“Secondly, the complex problem of running an army at all is liable to occupy his mind and skill so completely that it is very easy to forget what it is being run for.”
It is also easy to become so involved with the army’s creation and care that you become unwilling to risk the death and destruction which will occur in battle, if you to use the instrument for the reason it was created. The Union general McClellan is possibly the best example. He was a great army “builder” who loved to parade his army around but would not commit it to destroy Lee and his Confederate Army. Grant was the opposite. He knew he had superior resources and used McClellan’s army to bludgeon Lee to death, using his superior numbers and equipment in a war of attrition.
Great summary of the battle, Mick. I find fascinating the leadership qualities of Lt Kulish and his decision making under pressure and uncertainty should be studied more through interviews with his men and himself. The other piece that is fascinating are air logistics. Attack and resupply via air is a difficult and expensive operation and as observed were defeated by MANPADS. A discussion of suppression of air defense in resupply likely was not had on the Russian side in formulating it’s plan.
Mick, an excellent analysis of the Battle for Hostomel and its impact on the early stages of the war.
I agree with your point on staff rides. While at Leavenworth in 1990-91, I recall doing a couple of them, including Gettysburg. One of the key lessons that I learned from them, which you have so ably pointed out in this article, is the strategic/operational impact of a key battle in changing the course of a war.
It's an excellent, informative and comprehensive piece, thank you very much.
I would really like to read about is a similarly enlightening analysis on the current "game" played by the Biden administration by delaying F16 training and delivery to Ukarine as well as ATACAMs delivery. It's beyond my comprehension what is their (US) objective with imposing these delays.
Luckily for the Union and the future US, Meade took over from Hooker three days before the battle as Lincoln tried to find a General who would actually fight Lee, rather than dance around him. Meade wasn’t that guy either. He let Lee’s forces get away.
“Secondly, the complex problem of running an army at all is liable to occupy his mind and skill so completely that it is very easy to forget what it is being run for.”
It is also easy to become so involved with the army’s creation and care that you become unwilling to risk the death and destruction which will occur in battle, if you to use the instrument for the reason it was created. The Union general McClellan is possibly the best example. He was a great army “builder” who loved to parade his army around but would not commit it to destroy Lee and his Confederate Army. Grant was the opposite. He knew he had superior resources and used McClellan’s army to bludgeon Lee to death, using his superior numbers and equipment in a war of attrition.
Agree. I conjecture that McClellan probably would not have fought Gettysburg except he wasn't there when his forces started the battle.
Great summary of the battle, Mick. I find fascinating the leadership qualities of Lt Kulish and his decision making under pressure and uncertainty should be studied more through interviews with his men and himself. The other piece that is fascinating are air logistics. Attack and resupply via air is a difficult and expensive operation and as observed were defeated by MANPADS. A discussion of suppression of air defense in resupply likely was not had on the Russian side in formulating it’s plan.
Mick, an excellent analysis of the Battle for Hostomel and its impact on the early stages of the war.
I agree with your point on staff rides. While at Leavenworth in 1990-91, I recall doing a couple of them, including Gettysburg. One of the key lessons that I learned from them, which you have so ably pointed out in this article, is the strategic/operational impact of a key battle in changing the course of a war.
Thanks!
It's an excellent, informative and comprehensive piece, thank you very much.
I would really like to read about is a similarly enlightening analysis on the current "game" played by the Biden administration by delaying F16 training and delivery to Ukarine as well as ATACAMs delivery. It's beyond my comprehension what is their (US) objective with imposing these delays.
Luckily for the Union and the future US, Meade took over from Hooker three days before the battle as Lincoln tried to find a General who would actually fight Lee, rather than dance around him. Meade wasn’t that guy either. He let Lee’s forces get away.
Just a technical note that Malware Bytes considers this link to the YouTube animated video a phishing risk. https://link.sbstck.com/redirect/eae5755d-b6c6-4750-b8c6-1ffa01292af8?j=eyJ1IjoiMTJ3cmpmIn0.opNuASgCd31WRmIULfnEgdEq4n7SBQVtPkal8nwyP-c
I suspect it's just a generic response to a redirect.