Comments on: The Worst Battlefield Blunders: Five Battles That Ended Badly

By: S. Craig

S. Craig — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:58:22 +0000

To quote Mr Russ L. Lightfoot – “,,,,,I would love to put a politican beside me with a m-4 in their hand and try to fight along side of me to take a room, building or whatever, they would cower in their hole…” I think any one of the following guys would love to join you – they all served their Country with distinction:

Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Jackson
Barack Obama
Bill Clinton
Dwight D Eisenhower
Franklin D Roosevelt
George H W Bush
George W Bush
George Washington
Gerald Ford
Grover Cleveland
Harry Truman
James Monroe
Jimmy Carter
John Adams
John F Kennedy
John Quincy Adams
Martin Van Buren
Richard Nixon
Ronald Reagan
Theodore Roosevelt
Thomas Jefferson
William H Taft
Woodrow Wilson

By: Russ L. Lightfoot

Russ L. Lightfoot — Tue, 05 May 2009 06:10:17 +0000

Let everyone in this site know, a critic is a critic! A military blunder for one side is a victory for the other. After serving in the US Army for 19 years and 3 combat tours in Iraq, it is easy to say who is a moronic leader and who is not. especially when some have not experienced war firsthand. Military history is there for us today to learn from past mistakes and not make them again. But, born leaders are not taught in war college or bred from 4 year colleges. Sadaam Hussein could be considered “the worst military leader”, but at the time he had the second largest army in the world and top of the line equipment from Russia. No one really knew what the outcome of Desert Storm would be: But it pitted technology against numbers, and technology won! Now, in fighting insurgents that blend in with the civilians, us as soldiers has no idea who the enemy is. We are not fighting uniforms. The problem with war nowadays, is not the leader, soldier or units that fight wars, it is our politicians and public opinion. “We have to be nice and civilized, we cannot tortue, even though it may save a soldier, who could be our husband, wife, daughter or son. To win a war, it takes whatever means necessary to win! Period! Vietnam was lost due to politicians and public opinion, we took ground and gave it back to the Viet Cong, today we are doing the same thing! We take a village, a town, a city and then give it right back to the insurgents. Us as soldiers goes back to our FOB, Foward Operating Base and start the process all over again. I feel the biggest blunder of all wars to end all wars, is our moronic politicians who make the decisions in the first place! As a professional soldier, who is my commander in chief? A civilian, (president of the united states) Who has no clue what it is like to get shot at, get blown up, or hold his best friend in his arms while they are dying! Blunders happen due to stupid decisions, arrogance and underestimating an enemy. No one can take away the bravery of the soldiers of all of history, it takes pure guts and being half way scared out of your mind to fight against someone who is trying to kill you. When a critic of military history can say which is a blunder or not, first experience war first hand and then, only then, can you comment on which is a blunder or not. Until, you have experienced death, smelled it, tasted it, have nightmares about it, then you can be an expert of military history. Politicans get us in wars throughout time, but once in, they dont have the heart of stomach to continue to victory, we have to back out and be nice and rebuild the country that started the war in the first place. Why? What about president Bush pulling out of Desert Storm after 100 hours? Their was nothing left of Sadaam’s Army, they were retreating and surrendering by the thousands, I was there! Due to politicians ignorance and it is running rampant today, over 4,000 soldiers have given the utmost sacrifice today in Iraq. If the politicans had the balls to finish the task the first place, those 4,000 would not of died for nothing! My point in this whole thing, Politicians is the biggest blunder of all military history/wars. Look at every war, within the US History, who started all our wars????? Politicians! I for one, want to run for politics, but I would be the one, that would take another politician outside and Beat the living hell out of them! Start kicking their ass once in awhile, and they might for a change start making the right decisions for our country for a change, and that is not just pertaining to military decisions. I live in Mississippi and have trained soldiers, sailors, airmen. ,marines combat operations for Iraq/Afghanistan for three years, I have also for 5 years been with a special operations unit doing worldwide missions. Start making our politicians accountable for their stupidity and future blunders of our millitary won’t happen as much. I am sorry for ranting, I would love to put a politican beside me with a m-4 in their hand and try to fight along side of me to take a room, building or whatever, they would cower in their hole.

By: John

John — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:54:07 +0000

Speaking as a Native-American I am only sorry that there was not more “Indian Unity” and cooperation, like at the little big horn, because Custer was NOT the only foolish arrogant white butcher in the U S Army/Cavalry at that time. We were probably more responsible for losing the west as they were for winning it. I firmly believe that almost any of Custer contemporaries on the field at that time would have been seduced into making the same fatal he did. Custer by no means held a monopoly on race based arrogance. And after all, how far could the U S Army gotten without their “Indian Scouts” help? And we saw how they were rewarded for their service to the U S. Talk about just deserts, and a bunch of idiots . . . .

By: Histogramics

Histogramics — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:34:47 +0000

I agree somewhat…. Custer may have had better performances before little big horn…but before you attack an opposing force of 2000 with 250 you run like hell the other way. his scouts had to inform him of the size of the American Indian camp… stupid move… cost him his life… every last man killed including him shows you how dumb the decision was…runaway!

By: Joe Hamilton

Joe Hamilton — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:50:48 +0000

There was no Civil War general who is more misrepresented than Ambrose Burnside. The attack at Marye’s Heights was planned as a diversion. The real attack was to be several miles away at the portion of the defense line held by Stonewall Jackson. General Meade then a division commander, pierced Jackson’s line as planned. The plan then called for Edwin Sumner’s Corp to expand the breach and force the confederates to retreat, inflict as many casaulties,etc . However, Sumner a McClellan groupie, said his orders weren’t “Clear”. So instead of expanding the breach, he did nothing. Meade could not hold the area where the line was breached with a single division. He was forced to retreat. It is true , Burnside did not possess the required “coolness” when things went wrong. He foolishly , after his good plan which would have won the battle was sabotaged, tried to win by repeatedly attacking Marye’s Heights. So McClellan’s sycophants helped the rebels win another battle as occurred at Second Manasses. Another factor overlooked by those who love to kick a man when he’s down was the fact that Burnside, had stolen a march on Lee and easily would have taken Fredericksburg, but for the minor detai of having to wait ELEVEN DAYS for pontoons to cross the Rappahanock. Of Course, by then, Lee’s army was totally concentrated on the other side of the river.

By: Derek

Derek — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:17:43 +0000

It’s a pity that The battle for Malaya (8th December 1941 – 10th
February 1042) was not included in this research of worst
battlefield blunders.

One would see how the British Lt.General Percival was defeated
by Lt. Gen Yamashita (The Tiger of Malaya) with a combat force
one third that of Percival’s.

Yamashita out thought and out maneuvred the GOC of the
Commonwealth forces in February 1942 into surrender despite
Percival having more ammo and provisions than Yamashita’s
forces.

By: hew byrd

hew byrd — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:34:08 +0000

the battle of the little big horn was basicly a draw. Custer blundered badly, but Benteen fought well and managed to save the day.
I do agree with James Graham and suggest that if you want to read about exciting Indian warfare checkout the woodland Indians.

By: Barney Cooney

Barney Cooney — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:34:02 +0000

Naming Custer’s defeat as a worst battlefield blunder is lame. He only lost 262 men! It wasn’t even the worst defeat to native forces in that decade. Chelmsford didn’t do as well in the Zulu war losing 1,200 in a single action two and a half years later.
Custer’s defeat is also paled by St. Claire’s losing one half of the U.S.Army 800 men in Nov 1792 to Miami Indians.

By: James D Graham

James D Graham — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:52:35 +0000

The comment that the British soldiers in WWI were “lions led by donkeys” was never said by any German general or one of any other nation. In recent years Cornelli Barnett (one of the masterminds behind the BBC’s wonderful history of WWI) has admitted that he made up the quote, which reflected his own views.

By: joe

joe — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:14:53 +0000

To JRS: perhaps you should research George Custer and his service during the Civil War. Specifically at Gettysburg and his actions against JEB Stuart’s attack that most likely won the battle for the Union. You can start your research with Lost Triumph written by Tom Carhart.”idiot and a P***y” thats strong words from someone who prob. couldent even water Custers horse.