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Thought this might be of interest for thoughts on how to act before 1864 and possibly after.
From the Atlanta Southern Confederacy, April 6, 1864.
Firing in Battle
A Captain of a Mississippi Company in the army of Tennessee, writing to the Atlanta Register, throws out some excellent suggestions on this important matter, which we hope will go the rounds of the press.
I have tried to write an article and have failed, now I ask you to write it and insert it in your valuable paper and sign it as coming from a company commander of the above brigade, asking the cooperation of all the company commanders of the army of Tennessee on the following points: Teaching the men in battle to aim their pieces with more accuracy, and the great importance of being cool and collected, and wait until the enemy are within easy range; exhort them all to act together in the next battle, and go into it with that idea prominent in the minds, and try for once to impress it upon the minds of each man to deliver his piece as if he was firing at a target. I feel the greatest necessity of this, and I am confident that if we can get even one volley fired in this way, we can whip any number the enemy can bring against us. If you were never in a battle, you would not guess that there were half the random shots fired that there are. Why, sir, I have seen whole regiments and brigades deliver their fire when I am sure that they did not even wound a single man. Such firing, besides wasting ammunition, does not intimidate the enemy at all; on the other hand, it makes them feel that there is little danger, consequently, he is more bold, and delivers his fire more accurately; besides, if men are allowed to make those random shots, it becomes a habit, and they become so excited at it that they would oftener miss a man at ten paces than they would hit him. Just in that way battles are often lost and won, while the company commander, if he would only stop it and show them that they were doing no good, they would soon become collected, and after they once saw their folly, would soon, of their own accord, fire deliberately and probably save the day after it had been comparatively lost.
Why, sir, in battle you often see company commanders charging around, with their swords flourishing around their heads, crying out give it to them, boys, give it to them, manifesting in themselves and creating in others all the excitement possible; now a second thought would show to their better judgement that they were doing more harm than good, for men become so exited under such circumstances, that they wouldmiss an elephant at ten steps. You often see the above blustering around then the enemy are at least off at the distance of the one thousand yards, and to hear the roar of musketry and the excited commanders, you would think they would soon come to a hand to hand contest. What is it that excites a man in battle? Why, it is the danger. If you shoot at a man once, he is very much excited; shoot at im a hundred times and miss him every time, and all his fear and excitement is gone; but reserve your fire until you can do some execution, and when they come, fire into them; cut his clothes, would his neighbor, kill the second man from him, and let him see it, and I tell you seventy five Yankees out of every hundred will break and run, and then a charge, with our infernal yell, and the day is ours.
Another very imporant point, after we have whipped and routed the enemy; Let us all resolve to keep each and every man in his place, ready to follow up our advantage and secure the fruits of the victory; not such things as we can get from the dead and wounded; but first of all prisoners, and then his artillery, wagon trains, etc.
Oh! let us do it by all means; we can do it; and let us all determine to act together, and the result will be (not as it was at Chickamauga, half the army scattered over the battlefield, pillaging the dead and wounded) but a victory as never was known to our arms, and may give us back Tennessee, (the glorious old State) in place of a few greenbacks, haversacks, old pocket knives, and just such trash as was the fruits of Chickamauga, where the bones of many of our noble and brave boys lie bleaching on the plains. I wish I could command every company separately in the next fight, or I wish I could write so as to stir them up.
From the Atlanta Southern Confederacy, April 6, 1864.
Firing in Battle
A Captain of a Mississippi Company in the army of Tennessee, writing to the Atlanta Register, throws out some excellent suggestions on this important matter, which we hope will go the rounds of the press.
I have tried to write an article and have failed, now I ask you to write it and insert it in your valuable paper and sign it as coming from a company commander of the above brigade, asking the cooperation of all the company commanders of the army of Tennessee on the following points: Teaching the men in battle to aim their pieces with more accuracy, and the great importance of being cool and collected, and wait until the enemy are within easy range; exhort them all to act together in the next battle, and go into it with that idea prominent in the minds, and try for once to impress it upon the minds of each man to deliver his piece as if he was firing at a target. I feel the greatest necessity of this, and I am confident that if we can get even one volley fired in this way, we can whip any number the enemy can bring against us. If you were never in a battle, you would not guess that there were half the random shots fired that there are. Why, sir, I have seen whole regiments and brigades deliver their fire when I am sure that they did not even wound a single man. Such firing, besides wasting ammunition, does not intimidate the enemy at all; on the other hand, it makes them feel that there is little danger, consequently, he is more bold, and delivers his fire more accurately; besides, if men are allowed to make those random shots, it becomes a habit, and they become so excited at it that they would oftener miss a man at ten paces than they would hit him. Just in that way battles are often lost and won, while the company commander, if he would only stop it and show them that they were doing no good, they would soon become collected, and after they once saw their folly, would soon, of their own accord, fire deliberately and probably save the day after it had been comparatively lost.
Why, sir, in battle you often see company commanders charging around, with their swords flourishing around their heads, crying out give it to them, boys, give it to them, manifesting in themselves and creating in others all the excitement possible; now a second thought would show to their better judgement that they were doing more harm than good, for men become so exited under such circumstances, that they wouldmiss an elephant at ten steps. You often see the above blustering around then the enemy are at least off at the distance of the one thousand yards, and to hear the roar of musketry and the excited commanders, you would think they would soon come to a hand to hand contest. What is it that excites a man in battle? Why, it is the danger. If you shoot at a man once, he is very much excited; shoot at im a hundred times and miss him every time, and all his fear and excitement is gone; but reserve your fire until you can do some execution, and when they come, fire into them; cut his clothes, would his neighbor, kill the second man from him, and let him see it, and I tell you seventy five Yankees out of every hundred will break and run, and then a charge, with our infernal yell, and the day is ours.
Another very imporant point, after we have whipped and routed the enemy; Let us all resolve to keep each and every man in his place, ready to follow up our advantage and secure the fruits of the victory; not such things as we can get from the dead and wounded; but first of all prisoners, and then his artillery, wagon trains, etc.
Oh! let us do it by all means; we can do it; and let us all determine to act together, and the result will be (not as it was at Chickamauga, half the army scattered over the battlefield, pillaging the dead and wounded) but a victory as never was known to our arms, and may give us back Tennessee, (the glorious old State) in place of a few greenbacks, haversacks, old pocket knives, and just such trash as was the fruits of Chickamauga, where the bones of many of our noble and brave boys lie bleaching on the plains. I wish I could command every company separately in the next fight, or I wish I could write so as to stir them up.
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