Forgotten Battle 24

Welcome back viewers 

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of the Big Hole

Intro

The battle of the Big Hole took place on August 9-10, 1877, in what is now the state of Montana. It was fought between soldiers of US Army and warriors of the Nez Perce Tribe. This battle would be the costliest during one of the most tragic chapters in American history. 

Part I

The Nez Perce War began on June 14, 1877. In command of the US Army, was General Oliver Otis Howard, a highly decorated veteran of the American Civil War. His orders were to hunt down the Nez Perce Tribe and force them to relocate to reservations within the state of Idaho. Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce adamently refused to move his people from their ancestral homeland in Montana. 

Twenty-two years earlier in 1855, the Nez Perce (along with four other tribes) met with officials of the American government to sign a number of treaties that would be ratified by the US Senate. These treaties (called the, Walla Walla Council) ceded large swaths of land to each of these tribes and granted them the rights to hunt and farm the lands as they saw fit. For the Nez Perce, the treaty granted them a total of 7.5 million acres in Montana. The Senate ratified the treaties in 1859 and the Washington Territory's first governor (Issac Stevens) secured the treaty for the two most powerful tribes (the Nez Perce and the Yakama).

Tragically, Governor Stevens was killed while fighting at the battle of Chantilly during the Civil War. His death (along with the deaths of other signers of the treaties) allowed new leaders in the American government to renege on their promises to the tribes located in the Washington Territory. Instead of giving in to the government's demands, Chief Joseph and other Nez Perce leaders decided to raise the tribe in revolt. The stage was set for a confrontation between them and the US Army.

Part II

With US Army in pursuit, Chief Joseph led the Nez Perce on a long and difficult trek north to reach the Canadian border. As they had more than 500 non-combatants (women, children, and old men) in the tribe progress was painfully slow. It was not long before elements of the Army caught up with them.

Leading the US Army in pursuit were many experienced generals who had seen heavy combat during the American Civil War. The four most notable of them were Oliver O. Howard, John Gibbon, Nelson A. Miles, and Samuel D. Sturgis. With them, were more than 1,500 soldiers, civilian volunteers, and Indian scouts. With superior numbers and combat experience, they were expecting a quick and easy victory.

Instead, the conflict quickly turned into a series of running battles which always ended in the Nez Perce evading the army. Although he suffered a defeat at the battle of the Clearwater, Chief Joseph and his tribe were able to successfully evade the Army and move into Montana. After gaining what they believed to be a long lead on their pursuers, Chief Joseph and his top strategist (Looking Glass) decided to make camp at the Big Hole River (located in present-day Beaverhead County). 

They were unaware, that Colonel John Gibbon and 206 soldiers and civilian-volunteers had discovered them. Gibbon and his small army reached the Big Hole River on the night of August 8. In the morning, they would launch their attack.

Part III

At 3:30 AM, Gibbon and his soldiers left their camp and silently advanced on the Nez Perce who were sleeping in 89 tipis in a wedge-shape pattern. They crossed the Big Hole River, formed a skirmishing line, and began shooting into the Nez Perce's camp. Since they didn't know where the warriors were located, the soldiers fired indiscriminately into every tipi they saw. As a result, many women and children were killed during the battle.

Caught by surprise, many of the Nez Perce people began to flee into the darkness. Some men and women grabbed rifles and began to return fire and inflicted casualties on Gibbon's men. From there, the battle quickly turned into a mash of confusion as the soldiers began to fire in every direction. Gibbon was forced to temporarily pull his men back and reorganize them. He then ordered them to burn the camp. By then however, Chief Joseph and Looking Glass had rallied their warriors and launched a counter-attack.

From concealed positions in the hills surrounding their burning camp, the warriors picked off dozens of soldiers. Just twenty minutes after launching his attack, Gibbon and his men were forced to pull back from the Nez Perce camp and take up defensive positions. What followed was a sniping duel between the warriors and the soldiers all throughout the day and into the night. The next day, the warriors finally withdrew, met up with the women and children, and set up a new camp 18 miles south at Lake Creek. Gibbon and his soldiers did not pursue them.

Epilogue

The casualties for the Battle of the Big Hole had been heavy both sides. The US Army had suffered 31 killed and 38 wounded (including Colonel Gibbon). The casualties for the Nez Perce are not officially known but also believed to have been severe. Historians have put their casualties between 70 to 90 killed and an unknown number of wounded. Nearly half of the dead are believed to have been women and children. Since both sides had suffered high casualties and disengaged, the battle is considered a draw.

The Nez Perce war would continue for another two months. Finally on October 5, Chief Joseph and his tribe were cornered at the Bear Paw Mountain in northern Montana. With so many of his tribesmen dead, Chief Joseph approached General Howard and General Miles and agreed to surrender. He is quoted as saying, "I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. Hear me my chiefs; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever". He and his tribe were then taken into custody and sent to a reservation down in Oklahoma. In 1885, they were permitted to return to a new reservation in their former territory in what is now Washington State. Chief Joseph would die there in 1904. It would not be until 2021, that the Nez Perce tribe would finally return to their former reservation in Idaho (where they currently live now).

Although they had won the war, there was no celebrating within the Army. Their casualties had been very high and many felt that the conflict was pointless to begin with. General Philip Sheridan is quoted as saying, "We took away their country, broke up their mode of living, their habits in life, introduced diseases and decay among them and was for this and against this that they made war. Could anyone expect any less?". For his part, General Oliver Howard would remain in the army until his retirement in 1894. At the time of his death in 1909, he was the last living Union Army general to have held a permanent rank in the US Army. John Gibbon eventually recovered from his wounds and served in the Army until 1891. He died in 1896 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Today, the Nez Perce war of 1877 is remembered as one of the most tragic conflicts fought on American soil. The battles fought have all since been preserved as part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park. Among the historic sites is the Big Hole National Battlefield. In 1966, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It remains a solemn reminder of worst battle of one of the darkest chapters in American history.

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/31549/31549-h/31549-h.htm

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nez-perce-fight-battle-of-big-hole

https://www.wallowanezperce.org/news/2020/8/10/143-years-remembering-the-battle-at-big-hole

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/big-hole-montana/

https://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/MT/Beaverhead/state.html#google_vignette

Forgotten Battle 23

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Siege of the International Legations

Intro

The Siege of the International Legations occurred June 20 to August 14, 1900, in the Chinese city of Peking. It was a 55-day siege fought between radical Chinese extremists against soldiers from eight foreign nations holding a single compound. This long siege would be the main focus of one of the shortest yet most impactful conflicts at the end of the 19th century.

Part I

By the late nineteenth century, multiple conflicts had erupted involving the nation of China against foreign nations who wished to exploit their resources. These conflicts had mostly resulted in defeats for the Chinese who were forced to sign unequal treaties with countries like Great Britain, France, Germany, and even Japan (which held a long history of animosity towards them). These treaties caused the Chinese Monarchy to lose control of crucial cities, ports, and islands in and around China (these included Hong Kong and Formosa). In the 1890s, Japan won the First Sino-Japanese War and took control of the Korean Peninsula. This also caused a massive increase in the Chinese people converting to Christianity.

The presence of soldiers from so many foreign nations parading around the cities and ports of China caused deep resentment among thousands of its people. Many of them formed a nationalist movement called, I Ho Ch'uan, the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists. This extremist group believed in expelling all foreigners and Western influence from Chinese soil. Their slogan was, "Uphold the Qing! Kill the Foreigner!". Due to their preferred method of fighting with hand-to-hand, the Westerners nicknamed them, the "Boxer Movement".

In the country-side of China, they began to attack and kill foreign missionaries. They also brought their wrath down on Chinese Christians (whom they viewed as collaborators), and massacred thousands across the nation. When Western diplomats located within the city of Peking appealed to the Chinese Empress Cixi for help, their pleas fell on deaf ears (as she was sympathetic to the Boxers). It became clear that it was only a matter of time before the Boxers attacked them in Peking.

Part II

Representatives from eight foreign nations gathered in a two mile long area within Peking called the Legation Quarter and pondered their options. Fearing a coordinated attack by the Boxers, they decided to fortify the area with soldiers (and a handful of marines). 

In command of the Legation Quarter was Sir Claude MacDonald. With 409 (among them, was Herbert Hoover) soldiers from eight different countries manning the walls of the Legation, approximately 500 foreign civilians (of 19 different nationalities) and 2,800 Chinese Christians took refuge in the mansions and churches. With the entire perimeter being 2,167 yards, defending it with so few soldiers would be very difficult. It wasn't long before they spotted the Boxers gathering for a mass attack.

Sensing an opportunity to be rid of foreign influence in China, Empress Cixi issued an ultimatum for those in the Legation Quarter on June 18. It stated that all foreign diplomats and their citizens were to leave Peking within twenty-four hours. She promised them that they would be given safe passage to the Chinese city of Tientsin. If they did not, a state of war would be declared, and the Imperial Army would attack the Legations Quarter with the Boxers. For their part, the Boxers are believed to have numbered in the tens of thousands. When the ultimatum was refused, the Imperial Army joined them and prepared to launch an attack. The fighting began on June 20, 1900.

Part III

The Boxers launched multiple frontal attacks on the compound. The defenders responded by firing on them with rifles and pistols. As they attacked in human waves, the Boxers suffered heavy casualties while attacking the walls. They focused the bulk of their forces on a section called, the Tartar Wall. This wall was 45 feet tall and 40 feet wide. It was defended by American marines and German soldiers. If the Boxers captured the Tartar Wall, they would have unimpeded access to the Legation Quarter (where the civilians were sheltering).

For the next month, the Boxers launched numerous attacks on the garrisoned soldiers of the Legation Quarter. The defenders on the Tartar Wall found themselves under constant assault and began to run low on their ammunition. Even as the bodies of the Boxers continued to pile up at the bottom of the wall, they still kept attacking (especially at night). When these attacks failed, they resorted to far more drastic measures and began setting fires to buildings in an attempt to burn the defenders out. On June 30, the Germans were forced off the Tartar Wall, leaving only the Americans to hold it. They held out until 2 AM on July 1 when they ran out of ammunition.

On July 3, the Allies launched a counter-attack and successfully recaptured the Tartar Wall. For the next month, the Boxers continued to attack the Legation Quarter. On July 17, both sides called for a short truce to gather their dead. The attacks on the Legation Quarter resumed two weeks later. By now, the Chinese Imperial Army began attacking with artillery. The fighting finally ceased on August 14, when an Allied relief force of soldiers from the Eight-Nation-Alliance finally broke through to Peking and relieved the defenders of the Legation Quarter.

Epilogue

The entire siege had lasted a total of 55 days. The defenders of the International Legations had suffered a total of 55 killed and 135 wounded. In addition, 13 western civilians had also been killed and 24 wounded. The casualties of the Boxers and the Chinese Imperial Army are unknown, but believed to by over 2,500.

The day after the Western Armies entered Peking, Empress Cixi fled the city. She would remain in exile until 1902, when she was permitted to return. Although the Boxer Rebellion itself would continue for another year, the failed Siege of the International Legations had shattered the Boxer movement and many of its members would desert and return home in the coming months. When the rebellion finally ended on September 7, 1901, the armies of the Eight-Nation-Alliance occupied several provinces of China for the next few years.

Today, the Siege of the International Legations (along with the Boxer Rebellion as a whole) has since passed into history. It is remembered as a brave stand against overwhelming odds by the most unlikely allies in history. All of them were motivated by protecting their interests in China and fighting a common enemy. Ironically, all eight of these nations would go to war with each other in the two most devastating conflicts in human history. Never again would there ever be such an alliance.

https://www.britannica.com/event/Siege-of-the-International-Legations-1900

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/the-boxer-rebellions-unlikely-alliance-of-eight-flags/

https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1999/winter/boxer-rebellion-1.html

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Battle-of-Peking/

Forgotten Battle 22

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Siege of the Polish Post Office

Intro

The siege of the Polish Post Office occurred on September 1, 1939. It was fought in the Free City of Danzig (now called, Gdańsk) between Polish postmen and soldiers and policemen of the German Wehrmacht. This fifteen hour siege was the very first combat action of the Second World War and would be remembered as a brave stand against overwhelming odds.

Part I

The Polish Post Office was constructed within the Free City of Danzig in the year 1920 as part of the Treaty of Versailles. The main building had two entrances, three floors, and a basement. And like most buildings in the city, it was made of bricks.

Even though the majority of Danzig's populace was German, the post office was considered by the League of Nations to be the extraterritorial property of Poland. In other words, it was both a post office and a pseudo-embassy. By August of 1939, just over 50 people (mostly former soldiers and their families) were working at the post office.

Unfortunately, the presence of the post office was deeply resented by the German citizens of Danzig. Many of them viewed it as thievery by a foreign nation. With the rise of the Third Reich many of the Germans in Danzig became more resentful and began planning to take back the post office. Their opportunity finally came when they learned of the German Wehrmacht massing on the border between Poland and Germany. With the support of Hitler, the more than 180 SS policemen of Danzig mobilized on September 1st, and began marching on the post office.

Part II

After spotting the approaching police, the Poles inside the post office also began mobilizing. Unknown to the Germans, the postman had a small arsenal of weapons inside the building (including three machine-guns). In command of this small garrison was Lieutenant Konrad Guderski. After passing out rifles, pistols, and grenades, the postman took defensive positions by the windows and inside the lobby. Simultaneously, the civilians took shelter in the building's basement.

By 4 PM, a large group of Danzig police and a few soldiers of the Wehrmacht were massed outside the post office. At that moment an officer named Willi Bethke emerged from the ranks and demand the Poles in the post office surrender and return the building to the city it was "stolen" from. In return they would be treated "humanely" as POWs.

Guderski discussed his options with his second-in-command (Alfons Flisykowski) for a few minutes. They both decided to reject the surrender demand. They had already experienced the German citizens' hatred towards them in Danzig. After hearing his surrender demand rejected, Bethke ordered three armored cars to drive in front of his policemen. For the next 45 minutes, a standoff was held until a German battleship fired in the distance. These were the first shots of World War II. At that moment, the SS launched their attack.

Part III

The armored cars opened fire on the post office. The Poles returned fire but found that their bullets could not penetrate the armored cars. They were forced move their three machine-guns from the windows and reassemble them in the lobby of the first floor. Flisykowski then had them focus their guns on the front doors of the building and prepare for the Germans to break in. They did not have long to wait. The doors bust open and several SS soldiers entered the building. They were greeted by a wall of lead that killed the first four who entered and wounded another five. Those that survived quickly retreated back to the street.

But at that moment, an explosion was heard by the rear of the building. Guderski realized that the frontal attack was a diversion and quickly raced over to discover a hole in the wall by the courtyard. On the other side of the hole was a small squad of Germans about to enter the building. With seconds to act, Guderski pulled the pin on a grenade just as one of the SS soldiers aimed at him and fired. Guderski was shot and killed instantly, but his grenade landed in the middle of the squad and detonated. Another four Germans were killed instantly and eight more were wounded and forced to retreat.

With Konrad Guderseki dead, command of the garrison now fell to Alfons Flisykowski who quickly assembled the postmen in a small defensive perimeter and awaited a second attack by the SS. Stunned by the failure of both of his assaults on the building, Willi Bethke quickly grabbed a radio and asked the Wehrmacht to send him artillery guns. 

Six hours later, the Germans received two 75 mm field guns and began to bombard the post office. As they did so, Bethke ordered another infantry attack. To their astonishment, the post-office walls held firm and the Poles once again repelled the attack. Now incensed, Bethke requested the Wehrmacht to lend him more artillery guns. An hour later, a brand new artillery gun (a 105 mm howitzer) was brought into Danzig. Its shells struck the post-office with such force that the whole section of wall by the entrance collapsed. By the time Flisykowski and his men could compose themselves, the SS were already inside the building. The Poles who survived the onslaught quickly retreated into the basement and stopped the SS advance at its staircase.

By now, Bethke was furious. In a complete rage he called the Wehrmacht for one more favor. Inside the building, Flisykowski and his men in the basement noticed a torrent of liquid coming down the staircase. When they smelled it, they realized it was gasoline. They then watched in horror as flames quickly followed. The fire forced them to retreat to the last room, but not before killing multiple soldiers and civilians. By now, the situation was hopeless and the Poles began debating whether they should surrender or attempt a breakout. One of the civilians (Doctor Jan Michoń) suggested the former and most agreed. Flisykowski and five others however, decided that they would attempt to escape.

Epilogue

Doctor Michoń walked out of the post-office waving a white handkerchief. The SS soldiers approached and immediately shot him dead. The rest of the Poles who surrendered were lined up against the wall. The prisoners were then given a mock trial and classified as illegal combatants. All were executed by firing squad. The captured civilians were sent to concentration camps and never heard from again. The casualties for the Germans are not clear, but most historians put the figure as between 10 to 30 killed and the same number wounded. The whole standoff had lasted just over 15 hours.

Flisykowski and his five men snuck out while the SS were distracted and broke into a nearby house. At this point, Flisykowski revealed that had been wounded and ordered his remaining men to leave him behind. The five men changed into civilian clothes, saluted their commander one last time, and fled into the streets of Danzig. The next day, Flisykowski was discovered by the SS and executed. Of the five others, four are known to have escaped and survived the war.

After World War II, the executions of the postmen were classified as judicial murder. Danzig officially became part of Poland and was renamed, Gdańsk. In 1979, a monument was erected in honor of the postmen's brave stand against overwhelming odds. The original building still stands and is now a museum.

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/polish-post-office-danzig.html

https://europebetweeneastandwest.wordpress.com/2023/08/22/desperate-defense-siege-of-the-polish-post-office-northern-poland-berlin-54b/

https://libcom.org/article/defence-polish-post-office-danzig

https://www.dark-tourism.com/index.php/545-gdansk-polish-post-office

Forgotten Battle 21

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Prairie Grove

Intro

The Battle of Prairie Grove occurred on December 7, 1862. It was fought in Washington Country, Arkansas, between the Union Army of the Frontier and the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Army. This battle was one of the largest ever fought in the state of Arkansas and it would cost both sides very dearly.

Part I

By late 1862, the United States was fully enveloped in civil war. The vast majority of the fighting took place east of the Mississippi River (namely in the states of Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia). But to the west of the river, savage fighting was also occurring. The fighting on this front mainly took place in the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, and what would later become Oklahoma.

In the state of Arkansas savage fighting began in March of 1862. In command of the Union Army was Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis. On March 7 and 8, General Curtis fought against the Confederates who were under the command of General Earl Van Dorn at the battle of Pea Ridge. Despite being outnumbered, the Yankees emerged victorious. 

Their victory at Pea Ridge enabled the Federals to take control of the whole northern border of Arkansas (and most of Missouri). General Curtis then began moving his army further south into the state and captured the city of Helena. In September, Curtis was reassigned to command the Department of the Missouri. Before leaving Arkansas, he formed the Army of the Frontier. On November 20, Brigadier General James G. Blunt was placed in command.

The Confederate commander in Arkansas was Major General Thomas Carmichael Hindman. After General Van Dorn's defeat at Pea Ridge, Hindman received orders to attack General Blunt and regain control of the Arkansas-Missouri border. In October of 1862, General Blunt made an incursion into Arkansas with an army of 5,000. In response, Hindman sent Brigadier General John Marmaduke to intercept him.

Part II

Blunt and Marmaduke's armies met at Cane Hill on November 28. After a nine hour skirmish, the Confederates retreated in the face of superior numbers and artillery guns. The casualties for the Battle of Cane Hill were light. But then on December 3, Blunt's scouts reported that General Hindman was advancing on Cane Hill with more than 11,000 soldiers and 22 artillery guns. Now outnumbered himself, Blunt sent an urgent plea for reinforcements. His plea was answered by Brigadier General Francis Herron, who marched with 3,900 soldiers into Arkansas.

For the next three days, the two armies began attempting to outflank the other. After being slowed down by bad weather, Hindman decided to postpone his attack until December 8. But upon learning of Herron's approaching army, Hindman quickly changed his planes and marched his army to the town of Prairie Grove. They arrived there early in the morning of December 7. Clashes began when Confederate Cavalry attacked and scattered a small contingent of Union Cavalry at 4 AM. After this, General Hindman set up defenses and awaited Herron's approaching column.

While Herron's 3,900 soldiers were approaching Prairie Grove, General Blunt marched his 5,000 soldiers along the Fayetteville Road. All through the night and the morning they marched hoping to link up with Herron's column. In spite of their best efforts, they would not arrive on the battlefield until 3 PM. The main battle at Prairie Grove began just after 1 PM on December 7, 1862. 

Part III

The first to attack were the men of Herron's Division. After opening fire with an artillery barrage (which inflicted several casualties) two federal brigades began advancing on the Confederate line. The focal point of this attack was a farm owned by Archibald Borden. The house on this farm (now called, the Borden House) would be the scene of the bloodiest fighting during the battle. 

The two advancing union brigades were met with fierce resistance and were forced back with heavy casualties. The confederates responded by launching a counter-attacking, only to be driven back by union artillery. The next to attack was Colonel Daniel Huston's Division. His attack was also driven back with heavy losses. In the thick of the fighting, was the 37th Illinois Infantry.

Led by Lieutenant-Colonel John Charles Black, the 401 soldiers of the 37th were the only ones to initially break through the Confederate line. After this they took a defensive position by the Borden House. Unfortunately, this brought the full weight of Hindman's army down on them. In spite of being flanked by three rebel attacks, the 37th managed to repel one of them. But after suffering a 40 percent casualty rate (including LTC. Black) they too were forced to retreat from their position. It was at this point that General Blunt himself arrived on the battlefield.

Seeing this, General Hindman ordered his army to once again counter-attack. Like before, the rebel attack was cut to pieces by the well-entrenched union artillery. General Blunt then ordered another attack to made on Hindman's flank. This attack was also repulsed. Once again, the Confederates responded with a counter-attack that was also repulsed. By now however, darkness was falling and both sides decided that they had had enough for one day. Although General Hindman was still holding his position, his army was running dangerously low on ammunition. After receiving word that more union reinforcements were arriving on the battlefield, Hindman ordered his soldiers to retreat under the cover of darkness. The battle was now over. 

Epilogue

The Battle of Prairie Grove had lasted all day and costed both armies very dearly. Accounts for the number of casualties vary. But the Federals reported a total of 1,251 casualties while the Confederates reported suffering 1,317. Tactically the battle had ended in a draw (since the casualty rate was nearly even). However, the Confederate retreat gave the Union a strategic victory as it allowed them to keep control of the border between Missouri and Arkansas. It also caused many of Hindman's demoralized soldiers to desert his army.

For his valor during the Battle of Prairie Grove, LTC. John Charles Black would receive the Medal of Honor. After the war he would serve as a congressman from Illinois. General James Blunt would continue to command the Army of the Frontier and see further combat in more battles in both Arkansas and Missouri. Later in the war, General Samuel Curtis would return to command the Union Army (now called, the Army of the Border) and Blunt would serve as a division commander.

Eventually, the Battle of Prairie Grove passed into American history. Today, it is largely forgotten by the American public. In 1957, the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park was established by the state containing 707 acres. The Borden House (restored after the war) still stands on the battlefield as a silent testament to all the men who died on December 7, 1862. 

https://ozarkscivilwar.org/archives/342

https://pg.cast.uark.edu/

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-battle-of-prairie-grove-arkansas-december-7-1862.129407/

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/prairie-grove

https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/thirty-seventh-illinois-infantry-15136/

Forgotten Battle 20

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Attack on the US Embassy in Saigon

Intro

The Attack on the American embassy in Saigon occurred on January 31, 1968. It fought between American marines and military police against 19 Viet Cong sappers from the C-10 Sapper Battalion. This shootout was a small yet significant firefight that took place during the Tet Offensive. It would have far reaching consequences for the course of the Vietnam War.

Part I

On January 30, 1968, the Tet Offensive erupted across South Vietnam. Thousands of NVA soldiers and Viet Cong guerrillas launched surprise-attacks on dozens of military and civilian command and control centers across the country. For the next two months, vicious fighting raged around the country (most of it centered on the ancient city of Huê) and took the lives of thousands on both sides.

Following the attack on the marine base at Khe Sanh, more than 50,000 American soldiers and marines had been relocated to that area. This left many of South Vietnam's cities undermanned and vulnerable to attack. When the Tet Offensive began, many Americans and South Vietnamese soldiers within the cities were caught off-guard and struggled to control the outbreak of violence. One of the cities that was targeted was South Vietnam's capital-city of Saigon. 

On January 30, 35 battalions of Viet Cong guerrillas and soldiers from the NVA 7th Infantry Division launched attacks on American outposts and the airbase at Bien Hoa and Long Binh. Both of these attacks were repelled with the attackers suffering heavy casualties. The NVA and Viet Cong attacks had cost them more than 500 KIA while only killing 11 Americans. However, they had succeeded in diverting the Americans' attention away from the real target of the operation. Shortly after midnight on January 31, a 19-man squad of Viet Cong sappers infiltrated Saigon and headed towards the American embassy.

Part II

The American Embassy in Saigon was first established in June of 1952. On March 30, 1965, Viet Cong members detonated a car-bomb in-front of the embassy. The detonation killed 22 people (including 2 Americans). Following the attack, US Congress ordered a new embassy to be constructed in a different location in Saigon. The new building was to be built at the corner of Thong Nhut and Mac Dinh Chi street.

The new embassy was comprised of two separate compounds. One was the consular compound that was sealed off by a separate wall and a steel gate. The other was the embassy compound with the chancery. This one included a parking lot and a two story compound used by a mission coordinator. The embassy had two entry gates, one for pedestrians and one for vehicles. The chancery building was six stories high and contained 140 offices. It even had a small helipad located on the roof in case of emergency evacuations. The wall that protected the embassy was eight feet all and six inches thick. 

During the attacks on Long Binh and Bien Hoa, a group of 19 Viet Cong guerrillas from the C-10 Sapper Battalion infiltrated Saigon and gathered at a safe house. Just after midnight on January 31, they got into two vehicles and drove towards the embassy. Their mission was to seize the embassy grounds, occupy the chancery building, and take hostages. After this they were to try and hold the embassy until relieved by more NVA and Viet Cong battalions. 

Part III

Just after 2 AM, the Viet Cong sappers arrived at the embassy. They then opened fire on two MPs (military police) located by the main gate. The two MPs were Specialist 4 Charles Daniel and Private First Class William Sebast. They quickly returned fire before locking the gates and radioing for help. The sappers then set explosives by the perimeter wall. At 2:47, they blasted a small hole in the wall and began to enter the embassy grounds.

The first two Viet Cong sappers who entered were shot dead by Daniel and Sebast. But more quickly took their place and pinned the two MPs down. Daniel was last heard begging for help on his radio before he and Sebast were killed. However, the two of them had successfully bought enough time to alert other MPs and nearby marines who quickly rushed to defend the embassy. Inside the chancery building were three marines and a handful of American and South Vietnamese civilians who barricaded themselves inside. They then prepared for a potential break-in by the Viet Cong.

However, the two Viet Cong sappers that had been killed were the leaders of the squad. Unsure of what to do next, the remaining sappers decided to take defensive positions around the embassy grounds and circular planters. Within minutes of this, the fighting resumed. In the thick of it, was Pfc. Paul Healey. He climbed on top of a jeep and looked over the embassy wall. From there he successfully shot down 4 of the sappers. As dawn broke, Healey ran through a gauntlet of enemy fire and shot the locks on the embassy gate. From there he personally led a group of MPs and marines into the compound and successfully dispatched all the remaining Viet Cong.

However, they then heard calls for help coming from a two-story villa at the rear of the embassy grounds. Inside was a recently retired army colonel named, George Jacobson. Jacobson shouted from a window to the MPs that he'd heard movement downstairs. After spotting a blood trail, Healey tossed Jacobson a gas mask and a loaded pistol. He then fired teargas into the villa. Jacobson then noticed a Viet Cong coming up the stairs. The Viet Cong fired and missed. Colonel Jacobson returned fire and killed him. With that the attack on the American embassy was over.

Epilogue

By 9 AM, the embassy was declared secure. Four American MPs and one marine had been killed during the fight. By contrast, Viet Cong sapper battalion had suffered a 100% casualty rate with 18 killed and one captured. Like the rest of the Tet Offensive, the attack had ended in a military disaster for the NVA and the Viet Cong. However, the images of dead Viet Cong sappers within the embassy grounds shocked the American public and caused many more to turn against the war in Vietnam. In the aftermath of the Tet Offensive, thousands more American citizens joined the anti-war movement and would eventually cause the US to begin withdrawing its forces from the country. The tide of the war had now turned.

For his valor during the attack, Private First Class Paul Healey received the Distinguished Service Cross. The 716th Military Police Battalion received the Presidential Unit Citation. Later, a small plaque was dedicated to the five Americans who fell in defense of the embassy on January 31, 1968. 

Sp4. Charles L. Daniel (MPC)

Cpl. James C. Marshall (USMC)

SP4. Owen E. Mebust (MPC)

Pfc. William E. Sebast (MPC)

Sgt. Jonnie B. Thomas (MPC)

https://adst.org/2013/07/viet-cong-invade-american-embassy-the-1968-tet-offensive/

viet-cong-attack-u-s-embassy

https://75.stripes.com/archives/saigon-embassy-attack-theyre-coming

https://afsa.org/viet-cong-attack-embassy-saigon-1968

https://web.archive.org/web/20150222114633/http://www.saigonmac.org/resources/Embassy+building+history.pdf

Forgotten Battle 19

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Arsuf

Intro

The battle of Arsuf took place on September 7, 1191. It was fought between European Crusaders against Arab tribesmen during the Third Crusade in what is present-day Israel. This battle would pass into legend as one of the greatest clashes for the Holy Land.

Part I

The Third Crusade officially began on May 11, 1189. After suffering a decisive defeat at the Battle of Hattin at the hands of an Arab general called Saladin, the Holy Roman Empire was more determined than ever to retake the holy land. On October 29, 1187, Pope Gregory VIII called for a new crusade to take back Jerusalem.

Initially, the command of the crusader army was held by the Holy Roman Emperor (and King of Germany) Frederick Barbarossa (Fredrick I). However, during their march into the Holy Land, Barbarossa unexpectedly drowned in the Seraph River. His death caused many soldiers in his army to desert and return home. After this, command fell to King Philip II of France and King Richard I of England (aka: Richard the Lionheart). In late June of 1190, the two Crusader armies resumed their invasion of the Holy Land. Their first main target was the Arab port-city of Acre (located in present-day Israel). 

The city of Acre had been under siege since August of 1189 by Guy of Lusignan (the former King of Jerusalem). For the next year, more and more crusader armies began pouring into the Holy Land and joining the siege. Even with superior numbers, their assaults on the city were repulsed with heavy casualties. By the time King Richard and King Philip arrived with their armies, the siege had lasted over a year. 

Part II

In spite of repulsing every attack on their city and inflicting thousands of casualties on the crusaders, the Arab garrison was also suffering high casualties in turn. With their supplies nearly gone, they finally surrendered on July 12, 1191. Unfortunately, major quarreling began occurring between the crusader army's leaders. Leopold V of Austria eventually left the army and returned home with all his soldiers. And then King Philip II was forced to abandon the Crusade to quell rebellions igniting in France in his absence. This left King Richard I as the sole leader of the Crusader army.

With Acre now under crusader occupation, the stage was set for a clash between Richard and Saladin. The latter gathered his army and camped a few miles away from Acre opposite the Crusaders. For the next month Saladin and Richard I attempted to establish a diplomatic solution. The situation vastly deteriorated on August 20, when Richard ordered the execution of 2,500 Arab captives that he was holding in Acre. After watching this massacre from a distance, Saladin had all of his Christian captives executed in retaliation.

After this, King Richard departed Acre with 11,000 soldiers for the city of Jaffa. In order to prevent his soldiers from dying from dehydration and exhaustion, he decided to hug the coastline. This allowed the crusaders to be supported and resupplied by their navy, which shadowed them from the Mediterranean Sea. However, they were also being constantly harassed by Saladin's army (using hit-and-run tactics) as they marched. By September 3rd, the Crusader Army reached the River of Reeds. After resting his army for a day, King Richard resumed their march to Jaffa. 

This took them through the Arsuf Forest. With Saladin's Army (numbering 25,000) still shadowing them, the Crusaders were able to successfully pass through the forest relatively unscathed and camped in the Rochetaille Valley. At this point, it became clear to both Richard and Saladin that battle was inevitable.

Part III

Early in the morning on September 7, the Crusader Army departed from their camp and resumed their march towards the city of Arsuf. Just before leaving, Richard I (who was anticipating an attack) had arrayed his army in position with their marching flank facing inland. His army consisted of archers, crossbowman, and caravan guards on the flanks. His vanguard consisted of knights from the Knight's Templar and the Hospitaller Knights. King Richard himself was in the center column with Norman and English horseman at his command. At 9:AM in the morning, Saladin's army emerged from its camp in battle formation and the battle began.

The Arabs began to bombard the Crusaders with volleys of arrows and javelins. Although the Crusaders were heavily armored, many of their horses were killed. In spite of suffering casualties, Richard I ordered his soldiers to continue marching towards Jaffa. The Arabs continued to make hit-and-run attacks on the marching column for the next two hours. Getting the worst of it, were the Hospitallers located in the rear. Their commander sent a desperate plea to Richard for permission to launch counter-attack. Unwilling to engage in a battle on Saladin's terms, the King ordered the Hospitallers to press on and not retaliate.

By mid-afternoon, the Hospitallers could not tolerate the harassment any longer. They drew their weapons and launched an attack without any orders. Upon seeing this, Richard knew his hand had been forced and ordered the rest of the crusaders to attack as well. The sheer ferocity of their attack smashed right through the Arab lines. Caught completely by surprise, they were driven back with heavy casualties. After cutting through Saladin's flanks, Richard (who personally fought alongside his men) ordered a second charge on the center line. Saladin's center was also cut to pieces by the ferociousness of the Crusader attack and fled in complete disarray. Those that survived quickly fled into the dense woods. Richard I chose not to pursue them. By nightfall, the battle was over.

Epilogue

The casualties for the battle of Arsuf are not fully known. But one source claims that the Arabs had suffered over 7,000 casualties while the Crusaders only lost 700. A few days later King Richard arrived in the city of Arsuf and celebrated his victory. However, instead of marching on the city of Jerusalem, Richard decided to not to attack for fear of being surrounded and isolated from his supply lines. After almost a year of skirmishing with Saladin's armies (which eventually recovered from their defeat) Richard I led a successful amphibious attack that captured the city of Jaffa in July of 1192. 

By now however, both armies and their leaders were completely exhausted and decided to negotiate a truce. Together, Richard and Saladin signed the Treaty of Jaffa. This agreement would allow the Arabs to keep control over Jerusalem and allow Christian pilgrimages to the city. After this, Richard declared Acre to be the new capital of the Crusader Kingdom. Like King Philip II before him however, Richard I was forced to depart the Holy Land in order to retain control of his interests in his home country. For a while, it seemed that there would be peace. Sadly, it would not last very long and brutal fighting for control over the Holy Land would continue for the next century.

https://www.thoughtco.com/the-crusades-battle-of-arsuf-2360710

https://www.medievalists.net/2022/01/battle-richard-saladin-arsuf/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-locate-site-famous-battle-third-crusade-180975490/

https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2021/06/13/battle-of-arsuf-1191/

Third_Crusade

Forgotten Battle 18

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Legend of Y-29

Intro

The Legend of Y-29 was a 45 minute dogfight that occurred on January 1, 1945. It was fought between squads of German FW-190s and Bf-109s against American P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolts near the city of Asch, Belgium. This dogfight would go down in history as one of America's greatest aerial victories in the European theatre of World War II.

Part I

At the end of 1944, the Battle of the Bulge was still being fought on the Western Front of World War II. But the tide of the battle had completely turned against the Wehrmacht. The Siege of Bastogne had been lifted by General George Patton. And the German army was in full retreat from all of their captured territory. For many Allied pilots, it seemed like the battle had been won. They could not have been more mistaken.

By 1944, the German Luftwaffe had suffered multiple defeats in the face of Allied air power. When Hitler decided to launch his December offensive into Belgium, the Luftwaffe was initially supposed to lead the operation. However, bad weather had grounded their planes (along with the Allies' planes) and left them unable to support the Wehrmacht infantry. Therefore, by the time the weather cleared enough for them to launch, the German Army had suffered horrific casualties and failed to capture their objectives. 

However, Hitler refused to give up and ordered the Wehrmacht to launch Operation Northwind (a flanking offensive into Northern France). The Luftwaffe in turn was to launch Operation Bodenplatte (baseplate) in support of this new offensive. The objective was to attack and destroy Allied airfields (along with all the parked planes) located in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. If achieved, this could shatter Allies's air power advantage and allow the Luftwaffe to regain control of the skies above Europe.

Part II

One of the targets of Operation Bodenplatte was a base located near the town of Asch, Belgium designated Y-29. Stationed here, were the American 352nd and the 336th Fighter Groups. The 352nd consisted of twelve P-51 Mustangs led by Captain John Charles Meyer. The 336th was made up of eight P-47 Thunderbolts (aka: Jugs) led by Captain Lowell B. Smith.

The German flight that would be attacking Y-29 was, Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11). This group numbered 61 Focke-Wulf (Fw)-190s led by the flying ace, Lieutenant-Colonel Günter Specht (whom had 32 kills). Their mission was to fly a low-level strike on the airfield and hopefully destroy all the aircraft on the ground. They were hoping to catch the Americans by surprise.

What they didn't know was that the Americans at Y-29 had all gotten up early and were preparing to conduct a morning patrol. The P-47s led by Captain Smith took off at 9:15 AM and quickly detected JG 11 on their radars. Captain Smith ordered his squadron to drop their bombs and prepare for a dogfight. At 9:20, the jugs swooped down and took the Germans by surprise. The stage was set for one of the most spectacular air battles of World War II.

Part III

First blood was drawn by Lieutenant Mel Paisley who dove into the six o'clock of an FW-190 and shot it down. At the same time, Captain Smith sent a second FW-190 down in flames. Then 1st Lt. Jack Kennedy closed in on a third FW-190 and scored hits. However, his thunderbolt was simultaneously hit by enemy fire that set his right wing ablaze. Knowing that he was too low to bail out, Kennedy decided to duck his plane into the slag heaps just beyond Y-29.

Noticing the dogfight taking place were the twelve P-51 Mustangs commanded by Captain John Meyer. Less than a minute after 9:20, the mustangs throttled up and took to the sky. As he was taking off, an FW-190 flew right into Captain Meyer's gunsight. He immediately shot it down. The twelve mustangs then headed over to the aid the Jugs that were engaging the enemy. Lt. Al Rigby spotted another FW-190 closing in on his wingman. Rigby told his wingman to break left and lead the enemy pilot into the former's gunsight. His wingman did so, the German followed, and Rigby shot him down. He then spotted a German Bf-109 and dove down into its six. The violent maneuver damaged Rigby's gunsight. Using his hunter's instinct alone, he sent the Bf-109 down in flames.

Meanwhile, Capt. Sanford Moats and his wingman found themselves being attacked from the rear by two FW-190s. Moats and his wingman broke left into the Germans' attack and made them overshoot. Moats lined up behind of them and shot him down. His wingman (Bill Halton) took down the other. At the same time, Lt. Bob Brulle in his P-47, successfully chased and shot down an elusive FW-190. Later, Lt. Kennedy (with his right wing still burning) successfully turned the tables on the two Bf-109's that damaged his plane and shot one of them down. Lt. Rigby shot down the other.

Epilogue

As a whole, Operation Bodenplatte was a complete failure for the Luftwaffe. Although they had managed to destroy or damage more than 200 Allied fighters and bombers, they had lost more than 250 of their own (most of these pilots were killed). While the Allies could easily replace their losses, the Germans could not. Some historians would later refer to this operation as the, "death of the Luftwaffe".

The dogfight at Y-29 went on for a total of 45 minutes. After taking heavy losses, the German fighters of JG 11 bugged out. The losses were completely lopsided. The American pilots had only lost one P-47 (destroyed on the ground) and no P-51s. Amazingly, no Americans had been killed during the entire battle. By contrast, the Germans of JG 11 lost a total of 24 aircraft in the dogfight, with 20 pilots killed (including Ltc. Günter Specht) and 4 captured. In addition, four more were shot down by anti-aircraft guns. For their incredible defense at Y-29, both the 352nd and 366th Fighter groups received the Presidential Unit Citation. They would both continue to see heavy combat until the end of World War II. 

https://crazyhorseap.be/galleries/galleries-2011/return-to-y-29.html

https://home.army.mil/benelux/my-fort/news/zutendaal-community-commemorates-75th-anniversary-wwii-air-battle-legend-y-29

https://www.deseret.com/2007/6/29/20026999/the-legend-of-y-29/

https://taskandpurpose.com/history/hangover-raid-world-war-ii-luftwaffe/

Forgotten Battle 17

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Nà San 

Intro

The battle of Nà San occurred from November 23 to December 2, of 1952. It was fought between soldiers of the French Army and the Viêt Minh in the Son La province of Vietnam. This battle would be one of the high-water marks of the French Army during the first War in Vietnam.

Part I

The First Indochina War began on December 19, 1946. Led by Ho Chi Minh, the League for Independence of Vietnam (or Viet Minh) rose up and began fighting the French Army that was stationed in the country. Due to Ho Chi Minh's ties to communism, the United States sent military aid to the French and attempted to help them contain the rebellion.

In spite of receiving millions of dollars of weapons and aid, the war went very badly for the French. Using special hit and run tactics, the Viet Minh successfully picked off multiple French units. The Viet Minh ambushed many of their supply convoys and seized the weapons for themselves. This in turn, caused many French garrisons to become isolated, surrounded, and eventually annihilated. 

In November 1951, the French launched an offensive against the Vietnamese city of Hòa Bình. In spite of inflicting heavy casualties on the Viet Minh, they were forced to retreat after four months of failing to take the city. This defeat coupled with the unexpected death of their commander (Marshal Jean de Tassigny) from cancer, caused morale in the French Army to vastly plummet. By 1952, their situation was becoming desperate.

Part II

After his defensive victory at Hòa Bình, General Võ Nguyên Giáp decided to take the offensive. He ordered four Viet Minh infantry divisions to advance into the Son La Province and drive the French out. Initially, they successfully seized multiple towns and villages in the province and pushed the French further into the countryside. 

To counter this, the French commander (General Raoul Salan) launched Operation Lorraine. He moved 30,000 French soldiers and Vietnamese allies to up the Red River to attack the Viet Minh's bases north of Hanoi. Although they managed to capture multiple towns and destroy multiple ammunition caches, their offensive failed to capture or destroy any enemy bases. This also left the French supply lines even more overextended and vulnerable to counter-attack.

While this was happening, the Viet Minh 308th Division began converging on a French air-base in the Nà San Valley. The base was located at the bottom of the valley and enclosed by a 3-mile-wide ring of hills with 16 strongpoints. In command was, Colonel Jean Gilles. Two years earlier, Colonel Gilles had constructed the base using a "hedgehog defense". 

He had arrayed a perimeter of barbed wire around a highly sophisticated trench system. In addition, 12 more strongpoints armed with machine-guns, mortars, and artillery pieces were constructed to act as the inner ring. The garrison numbered over 15,000 men, which consisted of French soldiers, Vietnamese provincials, and elements from the French Foreign Legion (mainly North Africans and Thais). The fighting began on the night of November 23.

Part III

The Viet Minh were able to infiltrate the outer perimeter of Na San. Their first target was Strongpoint 8. This outpost was defended by 110 soldiers of the Foreign Legion. At 8 PM, sentries spotted the Viet Minh attempting to sneak through the barbed wire and opened fire. The Viet Minh attacked en masse and managed to break through Strongpoint 8's perimeter. From there, the fighting was hand-to-hand. After a 90 minute fight using bayonets, knives, machetes, and entrenching tools, the legionnaires were able to drive the Viet Minh back (while losing a third of their force). And this was only the beginning 

For the next week, the Viet Minh continued to launch a series of hit-and run attacks on the French garrison at Nà San. However, Colonel Gilles's hedgehog defense forced them to use frontal assaults which enabled the French to kill many of Viet Minh before they even got to the outside perimeter. To add to this, the French were being constantly reinforced and resupplied by planes landing on the airstrip. On November 30, the Viet Minh decided to launch two direct assaults on Strongpoints 22 and 24.

These two outposts were garrisoned by Thai and Moroccan legionnaires. The fighting began just after 2:30 AM. At Strongpoint 22, the legionnaires held on for three hours before being forced to abandon the outpost. However, they recaptured it less than an hour later. At Strongpoint 24, the garrison successfully repulsed two frontal attacks (which once again, involved hand-to-hand fighting).

Undaunted by his rising casualties and unwilling to accept defeat, General Giap ordered another frontal attack on Nà San. This time, the Viet Minh would target Strongpoints 21 and 26 located on the base's outer perimeter. This attack began around 1:30 AM on the morning of December 2. After bombarding the two outposts with mortars and recoilless rifle fire, the Viet Minh launched a mass frontal attack on Strongpoint 21. They were repulsed with heavy casualties. Their attacks on Strongpoint 26 were met with even heavier losses. Finally, General Giap called off further assaults on Nà San and the Viet Minh withdrew from the area.

Epilogue

The casualties for the Battle of Nà San were quite lopsided. The French suffered 300 killed and 640 wounded. The exact casualties for the Viet Minh are not known, but are believed to be as high as 7,000 total (including more than 1,400 killed). For his heroic and skilled defense of Nà San, Colonel Jean Gilles was promoted to Brigadier General. For the French, the battle of Nà San was a clear tactical victory. Sadly, it was short-lived. In August of 1953, their commanders decided to abandon the base at Nà San and move to another valley called, Diên Biên Phu. 

In spite of his humiliating defeat at Nà San, General Giap learned from his mistakes and changed some of his tactics. In 1954, his forces surrounded and attacked the French base in Diên Biên Phu. After a 56 day siege, the French surrendered and the First Indochina War was over. 

http://foreignlegion.info/1952-battle-of-na-san/

https://www.historynet.com/deluge-of-fire-the-battle-of-na-san-1952/

https://time.com/archive/6885173/battle-of-indo-china-siege-of-nasan/