The Battle of Malvern Hill Throughout the centuries Field Artillery is one of the most critical assets any branch of service has too utilize in any type of confrontation. Established 17 November 1775, the field artillery has been a vital part of United States armed forces strategy against all enemies In this paper we will prove how the Battle of Malvern Hill was a turning point for the howitzer, and how it began to revolutionize the branch of Artillery for centuries to come. Early on July 1st, 1862 the Battle of Malvern Hill also known as the Battle of Poindexter's Farm, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by Gen. Robert E. Lee, and the Union Army of the Potomac under Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan took place. In fact, this was the final engagement of the Seven Days' Battles, resulting in a Confederate defeat. The defeat might have been the result for the …show more content…
With the combination of gunpowder and a bamboo tube, the first form artillery was created. Being able to launch rock, metal, and arrows, people soon took a keen interest in the new tactic of war. Artillery began to expand rapidly throughout Asia and the 13th century Europe. Cast iron tubes with smooth bores were developed with the capabilities of firing iron balls and scrap metal. In that age of artillery, cannons were immobile and fixed into defensive positions such as command posts or battleships. 19th-century artillery was the most active form of war tactic on the battlefield worldwide including the battle of Malvern Hill. Mortars were the backbone of the civil war, key to why the battles lasted so long. The weapon systems were not as accurate but could surely suppress the enemy with shortly fused bombs that would explode 10 meters above ground. Cannon battles were fought at the maximum range of 900 meters at the rate of 1 round every 3 minutes at a direct fire
Beginning of the Second Battle of Ypres: The Second Battle of Ypres was the first major battle for Canada that took place from April 22 to May 25, 1915. The battle was fought outside the Belgian city of Ypres. The first week of April, the troops from Canada were moved to the City of Ypres to fight in the battle. The Germans held a higher ground and were able to fire into the British and the Canadians trenches from the north, the south and the east.
Once, exploded shrapnel from the bomb ripped through enemy soldiers. Howitzers were short barreled gun which fired shells at high trajectories at low velocities. Intended to be a siege weapon it was a more flexible mortar. Artillery could often go 1,000 to 2,000 yards at maximum range but max effectiveness was half of this. Artillery was used in battles in Yorktown and were extremely effective.
General Gage decided to conduct a frontal assault on the colonial positions because he under estimated the colonial position and their capabilities. If General Gage landed 1,100 Soldiers in the rear American position and established a base of fire, he could have utilized the other 1,100 soldiers to flank from Morton’s point. This tactic is commonly used today for most infantry units. Along with establishing a base of fire and a flanking maneuver, a report showed British Field Artillery used 12 pound balls for six pound guns. This failure drastically changed the artillery range and accuracy.
COL Prescott was appointed as the Colonel of the Pepperell Company in Massachusetts (Pavao, 2014). On June 16, 1775, COL Prescott was provided with 1,200 Soldiers and given the mission to defend Charleston. The musket and bayonet were the only Continental Army weapons available and ammunition was scarce. In the cover of darkness, COL Prescott led his Patriots onto Charlestown Peninsula, 110 feet high to the top of Breed’s Hill and began establishing trenches and fortifications. The Battle of Bunker Hill, which was actually fought on Breed’s Hill, began with British naval gunfire and the massing of 2,000 troops on the Charlestown Peninsula (Pavao, 2014).
Before Bunker Hill war hadn’t been officially declared yet but British had won the battle of Concord, but lost the Battle of Lexington and was being held down in Boston so Benedict Arnold took Fort Ticonderoga without of fight. Later the Patriots found out about the redcoats’ plan to take the high ground of Breed’s Hill they decided to reinforce Breed’s Hill by digging trenches and building redoubts like the one below. The Patriots made the move at night and in one night made a defense that made. The Patriots had 1,500 troops while the British had 2,400 troops. The British suffered about 1,500 killed and wounded while the Patriots had about 450 wounded and
Tens of thousands of people were killed during the Battle of Britain. Many of the fatalities were innocent civilians caught in the middle of enemy fire. Most that lived through the terrible battle were left without a place to live. Though Britain won the battle, many people’s lives were lost, countless houses were destroyed, and iconic structures were burned to the ground. Was it worth it?
Events Leading up to the Battle of Henderson Field In the beginning, it is important to note that the Battle of Guadalcanal as well as the Battle of Henderson Field is predicated by the Japanese infamous attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941. The Japanese orchestrated a surprise attack on the United States Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor on that day. This attack destroyed most of the US battleship fleet in an attempt to cripple the United States Navy. The Japanese saw this course of action as a way to extend their defensive perimeter in the Pacific.
On June 13, 1775 Colonial forces got word that the British, commanded by Major General William Howe, were sending soldiers to take the unoccupied hills surrounding the city. American General William Prescott led 1,200 men onto the Peninsula to set up defenses on Bunker Hill, but chose to set up on Breed’s Hill, due to the location being closer to the harbor. During the night, American colonist fortified a strong defensive position on Breed’s Hill, as well as a line that fortified across the Charleston Peninsula. General Howe was astonished when he found out the colonist were defending the Hill and set out to reclaim the
Battle of Stony Point Stony Point is a rocky promontory that juts about a half mile into the Hudson River about seven miles south of West Point. It, and another small fortress across the river at Verplanck’s Point, effectively controlled the King’s Ferry crossing site. Only lightly fortified by the patriots, both sites were attacked and captured by the British in late May of 1779 and heavily fortified. Due to having three sides protected by water and steep cliffs, Stony Point was believed impregnable when properly fortified and manned with an adequate force.
Technology during this period was some light artillery and shoulder fired musket firearms such as the 1861 Springfield rifle. The Confederates didn’t have near the firepower as the Federal Soldiers. The Federal Soldiers of this battle had been trained but weren’t able to complete the training that they really needed due to the bad weather. The Confederate Soldiers were an inexperienced group of basically untrained Soldiers. Logistics for the Federal Army had been hampered by weather and the distance of travel back to Sarcoxie.
The Battle of Pea Ridge The Battle of Pea Ridge resulted from Federal efforts to get control of Missouri, on March 7, 1862 to March 8, 1862. The battle resulted from a Union Army campaign to clear Missouri of Confederate forces during the Civil War. For a few years Missouri had been a slaved state and they wanted the situation to spread to other states as well. In 1854 the question of slavery flared into bloodshed when Missourians tried to force it onto the free Kansas settlers.
The Revolutionary Era (1764-1789) (www.americaslibrary.gov) the era set up the fall for Great Britain. It would bring nations that were once under the tyranny of the king to become military and economic power houses in the future, the United States of America is one of these nations. It is located in North America. What caused the British colonists to come up in arms? The Boston Massacre (March 5, 1775) (www.history.com), occurred when a crowd of colonists heckled a group of British soldiers while they were on duty.
The Civil War is considered to be the bloodiest episodes of warfare in American History. During this war, there were numerous well known battles. One of the most famous battles was called the Second Battle of Bull Run. The Second Battle of Bull Run was fought over August 28-30, 1862. Although this battle lasted only 3 days, there were approximately 22,000 casualties during this span.
This took place on the hills south of Gettysburg where the Union successfully held their ground. On the second day they continued the battle where the Confederates gained very little ground but not enough to change the war involving 100, 000 soldiers and with 20,000 killed or injured. It was the final day where the Confederates took a full assault with 12,000 confederates known as Pickett’s Charge which was a center line attacked against the Union. The Union held their ground using artillery fire and rifles which led to retreat of the confederates while successfully pushing them back south.
The Battle of Saratoga in September and October of 1777 is the turning point of the Revolutionary War because the French joined with allies, British troops surrendered their arms, and the Patriots had crucial victories. It was a victory for the Patriots in the American Revolution and is the most decisive battles in history. The Battle began as a plan by the British to control New York and isolate New England from the Southern colonies and put an end to the Revolution. Which ended as an opportunity for the Patriots.