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Here’s an article from Real Clear History which poses an interesting question and should make a great conversation starter!
Which Historic Battle would you most like to witness, and why?
I grew up with a love of American History. For me there’s at least a half dozen battles which have fueled my imagination and reading through the years.
Gettysburg, Antietam, The Battle of the Monongahela, Little Bighorn, all have fascinated me. I know what went wrong, where and why, because I’ve studied most everything I could get my hands on!
For me though, I believe my pick would take me to San Antonio in 1836.
The siege of The Alamo and books about it make up a decent chunk of my Nook space, and my bookshelves!
This got started with John Wayne’s movie and the book “13 Days To Glory” as a kid.
Travis, Bowie And Crockett have always been heroes to me.
The reason for my pick though is this. Despite all the film and ink dedicated to this, NO ONE can say with any certainty, what exactly took place!
We’re there survivors of the defenders? Did Travis draw a line in the sand? How many Texans exactly valued honor and freedom more than life itself?
These and other questions have captured the minds of us Amateurs and professional historians for a couple hundred years.
It’s fascinating history and serves as an inspiration to myself, several other ‘Campfire members and thousands of others!
7mm

Battle of the Supremacies ..

Jutland

That or the attack by TAFFY 3 against the Japanese battleships. That was gallantry.

Great topic.

I’ve always had some interest in history and wars. I’m not sure which I would choose but would probably lean towards Gettysburg for the overall significance that it played in American history.

You named some good ones. The Alamo, Gettysburg, the Little Bighorn, lots of legendary men and something that would be epic to have watched unfold from a birds eye view.

👍👍👍

7mm buster,

If you like the Alamo, and the area around San Antonio, I would suggest a bit of reading on a much much BIGGER battle. Matter of fact the largest engagement on North American soil until the 1861-65 conflict. That would be "Th Battle of the Medina”

Historic battles are the bailiwick of Victor Davis Hanson! Been reading him for 25 years!

Borodino - September 7, 1812. The battle has been described as watching a "fully loaded 747 crash every five minutes for eight hours". Had to get 100 years later to see greater levels of carnage.

Cannae - August 2, 216 BC. Around 70,000 Romans killed in about eight hours is beyond comprehension.

Same, the Alamo since I had an ancestor who was one of the Immortal32 and died there, George W. Tumlinson, 22. Had others that were Texas Rangers etc. during that time period. Old 300 family.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immortal_32

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Tumlinson-24

Austerlitz!

And a bit older


Leuthen!

After witnessing a little Afro drama at a gas station last week....I'm going with Rorkes Drift until I cool off a little.

Or maybe even Bembezi!!!😉

Yep


Chosin reservoir.

The Battle of San Juan Hill (or more historically correct, Kettle Hill).

Always been a fan of T. R. and the Rough Riders.

My sister worked at Bay Pines V.A. hospital in Tampa, and one of her patients was the last veteran of the Spanish-American War.

Midway

Hue City.

The history of the world is the history of war. War is incessant. "Only the dead have seen the end of war."

Although some have attributed this to Plato, there is no proof of his writing it. Actually, it is first seen in George Santayana's "Soliloquies in England" (Scribners, 1924, p. 102), Soliloquy #25, "Tipperary", in a section which reads: "Yet the poor fellows think they are safe! They think that the war is over! Only the dead have seen the end of war." Santayana does not attributes the saying to Plato, or anybody else for that matter

For what it is worth.

L.W.

My Dad was on the Yorktown at the Battle of the Coral Sea, on the Yorktown when she was sunk at Midway, on the West Virginia at Leyte Gulf/Surigao Straights and was part of the bombardment before the landings on Iwo Jima. The West Virginia was also right next to the Missouri when the Japs signed the surrender at Tokyo. So, for me it's Midway and Lete Gulf. He was elsewhere when Taffy 3 was attacked but that has to be one of the most heroic battles I ever heard of.

My father was at Surigao Strait on the Pennsylvania and a cousin recently deceased was on the Denver at Surigao. My father told me of all the swimming Jap sailors in the water after the battle but he didn't tell the whole story. My cousin told me the American ships machine gunned the swimmers. Which I imagine even then was unlawful.

Holy cow, you’re Old Man was in the thick of the war against Japan!
Surely a man I would love to meet!
7mm