General Military Strategic,

Doctrinal, Operational, and

Leadership Concepts
Agenda
Key Theorists
Principles of War
Facets of the Operational Art
Forms of Maneuver
METT-TC
Strategy
Strategic Leadership
Key Theorists
Clausewitz
Jomini
Clausewitz
Carl von Clausewitz
Prussian officer born in 1780
Resigned his commission in
1812 and joined the Russian
Army to fight Napoleon
Ideas on war were heavily
influenced by the mass popular
warfare of the French
Revolutionary period and
Napoleons Prussian adversary
Gerhard von Scharnhorst
Died in 1831 and his wife
published his On War in 1832
Clausewitz
War is neither an art nor a science
It is a continuation of policy (or politics) by
other means.
A form of social intercourse
War is like a wrestling match
It is an act of force to compel our enemy to
do our will.
But it is not unilateral. It is a contest between
two independent wills.
Clausewitz
Used a trinitarian analysis consisting of (1) primordial
violence, hatred, and enmity; (2) the play of chance and
probability; and (3) wars element of subordination to
rational policy
Often loosely expressed as the people, the military, and the
government
Analyzed absolute war or war in theory, but then
noted that factors such as poor intelligence, chance,
friction, etc make war in practice different than war in the
abstract
Argued one should focus his military efforts against the
enemys center of gravity (Schwerpunkt)
Very important concept in American military doctrine
Jomini
Antoine-Henri Jomini (1779-1869) was
a Swiss military theorist who sought to
interpret Napoleon
Published the Summary of the Art of
War in 1838
Became the premier military-educational
text of the mid-nineteenth century and
greatly influenced Civil War generals.
Many a Civil War general went into battle
with a sword in one hand and Jominis
Summary of the Art of War in the other
(General J. D. Hittle)
Product of the Enlightenment
Very geometrical and scientific
approach to war
Stressed interior lines



Interior Lines
Interior
Lines
Exterior
Lines
Principles of War
Principles of War

British military officer J. F. C. Fuller developed a list
of principles based on the works of Clausewitz and
Jomini for use by the British Army in World War I
The US Army modified them and published its first
list in 1921
Objective
Offensive
Mass
Economy of force
Maneuver
Unity of command
Security
Surprise
Simplicity

Objective
When undertaking any mission, commanders should
have a clear understanding of the expected outcome
and its impact. Commanders need to appreciate political
ends and understand how the military conditions they
achieve contribute to them.
Ensure that all actions contribute to the goals of the
higher headquarters.
Example: Pemberton is going to have difficulty
determining if his objective is to defend Vicksburg or
defeat Grants army
Offensive
Offensive operations are essential to maintain the
freedom of action necessary for success, exploit
vulnerabilities, and react to rapidly changing situations
and unexpected developments.
Offensive actions are those taken to dictate the
nature, scope, and tempo of an operation.
Offensive action is key to achieving decisive results; it
is the essence of successful operations.
Example: Both Pemberton and Johnston are
defensively minded generals. Grant is exactly the
opposite.
Mass
Commanders mass the effects of combat power in time
and space to overwhelm enemies or gain control of the
situation.
Time: applies the elements of combat power against
multiple targets simultaneously
Space : concentrates the effects of different elements
of combat power against a single target
Example: McPherson will fail to mass his forces at
Raymond, instead piecemealing them into the battle
as they arrive.
Economy of Force
Commanders never leave any element without a
purpose. When the time comes to execute, all
elements should have tasks to perform.
Economy of force requires accepting prudent risk in
selected areas to achieve superiority in the decisive
operation.
Economy of force involves the discriminating
employment and distribution of forces.
Example: Pemberton will leave two divisions
guarding Vicksburg that could have been of better
use to him at Champions Hill.

Maneuver
As both an element of combat power and a principle
of war, maneuver concentrates and disperses combat
power to place and keep the enemy at a
disadvantage. It includes the dynamic, flexible
application of leadership, firepower, information, and
protection as well.
Achieves results that would otherwise be more costly
Keeps enemies off balance by making them confront new
problems and new dangers faster than they can deal with
them.
Example: One of the main themes of this course is that the
brilliance of Grants generalship is not the siege of Vicksburg
itself, but the maneuver that makes it possible.
Unity of Command
Unity of command means that a single commander
directs and coordinates the actions of all forces toward a
common objective.
Develops the full combat power of a force
Usually requires giving a single commander authority
Example: The Confederate departmental system will
hinder unity of command (and effort) at Vicksburg.
On the other hand, Grant and Porter will achieve
great unity of effort in a joint operation.
Security
Calculated risk is inherent in conflict. Security protects
and preserves combat power.
Does not involve excessive caution
Measures taken by a command to protect itself from
surprise, interference, sabotage, annoyance, and
threat
Example: Threats to the Federal lines of
communication from Van Dorn and Forrest will
markedly influence Grants conduct of the campaign.
Surprise
Surprise results from taking actions for which an enemy
or adversary is unprepared.
It is only necessary that the enemy become aware too
late to react effectively.
Contributions to surprise include speed, information
superiority, and asymmetry.
Example: Grants preliminary efforts to take
Vicksburg between Dec 1862 and Apr 1863 are all
failures, but they do serve to keep Pemberton
guessing as to the ultimate Federal intent.
Simplicity

Plans and orders should be simple and direct. Simple
plans executed on time are better than detailed plans
executed late.
Clear and concise plans cut down on
misunderstandings
Example: The frontal assault is the simplest, but
often the most costly, form of maneuver. Lawler
successfully used the frontal attack at Big Black River.


Facets of the Operational Art
Facets of Operational Art
Synergy
Simultaneity and depth
Anticipation
Balance
Leverage
Timing and tempo
Operational reach and approach
Facets of Operational Art (cont)
Forces and functions
Arranging operations
Centers of gravity
Direct versus indirect
Decisive points
Culmination
Termination
Facets of Operational Art
Synergy
Seek combinations of forces and actions to achieve
concentrations in various dimensions, all culminating in attaining
the assigned objective(s) in the shortest time possible and with
minimum casualties
Example: Grants efforts will combine pressure on Vicksburg
from both land and naval forces.
Simultaneity and depth
Place more demands on adversary forces than can be handled
both in terms of time and space
Example: Griersons raid against the Southern Railroad east of
Jackson will cause Pemberton to almost completely ignore
Grants move down the west side of the Mississippi River.
Facets of Operational Art
Anticipation
Remain alert for the unexpected and opportunities to exploit the
situation
Example: Pemberton completely misjudges Grants intentions
and fails to anticipate Grants crossing at Bruinsburg.
Balance
Maintain the force, its capabilities, and its operations in such a
manner as to contribute to freedom of action and responsiveness
Example: Pemberton completely fails to achieve balance by
being constantly distracted by Grants diversions.
Facets of Operational Art
Leverage
Gain, maintain, and exploit advantages in combat
power across all dimensions
Example: Grants siege of Vicksburg caused
Pemberton to have to deal with not just military, but
civilian considerations as well.
Timing and tempo
Conduct operations at a tempo and point in time that
best exploits friendly capabilities and inhibits the
adversary
Example: Once Grant crosses the Mississippi he
moves with such speed that Pemberton is left
paralyzed.
Facets of Operational Art
Operational reach and approach
The distance over which military power can mass
effects and be employed decisively
Example: Grants decision to cut loose from his base
of supplies allows him to fight a war of maneuver.
Forces and functions
Focus on defeating either adversary forces or
functions, or a combination of both
Example: Grants victory at Jackson isolates
Pemberton from any potential support from Johnston.
Grant effects both Confederate forces
(reinforcements) and functions (logistics).
Facets of Operational Art
Arranging operations
Achieve dimensional superiority by a combination of
simultaneous and sequential operations
Phases: Deter/engage, Seize initiative, Decisive operations,
Transition
Example: Grants preliminary attempts, his maneuver, his
assaults on Vicksburg, and ultimately the siege combine to
produce a logical line of operation.
Centers of gravity
Those characteristics, capabilities, or sources of power from
which a military force derives its freedom of action, physical
strength, or will to fight
Destroying or neutralizing adversary centers of gravity is the
most direct path to victory
Example: Grant cuts Pembertons lines of communication to
supplies and reinforcements.
Facets of Operational Art
Direct versus indirect
To the extent possible, attack centers of gravity directly, but
where direct attack means attacking into an opponents strength
seek an indirect approach
Example: Grants preliminary attempts such as the Yazoo Pass
are all indirect approaches that try to avoid directly confronting
Vicksburgs strong river defenses.
Decisive points
Usually geographic in nature, but can sometimes be key events
or systems
Give a marked advantage to whoever controls them
Keys to attacking protected centers of gravity
Example: Victory at Champion Hill guarantees Grants success
in the campaign by forcing Pemberton to withdraw to Vicksburg.
Facets of Operational Art
Culmination
Point in time and space at which an attackers combat power no
longer exceeds that of the defender or the defender no longer
can preserve his force
Example: Grant starves Pemberton into submission through his
siege.
Termination
Military operations typically conclude with attainment of the
strategic ends for which the military force was committed, which
then allows transition to other instruments of national power and
agencies as the means to achieve broader goals
Example: The surrender of Vicksburg gives the North control of
the Mississippi River. Grant agrees to parole the 30,000
Confederates so as not to encumber his lines of communication
with prisoners and to conclude the siege before Johnston might
arrive to support Pemberton.
Forms of Maneuver
Forms of Maneuver
The five forms of maneuver are the
envelopment,
turning movement,
infiltration,
penetration, and
frontal attack.

Envelopment
Envelopment
The envelopment is a form of maneuver in which an
attacking force seeks to avoid the principal enemy
defenses by seizing objectives to the enemy rear to
destroy the enemy in his current positions.
Envelopments avoid the enemy front, where he is
protected and can easily concentrate fires.
Single envelopments maneuver against one enemy
flank; double envelopments maneuver against both.
Either variant can develop into an encirclement.
Example: Gregg attempts an envelopment at Raymond
but is confused and overwhelmed by McPhersons larger
force
Turning Movement
Turning Movement
A turning movement is a form of maneuver in which
the attacking force seeks to avoid the enemy's
principal defensive positions by seizing objectives to
the enemy rear and causing the enemy to move out
of his current positions or divert major forces to
meet the threat.
A major threat to his rear forces the enemy to attack or
withdraw rearward, thus "turning" him out of his
defensive positions.
Turning movements typically require greater depth than
other forms of maneuver.
Example: Grant turns Grand Gulf by crossing at
Bruinsburg and seizing Port Gibson
Infiltration
Infiltration
An infiltration is a form of maneuver in which an
attacking force conducts undetected movement
through or into an area occupied by enemy forces
to occupy a position of advantage in the enemy
rear while exposing only small elements to enemy
defensive fires
Typically, forces infiltrate in small groups and reassemble to
continue their mission.
Infiltration rarely defeats a defense by itself. Commanders
direct infiltrations to attack lightly defended positions or
stronger positions from the flank and rear, to secure key
terrain to support the decisive operation, or to disrupt enemy
sustaining operations.
Example: Running the gauntlet (?) (Probably better
described as a penetration)
Penetration
Penetration
A penetration is a form of maneuver in which an
attacking force seeks to rupture enemy defenses
on a narrow front to disrupt the defensive system.
Commanders direct penetrations when enemy flanks are not
assailable or time does not permit another form of maneuver.
Successful penetrations create assailable flanks and provide
access to enemy rear areas.
Because penetrations frequently are directed into the front of
the enemy defense, they risk significantly more friendly
casualties than envelopments, turning movements, and
infiltrations.
Example: Porter successfully runs the gauntlet of the
Vicksburg batteries and takes a position south of the city to
support Grants operation.
Frontal Attack
Frontal attack
The frontal attack is frequently the most costly form of
maneuver, since it exposes the majority of the attackers to
the concentrated fires of the defenders.
As the most direct form of maneuver, however, the frontal attack is
useful for overwhelming light defenses, covering forces, or
disorganized enemy resistance.
It is often the best form of maneuver for hasty attacks and meeting
engagements, where speed and simplicity are essential to
maintain tempo and the initiative.
Commanders may direct a frontal attack as a shaping operation
and another form of maneuver as the decisive operation.
Example: Grant will make two failed frontal assaults on Vicksburg
before resorting to a siege.
Maneuver and Tempo of
Operations
1862
Oct Nov Dec
1863
J an Feb Mar Apr May J un
End
TN/KY
Campaign
March
Down
River
C
a
m
p
a
i
g
n

Port
Gibson
Raymond Jackson
Champion
Hill
Big
Black
River
1 May 12 May 14 May 16 May 17 May
Bayou Expeditions First Offensives
Siege
Millikens
Bend
Youngs
Point
Port Gibson
Rodney
Jackson
Raymond
Edwards Vicksburg
N
Bruinsburg
Snyders (Haynes)
Bluff
Chickasaw Bayou
Champion Hill
Grand Gulf
Willow Springs
Vicksburg
Campaign Overview
Scale
(miles)
0
10
Route of
Grants Army
Scale
(miles)
0
10
Millikens
Bend
Youngs
Point
N
March To Bruinsburg I
31 March-18 April

SPT
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
XX
For
XX
Lor
XX
Smi
Pemb
XXXX
McP
XXX
Sher
XXX
Grant
XXXX
Por
McC
XXX
SPT
New Carthage
Scale
(miles)
0
10
Millikens
Bend
Youngs
Point
N
March To Bruinsburg II
19-30 April

SPT
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
XX
For
XX
Lor
XX
Smi
Pemb
XXXX
Sher
XXX
McC
XXX
SPT
Bruinsburg
Rodney
McP
XXX
Por
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
1 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Bow
XX
For
XX
Lor
McP
XXX
Sher
XXX
McC
XXX
Port Gibson
XX
Stv
XX
Smi
Pemb
XXXX
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
2 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Bow
XX
For
McP
XXX
Sher
XXX
McC
XXX
XX
Stv
XX
Smi
Pemb
XXXX
XX
Lor
Big Bayou Pierre
Willow Springs
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
3 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Bow
Sher
XXX
XX
Stv
XX
Smi
XX
Lor
Big Bayou Pierre
McC
XXX
SPT
McP
XXX
XX
For
Pemb
XXXX
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
4 May

SPT
SPT
Sher
XXX
XX
Smi
XX
Lor
Big Bayou Pierre
SPT
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
McC
XXX
McP
XXX
XX
For
Pemb
XXXX
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
5 May

SPT
SPT
Sher
XXX
XX
Smi
XX
Lor
Big Bayou Pierre
SPT
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
McC
XXX
McP
XXX
XX
For
Pemb
XXXX
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
6 May

SPT
SPT
Sher
XXX
XX
Smi
XX
Lor
Big Bayou Pierre
SPT
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
McC
XXX
McP
XXX
XX
For
Pemb
XXXX
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
7 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Smi
XX
Lor
Big Bayou Pierre
SPT
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
McP
XXX
XX
For
Pemb
XXXX
Sher
XXX
McC
XXX
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
8 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Smi
XX
Lor
Big Bayou Pierre
SPT
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
McP
XXX
XX
For
Pemb
XXXX
Sher
XXX
McC
XXX
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
9 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Smi
XX
Lor
Big Bayou Pierre
SPT
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
McP
XXX
XX
For
Pemb
XXXX
Sher
XXX
McC
XXX
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
10 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Smi
XX
Lor
Big Bayou Pierre
SPT
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
McP
XXX
XX
For
Pemb
XXXX
Sher
XXX
McC
XXX
Edwards
Gr
X
Raymond
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
11 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Smi
XX
Lor
SPT
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
McP
XXX
XX
For
Pemb
XXXX
Sher
XXX
McC
XXX
Edwards
Gr
X
Raymond
Wa
X
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
12 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Smi
SPT
XX
Bow
McP
XXX
XX
For
Pemb
XXXX
Sher
XXX
McC
XXX
Edwards
Gr
X
Wa
X
XX
Stv
XX
Lor
Bovina
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
13 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Smi
SPT
XX
Bow
McP
XXX
XX
For
Pemb
XXXX
Sher
XXX
McC
XXX
Gr
X
XX
Stv
XX
Lor
Bovina
John
XXXX
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
14 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Smi
SPT
XX
Bow
McP
XXX
XX
For
Sher
XXX
McC
XXX
Gr
X
XX
Lor
Bovina
John
XXXX
Pemb
XXXX
XX
Stv
Raymond
Champion
Hill
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
15 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Smi
SPT
McP
XXX
XX
For
Sher
XXX XX
Lor
Bovina
John
XXXX
Raymond
McC
XXX
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
16 May

SPT
SPT
XX
Smi
SPT
XX
For
Sher
XXX
XX
Lor
Bovina
John
XXXX
Raymond
McC
XXX
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
McP
XXX
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
17 May

SPT
SPT
SPT
XX
For
XX
Lor
John
XXXX
Raymond
McC
XXX
XX
Stv
McP
XXX
Sher
XXX
XX
Smi
XX
Bow
Jackson
Scale
(miles)
0
10
N
Campaign of Maneuver
18 May

SPT
SPT
SPT
XX
Lor
John
XXXX
Raymond
McC
XXX
McP
XXX
Sher
XXX
Jackson
Pemb
XXXX
SPT
XX
Smi
XX
For
XX
Bow
XX
Stv
McC
XXX
McP
XXX
Sher
XXX
Siege of Vicksburg
1 0 Miles
N
Stockade Redan
Fort Hill
Railroad Redoubt
3d Louisiana Redan
METT-TC
METT-TC
Mission
Enemy
Terrain and Weather
Troops and Equipment
Time
Civilians
Mission
Seize Vicksburg in order to control the
Mississippi River and separate the
Confederacy in two
Enemy
Pemberton
Five divisions totaling 43,000 effectives
Pemberton fell under Johnstons
Department of the West
Represents some potential for a relief force
No ironclads and only a few wooden
gunboats

Terrain
Vicksburg located astride the
railroad that linked Shreveport,
LA (and thus the three states
west of the river) to the eastern
transportation network
Line of bluffs that dominated
the river favored defense
Northeast and west of
Vicksburg was wetland that
would inhibit offensive
movement
Troops
Army
Grant has a maneuver
force of ten divisions
(44,000 effectives)
Navy
Porters Mississippi
River Squadron has
about 60 combat
vessels of which 20 to
25 would support the
Vicksburg operation at
any one time


Time
Pemberton has ample time to prepare his
defense
Grant needs to attack before his supplies
run out and before Johnston can reinforce
Once the siege begins, time benefits the
offense
Civilians
About 5,000 live in
Vicksburg
Pemberton is
responsible for their
well-being
Other civilians along
the Mississippi River
pose a guerrilla threat
to the Federal Navy
Potential source of
intelligence



Strategy
Strategy
Strategy is the pursuit, protection, or
advancement of national interests through
the application of the instruments of power
Instruments of power (DIME)
Diplomatic
Informational
Military
Economic
Strategy
Strategy is about how (way or
concept) leadership will use
the power (means or
resources) available to the
state to exercise control over
sets of circumstances and
geographic locations to
achieve objectives (ends) that
support state interests
Strategy = Ends (objectives)
+ Ways (course of action) +
Means (instruments)
Ways to employ means to
achieve ends
Strategy
End
Deny Federal use of the Mississippi River
Way
Interdict river traffic at Vicksburg
Mean
Pembertons force at Vicksburg

Traditional Military Strategies
Attrition
The reduction of the effectiveness of a
force caused by loss of personnel and
materiel
Exhaustion
The gradual erosion of a nations will or
means to resist
Annihilation
Seeks the immediate destruction of the
combat power of the enemys armed forces
Strategic Leadership
Strategic Leadership Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Communicating
Using Dialogue
Negotiating
Achieving Consensus
Building Staffs
Strategic Leadership Skills
Conceptual Skills
Envisioning
Developing Frames of Reference
Dealing with Uncertainty and Ambiguity

Strategic Leadership Skills
Technical Skills
Strategic Art
Leveraging Technology
Translating Political Goals into Military
Objectives
Strategic Leadership Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Communicating
When you first reached the vicinity of Vicksburg, I never had
any faith, except a general hope that you knew better than I,
that the Yazoo Pass expedition, and the like, could succeed.
When you got below, and took Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, and
vicinity, I thought you should go down the river and join
General Banks; and when you turned northward east of the
Big Black, I feared it was a mistake. I now which to make the
personal acknowledgement that you were right and I was
wrong.
Lincoln to Grant
Strategic Leadership Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Using Dialogue
Pemberton prefers to command behind the scenes and has little
direct communication with his soldiers or subordinate commanders
Negotiating
Grant and Porter are able to achieve Army-Navy cooperation in the
absence of a hierarchical command relationship
Achieving Consensus
Pembertons superiors, Davis and Johnston, do not achieve
consensus on the proper strategy and give Pemberton conflicting
guidance
Building Staffs
Grant will draw great benefit from his logistical staff that will keep
him resupplied after he cuts loose from his base
Strategic Leadership Skills
Conceptual Skills
Envisioning
Success at Raymond convinces Grant to shift his decisive
point from the Confederate railroads to Jackson, which will
allow him to isolate Vicksburg from reinforcements.
Developing Frames of Reference
Pemberton brings from Charleston a dictum that he must not
do anything to leave Vicksburg vulnerable.
Dealing with Uncertainty and Ambiguity
This is Pembertons chief failure. He is continually left
guessing by Grants diversions and maneuver and is always
a couple steps behind.

Strategic Leadership Skills
Technical Skills
Strategic Art
Control of the Mississippi would separate the Confederacy
into two halves and controlling Vicksburg would give the
North control of the Mississippi
Leveraging Technology
At the time of the Vicksburg Campaign, the Confederacy has
no ironclads. The Federal Mississippi River Squadron
included thirteen ironclads.
Translating Political Goals into Military Objectives
The Anaconda Plan was rejected as a military strategy
because it failed to meet the political objective for a quick,
offensive war.
Impact of Mexican War
Limited War
Turning Movement
Technology
Junior Officers

Limited War: Winfield Scott
Epitomized the
professional officer
Served in War of 1812,
brevetted to major
general
Studied European
tactics
Became general-in-
chief in 1841
Selected by President
Polk to lead a second
major campaign in
Mexico (Zachary
Taylors was the first)


Limited War: Objective
Objective as a principal of war
When undertaking any
mission, commanders
should have a clear
understanding of the
expected outcome and its
impact
Commanders need to
appreciate political ends and
understand how the military
conditions they achieve
contribute to them.
Winfield Scott saw Mexico as a
war of limited objectives, to be
waged by limited means

Limited War: Objective
Based on this belief, Scott developed a
largely political strategy
Believed that Mexican political life centered
around Mexico City so completely that
capturing the capital would paralyze the
country and oblige the Mexican government
to sue for peace in order to remain a
government at all
Therefore his objective was to capture
Mexico City, not to destroy the Mexican army

Limited War: Treatment of Civilians
Scott conducted his campaign with strict regard
for the rights of the Mexican citizens, making
every effort to confine bloodshed and suffering
to the Mexican army rather than the civilian
population.
He scrupulously regulated his soldiers conduct
and interaction with Mexican civilians, reducing
contact to the minimum necessary for the
sustenance of his army and the morale of his
troops.
Limited War: Treatment of Civilians
But, my dear Sir, our militia & volunteers, if a tenth of
what is said to be true, have committed atrocities
horrorsin Mexico, sufficient to make Heaven weep, &
every American, of Christian morals, blush for his
country. Murder, robbery & rape of mothers &
daughters, in the presence of the tied up males of their
families, have been common all along the Rio Grande.
Truly it would seem unchristian & cruel to let loose upon
any peopleeven savagessuch unbridled persons
freebooters, &c., &c.
Scott writing the Secretary of War after visiting Taylors army
(Weigley, History, 187-188).

Limited War
Scott will carry his ideas about limited war into
the Civil War with his Anaconda Plan
Many Federals, such as George McClellan, will
advocate a strategy of conciliation toward the
Confederacy
Such an approach will be rejected and the Civil
War will become increasingly total
Popes General Orders
Emancipation Proclamation
Conscription
Suspension of some civil liberties
Shermans March to the Sea
Limited War: Changing Times
while Scott was the preeminent military strategist of
the first half of the nineteenth century, he occupied a
lonely plateau in more senses than one: that at the
zenith of his powers he was already a museum piece, a
soldier of an age gone by whose perceptions of war and
strategy had little influence on most of the very West
Point graduates whose service in Mexico he so
fulsomely praised, because the young graduates
inhabited a new world of very different values from
Scotts, the military world of Napoleon (Russell Weigley,
American Way of War, 76).
Turning Movement
Scott conducts
amphibious
landing at Vera
Cruz and must
then move by land
to Mexico City
along a
predictable, well-
defended avenue
of approach
Wants to avoid
frontal assaults by
maneuver
Turning Movement
Maneuver
As both an element of combat power and a principle
of war, maneuver concentrates and disperses combat
power to place and keep the enemy at a
disadvantage
Achieves results that would otherwise be more costly
Keeps enemies off balance by making them confront
new problems and new dangers faster than they can
deal with them
The form of maneuver that Scott is going to rely
on in Mexico is the turning movement
Turning Movement
In a turning movement the
attacking force seeks to
avoid the enemy's principal
defensive positions by
seizing objectives to the
enemy rear and causing the
enemy to move out of his
current positions or divert
major forces to meet the
threat.
A major threat to his rear
forces the enemy to attack
or withdraw rearward, thus
"turning" him out of his
defensive positions.
Turning Movement: Cerro Gordo
Scott wants to avoid
a costly frontal
assault so he has
Robert E. Lee and
other engineers recon
a possible route
around Santa Annas
flank
Lee finds a way to
outflank the
defenders, and Scott
executes the first of
several flanking
movements in his
march to Mexico City.

Turning Movements and the Civil
War
The Mexican War created an informal,
unwritten tactical doctrineto turn the
enemy. (Archer Jones)
Civil War battles and campaigns that involved
turning movements include the Peninsula
Campaign, Second Manassas, and Vicksburg
Nonetheless the Civil War will also include
many costly frontal attacks such as
Fredericksburg and Picketts Charge

Technology: Rifles
Two things that make
these frontal attacks
so costly are the rifled
musket and the Minie
Ball
A few volunteer units
like the Mississippi
Rifles had rifles in
Mexico, but the
Regular Army
stubbornly held to
smoothbore muskets
At Buena Vista, Jefferson
Davis commanded the
Mississippi Rifles to Stand
Fast, Mississippians!
Technology: Changing Times
By the time of the Civil War,
the rifled musket and the
Minie ball will cause a change
in military tactics
The defense will gain strength
relative to the offense
Artillery will loose its ability to
safely advance close to the
enemy and breach holes in
defenses
Close-order formations will
become dangerously vulnerable
Technology: Other Examples
Steam-powered
ships
Ironclads
Telegraph
Railroads
Balloons
Junior Officers: Rehearsal for the
Civil War
Approximately 194 Federal
generals and 142
Confederate generals
previously served in Mexico
Lee, Jackson, Hill, Pickett,
Longstreet, Beauregard,
Bragg, etc
Meade, Grant, Kearney,
McClellan, Hooker, Pope,
McDowell, etc
Junior Officers: Impact of West
Pointers
In 1817, Sylvanus Thayer replaced
Captain Alden Partridge as
superintendent of West Point and
began reversing the damage
Partridge had done.
Thayer broadened and
standardized the curriculum,
established a system to measure
class standing, organized classes
around small sections, improved
cadet discipline, created the office
of commandant of cadets, and
improved military training.

The Father of the
Military Academy
Junior Officers: Impact of West
Pointers
By the time of the Mexican
War, Thayers reforms had
produced a generation of men
who would fill the junior
officers ranks in Mexico.
These lieutenants and
captains stood in sharp
contrast to the older officers
who had not benefited from a
systematic military education
and training.
The impact of Thayer and
West Point was readily
apparent in Mexico.

West Point was founded in
1802 and was instrumental in
training engineers in the 19
th

Century
Junior Officers: Impact of West
Pointers
Winfield Scott called his West Pointers his little
cabinet
Scott was unwavering in his acknowledgement
of West Pointers declaring,
I give it as my fixed opinion that but for our graduated
cadets the war between the United States and Mexico
might, and probably would, have lasted some four or
five years, with, in its first half, more defeats than
victories falling to our share, whereas in two
campaigns we conquered a great country and a
peace without the loss of a single battle or skirmish.

West Pointers in the Civil War
West Pointers will play a key role in the
Civil War
151 Confederate and 294 Federal generals
were West Point graduates
Of the Civil Wars 60 major battles, West
Pointers commanded both sides in 55
A West Pointer commanded on one side in
the other five

Grant and Pemberton
A more conscientious, honorable man never lived. I
remember when a general order was issued that none of
the junior officers should be allowed horses during
marches. Mexico is not an easy country to march in.
Young officers not accustomed to it soon got foot-sore.
This was quickly discovered, and they were found
lagging behind. But the order was not revoked, yet a
verbal permit was accepted, and nearly all of them
remounted. Pemberton alone said, No, he would walk,
as the order was still extant not to ride, and he did walk,
though suffering intensely the while.
Grants recollection of Pemberton in Mexico
Grant and Pemberton
Grant claimed that his
recollection of this
incident would convince
him at Vicksburg that
Pemberton would not
easily yield.
This I thought of all the
time [Pemberton] was in
Vicksburg and I outside of
it; and I knew he would
hold on to the last.
Grant as a lieutenant in Mexico
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Federal Forces
Confederates Forces
Illinois State Memorial
Mississippi State Memorial