tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post4657695606864126556..comments2024-03-27T15:59:11.066+00:00Comments on Prometheus in Aspic: The Battle of Montgomery, 18th Sept 1644 - PreambleMSFoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-38045159222125990392016-08-25T07:02:23.943+01:002016-08-25T07:02:23.943+01:00Excellently expressed, sir - the re-wording of my ...Excellently expressed, sir - the re-wording of my "Raw" category should be an appropriate euphemism for "Outside the Bell-Curve".<br /><br />I got an interesting email from Vance, who suggested that the veteran soldiers in the Royalist attack were getting carried away with success when they suddenly remembered they had the useless fellow Lord John Byron in charge, and they had never yet won under him - in addition, Byron is believed to have been a long way from the sharp end, standing with the reserve, carefully guarding the siege trenches.MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-601748162405257982016-08-25T06:55:21.179+01:002016-08-25T06:55:21.179+01:00I'm sure this is true. I recall in the "B...I'm sure this is true. I recall in the "Band of Brothers" TV movies, the longer guys survived in the war the more they felt it would be a shame to be killed after getting so far. The Marie-Louises of 1814, sadly, seemed to have gone to their deaths with more enthusiasm than was expected. MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-51108285063392829352016-08-25T06:51:51.728+01:002016-08-25T06:51:51.728+01:00These words are always tricky - whatever this work...These words are always tricky - whatever this work becomes, it will still mean "unit has a yellow counter". Maybe "Raw or Disillusioned" would be a better classification in the rules. MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-87874703145891872092016-08-25T06:49:18.669+01:002016-08-25T06:49:18.669+01:00Thanks for this, very much. I was sent the photo, ...Thanks for this, very much. I was sent the photo, with a note that the river was in the trees in the foreground. A dangerous place, the Internet! I repaired the caption. I'm struggling a bit, using my tablet for blog work on holiday - it's like standing on a tightrope while cooking lunch. One big lack at present is I don't yet have an app to re-size pictures, so am reliant on other people's efforts!MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-35695453115017086202016-08-25T06:44:19.132+01:002016-08-25T06:44:19.132+01:00Thanks Jon - I may well be in touch...Thanks Jon - I may well be in touch...MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-89529816791662141072016-08-25T06:43:26.414+01:002016-08-25T06:43:26.414+01:00Hi John - I do intend to go back and try again - i...Hi John - I do intend to go back and try again - if I give you plenty of warning, perhaps you could show me round the place. Forthcoming Helion book is on my radar - written by the guy who did a very nice work on ECW in Shropshire.<br /><br />Running out of ammo is a very interesting shout indeed - only reason to reject that as a possibility is that it seems unlikely that none of the Royalist accounts mention it, and it would have been a valuable excuse, I think. Interesting.<br /><br />I'll get back to this in a couple weeks or so. MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-85569189833218846212016-08-25T02:28:22.477+01:002016-08-25T02:28:22.477+01:00Without bothering to go back and do the research, ...Without bothering to go back and do the research, I recall that during and after WW2 leaders reached the view, since validated by modern research, the soldiers have a definite bell-curve type effectiveness. Newbies facing combat for the first time are either reckless or liable to shock. With a little experience they become effective fighters, clever enough not to get shot but willing to take the fight to the enemy. Then after a period in combat they become risk averse. Plain fatigue, the accumulation of psychological stress, and a feeling that it's someone else's turn all play a part.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12086521005933108090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-23649520765140312382016-08-23T22:38:43.500+01:002016-08-23T22:38:43.500+01:00What John said about ACW veterans hits the nail on...What John said about ACW veterans hits the nail on the head for me. This is one of my favourite quotes on the subject.<br />‘”What a pity!” some officers say. “The only troops we have are recruits!” As for me, I love the recruits. They do not know what danger is, and they stand up manfully in their first battle.’ (De Ligne quoted in Duffy, The Military Experience in the Age of Reason.<br />nundankethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12895608927860103442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-45971737180447855842016-08-23T16:27:07.985+01:002016-08-23T16:27:07.985+01:00One could always come up with an alternate name fo...One could always come up with an alternate name for such troops when being used as Raw, such as Battle Fatigued, Worn, fragile or hopefully something better. <br /><br /> Won't change how the rules work but will sound better in write ups.Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04053555991679802013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-80224089540890537002016-08-23T09:10:41.396+01:002016-08-23T09:10:41.396+01:00Very informative post, will be following with inte...Very informative post, will be following with interest. <br /><br />That photograph is taken from the castle itself, looking north towards Welshpool, the road is the B4388 with Offa's Dyke running roughly parallel to the right, you can't really tell from the photo but you can from the real location. The town of Montgomery is to the east, or to be precise slightly behind and little to the right if you were standing taking the photo.<br /><br />The battle took place the middle distance. If you look at the map the photo was taken at the northern tip of the castle:<br />http://www.olivercromwell.org/britain_images/montgomery/montgomery.htm Ubique Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04595735455445658424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-68409854172466391772016-08-23T01:36:43.542+01:002016-08-23T01:36:43.542+01:00Ah, you flatter me, sir! I look forward to your r...Ah, you flatter me, sir! I look forward to your replay of Montgomery. We found it to be an enjoyable situation. In my replays, current tally stands at one victory apiece. Turned out to be an even contest under Baroque.<br /><br />I'll help you out a bit if you are tempted to review my thoughts. My two posts are:<br /><br />http://palousewargamingjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/battle-of-montgomery-18-sep-1644.html<br /><br />http://palousewargamingjournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/ecw-battle-of-montgomery-batrep.html<br /><br />Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-84432538543286735692016-08-22T18:19:57.670+01:002016-08-22T18:19:57.670+01:00I reckon there is a fairly good Phd to be had look...I reckon there is a fairly good Phd to be had looking at the 'Irish' army and why it failed to have the impact expected on the war. It certainly won't be me writing it though.<br /><br />A book on Montgomery coming this year from Helion that I am looking forward to.<br /><br />I wonder whether the Royalists may have run out of ammunition? There was a convoy of munitions seized a few weeks before.<br /><br />Thinking of the ACW veteran often means self preserving rather than dashing. <br /><br />I have walked the field and castle quite a few times and I would recommend it, have a look at Stokesay Castle while your in the area.<br /><br />Looking forward to seeing more.johnpreecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05548014163096067684noreply@blogger.com