Quote:
Originally Posted by Holly6
AC has done a nice job of explaining, what to us, must seem a military oxymoron.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Holly6
As a military device, the emblem of a regiment was used for communication and motivation. The former said "where are they" to command amid the confusion and smoke/dust that was a CW battlefield. The latter was bloody, but simple. Who could show the "white feather" when the silk they swore fealty towards, was going forward?
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It also make it easier for the Regiment to follow the Colonels Commands in the heat of Battle. He was at the center of the Regiment, either behind or in front depending on his sanity/courage, and could give the commands for the color guard to follow. For the men at the ends of Regiment, a hundred yards or more away, who had no way of hearing the colonel of the sounds of battle could follow the flags.
This also could cause problems. If I am not mistaken Manasass was lost in the way I am thinking. In the heat of battle one regiment may fall back under heavy fire, for various reasons, even when they are about to gain the enemy position. The men on the flanks of the adjoining Regiments, who were no more than a few yards away at most, would see this and either think that it was a command for the entire Brigade or forget which flank they were on (since the flags would be about equidistant from them) and begin to fall back as well. This reaction could snowball and cause entire attacks to crumble in seconds when they were at the point of almost certain victory.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Holly6
But how many of them had the time to ponder their decision?
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Probably not many. It was one of those split second decisions. They see the flag go down and lunge to carry it aloft before it could hit the ground. Ironically one of the men killed as a Color Bearer in the 26th charge volunteered to take the flag from Colonel Burgwyn but was almost immediately killed. Burgwyn grabbed it back but was shot through the lungs as he turned and held the flag aloft to urge the men on.