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Having fought a devastating civil war I think America qualifies as having fought in total war.Quote:
Originally Posted by DexDexter
I believe we didn't equal the amount of casualties during that conflict alone, from all other wars we were involved in combined untill The First Iraq War. :dozey:
The American civil war was devastating, of that there is no question. But it was still more leaned towards the older type of limited conflict, of large armies fighting it out on battlefields. There were aspects of total war in there, but they were not all encompassing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazio
I beg to disagree my man! :vader:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark
You need to bone up on your American Civil War History. Pay close attention to Sherman’s march to the sea. Talk about a people willing to fight to the death. Southern prisoner of war camps that made Russia look like “Club Med" There was nothing left of the Confederacy. Scorched Earth Policy that made what the Germans did to Western Russia look like Something Wade would do to the street in front of his house. :s ailor:
Actually, More American's died in the US Civil War than in any other war, and it isn't even clos.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazio
First Iraq war? The US lost maybe 4000 casaulties in all those years in Iraq....That many died in Pickett's charge at Gettysburg......
The US Civil War was a TOTAL war. The most lethal conflict of that century.....and the first war where the civilians were in the crosshairs, as it was mentioned. Sherman's March to the Sea and the sacking of Columbia SC later on was as vicious as anything seen in years...
Ok Mark you misunderstood my comment (which was awkwardly worded) let me try again:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
There were more U.S, casualties in "The American Civil War" than in all other US wars combined up until that number was reached during the first gulf war. You’re dealing with an American over here, one that is your elder! ;) :s ailor:
BTW This was my mother's (who considered herself a tremendous patriot) favorite poem.
Barbara Frietchie
Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn,
The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.
Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple and peach tree fruited deep,
Fair as the garden of the Lord
To the eyes of the famished rebel horde,
On that pleasant morn of the early fall
When Lee marched over the mountain-wall;
Over the mountains winding down,
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.
Forty flags with their silver stars,
Forty flags with their crimson bars,
Flapped in the morning wind: the sun
Of noon looked down, and saw not one.
Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;
Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag the men hauled down;
In her attic window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet,
Up the street came the rebel tread,
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.
Under his slouched hat left and right
He glanced; the old flag met his sight.
'Halt!' - the dust-brown ranks stood fast.
'Fire!' - out blazed the rifle-blast.
It shivered the window, pane and sash;
It rent the banner with seam and gash.
Quick, as it fell, from the broken staff
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf.
She leaned far out on the window-sill,
And shook it forth with a royal will.
'Shoot, if you must, this old gray head,
But spare your country's flag,' she said.
A shade of sadness, a blush of shame,
Over the face of the leader came;
The nobler nature within him stirred
To life at that woman's deed and word;
'Who touches a hair of yon gray head
Dies like a dog! March on! he said.
All day long through Frederick street
Sounded the tread of marching feet:
All day long that free flag tost
Over the heads of the rebel host.
Ever its torn folds rose and fell
On the loyal winds that loved it well;
And through the hill-gaps sunset light
Shone over it with a warm good-night.
Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er,
And the Rebel rides on his raids nor more.
Honor to her! and let a tear
Fall, for her sake, on Stonewalls' bier.
Over Barbara Frietchie's grave,
Flag of Freedom and Union, wave!
Peace and order and beauty draw
Round they symbol of light and law;
And ever the stars above look down
On thy stars below in Frederick town!
John Greenleaf Whittier
I can only go by what I read....but that is ok. I am glad you clairified it....and you are correct.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazio
I just am a big reader and fan of US Civil War history...but the first thing you learn when reading that is the slaughter that was that war....and it was the reason why the US had to be dragged kicking and screaming into WW1 and WW2. Unlike the European powers, Americans in 1914 knew what happens when you put masses of men in front of rapid firing weapons....
I took a course on the US Civil War at the university and from what I remember the medicine of the time didn't make the casualties any lower since they didn't know anything about, for example, hygiene.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
The U.S. forces suffered 148 battle-related deaths in the Persian Gulf War.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazio
Well no one really did back then. It was all thought about as the war went on though. The effort was made in the end.Quote:
Originally Posted by DexDexter
No...in many ways, it was the first modern war. First use of Ironclad's against each other, first real use of railways for logistics on a mass scale. First war to use a form of the machine gun (the Gatling gun saw action in the latter part of the war for the Union). First use of aviation (balloons) for artillery spotting.
What you see in WW1 was the height of what was started in Crimea and later in the US Civil War, or as my southern friends would say, the "War between the States"