Forgotten Battle 14

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Monocacy 

Intro

The battle of Monocacy occured on July 9, 1864, in Frederick County, Maryland. It was fought between the Confederate Army led by General Jubal Early and the Union Army commanded by General Lewis Wallace. This battle would go down in history as the "battle that saved Washington".

Part I

By June of 1864, the tide of the Civil War had taken a drastic turn. On the Eastern Front, General Ulysses S Grant had launched his Overland Campaign against General Robert E Lee. They had fought a series of battles before finally stopping at the city of Petersburg in southern Virginia. This began the longest siege in American history. 

For the next nine months, both armies fought a series of battles around the state of Virginia trying gain the upper hand. Although, the Federals were unable to break the stalemate at Petersburg, they were able to launch a devastating attack targeting the Confederate supply lines. Beginning in May, thousands of Federal soldiers moved into the Shenandoah Valley. Led by Generals David Hunter and Philip Sheridan, they began laying waste to the countryside using a scorched-earth policy. 

To counter this, Lee ordered Major-General Jubal Early to drive the Federals out of the Shenandoah and if possible, launch a counter-attack against Washington DC. From May to June, Early's army fought three battles against David Hunter's army. On June 17, Early forced Hunter to retreat at the battle of Lynchburg.  

Part II

With the Shenandoah Valley seemingly safe, Early decided follow up by launching raid on Washington DC. He hoped that this would compel General Grant to divert his attention away from Lee at Petersburg. Within two weeks of his victory at Lynchburg, Early and his army successfully crossed the Potomac River into Maryland and began rapidly sweeping north towards Washington.

Alarmed by Early's advance, Grant ordered all available Union armies to move to defend the city. The only force that could be mustered to confront the advancing Confederates was a ragtag force of inexperienced soldiers under the command of Major General Lewis Wallace. Numbering only 5,800, they gathered at Monocacy Junction in Frederick County, Maryland, on July 8. 

Knowing that his force was severely outnumbered, Wallace was hoping to delay the Confederates long enough for reinforcements to arrive and defend Washington. Early on the morning of July 9, he (and Brigadier General James Ricketts) occupied the bridges and fords on the northern side of the Monocacy River. It wasn't long before Early arrived with more than 14,000. The fighting began just after 9 AM that morning.

Part III

General Early first ordered a cavalry division (led by Brigadier General John McCausland) to ride around and outflank the Union left. Unfortunately, while advancing dismounted through a cornfield, they ran into a line of union infantry led by General Ricketts. After a few minutes of fighting, McClausland and his cavalry were forced to pull back after taking heavy casualties.

In spite of this setback, Early then ordered three of his own infantry brigades (led by Brigadier General John Gordon) to launch an attack on Wallace's left flank. After advancing in echelon formation, the Louisiana brigade began to pour heavy fire into the union lines. However, they too were driven back by return fire. 

For the next four hours, both sides continued to trade fire and inflict heavy casualties on the other. But at 3:30 in the afternoon, Gordon's soldiers began to break through the union left. Eventually, the union left crumbled and broke. After taking the flank, the Confederates turned and began to roll up the union center. With disaster brewing for the federals (and ammunition running low), General Wallace realized that the situation was hopeless. He ordered his troops to begin a withdrawl from Monocacy. By 5 PM, the battle was over.

Epilogue

The casualties for the engagement at Monocacy were heavy for both sides. The Confederates had suffered just over 1,000 men killed, wounded, or missing. By contrast, the Federals suffered 1,200 casualties. Tactically, this battle had ended in a Confederate victory. However, General Early's victory was short-lived. The battle had severely weakened his army and cost them precious time. Early decided to rest his army for a full day to recover. By the time he had resumed is march on Washington, thousands more federal soldiers arrived to block his path. On July 11, the Confederates arrived and attacked Fort Stevens on the outskirts of Washington. They were repulsed and forced to retreat. General Early then took his army back into the Shenandoah Valley. There he suffered three more defeats by General Philip Sheridan. With their last defeat at Cedar Creek, Early and what remained of his army pulled out of the Valley.

Although he had lost the battle of Monocacy, General Wallace had accomplished his goal of delaying Early's advance long enough for reinforcements to arrive to defend Washington. Unfortunately, in the initial aftermath of the battle, he was chastised by his superiors for losing to Early. Wallace was removed from command and replaced with Major General Edward Ord. After the war, he served as Governor of New Mexico Territory. In 1880, he published the bestseller, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. 

Years after the war, Wallace's stand at Monocacy began to receive major praise from the public. General John Gordon (who had broken the union line) later remarked that Wallace had, "snatched Washington out of our hands". Historians would later nickname the battle, "the battle that saved Washington". In late July, Wallace had the bodies of the fallen buried on the battlefield. He remarked, "These men died to save the National Capital, and they did save it".

https://www.nps.gov/mono/index.htm

https://armyhistory.org/the-battle-of-monocacy-9-july-1864/

https://thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/2018/7/9/the-battle-of-monocacy-reflections-on-battle-contingency-and-strategy

http://www.mountolivethistory.com/stories-in-stone-blog/eyewitnesses-to-the-battle-of-monocacy

Forgotten Battle 13

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Lake George

Intro

The battle of Lake George took place on September 8, 1755, in the north province of what is now New York. It was fought between armies from France and Great Britain. Also involved, were hundreds of Native Americans and colonial militiamen. This battle would be one of the first major victories for the British Army during the French and Indian War.

Part I

The Seven Years' War (or the French and Indian War) began on May 28, 1754, when a detachment of British soldiers and Native warriors ambushed a small group of French soldiers near what is now Farmington, Pennsylvania. Led by George Washington, they quickly defeated the Frenchmen and prepared to question their captives. But before Washington could even begin the interrogation, the war-chief of his Native allies (the Half King) approached the captives and proceeded to tomahawk their leader (Joseph Coulon de Jumonville). His warriors then immediately killed and scalped the remaining captives.

Fearing retribution, Washington pulled his soldiers back from the massacre and began constructing a fort. He called it, Fort Necessity. Unfortunately, the Half King and his warriors abandoned Washington as they were not accustomed to fighting within a fortification. Without his Native allies, Washington and his small army were no match the 600 French soldiers and Indian warriors that attacked Fort Necessity. The British found themselves both outnumbered and outgunned. The final straw came when it began to rain. The rain wet their gunpowder and left them no longer able to fire. With no options left, Washington surrendered. 

In exchange for permission to leave the area with his surviving soldiers, Louis Coulon (Jumonville's older brother) had Washington sign a document written in French. After signing, Washington and his soldiers were permitted to leave. What he didn't know was that the document contained a confession to a deliberate assassination of Joseph Jumonville on the orders of King George II. This document made its way all the way back to France and was presented King Louis XV himself. Angered by this "assassination" of a French diplomat, King Louis declared war on the British Empire. 

Part II

To win the French and Indian War, the British knew that they needed to drive the French out of the Ohio country. To do this, they needed to capture the French fortification, Fort Duquesne. A force of 1,400 British regulars and Colonial provincials was formed under the command of General Edward Braddock. Braddock's army marched into the wilderness and began four week long trek to Fort Duquesne. Unfortunately, on June 9, they were ambushed by a large French and Indian army while crossing the Monongahela River. When it was over, Braddock and half of his army were either dead or wounded.

Two months after this debacle, a new British general from Ireland arrived to lead another expedition. His name was, Sir William Johnson. Unlike Braddock, Johnson knew that the key to victory against the French lied with securing the support of the Native people living in the Ohio country. He had already struck up an alliance and a close friendship with a Mohawk chief called, Chief Hendrick. With Chief Hendrick's help, Johnson hoped to recruit hundreds of Indian warriors from the Iroquois Six Nations to join his expedition. 

A few days before General Johnson began his trek into the wilderness, more than 1,100 warriors and representatives from the Iroquois Six Nations arrived to meet with him and Chief Hendrick. For a full night, Johnson exchanged goods with them and took part in their ceremonies. While they appreciated the gifts and his respect for their culture, most of the warriors refused to break their neutrality. In the end, less than 300 Mohawk warriors (mostly belonging to Hendrick) volunteered to accompany Johnson.

Part III

On September 7, General Johnson and Chief Hendrick set off for Fort Duquesne with just over 1,900 British regulars, colonial provincials (militiamen), and Mohawk warriors. After a full day of marching without incident, they finally arrived at the south end of Lake George and set up camp. Early the next morning, the  Johnson and Chief Hendrik resumed their march on Fort Duquesne. They had no idea that they were walking into a trap.

Late on the night of September 7, a force of 1,500 French soldiers, Canadian militia, and Indian warriors arrived at the north end of Lake George. Under the command of Major General Baron Dieskau, then moved to a ravine that blocked the portage road that Johnson's army was using. With the warriors and militiamen positioned on both sides of the road, the French grenadiers aligned themselves directly in-front of the oncoming British and Indian force. The fighting began at 9:00 the morning of September 8. This part of the battle would later be referred to as the, "Bloody Morning Scout".

Chief Hendrick and many of his warriors and colonial militiamen were ambushed by Canadian Mohawk and Abenaki warriors while scouting ahead of the main British force. Before long, Hendrick and most of his men were dead. Those who survived quickly retreated four miles back to Johnson's camp. After informing Johnson of the ambush, he quickly organized an improvised defensive barricade around his camp. Using wagons, overturned boats, and felled tree branches, they prepared to meet the oncoming attack. 

Against the advice of his Indian allies, Baron Dieskau had decided to follow up on his successful ambush by attacking the British camp. An hour and a half after the Bloody Morning Scout ambush, Dieskau arrived at Johnson's position and ordered a direct attack. As the French grenadiers approached the camp in column formation, Johnson had his soldiers hold fire until the last possible moment, then they unleashed a deadly volley. Johnson's three cannons were loaded with grapeshot and proceeded to decimate the French and Canadian ranks. When Baron Dieskau fell severely wounded, the French and Canadians retreated in disorder. 

Epilogue

Later in the day, the British and colonials successfully ambushed and annihilated a French baggage train resting by small pond (later called, Bloody Pond). After this, the outcome of the battle had been cemented. The casualties were heavy for both armies. The British are believed to have suffered over 300 total casualties (among the wounded was General Johnson). The French and Indian casualties are believed to be around 350 casualties. Among those to be captured was Baron Dieskau, he would remain a POW for the next eight years. 

After their defeat, the French retreated back across the lake, appointed a new commander (the Marquis Louis-Joseph de Montcalm) constructed a new fortification called, Fort Carillon. Although he had not reached his target (Fort Duquesne) Johnson's expedition had been able to gain a successful foothold in the Ohio country. He consolidated his victory by building a British fort at the south end of Lake George which he called, Fort William Henry. Although fierce fighting would continue until 1763, the British victory at Lake George was considered their first major success in the French and Indian War. One that help to secure a hard-fought victory in the future.

http://nyindependencetrail.org/stories-Battle-of-Lake-George.html

https://www.lakegeorge.com/history/battle-of-lakegeorge/

https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/battle-of-lake-george-1755/

https://www.nps.gov/people/tanaghrisson-the-half-king.htm

https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/fort-necessity/

Forgotten Battle 12

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Longewala 

Intro

The battle of Longewala occurred on December 4 to December 7, 1971. It was fought between the Indian 12th Infantry Division and the Pakistani 18th Infantry Division as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Also involved, was the 122nd Squadron of the Indian Air Force. It was a climactic battle that would come to signify the evolving value of air power in warfare.

Part I

In the 20th Century, there were multiple conflicts between the nations of India and Pakistan. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was the third (and most devastating) of these clashes. Beginning on December 2, the war itself would only last thirteen days. However, it would take thousands of lives from both countries.

Most of the fighting of this conflict would take place on two fronts. The Eastern front took place along the Indian border with what is now, Bangladesh. At the time, it was called, East Pakistan. The Western Front took place directly on India's border with Pakistan. On the Eastern Front, the Indian and Bangladeshi armies emerged victorious and forced the surrender of the Pakistani Army. But on the Western Front, the Indian Army suffered two defeats and the Pakistanis seized the cities of Chumb and Hussainiwala.

Part II

In spite of their early defeats on the Western Front, the Indian Army quickly rallied and faced the Pakistani Army at the village of Turtuk. This savage battle lasted six days and took the lives of thousands on both sides. 

While most of the Indian Army's attention was on Turtuk, the Pakistani 18th Infantry Division launched an attack targeting the Indian border town of, Longewala. Standing in their way was a small outpost on the outskirts of the town. It was defended by A Company, 23rd Battalion, Punjab Regiment (numbering 120 soldiers). In command of this single company was, Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri. Their position was located on a high sand dune that was almost intractable to vehicles. They were armed with two machine-guns, two L16 81mm mortars, and one Jonga-mounted (type of jeep) M40 recoilless rifle (RCL). In addition, they had surrounded their position with barbed wire.

In spite of their strong defensive position, A Company was severely outnumbered by the encroaching 18th Infantry Division. It included at least 45 tanks, 1 field regiment, two artillery batteries, and 2 mobile infantry brigades. In total, there were between 2,000 to 3,000 Pakistani soldiers converging on the Indian position at Longewala. Their objective was to capture and establish a military base in the town. From there, they were to launch further operations aimed toward capturing the Indian city of, Jaisalmer. The fighting would begin very late on the night of December 4.

Part III

At 11 PM, one of the Indian platoons detected movement near the border. Aerial reconnaissance by the Indian Air Force confirmed that it was 12 mile long column of Pakistani tanks that were advancing on the Longewala outpost. Knowing that he was severely outnumbered, Major Chandpuri sent an urgent request for artillery and tanks to support his battalion. After receiving a reply that no tanks nor reinforcements were available, he decided to hold his position at all costs.

The Pakistanis began their attack on the outpost at 12:30 in the morning of December 5. After a quick artillery barrage, 45 Pakistani tanks began advancing on the Indian outpost. The Indians held their fire until the tanks were less than 30 meters away. Then they opened fire with their M40 recoilless rifle on the Jonga. Their shots hit and disabled the first two tanks, stopping the column in its tracks. Unable to locate the Indian position, the Pakistanis became bogged down in soft sand. This allowed the Indians to destroy at least 10 of them within the first few minutes of the battle. To make matters worse for the Pakistanis, a fuel truck exploded, illuminating the battlefield for the defenders entrenched on the high ground. In addition, it created an acrid smokescreen at the ground level that blinded the Pakistani infantry. This made them easy targets for the Indian defenders.

At the crack of dawn, the Indian Air Force (IAF) assembled its 122 Squadron. Comprised of three HAL HF-24 Maruts and 4 Hawker Hunters, they launched at 6:30 in the morning to aid the outpost at Longewala. By now, the Pakistani tanks and infantry had pulled back and were attempting to flank the Indians. Although, the Indians were continuing to inflict heavy casualties on the advancing Pakistanis, their ammunition was beginning to dwindle. To make matters worse, their Jonga mounted recoilless rifle was hit by a tank shell and put out of action. When 122 Squadron arrived, they immediately began to pound the Pakistanis with T-16 rockets and 30 mm ADEN cannons. With no air support of their own, the Pakistani tanks and infantry were sitting ducks as the IAF bombed and strafed them for the rest of the day. By December 6, they had had enough and retreated from the area.

Epilogue

The Pakistanis had suffered a devastating defeat at the battle of Longewala. They are believed to have lost 36 of the 45 tanks, more than 100 other vehicles, and more than 200 infantrymen KIA. By contrast, the Indian defenders had suffered only 3 killed and 3 wounded. 122 Squadron had taken no casualties. It was one of the most lopsided tank battles since World War II.

For his valor in commanding the outpost, Major Chandpuri was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (India's second highest military award for valor). The Indian victory at Longewala (coupled with their victory at the battle of Turtuk) would have a decisive impact on the course of the war. After suffering severe casualties on both fronts, the Pakistanis signed a unilateral ceasefire with the Indians on the Western Front. On the Eastern Front, the Pakistani Army surrendered to the Indian-Bangladeshi Armies on December 16. This ended the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 (and secured the independence of Bangladesh). 

Today, the Indian victory at the battle of Longewala is remembered as a brave stand against overwhelming odds. It has also been seen as a recognition of the power of the air force in modern combat. Many military historians believe that this battle is proof that whoever controls the skies, will be the true victor of battles in the future.

https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/assets/uploads/home_banner/UpdatedFinalBattleofLongewala_com-2024-04-04.pdf

https://theprint.in/opinion/the-1971-battle-of-longewala-a-night-of-confusion-sam-manekshaws-order-pakistans-folly/329321/

https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/south-asia

https://www.defstrat.com/magazine_articles/battles-that-made-history-15/

Forgotten Battle 11

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Mill Springs

Intro

The Battle of Mill Springs occurred on January 19, 1862. It was fought near the town of Nancy, Kentucky, as part of the American Civil War. This battle would be the conclusion of a Confederate Offensive into Kentucky and the first significant victory of the war for the Union. 

Part I

In 1861, the American Civil War began very well for the Confederacy. But by September, the situation had begun to deteriorate. The last state to secede from the Union was Tennessee. Unfortunately, not all of the state's population was pro-secession. The population of Eastern Tennessee was still loyal to the Union. For the Confederacy this was big problem. Located on the border of Tennessee and Virginia was the Cumberland Gap. This was a crucial mountain pass between the Appalachian Mountains that linked the two Confederates states. Without it, the Confederates would have no supply line to the state that contained their capital (Richmond).

In command of all Confederate Armies was, General Albert Sidney Johnston. While the situation in Eastern Tennessee presented a problem, he initially had a crucial advantage. In 1861, the border state of Kentucky had declared itself neutral. This gave the Confederates in Tennessee a much needed buffer zone that could prevent Union invasions from the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Unfortunately, one of Johnston's own generals violated Kentucky's neutrality. On September 3, a Confederate Army under the command of Brigadier General Gideon Pillow, acting on orders by Major General Leonidas Polk, crossed the border and seized the Kentuckian city of, Columbus.

In retaliation, a Union army under the command of Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant crossed Kentucky's northern border and seized the city of, Paducah. Soon, tens of thousands of Federal soldiers began pouring into Kentucky and the state fell under Union control. With the loss of the buffer zone, Johnston's position became even more dire. He knew that it was only a matter of time before the Federals invaded Tennessee.

Part II

By late November 1861, General Johnston was in charge of all Confederate armies located between Arkansas all the way to the edge of Tennessee. With his army spread dangerously thin, Johnston concentrated most of them at the two crucial fortifications of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. On his right flank, he placed 4,000 soldiers under the command of Major General George Crittenden. In command of Crittenden's 1st Brigade was, Brigadier General Felix Zollicoffer. His brigade was tasked with guarding the Cumberland Gap. Believing the gap was adequately fortified, Zollicoffer decided to launch an invasion of Kentucky. He took his brigade and headed to the border and prepared to cross the Cumberland River.

When Johnston learned of Zollicoffer's plan, he immediately ordered the latter to turn back and return to the Cumberland Gap. When Zollicoffer refused, Johnston ordered George Crittenden to take control and bring Zollicoffer's soldiers back himself. But by the time Crittenden arrived, Zollicoffer and his army were already across the river and inside Kentucky. Believing that withdrawing them was too dangerous, Crittenden decided join Zollicoffer and push further into Kentucky. By January of 1862, more than 5,000 Confederate soldiers were slowly marching up the Mill Springs Road toward the Kentuckian city of Lebanon.

By now however, the Federals in Kentucky were well aware of what was happening. Garrisoned at Lebanon, were 4,000 Union soldiers under the command of Major General George Henry Thomas. On December 28, Thomas received orders to drive the Rebels back across the river by any means necessary. After departing from Lebanon on December 31, Thomas realized that his only chance of victory was to stop the Confederates at a fork in the Mill Springs Road called, Logan's Crossroads. Despite being delayed by heavy rain (soldiers reported the mud on the roads to be eight inches deep), Thomas and his men reached Logan's Crossroads on January 17. There they set up camp and awaited the oncoming Confederates. The two armies would finally meet early on the morning of January 19.

Part III

Around midnight, the Confederates left their camp and began marching toward Logan's Crossroads. At 6:10 in the morning, they encountered Federal pickets (scouts). From there, the battle began. At first, the Confederate attack pushed back the Union center that was under the command of Colonel Mahlon Manson. But then an hour into the battle, a thick fog rolled in that obstructed the view of the battlefield.  In the confusion, General Zollicoffer accidentally rode into the Union line. He was shot from his horse and killed. With their commander dead and the fog impeding their vision, the Confederate attack stalled. From there, the tide of the battle turned.

Around the same time Zollicoffer was killed, General Thomas himself arrived on the battlefield. Intending to use a pincer movement (aka: a double envelopment), he ordered the 9th Ohio (made primarily of German immigrants) and the 2nd Minnesota infantry regiments to move the Union right. The 9th Ohio was ordered to advance while the 2nd Minnesota fired two volleys into the Confederate left flank. After the second volley, the 9th Ohio fixed bayonets and charged. This attack broke through Confederate left and scattered it. 

After this, the Union left also surged forward and outflanked the Confederate right. From here, the whole Confederate line caved in the battle quickly turned into a rout. The rebels dropped their rifles and fled in complete disorder with the yankees in hot pursuit. The yankees pursued the rebels nine miles back to their camp at Beech Grove before finally being stopped by a rearguard. At that point, Thomas ordered them back and prepared to attack again the following morning. The entire battle had lasted just under three hours. 

Epilogue

During the night of January 19, the Confederates bade a hasty retreat back across the Cumberland River. When the yankees attacked the next morning, they found the rebel camp completely deserted. The casualties for the Battle of Mills Springs were light, yet far lopsided. The Federals had suffered 39 killed and 207 wounded. By contrast, the Confederates had lost 125 killed (including General Zollicoffer) and 404 wounded (nearly all of whom had been captured). In their disorganized retreat, the Confederate army had also abandoned all of their artillery (12 guns), 150 wagons (full of food, rifles, and ammunition), and more than 1,000 horses and mules. 

For the Federals, the Battle of Mill Springs was a major victory. It enabled them to not only secure Kentucky, but also to invade Tennessee just two weeks later. After capturing both Forts Henry and Donelson, they were full control of that state as well. Although fierce fighting would take place in both states over the next three years, they would both remain in Union hands for the remainder of the war. Today, the battle is remembered by historians as the first great success for Union. One that would greatly affect the outcome of the American Civil War.

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/mill-springs

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ky-millspringsbattle/

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/george-henry-thomas-at-the-battle-of-mill-springs.htm

https://ironbrigader.com/2012/01/04/battle-mill-springs-kentucky-edwin-m-stanton-named-secretary-war-january-1862/

Forgotten Battle 10

Welcome back viewers...

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of the Chinese Farm

Intro

The battle of the Chinese Farm occurred on October 15 to October 17, during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. It was fought between the Israelis and the Egyptians. It was one of the largest tank on tank battles to ever be fought in the Middle East. One that would have far reaching consequences for the two nations involved.

Part I

On October 6, 1973, armies from the countries of Egypt and Syria launched a joint invasion of Israel. The Egyptian Army crossed the Red Sea and invaded the Sinai Peninsula while the Syrians attacked the Golan Heights. Because this short conflict began on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, it would be forever remembered as the Yom Kippur War.

The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) was caught completely off guard. In the Golan Heights, they were able to hold off the Syrians and push them back across the border just days after the latter invaded. But in the Sinai Peninsula, the Egyptian Army overran the Bar-Lev Line (a chain of fortifications built by the IDF on the eastern bank of the Suez Canal) after just two hours of fighting. The two-day battle cost the IDF more than 900 KIA, 2,000 wounded, an unknown number captured, and more than 400 tanks destroyed. From there, the Egyptians began advancing further into the Sinai Peninsula, threatening mainland Israel.

With the fate her country in jeopardy, the Israeli Prime Minister (Golda Meir) sent an urgent plea for help. In response, President Richard Nixon launched Operation Nickel Grass. Beginning on October 13, multiple MAC (Military Airlift Command) C-141 and C-5 cargo transport planes took off from the US bound for Israel. For the next 32 days, they delivered more than 22,300 tons of supplies to the Israeli Defence Forces. These supplies included M-60 and M-48 battle tanks, 155 mm howitzers, 175mm cannons, Sikorsky CH-53D helicopters, and fuselages for A-4 Skyhawk aircraft. This resupply operation enabled the IDF to recover from their losses in the Sinai and launch a counter-attack.

Part II

Early on the morning of October 14, the Egyptians launched an armored attack on IDF positions in the Sinai. This attack was repulsed with the Egyptians losing more than 200 tanks. Although the Israelis had also taken casualties, they were quick to follow up on their victory. They prepared launch a counter-attack the very next day. Codenamed, Operation Abirey-Halev, this attack was led by, General (and future Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon.

General Sharon's plan was to drive west towards a crossing point on the Suez Canal. With support from Israeli paratroopers and with an armored division in reserve, they would use pontoons and rafts to establish a bridgehead on the canal's western bank. If they succeeded, the IDF would be able to advance north and south to threaten Cairo (the Egyptian capital) and the Egyptian Third Army around the city of Port Suez. They would also be able to destroy Egyptian SAM (surface-to-air missile) sites. This would allow the Israeli Air Force to fly close-support missions for the infantry.

The IDF's first target was the Egyptian defensive line just north of the Great Bitter Lake. Located at the lake was an Egyptian agricultural research station. Due to the lettering on the instruments, the IDF soldiers nicknamed it the, "Chinese Farm". Although the writing was actually Japanese the name stuck, and the battle that followed would be forever remembered as, the Battle of the Chinese Farm. Leading the attack, would be the Israeli 143rd Armored Division.

Part III

Early in the morning of October 15, more than 2,000 IDF paratroopers were dropped behind Egyptian lines. They quickly ran into heavy resistance as they advanced towards the Suez Canal. But by the end of the day, they had secured one of the bridgeheads and awaited the arrival of IDF tanks. The next day, General Sharon launched Operation Abirey-Halev (Knights of the Heart), and thousands of Israeli M-60s, FV-4s, and M-48s surged forward to face Egyptian T-55s and T-62s. And the largest tank battle since World War II began.

On the northern flank, IDF tanks ran into stiff resistance from the Egyptian 21st Armored Division at the Lexicon Road. Although, they managed to pin the latter down, the Israelis were unable to dislodge them from the road. On the southern flank (the Akavish Road), the IDF's tanks also ran into stiff resistance and were unable to converge on the canal. Then the third IDF tank brigade turned north to flank the Egyptians at the Lexicon/Tirtur Crossroads. Unfortunately, they too became bogged down in a stalemate. With casualties mounting for the Israelis, some of their commanders suggested calling off the operation. But upon hearing of the successful crossing of their paratroopers, General Sharon ordered the assaults to continue.

Fierce fighting continued on the Akavish Road all through the night of October 16. But by the next day, at least 30 IDF tanks had broken through the Egyptian lines and crossed the Suez Canal. They then began to destroy the Egyptian SAM missile sites. This allowed the Israeli Air Force to conduct airstrikes on the Egyptian tanks. With more Israeli tanks breaking through their defenses, the Egyptians launched a desperate counter-attack from the south. It was annihilated. By the morning of October 18, thousands of Israelis had successfully crossed the Suez Canal and the battle was over.

Epilogue

The three-day battle for the Chinese Farm had been costly for both sides. The exact number of human casualties is not known. But it is believed that both sides lost over 100 tanks. In spite of their heavy losses, the IDF had achieved a major victory against the Egyptians. With their tanks across the canal, they then advanced on Port Suez and encircled the Egyptian Third Army. This in turn left Cairo open to air-attack. On October 24, the superpowers imposed a ceasefire on Israel and Egypt. The war ended the following day (although a peace treaty would not be signed until 1978). The battle of the Chinese Farm was the largest tank battle fought in the Yom Kippur War. Today, the battle has been analyzed by many historians and military leaders. It is often used to train soldiers in the art of tank warfare. 

https://the-past.com/feature/the-battle-of-chinese-farm/

https://www.usmcu.edu/Outreach/Marine-Corps-University-Press/Expeditions-with-MCUP-digital-journal/Crossing-under-Fire/

battle-of-the-chinese-farm-oct-15-17-1973

https://amcmuseum.org/history/operation-nickel-grass/

Forgotten Battle 9

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Adwa 

Intro

The battle of Adwa took place on March 1, 1896. It was fought in the Tigray Province of Ethiopia, between the armies of Italy and Ethiopia. This battle was the bloody climax of the Italian Invasion of the Eastern African country. And it would have results that nobody could have ever comprehended.

Part I

Throughout the 19th century, seven European countries launched multiple invasions on the continent of Africa. These seven included the nations of Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, and Italy. Most of them were successful in conquering the native African tribes that lived in the areas. The only two exceptions were the countries of Ethiopia and Liberia. 

The man who was ruling Ethiopia, was the Emperor Menelik II. Originally the King of the Ethiopian region of Shewa, Sahle Maryam had been crowned emperor on November 3, 1889. A few months prior to Maryam's coronation, the Italians had begun moving their soldiers along the coast of the Red Sea. Sensing that conflict was imminent, the emperor proposed a peace treaty with Italy. On May 2, 1889, King Menelik II of Shewa and Count Pietro Antonelli (representing Italy) signed the Treaty of Wuchale. This treaty was meant to be a peace-agreement that promoted trade and friendship between the two countries. Unfortunately, the treaty had been written in two different languages (Italian and Amharic). This caused a series of miscommunications and violations between Italy and Ethiopia. In 1893, Menelik II publicly denounced the treaty and war was inevitable.

Hoping to expand their influence on the African Continent, the Italian Army launched joint invasions of the Kingdoms of Eritrea and Ethiopia in the year 1895. Their goal was to secure territory along the Horn of Africa in order to gain control of the Red Sea and the critical port of, Massawa. By October, they were in complete control of Eritrea. After this, they set their sights on taking control of Ethiopia. With their superior weapons and resources the Italians were expecting an easy victory. They could not have been more mistaken.

Part II

Leading an army of more than 30,000 soldiers was General (and Governor of Eritrea) Oreste Baratieri. General Baratieri had been serving in the Italian Army for more than three decades. During the Italian Invasion of Eastern Sudan (the Mahdist War), he had successfully annihilated a Sudanese Army at the Battle of Kassala. Because of his performance in Sudan, Baratieri strongly believed that he could duplicate his successes in the country of Ethiopia.

In their invasion of Eritrea, General Baratieri successfully annihilated multiple armies from both Eritrea and Ethiopia. By October of 1895, the Italians were in full control Eritrea and pushed into the Tigray province of Ethiopia. Unknown to Baratieri, Menelik II had been preparing for an invasion. He had successfully obtained modern firearms and secured alliances with other European countries (including France and Great Britain) that were sympathetic to Ethiopian independence. A few years after striking up a friendship with a Swiss-born engineer (Alfred Ilg), Menelik II had begun a process of modernization for Ethiopia. When the Italians finally invaded, Menelik II had to successfully mobilized a force of more than 100,000 soldiers and tribesmen from all over the country.

The two sides first met at the battle of Debra Ailà. This battle ended in an Italian victory, but it was followed by a devastating defeat for the Italians two months later at the battle of Amba Alagi. At this battle, an army of more than 30,000 Ethiopians overran the Italian right flank. The Italians were surrounded and lost 1,539 KIA of their 2,300 soldiers engaged. By contrast, the Ethiopians only lost 276 killed and 349 wounded. This defeat forced the Italians to temporarily withdraw from Ethiopia. After being reinforced they prepared to invade again in February with an army of over 17,000.

Part III

To counter this, Menelik II assembled a massive army of over 70,000 and secretly moved them to the small town of Adwa. Adwa is located in the Tigray Region near Ethiopia's northern border. He then positioned his riflemen and twenty-eight artillery pieces in the hills that overlooked the Adwa Valley. Sensing a large army nearby, General Baratieri initially refused to launch an attack. A month long standoff occurred with both sides waiting to see what the other would do. On February 29, pressure from the Italian government finally forced Baratieri's hand. He divided his army into four brigades, had them cross the Eritrean border, and began his advance on Adwa.

Unfortunately, for the Italians, the three of the four brigades (the fourth was held in reserve at camp) the had crossed the border had all taken different routes. Due to inaccurate maps, the brigades all became separated while marching through the Adwa Valley's high hills and mountains. This left them completely disorganized and with fewer soldiers when they finally encountered the massive Ethiopian/Abyssinian army on the morning of March 1. At 6 AM, the battle of Adwa officially began. 

The Italians began firing at the Ethiopians with their artillery. Although they inflicted casualties on the Ethiopians, their guns were quickly silenced by several devastating shots from the 28 Ethiopian artillery guns hidden in the hills. After this, the Abyssinian Infantry began attacking the Italians in human waves. For the next two hours, the Italians successfully held off the Abyssinians with accurate rifle fire. But eventually, the Abyssinians (armed with spears, swords, and rifles) began breaking through the Italian Left Column. The latter was finally overrun after a massive charge by 25,000 Shewan warriors annihilated the defenders. In their disorganized retreat, the Italians from the Left flank quickly collided with those in the Center column. Tangled masses of confused and panicked soldiers made easy targets for the tribesmen who overwhelmed them in minutes.

On the Italian Right flank, General Vittorio Dabormida (whose force had only encountered light resistance) decided to abandon his defensive position and move to reinforce the crumbling left flank. Unaware that both the Left and the Center had been broken, his whole force of 4,800 marched right into a narrow valley and became surrounded by 11,000 frenzied cavalry from the Oromo tribe (from the Wollo Province of Ethiopia). Led by Ras Mikael, the Oromo cavalry engulfed the entire brigade. The few Italians who escaped remembered hearing the Oromos shouting, "Reap! Reap!", as they literally cut down all in their path. General Dabormida was killed along with nearly all of his brigade. What remained of the Italian Army bade a hasty retreat from Adwa. But for the next nine miles, they were constantly harassed by Ethiopian cavalry who picked off stragglers. The fighting finally ended when the surviving Italian soldiers crossed the Belessa River. 

Epilogue

The casualties for the Battle of Adwa had been heavy for both sides. The Ethiopian/Abyssinian Army is believed to have suffered more than 7,000 killed and an even larger number wounded. The Italians had lost between 7,000 to 8,000 killed and more than 9,000 wounded. In addition, more than 3,000 Italians had been taken prisoner. Instead of pursuing them into Eritrea, Menelik II decided to pull back to the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa. In exchange for the 3,000 Italian captives (including a general), he demanded the repealing of the Treaty of Wuchale and a recognition of Ethiopian independence. After several months of intense negotiations, the Italian government finally agreed to the abrogation of the Treaty of Wuchale and recognized Ethiopia as a sovereign nation by signing of the Treaty of Addis Ababa in October 23, 1896. In addition, the Italians agreed to pay the Ethiopians more than 10 million liras for the release 3,000 POWs (who later reported being treated humanely while in captivity).

Despite his heavy casualties, Emperor Menelik II had achieved a decisive victory at the battle of Adwa. News of the Ethiopian triumph quickly spread all throughout the nations of Europe and many quickly agreed to recognize Ethiopia as an independent nation. Menelik II would continue to reign until his death on March 10, 1913. Today in Ethiopia, the battle of Adwa is a national holiday commemorated every March 2. Around the world, it is remembered as a brave stand against European colonialism and for African independence.

battle-adwa-ethiopia-africa-colonization

https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Adwa

https://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/2020/03/emperor-menelik-ii-of-ethiopia-and-the-battle-of-adwa-a-pictorial-history/

https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/remembering-battle-adwa

https://medium.com/@genayeeshetu/the-engineer-and-the-king-the-legacy-of-alfred-ilg-the-star-of-ethiopia-394b25246673

Forgotten Battle 8

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Siege of Fort Erie

Intro

The Siege of Fort Erie was fought from August 4 to September 21, 1814, during the War of 1812. It was fought in present-day Ontario between the American and British/Canadian armies. For just over a month, several battles were fought over possession of the strategic fortification called, Fort Erie. This siege was the longest and bloodiest fight during the War of 1812.

Part I

By August of 1814, the War of 1812 was in its second year. Vicious fighting was being waged on multiple fronts between the United States and Great Britain. The majority of the fighting took place along the border between the United States and what is now, Canada. One of the most hotly contested fronts was the Niagara Frontier.

On July 3, American soldiers under the command of Major General Jacob Brown marched into the Canadian province of Ontario and captured Fort Erie (named for the great lake that it borders). From there, he hoped to advance further into Canada. On July 5, the Americans successfully attacked and scattered a British army at the Battle of Chippawa. However, twenty days later at the Battle of Lundy's Lane (aka: the Battle of Niagara) their advance was stopped by another British army of more than 3,500 soldiers led by General Gordon Drummond. 

Although this battle had ended in a tactical stalemate, the American casualties were higher than those suffered by the British. This caused Brown's army to fall back to Fort Erie and strengthen its defenses. General Drummond (who believed the Americans were retreating back to New York) decided to wait a few days before pursuing (as is own army had suffered heavy losses). 

Part II

Drummond's delay gave the Americans at Fort Erie time to expand the fort to accommodate more soldiers.  In command of the garrison, was General Edmund Gaines. He ordered his soldiers to clear fields and construct redoubts that contained up to eight cannons. In addition, he also ordered the garrison to construct a dry ditch around the fort's walls and lined it with wooden spikes. He also utilized the ditch as a garbage dump (which effectively poisoned the spikes). When General Drummond arrived with his army, he found himself facing a very formidable outpost.

Drummond believed that the best course of action was to attack the American outposts that were sending supplies to the garrison at Fort Erie. He dispatched two raiding parties to attack the Americans stationed at Buffalo and Black Rock. However, these raids were both repulsed and the British were forced to lay siege to Fort Erie. Things got even more dire when American gunboats began arriving to provide extra artillery support for the garrison. After launching more raids and successfully capturing the gunboats, the British starting constructing siege batteries on August 13. 

Part III

The British began a two-day bombardment of Fort Erie that began on August 13 and continued into the night of the 14th.  General Drummond planned to launch a three-pronged attack on the fort on August 15. Their right (and largest) column was to attack Snake Hill at the fort's left flank. The center column was to assault Fort Erie itself. Leading this column was General Drummond's nephew, Lieutenant-Colonel William Drummond. Finally, the left column was assigned to storm Douglass' Battery on the fort's right flank. What the British didn't know was that the bombardment did very little damage to the fort and the Americans were ready for their attack.Three days earlier, they had moved three groups of soldiers to the fort's weakest points who quickly dug in.

Late on the night of August 14, the British and Canadians began advancing under the cover of darkness. Their attack began at 2 AM on the morning of the 15th. Snake Hill (a sand mound) was just over 700 meters from Fort Erie and had been fortified with a series of earthworks up to 20 feet high. When the British regulars attacked, the Americans (under the command of Brigadier General Eleazer Ripley) caught them in a lethal crossfire. To make matters worse, the British had been ordered to remove the flints from their muskets and capture Snake Hill with bayonets only. As a direct result, all assaults on Snake Hill were easily beaten back.

At 3 AM, the other two columns launched their attacks on Fort Erie and Douglass' Battery. At the latter, the British made it as far as the abatis (where the poisoned spikes were) and were shot down in droves. None of them got closer than 50 yards to the battery. They pulled back after their commander (Col. Hercules Scott) was killed. However, Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond's attack managed to reach Fort Erie. 

Although the Americans in Fort Erie repulsed two charges, the British finally scaled the fort's wall on their third attempt. Drummond and a handful of British soldiers initially managed to capture a single bastion and kill the defenders. Unfortunately, William Drummond was shot and killed and a massive explosion beneath the bastion (the powder magazine had caught fire) killed or wounded almost all of the British who had come over the wall in rapid succession. With that, General Drummond ordered the surviving soldiers to pull back and called off further assaults on Fort Erie. The failed night attack had cost his army more than 900 casualties while the Americans only lost 62.

Epilogue

The siege of Fort Erie lasted for another month. During which, both armies suffered heavy casualties. The siege finally ended on September 21, when General Drummond was ordered to pull his army back to Fort George. At its height, the Americans stationed at the fort numbered more than 6,000 soldiers and sailors. But in October, General Jacob Brown received orders to move most of his garrison (and the ships supporting them) back to Sackets Harbor in New York. This left General George Izard in command of Fort Erie. 

Unfortunately, after this shift in troops, the garrison became severely undermanned. With supplies running low and winter approaching, General Izard decided to abandon Fort Erie. On November 5, the Americans blew up the fort and retreated back across the Niagara River to Buffalo. The entire ordeal had cost them 1,075 casualties (213 KIA, 565 wounded, 240 captured, and 57 missing). The British casualties were 1,551 (285 KIA, 508 wounded, 748 captured, and 12 missing).

After the bloody siege was over, negotiations to end the War of 1812 finally began. On December 24, 1814, the US and Great Britain signed a bilateral peace treaty in the Dutch city of Ghent (now in Belgium). Brought about by John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay of the US and Lord James Gambier and Henry Goulburn of the UK, the treaty was approved by the British parliament and signed by the Prince Regent (future King George IV) on December 30. Although bloody battles continued to be fought for the next two months, President James Madison signed the treaty on February 17, 1815. This finally brought the War of 1812 to an end (although fighting on the ocean would continue until June 30).

After the war, the British decided not to rebuild the ruined fort. Although it was somewhat used as a barracks building for the next eight years, they abandoned it for good in 1823. In 1901, the fort's remains were sold to the Niagara Parks Commission. In 1937, the Commission restored Fort Erie to its original 1812 period. Two years later, it was officially opened to the public on July 1, 1939. Monuments to the fallen on both sides were erected and the fort is now registered as a Canadian historic sight and has attracted thousands of visitors every year. It remains a fitting tribute to those who died during the terrible siege that occurred during the War of 1812.

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/war-1812/battles/siege-fort-erie

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/siege-of-fort-erie-war-of-1812

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/old-fort-erie-the-defiant-stand-during-the-war-of-1812/

https://www.warof1812.ca/forterie.htm

Forgotten Battle 7

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Komarów 

Intro

The battle of Komarów occurred on August 31, 1920. It was fought at the Komarów-Osada village in Eastern Poland between the armies of Poland and the Soviet Union. This battle was part of the climax of one of the most dramatic conflicts fought in the aftermath of World War I. It would also be the last major battle to involve traditional cavalrymen.

Part I

The Polish-Soviet War began in the year 1919. It was a theatre of the Russian Civil War that began after the defeat of the Central Powers in World War I. It began with the Soviet Red Army invading the neighboring country of Belarus. From there, they launched further incursions into Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

After successfully overrunning Ukraine and annihilating multiple Polish armies that had attempted to intervene, the Soviets became convinced that they could conquer Poland itself. At the urging Leon Trotsky, the Soviet dictator (Vladimir Lenin) ordered an invasion of Poland. Leading the invasion was, General Mikhail Tukhachevsky. Their main target was the Polish capital of Warsaw.

Part II

At first the Red Army won multiple battles and pushed deep into Poland. In July, they captured the Polish city, Białystok. General Tukhachevsky's army wiped out the Poles that were intervening in Belarus while General Semyon Budyonny's army converged on Warsaw. The climactic battle for Poland's capital began on August 12.

The battle in Warsaw quickly turned into a vicious street-by-street fight that took the lives of thousands on both sides. On August 13, the Soviet 16th Army broke through the first Polish line of defense at the town of Radzymin. The next day, the Polish 5th Army counter-attacked at the Wkra River. Inside Warsaw, the Red Army pushed through to the city's center. For a few days, it seemed like they were going to win. 

But then the Poles got resupplied by airdrops from the Western Allies. Planes from Great Britain and the United States dropped thousands of weapons and ammunition to the Poles that allowed them to successfully stop the Red Army's advance. And when some of the Red Army top generals began quarreling among themselves, the Poles launched a counter-attack and forced the Soviets out of Warsaw.

Part III

On August 25, the Red Army began to retreat eastwards with the Polish Army (under the command of General Józef Piłsudski) in hot pursuit. General Tukhachevsky ordered General Semyon Budyonny to attack the right flank of Piłsudski's army and enable the Soviet Western Army to escape and regroup in Ukraine. He assigned this task to the Soviet 1st Cavalry Army (which had been unable to engage in the battle of Warsaw). Their target was the Polish historical city of, Zamość. 

Facing them, were only a few Polish cavalry regiments under the command of their own officers. Among them were, Major Stanisław Maczek and Captain Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski (both of whom would play major roles in World War II). Their numbers were less than 2,000 horsemen and only a few machine gunners. They gathered near the village of Komarów and awaited the oncoming Bolshevik cavalry. The two forces finally met on August 30.

First, the Polish cavalry rode around the Soviets and attacked their rear. After several hours of fighting, the Poles were forced to fall back when the Soviets threatened to overwhelm them. Early the next morning,  the Polish 2nd Uhlan Cavalry Regiment (with just over 200 men) ambushed and captured a Soviet position at Hill 255 (outside of Komarów). The Soviets attempted retake the hill, but their attacks were all repelled with heavy casualties. At 10 AM, the Polish 8th Uhlan Cavalry Regiment charged the Soviet 4th Cavalry Division occupying the town of, Wolica Śniatycka. After less than 20 minutes of hand-to-hand fighting, the 4th Cavalry was routed and scattered (General Budyonny himself barely managed to escape capture). This coupled with the routing of the Soviet 6th Cavalry Division, forced the Red Army into a disorganized retreat.

Epilogue 

Fierce fighting continued around Komaróv for the next two days. It finally ended on September 2. The casualties for the Poles were at least 500 killed and an unknown number wounded. The casualties for the Soviets are unclear but are believed to have been over 4,000. For the Soviet Union, this battle was a decisive defeat. And it would not be the last. On September 16, the Red Army suffered a final devastating defeat at the battle of the Niemen River. On October 18, 1920, the Soviet Union and Poland signed a ceasefire which brought the war to an end. 

Today, the battle of Komaróv is considered by historians to be the greatest cavalry battle of the 20th Century (due to the number of soldiers involved). It would also be the last to involve traditional sword-fighting cavalrymen in Europe (cavalry would continue to be used as mounted infantry for many years). In Poland, the battle is referred to as the, "Miracle at Zamosć", and is commemorated every year as a brave stand against overwhelming odds.

https://en.topwar.ru/174491-bitva-pri-komarove-porazhenie-1-j-konnoj-armii.html

https://polishhistory.pl/the-polish-bolshevik-war/

https://www.pygmywars.com/rcw/history/czesniki/czesnikiintro.html

https://historicaleye.com/ww1/broken-lances-and-bloody-sabres/index.html