that evening along with the infantry and slammed into Jackson's flank along the main road. It is suspected that this spooked the men that fired into the mounted commands of Jackson and Hill.

 

[Sgt. Tyree]

The CSMC conducted at least two night boarding operations: USS Water Witch and USS Underwriter.

Obviously, boarding parties are not what was being envisioned when the question about night attacks was asked. But they were night operations, albeit small.

 

[1SGDan]

Night Fight at Wauhatchie | South & Western Theaters

Introduction The autumn of 1863 found Union forces in southern Tennessee in a very difficult position. The post-Chickamauga retreat into Chattanooga left the commander, MG William Rosecrans, in an impossible political/military predictament. Nearly every entry into the city was covered by the...

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