Good point. But Hood was able to retreat with his basic army structure intact. It fell apart during the retreat due to straggling and desertion, but I suggest that’s a good bit different from what happened to the losing armies at Austerlitz, Jena or Waterloo.
No doubt you have seen the famous map of Napoleon’s army in Russia.
That passes for destroying an Army too. I would like to see a similar map of Lee’s army retreating from Richmond.
No doubt you have seen the famous map of Napoleon’s army in Russia.
That passes for destroying an Army too. I would like to see a similar map of Lee’s army retreating from Richmond.
http://www.thirdwave-websites.com/blog/minard-napoleon-Google-Protovis.jpg
May be a better image.
Note the degrees were per Reamur, different from Farenheit or Celsius. The problem was it was unseasonably warm, and the rivers hadn’t frozen, so crossings were more difficult than expected.
Also, on the way out Nappy took his time, waiting for the surrender he was sure would come after each battle. On the way back he rushed, and fighting fewer battles, lost much to desertion (and repopulated the households whose husbands and fathers had been killed in battle on the way out.)
Hood went in to the Nashville campaign with 38,000 men, not counting Forrest. He lost about 20,000 of those men, in killed, wounded, captured, or deserted. 52.6% losses (not counting Forrest)
At Austerlitz, Napoleon’s opponents had 85,000 men, of which 27,000 were killed, wounded or captured. 31.7% losses
Thomas compares favorably in the percent of casualties inflicted on his enemy. He almost compares to Blenheim.
At the battle of Blenheim, Duke of Marlborough, his opponents began with 56,000 men and lost 20,000 killed wounded or drowned. with another 14190 captured. 61% losses.
