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From: ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Low tech warfare
Message-ID: <12933@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 9 Jan 90 02:20:27 GMT
References: <12539@cbnews.ATT.COM> <12572@cbnews.ATT.COM> <12767@cbnews.ATT.COM>
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From: ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt)

	[mod.note: followups to soc.history - Bill ]

In article <12767@cbnews.ATT.COM>, chidsey@smoke.brl.mil (Irving Chidsey) writes:
> 
> 
> From: Irving Chidsey <chidsey@smoke.brl.mil>
> 
> In article <12572@cbnews.ATT.COM> jhamilto@ics.UCI.EDU (John Scott Hamilton) writes:
> <
> <
> <From: John Scott Hamilton <jhamilto@ics.UCI.EDU>
> <In article <12539@cbnews.ATT.COM> bxr307@csc.anu.oz writes:

> <What I find incredibly ironic about this tactics issue, is that
> <Americans fought their Revolutionary War based on guerilla tactics.
> <Even though outnumbered and outequipped by a highly regimented British
> <Army, the wanabee Americans managed to win.  

 
> 	Not really so!  The militia tended to break and run under fire!  The
> farmers were used to shooting birds with shotguns! etc.
> 
> 	The imported Gen Steuben from Germany, learned to fight like Europeans,
> and beat the Brittish at their own game!  They were greatly helped by short
> supply lines and Brittish officers who had inherited their positions.  The
> Brits finally decided it wasn't worth the trouble and packed up and went home.


  Not until von Steuben taught/drilled the Americans in European-like drills,
  tactics, and discipline - did the they begin achieving measurable success
  against the British on the battlefield.  

  British officers didn't inherit their positions as much as purchase their
  commissions.  And, as much as this method seems repugnant today, from
  Marlborough to Haig (WWI) this method saw a British Army unequalled in
  the world for discipline under fire, sense of duty, and regimental esprit'.

  The American Revolution was a 'side-show' as far as the British were
  concerned - what with major land and sea battles in Europe and the
  Carribean going on.  They (British) were unable to send large troop
  contingents to the American Colonies.  

> 	At the start of the war, the population was divided just about
> equally, 1/3 for rebellion, 1/3 loyalist, 1/3 indifferent.  The Brits quartered
> their troops in private homes ( by force ), etc., and converted the indifferent
> 1/3 the wrong way.
 
  
  The British formed the Royal American Regiment consisting of 3 active
  battalions from the American loyalists, which fought against the American
  Continental Army. 
 (normally a British Regiment had one 'deployed' battalion and
  one 'home' [recruiting depot] battalion).


 mike schmitt