H103: Limited War in the Eighteenth Century

1. H103: Limited War in the Eighteenth Century

2. New Paradigm Armies “The strength of well-disciplined armies lay not in the motivation or prowess of individuals, but in the capacity for collective action.” - Dr. Christopher DuffyMilitary Experience in the Age of Reason

3. 18th Century Warfare – Limited War? • Age of Absolute rulers - “Soldier Kings” • Competitive states - “Expand or Die” • Controlled conflict a “rational” response to a “zero sum” game • Dynastic vs. National Armies • Armies supported through taxation and centrally controlled mercantilism • Armies beginning to grow in size • Linear tactics/volley fire w/muskets • Schools, doctrines, and theorists

4. 18th Century Infantry Weapons Effectiveness Results of a test with Prussian muskets on a 6 x 100 foot sheet with number of hits out of 100 shots: “Fusil” Musket (ROF: 2 - 5 x Minute) 80 yards 160 yards 240 yards 320 yards 46 32 32 21 “Jager” Rifle (ROF: ~ 1 x Minute) No Bayonet – Scour Bore Clean Every 5 - 8 Rounds

5. Prussian Infantry Drill • Change direction and front simultaneously • Shift formation over broken terrain • Fire by platoon • Skirmishers • “Marching and shooting machine”

6. Cavalry Tactics • Rest of Europe: • Many armies mixed cavalry with infantry on battlefield • Trend toward equipping cavalry with firearms • Prussia: • Cavalry completely separated • Principal weapon was saber; only Dragoons had firearms • Shock action on battlefield; reconnaissance off battlefield

7. 18th Century Artillery Train Mortar Maximum Range - 1,400 yards Effective Range - 750 yards Gun Maximum Range (Shot) - 2,000 yards Effective Range (Shot) - 1,000 yards Effective Range (Grape) < 500 yards

8. “Culture of Forebearance”(or: “Limited” War is Relative) “My flank man’s head was blown off, and his brains flew in my face. My spontoon [short pike] was snatched out of my hand, and I received a canister ball on my gorget, smashing the enameled medallion. I drew my sword, and the tassel of the sword knot was shot away. A ball went through the skirts of my coat, and another knocked my hat aside, stripping the knot from the band in the process.” - Prussian Lieutenant Hulsen Battle of Zorndorf, 1757

9. Fortifications as Strategic Sites • Close points of entry into kingdom • Facilitate attack upon enemy territory • C2 means of communication (roads/rivers) • Store supplies for future operations • Refuge for local populace or beaten Army • Place for King to store treasury • Defend/Secure acquired territory Maastricht & Liege: 80,000 men for 2 months

10. “Enlightened” View of Soldiers & Warfare “The men of the Enlightenment no longer accepted war as the necessary destiny of mankind… War was the result of mistaken laws, false perceptions, and vested interests, and if the world were ruled and organized by clear-sighted men who understood the true nature of human and social behavior, it need never occur.” - Sir Michael Howard War in European History

11. “Prussian” Discipline • Recruits treated with patience • Harsh discipline for trained soldiers • Progressive, sequential training • Emphasis on the essentials • Speed, not precision, sought

12. Limited Warfare? • Limited only by comparison to previous century and next century (i.e., memory of 30 Year War) • Curb international anarchy - “law of nations” • Rules and procedures - “articles of war” • Accumulate territory to expand - do battle only if necessary • Huge armies limited by logistics - “seasonal warfare” an influencing factor Or : “Total War for Limited Objectives”?