A few years ago, a coworker and I were introduced to a female visitor to our office - her name was Georgia. My coworker (being a Civil War buff) asked if she had a boyfriend named Sherman.

She said, "No, his name is Robert..."

In my mind, I was begging him not to ask her if his last name is Lee. I could see he wanted to, but he didn't...

I thanked him later.
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DysphoricMania: Maxim's machine gun forever changed the face of warfare. Even into the early 20th century standard tactics called for a massed infantry charge.

One thing that is rather odd in the history of warfare (1700-1900's) is how the American soldiers adapted to the combat tactics of the natives, thus being able to cause damage to the British to such a degree. Yet, they dropped that tactic just about every war the USA was in until after WW1.

Learn a bit, forget a bit maybe?

I've never known an infantry charge against a fortified position to have ever won, unless the attackers were in a huge majority to the numbers of the defenders. Or the defenders were totally inept.

How about Normandy? Yes, the Americans, British, Canadians, and, I believe some French and other allied troops outnumbered the Germans... later on in the day, but at the beginning of the battle, with the boats coming in, it was pretty close to even.

DysphoricMania: Maxim's machine gun forever changed the face of warfare. Even into the early 20th century standard tactics called for a massed infantry charge.

One thing that is rather odd in the history of warfare (1700-1900's) is how the American soldiers adapted to the combat tactics of the natives, thus being able to cause damage to the British to such a degree. Yet, they dropped that tactic just about every war the USA was in until after WW1.

Learn a bit, forget a bit maybe?

I've never known an infantry charge against a fortified position to have ever won, unless the attackers were in a huge majority to the numbers of the defenders. Or the defenders were totally inept.

They even dropped that tactic during the Revolution, as they found out that in large-scale battles, they needed European-style training to be able to hold ground against the Brits, so they imported a gay Prussian expert on drill and bayonet tactics to train the Continentals to the same standards as the British troops. "Vat you need ist der solid lines uff der young, disciplined, hard soldaten- marching mit der bayonets out in front, yah- a solid, hard line uff der young, proud soldaten...zat vill giff der Britichers zumting to look at- Himmel knows it does me..."