Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Understanding The Civil War More Clearly

My eyes aren't that good.

hillbillybear,

Very interesting..

When the VC was first introduced, there was a policy to the effect it would not be awarded Posthumously.

This policy was not officially changed until 1902, which makes the VC awarded to your ancestor even more exceptional..

Regards,

Peter

I didn't know that about the VC award policy. Who would have had to approve such an award during this period?

This some great stuff. The kind of thing a historian lives for.

Thanks for the link.

I would imagine this has to be one of if not the first study of its type.

Boer War/WWI Trivia:

What later world famous peace activist served with the British forces in South Africa during the Boer War and later in WWI?

To be honest, I am not 100% sure..The War Office would have had the primary responsiblity, but I have no doubt that there was wider political considerations also meaning the Giovernment of the day may well have had a say..

IIRC, during the Boer War there were 5 or 6 times when this particular policy was waiverd before the policy was eventually overhauled completely.

Thanks for the info.

Not sure about WW1, but I believe Gandhi served as a mdeical orderly or stretcher bearer or similar in the Boer War?

It was the Mahatma. He served again in WWI.

An article on Gandhi and his military service:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ramchand-Gandhi/articleshow/44124189.cms

If I recall correctly, there was a paper produced by an American surgeon on treating bullet wounds in the Spanish-American war, but I don't believe he had access to an x-ray machine.

I will do a little digging around and see if I can locate the Spanish American War report.

Anyone care to comment on M1909 Benet-Mercie MG?

They were hell on extractors and firing pins. And don't stick the ammo belt tab in upside down to load!!!!

But four MG teams at Columbus NM were able to expend over 20,000 Rounds the morning of Villa's raid.

The coolest read on the raid were the AAR's from the kitchen/mess hall. Seems the cooks and etc. all had shotguns for foraging and meat axes and cleavers for butchering. Not a pretty sight. They went medieval. And for the life of me I cannot remember the publication those reports are in. But I bet they could be located pretty easy.

What was the total casualty count on the Columbus Raid?

Another side note. Mexican Revolution related. All those Krag Cavalry carbines that didn't end up in some hollyweird whse were "sold" by prez Wilson to Carranza's forces! Keep Carranza happy so he wouldn't invade Texas. He was in agreement on the plan of San Diego. That is until the US recognized him as the official de facto prez of Mexico.

Casualty count is a hard one as Slocums gave Tompkins permissions on pursue the raiders. So there were actually several engagements

US losses were at 18. 8 soldiers, 10 civilians.

Raiders losses were between 175-200.

But who knows as to how many wounded died later in Mexico.

Tompkins and his 15 mile pursuit with a troop of his 13th Cav. Counted 100 dead in their action. Some put the count of bodies in Columbus proper at a total raider dead at 67.

Archie Frost, his wife, and 6 month old baby drove their Dodge touring car thru a hail of rifle fire and made it to Deming. He wife was hit and wounded by one bullet. They could see see smoke of the burning town in Deming but had no clue what was going on. When they found out the first relief force to arrive in Columbus was I company 1st regt NMNG. They arrive the next afternoon. I believe they got their in private vehicle. They were leg infantry unit. This was the local NG unit out of Deming.

The action was a textbook example of small unit leadership. Just about the entire officers cadre was in El Paso for a polo match (convient!), junior officers and NCO's answered the call and established a defensive position and successful counter attack with minimal losses.

This is a pretty good read on the Columbus Raid and mentions the cooks and Benet-Mercie:

http://www.battlefieldreview.com/Columbus.asp

Wilson the Pacifist Democrat. Bah Humbug