UK/Irish History

» Travelsleuth - The Logistics of 18th Century Warfare

The logistics of first transporting an army overseas and then supplying it for a protracted campaign in hostile territory were never adequately solved before the 20th century - and then only at appalling expense and considerable risk of failure.

Once Cornwallis's adversaries eschewed the option of pitched battles for guerilla tactics of harrassment, his defeat was surely inevitable in the long run, given the inability of King George's navy to keep the Atlantic sea roads open and maintain a constant supply of men, arms and provisions.

-- posted by Travelsleuth

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» Joseph Allen McCullough - The Logistics of 18th Century Warfare

In response to The Logistics of 18th Century Warfare posted by Travelsleuth:

I'm not sure I would say his defeat was inevitable. I think there were two strategies he could attempt. In the end, he tried for a quick crushing victory. Had Cornwallis been able to wipe out Greene's army at Guildford Courthouse, as well as win a few other battles it is possible he could have demoralized the southerns enough for them to surrender. Obviously this didn't work. He could have also tried a slower passification strategy, but since he didn't we can never really say how effective this would have been.

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