Military Thinking was Euro-centric during the War between the States Who influenced the South, and the North?

Answer 1

Although there were only two "military schools" in the United States at the outbreak of the war (West Point in New York and VMI in Virginia), the man who most influenced the military thinking of both the North and the South was the American Dennis H. Mahan. His book "Advanced Guard ... with the Essential Principles of Strategy and Grand Tactics" was the standard text for both schools.

West Pointers, however, had also been exposed (in somewhat inaccurate translations) to both Jomini and Clausewitz. The latter had come into vogue only after Helmuth von Moltke became chief of the Prussian General Staff in 1857. (Even in the days, before Sadowa and Sedan, German military thought was important to military men thanks to Fredrick the Great and Marshall Bulcher.)

Answer 2

You are absolutely correct in stating that military thinking was Euro-centric. The most obvious military influence was Napoleon Bonaparte. Many of his ideas: close packed columns for attack, great, and complex, turning movements, even uniforms were copied by the Union and Confederate forces. As others have mentioned, the fact that commanders on both sides attended West Point, and had Mexican War experience, drove them to emulate the same tactics. At least, for the first few years of the war. After say the winter of 1861-62, most senior commanders on both sides realized that with the new rifled musket, and untrained troops (or at least not trained to the level of pre-war regulars), that Napoleonic tactics would have to be modified.

Answer 3

Generals from the North and the South were educated at the same institution (USMA) and served in the same army prior to 1860.

So there was little differentiation between North and South - i.e., one didn't fight English style, and the other French style.

But there was still a lot of influence from the Napoleonic wars, which had ended only 45 years before our Civil War.

Answer 4

This is absurd. Neither side was heavily influenced by military thinkers from Europe, as the numbers initially engaged were far too small. ( 10'000 at Bull Run Manassas, compared to 150'000 at Waterloo, and 600'000 at Leipzig) The North did have several Prussian military advisors, eg Sigel.

The troops lined up and shot at each other, as columns would have been cannon fodder. Also their uniforms were far more dour, apart from the absurd Zouave outfits on both sides. There were no major cavalry charges, rather the cavalry acted more like mounted infantry (as they should)

Europe OTOH failed to learn many lessons from the Civil War, including trench warfare (eg Petersburg), railways, telegraphs....

Answer 5

If you are talking about the American Civil War then the South was influenced by the French and were begging them for support. The North was influenced by England, they wanted to sustain what they had worked so hard to create and perserve it at any cost.

Answer 6

Both sides were influenced by the Swiss writer and theorist Jomini. He insisted on the importance of capturing the enemy capital, which is why such a lot of the fighting took place between Richmond and Washington. It's arguable that this was a mistake.

Answer 7

i think the french continued to influence the north, as alot of descendants still remembered the revolution. but england more or less sided with the south for cotton and had a bigger influence there

Answer 8

If you are going to ask homework questions on here, disguise them a bit, hmm???