Tango01 | 22 Jun 2018 9:31 p.m. PST |
… Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg? Interesting question … although the answer would be blunt … link Amicalement Armand
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Old Glory | 22 Jun 2018 10:04 p.m. PST |
I think it would be very difficult for 15,000 men to sneak up on another army in the dark, which of course is the only reason for night time operations?? Regards Russ Dunaway |
Wolfshanza | 22 Jun 2018 11:10 p.m. PST |
I have to suspect the command and control issues would make it impossible. Not to mention the very sturdy fence that had to be crossed ? |
Frederick | 23 Jun 2018 7:02 a.m. PST |
Not a chance Night ops are problematic with radios and night vision – even then, best done as a small scale activity – not a grand tactical assault |
Extrabio1947 | 23 Jun 2018 7:13 a.m. PST |
Emphatically no. The Battle of Franklin was fought at night and resulted in more Confederate casualties than Pickett's Charge. The Confederate battle line began their two mile advance around 4:00 p.m. and the sun set at 4:38 p.m. There are accounts of file closers carrying torches in order to maintain formation. In fact, the night attack probably resulted in more casualties on both sides due to numerous incidents involving friendly fire. |
Tango01 | 23 Jun 2018 11:09 a.m. PST |
Santa Ana did it… (smile) Amicalement Armand |
ScottWashburn | 23 Jun 2018 5:49 p.m. PST |
Night attacks are incredibly difficult to bring off. Neither side had any real experience in that sort of thing. Hard to see how Pickett's Charge could have turned out any better that way. |
corzin | 24 Jun 2018 5:24 p.m. PST |
in the civil war, what was the largest , successful night attack? |
Grelber | 24 Jun 2018 9:01 p.m. PST |
On July 3, the moon was waning, two days past the full. There would have been a period of darkness after the sun set, then the moon would have risen, with 90% of its face to Earth, so it would have lit up the scene. Perhaps something could have been made of that, with lots of planning. Aside from that, about the best thing to hope for would be that the darkness would discourage the Union batteries that moved forward and fired into the flanks of the attack. Grelber |
COL Scott ret | 24 Jun 2018 9:03 p.m. PST |
No way, though there were occasional night attacks (during the horse and musket period) they were usually small or casualties were not important, the confederate army had to both win big and not take too many losses or the victory would be worth less. |