Wagon Mounted Infantry

[major bill]

A quote from Eric R. Faust's The 11th Michigan Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War, page 59.

"With Buell's supply line beset by cavalry and guerrilla raids, the general on August 27 sought to remedy the nuisance with the secretive creation of a light brigade, The unit was intended to balance sufficient punch with the mobility required to overtake and overwhelm Morgan and Forrest. The hard-marching 11th Michigan was teamed up with the 19th Illinois Infantry, artillery support, and a sizable cavalry contingent encompassing the 2nd Indiana, 5th Tennessee, 1st Kentucky, and a detachment of the 4th Kentucky. Colonel Miller was placed in overall command, with Stoughton in charge of the infantry, which would be wagon-borne to keep pace with the horsemen."

This sounds kind of like a mobile mixed armed force. Sounds like a good idea but in this cased didn't work and Morgan and Forrest eluded them. Still at least on paper it sounds like a practical solution to raiders.

 

[leftyhunter]

It should of worked out in terms of protecting wagon convoys. Not in terms of chasing horse riding raiders.Hard to believe that General Buel thought a slow moving wagon would catch a fast moving horse.
Where the wagon borne troops used in the more sensible role as convoy escort?
Leftyhunter

 

[major bill]

I think the plan was to get the infantry to threatened areas not catch the raiders. What was being done in General Buell's rear was that the infantry would march 40 miles to a threatened area only to arrive late too save whatever they were sent to save. The raiders then would raid the area the infantry had been protecting prior to the infantry being moved.

 

[leftyhunter]

I think the plan was to get the infantry to threatened areas not catch the raiders. What was being done in General Buell's rear was that the infantry would march 40 miles to a threatened area only to arrive late too save whatever they were sent to save. The raiders then would raid the area the infantry had been protecting prior to the infantry being moved.

Mobility and speedy reaction is a constant challenge in COIN warfare.The only two basic techniques that would of worked for wagon train security in the Civil War would of been wagon bearing escort troops or light cavalry. Boyh of course are manpower intensive. That is one reason up to at least one third of the Union Army had to spend at least a significant amount of time pn COIN duty plus of course dealing with conventional Confederate cavalry raiders.
Leftyhunter

 

[Greyfalcon]

"With Buell's supply line beset by cavalry and guerrilla raids, the general on August 27 sought to remedy the nuisance with the secretive creation of a light brigade, The unit was intended to balance sufficient punch with the mobility required to overtake and overwhelm Morgan and Forrest. The hard-marching 11th Michigan was teamed up with the 19th Illinois Infantry, artillery support, and a sizable cavalry contingent encompassing the 2nd Indiana, 5th Tennessee, 1st Kentucky, and a detachment of the 4th Kentucky. Colonel Miller was placed in overall command, with Stoughton in charge of the infantry, which would be wagon-borne to keep pace with the horsemen."

"Mulezkrieg".

 

[Borderruffian]

I blieve General Blunt put his Infantry in wagons enroute to Lone Jack in 62, he missed the battle.I may be wrong that it was Blunt, but one Union commander did.