Friday, January 26, 2018

Corunna.

This is coolbert:

"Lord Bacon observes, that 'honorable retreats are no ways inferior to brave charges, as having less of fortune, more of discipline, say as much of valor'. That is an honorable retreat in which the retiring general loses no trophies in fight, sustains every charge without being broken, and finally, after a severe action re-embarks his army in the face of a superior enemy, without being seriously molested. It would be honorable to effect this before a foe only formidable from numbers, but it is infinitely more creditable, when the commander,, while struggling with bad weather and worse fortune, has to oppose veterans with inexperienced troops, and to content against an antagonist of eminent ability."  - - Sir John Napier, "Napiers's Peninsular War." That subject again the reverse amphibious operation.

Amphibious operations [from the sea to land] without question [?] the most difficult of military operations. The reverse amphibious operation [land to the sea] and while under pressure from the enemy therefore even more difficult?

As it was at Dunkirk, as it was at Inchon, before that was also at Corunna?

The British retreat from Corunna as commanded by Sir John Moore.

"The Battle of Corunna . . . took place on 16 January 1809, when a French corps under Marshal of the Empire Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult attacked a British army under Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore . . . and caused the British army to withdraw to the coast following an unsuccessful attempt by Moore to attack Soult's corps and divert the French army."

NOT NECESSARILY RETREAT OF ITSELF SO BAD BUT THE MANNER WITH THE RETREAT CONDUCTED AS IS THE QUESTION. IF DONE IN AN ORDERLY FASHION OK. IF DONE IN A DISORDERLY FASHION BAD!

The English at Corunna their retreat not wholly 100 % orderly but good enough and in cooperation with the Royal Navy [RN] allowing for the army to be saved. Live again to fight another day!

"In the resulting action, the British repulsed the French assault and completed their embarkation. They saved their army from destruction . . . During the battle, Sir John Moore, the British commander, was mortally wounded, dying after learning that his men had repulsed the French attacks."

In the entire history of warfare only [?] the United States and Great Britain have a demonstrated capacity to conduct a successful reverse amphibious operation? Bully for them!

coolbert.




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