OCS Military History Lesson 1&2 (2023/2024) Rated A+

OCS Military History Lesson 1&2 (2023/2024) Rated A+ War -Conflict between organized groups with "Unknown Resolve" - Each seeking to impose its will on the other Linear Tactics - Troops Marched in column formation - 2 to 3 ranks, shoulder to shoulder - Used successive volleys of fire - Purpose was to mass greatest amount of firepower over a given area - Tactics prevailed through WWI Smoothbore Musket - Used from 1600's to Pre-Civil War - Max Effective Distance of 100m - Highly inaccurate - 3 Rounds per minute Friction - Any impediment to a commanders ability to wage war - EX: Muddy roads, undisciplined troops, bad weather Strategic Level of War All of a nation's armed forces in all campaigns Operational Level of War In-theater forces; Where the battle or war is actually taking place—i.e. Afghanistan Tactical Level of War Individual field units (division or below) Battle of Bunker Hill - Revolutionary War - 1775 - Took place near Boston Town on the Charlestown Peninsula - Patriot forces actually occupied and fortified Breed's Hill. - English sacrificed the principals of surprise and maneuver in an effort to publicly defeat and humiliate the American's in a frontal assault. - Patriots held the line, inflicting massive casualties on the British, - Retreated after running dangerously low on ammunition. - Psychological victory for the American's. - Compare with Picket's Charge NYC Campaign - Revolutionary War - 1776 - British forces landed 32,000 soldiers on the shores of Staton Island NY. - Washington split forces in an effort to meet British forces at both Staton and Long Island - Violated the principal of mass. - British forces continually out-maneuver Washington, forcing him to fall back several times - Washington realized that he did not need to defeat the British only needed to assure his army remain standing. Battle of Trenton - Revolutionary war - 1776 - Washington crossed the Deleware on Christmas night with 4,000 untrained militia and 1,000 Short-time regulars. - Despite low morale among his troops and austere weather conditions, Washington inspired his men to keep moving forward. - He separated his forces and using the principle of surprise, - Patriots captured a German mercenary garrison, killing 40 Hessians and capturing another 918. Battle of Princeton - Revolutionary War - After Battle of Trenton - Cornwallis of the British forces aimed to trap Washington at Trenton - Washington deployed the feint tactic and left a small security element at Trenton - Washington, using an economy of force, took his main element and utilizing frozen over swamps, - Maneuvered behind Cornwallis to surprise his units from the rear. - Washington got out in front of his troops, and rallied his men to a victory. - Victory reinvigorated the American cause, rallied "fence sitters" to join the cause, and ruined any British hope for negotiations. Interior Lines Pro's - Lines of communication/logistics are short - More effective, easier to win a battle/campaign Con's - Requires coordination - Facing outside, multiple converging threats Exterior Lines Pro's - Converge upon the enemy - Creates a multi-axis threat Con's - Lines of communication/logistics are long - Requires Unity of Command Saratoga Campaign - Revolutionary War - 1777 - British General Burgoyne attempted to launch a complex multi-avenue attack on patriot forces led by General Gates. - British poor unity of command and lack of coordination led to him attempting to take Saratoga by himself - Fought an exterior line campaign against the American's interior lines - Burgoyne's forces are defeated and surrender to a mixed force of militia and regulars. - This victory causes France to see the US as a safe bet and ushers in a military alliance between France and American Forces. Compare with: Exterior / Interior Lines Valley Forge Winter - Revolutionary War - - Suffering caused by poor distribution of supplies/food/clothing - Not a lack of supply, but poor logistics - 2,500 Die - Von Stueben comes in from Prussia and reforms training and made the Continental Army more effective in the spring - Compare with Battle of Monmouth Battle of Monmouth - Revolutionary War - 1778 - Washington launched an attack against a retreating British force led by Clinton. - Washington allowed Charles Lee to lead the charge - Lee botched the attack and sparked a flanking counter-assault - Washington took over and rallied retreating soldiers. - American's utilized tactics and training recently learned by Wilhelm von Steuben to come to a draw with British forces. - This battle marks a milestone when patriot forces were able to match British regulars in maneuver and proficiency using conventional warfare. - Compare with Valley Forge Battle of Kings Mountain - Revolutionary war - 1780 - Against British led Tories under Major Ferguson - British misused the terrain and tried to fire and launch a bayonet charge from an open silhouetted position on the actual crest of the mountain. - The Patriots "over mountain men" defeated the Tories, lowering their overall morale but boosting the morale of the Patriot militia. - This also caused Cornwallis to pause, and was fatal to the British Southern Campaign. - Compare / Contrast with Camden Battle of Cowpens - Revolutionary War - 1781 - Patriots led by Morgan and the British, led by Tarleton. - Morgan, using surprise and maneuver, put his militia out in front and had them fire two volleys and then fall back causing the British to charge into his reglulars - Caught the Brits in a double envelope. - Tarleton retreats after British suffer heavy causalities, leading to an American victory Battle of Camden - Revolutionary War - 1780 - Gates vs Cornwallis - Gates split patriot forces and put all of (out of state) militia on one side and regulars on the other - Militia side fled against superior trained forces, allowing Cornwallis' troops to wheel around and flank patriot regulars - Demonstrates the perils of a reckless advance, bad logistics, misplaced militia(out of state) - Brits under Cornwallis used maneuver and mass—also combined arms-infantry/cavalry - Defeat for patriots - Compare / Contrast with Kings Mountain Yorktown Campaign - Revolutionary War - Combined land/sea attack by French/Continental forces (cooperation was excellent) -British suffer from poor unity of command - Washington used offensive, surprise (convinced Cornwallis Washington would attack New York), objective, mass and maneuver - Cornwallis surrenders to Washington after long siege George Washington - His dynamic leadership and perseverance/strategic vision - Important takeaway is his impressive presence/command - Unflagging spirit/determination during the toughest of times - Managed an unwieldy force in many adverse conditions - Used tactical mobility to achieve overall victory over a better trained force Newburg Affair - End of Revolutionary War - 1783 - Challenge to civilian authority - Army officers were angry because the Continental Congress was not keeping their promise on paying them postwar pension - Officers were planning to meet and threaten the Continental Congress - Washington intercepted the group and told them that this would betray everything they just fought a war over - This created a precedent of civilian control of the military The 1792 Militia Act - Congress did not make rules to govern militia - They would not serve overseas - Max 3 months active duty in a year. - All 18 to 45 year able bodied white males were eligible, but it was not a draft. - Militia saw themselves contracting with their state, and if - Act would govern their conduct for the next one hundred years, and there would be no federal standard of enforcement. Tecumseh - War of 1812 Era - Two Shawnee brothers, Tecumseh and the Prophet, want Indian unity to stop white expansion. - Spiritual aspect to the prophet, but Tecumseh is into political aspects. - He can't unify his tribe, much less all Indians. - Compare with Tippacone and Detroit Front Detroit Front - War of to 1813 - Initial US Buffoonery - US must surrender Detroit - Tecumseh attacks the US with British help and is able to take Detroit, with a much smaller force. - Creates a tribal alliance with the British, and it begins gaining traction with the Indians because the British are on US soil. - Battle of Lake Eerie is key turning point when British LOC is cut off - Culminates in the Battle of the Thames in which Tecumseh is killed - This guarantees our control of the Northwest Andrew Jackson - Maj. Gen. in the United States Army during the War of 1812, - Served as the seventh president of the US. - As a general in the Tenn. state militia, he defeated the Creek Indians in 1814, - As a general in the US Army, he defeated the Seminoles in the Seminole War of 1818. - Defeated the British in an attack in New Orleans and in Mobile, Al. - Jackson's victories were achieved by canon fire, force and maneuver, and ability to lead in battle. Battle of Horseshoe Bend - War of - Jackson has mixed force of Regulars, Milita and Cherokee and Creek Indians vs Red Stick Indian warriors - Red Sticks lacked unity of command. This allowed him to garner support from Creek Indians to defeat his enemy. - Jackson uses patriots to attack front while Indians attack other sides, I.E. Exterior / Interior Lines - Victory is attributed to mixed forces and ends the Creek war Battle of Lake Champlain - War of 1812: 1814 - Small Naval battle between American and British Forces - Americans were successful in cutting off British LOC and denying them an avenue of approach and logistical route to support operations. - Royal Navy outnumbered the American Navy in ships, lakes give the Americans an even playing field - Utilized principle of maneuver - Victory helps secure Peace Treaty between the two nations. 1814 Niagra Front - War of 1812 - Small scale US offensive of Canada across the Niagara River - US soldiers, led by Jacob Brown and Winfield Scott encountered British regulars fresh from the Napoleonic Wars. - US was not able to advance far into Canada, - Won an engagement at Chippewa, ultimately forcing a standstill - Battle however, proved that even inferior trained forces could stand up against well trained, experienced, and well prepared opponents with the right leadership. Bladensburg Races - War of 1812 - The British attacked the US Militia positioned at Bladensburg, who fled during the battle. - British utilized principal of Offensive - Patriots and British raced back to Washington - British won the race and then sacked and burned the American Capital - Compare with Bunker Hill The Battle of New Orleans War of 1812: End of the War - Between the British, led by Edward Pakenham and the Americans, led by Andrew Jackson - British tried to achieve surprise by landing on Lake Borgne's west shore near New Orleans - Swampy terrain and spoiling attacks by the Americans disrupted the plan - British forces attempted to maneuver around Jackson using fog as cover but slow progress and a lack of cooperation from the concealing weather spoiled the flank - Forced the British to amass all their units into a full frontal assault into the American's defense - Americans defeated the British, who suffered 2,600 casualties - Effectively ended the War of 1812 - Compare with Bunker Hill Second Seminole War Challenges / Solutions - An effort to remove the Seminole Indians, led by Osceola, from their lands in Florida and relocate them west Challenges: - swampy terrain, hot summers, logistical problems, and no fighting during the summer - Fighting in poorly mapped AO - Initially shunned the navy Solutions: - pontoon wagons for crossing the rivers, Army used steamboats, small team tactics to deal with Indian guerilla tactics as opposed to linear tactics, and used Indian allies - Col. Worth finally ends the war with his scorched-earth policy, and fighting through the summers - Indians fight guerilla war, but have little external support - Indians suffer from disunity and a mixed warrior and non-warrior community which = vulnerability Zachary Taylor - Responsible for leading troops to Monterrey - Had to contend with the disorganization of abrupt mobilization, as well as his own lack of organizational skills and intellectual insight - Had an overabundance of men and had extreme logistical problems - Lack of overland logistical support forced Taylor to leave many troops behind and to send others home - Only took 3 days to take Monterrey with his small army - Uses terrain well & keeps a cool head Battle of Buena Vista - Mexican War - General Santa Ana vs Zachary Taylor - Most of Taylor's regular troops had been withdrawn a short time before to reinforce General Scott - Santa Ana makes questionable decisions - Taylor uses terrain very well and maintains a level head - Taylor uses principals of security and mass - Taylor's battlefield leadership, defensive position, and flexible massing of mobile artillery lead to defeat of Mexican Forces - Taylor: "A little more grape, Captain Bragg" Battle of Cerro Gordo - Mexican War - Gen Winfield Scott conquered Vera Cruz and was marching on Mexico City and ran in to a well defended Mexican position along a mountain passage way - Santa Ana had terrain advantage - Scott (with the help of Lee) was able to outmaneuver Santa Ana by attacking his flank by utilizing terrain - Scott utilized the principal of maneuver excellently along with the use of artillery (combined arms) to defeat Mexican forces Monterrey Campaign - Mexican War - See "Zachary Taylor" for challenges getting to Monterrey - Plagued by logistical problems - Only had a small army - Utilized principals of Offensive & Maneuver - Taylor took the town in 3 days - Allowed Mexican soldiers to leave but confiscated weapons Winfield Scott - Outstanding use of Principles of war - planned and executed well - He implemented the principals of war well: • Maneuver • Offensive power • Simplicity • Economies of force - What he accomplished is getting New Mexico and upper California in the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Mexican War Aims - Seize land from Texas to the west coast Strategies: - Blockade, Money on the table, Multi-axis attack War of 1812 War Aims - Rely upon Napoleon - Take Canada to defeat the Indian threat and obtain a bargaining chip - End Royal Navy harassment - Confirm sovereignty Achievement: - Confirmed Sovereignty Revolutionary War Aims - Fight perceived oppression - Seek (or force) accommodation with George III - Secure the land Strategies: - Need only to "hold on" - don't need to invade England to win - Large land, tough terrain, and "home field advantage" - Strong Leadership: Washington, et al - Seek assistance, and even allies (France) - Use mixed forces (conventional and guerrilla warfare) Counterinsurgency (COIN) Military, paramilitary, political, economic, psychological, and civic action taken by a government to defeat insurgency Insurgency Is a politico-military movement that challenges political and / or military authority