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Fascinating insight Paintdog, thanks! I had no idea this had been suggested in 1862.
I guess that when better weapons (ie: firearms, preferably with bayonets) are not available, then pikes become the next/only other option if you want to have bodies of troops who are 'trained' (or being trained) to fight in some sort of formation. So, we have Prussian Landwehr in 1813, and some American militia units (or parts of) in 1776/77, Russian peasant militia circa 1812 etc
Back to 1862...and for that matter, periods before this: If I had the choice, I'd go with the kepi as headgear. I've never quite understood how you could go through pike drill wearing a broad-brimmed hat - or tricorne for that matter - without knocking the ****ed item off your head all the time!
Fascinating insight Paintdog, thanks! I had no idea this had been suggested in 1862.
I guess that when better weapons (ie: firearms, preferably with bayonets) are not available, then pikes become the next/only other option if you want to have bodies of troops who are 'trained' (or being trained) to fight in some sort of formation. So, we have Prussian Landwehr in 1813, and some American militia units (or parts of) in 1776/77, Russian peasant militia circa 1812 etc
Back to 1862...and for that matter, periods before this: If I had the choice, I'd go with the kepi as headgear. I've never quite understood how you could go through pike drill wearing a broad-brimmed hat - or tricorne for that matter - without knocking the ****ed item off your head all the time!
Gol'darn it! Minuteman.
I never figured you for a 'kepist'.
Kindly keep your Yankee Re-constructionist views to yore self!
I agree Mark. I have read a fair bit about the American Civil War, but had never come across this fascinating information. A real gem of information from a gem, thanks Donald.
Still, the contradiction about knowledge is that the more one knows the more you realise the less you know as the grey areas around established 'facts' become more evident.
In the old Red Badge of Courage movie they mentioned Union lancers which I had never heard of.
Now Rebel pikemen! I learn something new about history every day it seems.
An interesting idea.
All the best! Cappy
In the old Red Badge of Courage movie they mentioned Union lancers which I had never heard of.
Now Rebel pikemen! I learn something new about history every day it seems.
An interesting idea.
All the best! Cappy
Cappy, AFAIK it's true....something we're told is stranger than fiction.
I'm sure many of us have "collected" snippets of weird military facts.
Did you know the Duke of Wellington had affairs with two of Napoleon's ex-amours? Trying to prove something?