RE: [DL] shootin' folks

["Matthew M. DeForrest" <mmdeforrest@worldnet.att.net>]

Hi, Mark!

-----Original Message-----
I once read that in the American Revolutionary War, it is estimated that
only 1 in every 200 musket balls fired hit someone! One of the main reasons
the civil war was such carnage is that the introduction of rifled barrels
increased this to about 1 in 20, but the generals took 3 years to notice!
--------------------------

The stat you're referring to comes from the march back to Boston after the
Battles of Lexington and Concord.  The patriot militia, firing with
British-issue Brown Bess muskets, had atrocious accuracy (Hence the linear
tactics practiced by Western armies of the period -- line up in dense ranks
and fire -- maybe someone will hit something).  On the other hand, they
reloaded three to five times faster than the rifles available at the time (3
rds per minute on average compared to 1 shot per minute).

As for the Civil War generals, they had the same problem as the
Revolutionary ones -- they had to fight where the battles were fought and
only one side got to choose.  Both sides preferred to line up behind field
works and fire at the opposing force.  That's why, during Pickett's Charge,
the Union forces behind stone walls on the Cemetery and Seminary Ridges
chanted "Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg."  They may have been horrified, but
it was payback.  This is why most Union officers get the short end of the
stick on comparison with their Southern brethren.  While it's true that most
of the real geniuses went south, the Union did have some competent
commanders working under less than ideal conditions.  Don't get me wrong --
I'm with Winfield Scott.  If there's a great battle to be fought to save the
nation, give command to R. E. Lee.  At the same time, if there's a campaign
to be waged, I think I might lean towards Grant or Sherman over him (If
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson isn't available.).

The biggest problem both faced was communications.  You need to keep the men
relatively close because you need to move them efficiently.  Unless you have
genius to spare (like the Confederacy did early on), you need to be able to
contact sub-commanders quickly.

I hope this ramble helps.  Take care.

Matt