[Cannoneer No. 4]

Crook stressed the importance of having healthy pack mules and horses, and he asked detailed questions about the animals. He had a passionate interest in the mules because he knew the success of any campaign, to a large extent, depended on them. He made it a point to know about the mules on every expedition, about their health and their eccentricities. The best men available were assigned to them.

George Crook's pack mules easily carried twice the load the army manual stipulated because he allowed only the best equipment to be used, and each pack saddle was tailored to fit each mule. He often spent an hour a day with the men and the mules, demonstrating scientific packing and how to check on the physical health of the mules. Therefore, Crook's troopers always had the ammunition they needed and his mule trains never failed in an emergency.

Amateurs study tactics. Professionals study logistics.

[Molly Pitcher]

How interesting!

Now your excerpt about the pack mules reminds me of something else:

The differences between Scott's and Amundsen's preparations for their South Pole expeditions, and...the VERY different outcomes.

Scott did not use the best animals for that hostile climate, and suffered terribly.

Amundsen chose the right pack animals - the dogs, I think...the particular names escape me! - and made history.

so in a different way, that story bears out your thesis Cannoneer...

Thanks for the tile, engrpat. I'll find it.

[Tallguy]

Crook's troopers always had the ammunition they needed and his mule trains never failed in an emergency.

A technique resurrected by Merrill's Marauders in the C-B-I Theater of WW2.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I wonder if the logic breaks down here:

The American Indian knew they were outnumbered by the white population. "White man is like the buffalo -- endless numbers".

The Islamist believes Muslims outnumber (or soon shall, "god" willing)the Infidels. They will fight on.

No strategy will defeat the Islamists. All we can do is hope to manage them. Even a "scorched earth", "glass parking lot" policy won't defeat them. They are with us until the end times.

In the line of work I do, I have said that "I'm in this fight until the last terrorist is reduced to a puff of pink mist". And I know I'll still be saying that when I'm 89, should the Lord tarry.

Amateurs study tactics. Professionals study logistics.

Tactics is what you do with the people, equipment, and supplies you have at the point of contact with the enemy. Logistics is having people, equipment, and supplies at the point of contact with the enemy. And strategy is winning without contacting the enemy where you don't have people, equipment, and supplies.

Washington won the revolution without doing much in the way of winning battles - but merely by maintaining his army in the field long enough. Which was logistics and strategy. Nathaniel Greene won his southern campaign by inducing Cornwallis to fight his war - thereby turning the logistical tables on him at the point of contact.