This great resource was shared to me by the always excellent research of Ethan Whitehall. We were talking last night and agreed this will be a regular part of Berdan drill next year. More information can be found in the book: Battle Tactics of the Civil War.
During the closing phase of Sunday's "Battle of the Crater" (at the Jackson Cascades Park), members of Company B employed a maneuver that while novel to them, had been a proven tactic that was used by the original Sharp Shooters in many actions. However, unlike the thoroughly regimented evolutions for the deployment of skirmishers, the "Indian Rush" harkens back to a much earlier period of our Nation's history. Like the title suggests, this style of fighting was effectively employed by Native Americans against British and American troops. The Indian's application of loose formations, rapid maneuvering, taking advantage of natural terrain for cover, and coolly delivering a constant fire (of arrows or musketry), was very effective in keeping European army columns immobile and on the defensive (both tactically and psychologically). Then in a final "rush" the warriors would overwhelm their enemies with a rapid application of tomahawk, knife or war club. This approach was effective with General Braddock during the French-Indian War of 1763 right up to the defeat of Gen. G. A. Custer at Little Big Horn 113 years later.
It did not take long before American frontiersmen/soldiers adopted this style of fighting themselves and employed it against both Indian, British, and Mexican troops. While not officially "taught" in the training manuals of the day, this maneuver allowed small bodies of troops to rapidly assault an entrenched enemy while sustaining few casualties and maintaining cohesive fighting force.
The approach requires at least a platoon of men (roughly 25-50 depending upon the strength of the unit). After the commanding officer has fixed the position to be attacked, one half of the men will begin to take the enemy position under AIMED rifle fire. This is to keep the enemy's heads down and to further discourage them by deliberately picking off those that expose themselves to return fire. This is not to say everybody in the first squad fires a volley. Rather, each Sharp Shooter will aim and fire at those SPECIFIC locations where they know an enemy soldier or small concentration of soldiers is hidden. It is not essential to kill or wound the enemy, but to keep their heads down behind cover and prevent them from observing or responding effectively to the threat.
Once the first squad opens fire, the second squad waits for the order to advance from the commanding NCO or junior officer. With the signal (bugle, whistle or voice command), the ENTIRE SQUAD rushes ahead for a prescribed distance and goes prone or takes cover. To keep men from becoming exhausted, the distance is usually limited to short sprints of 25-50 yards. Immediately upon arriving on the assigned point, the second squad members aim their rifles at the position that is under fire, and with the command to "Commence firing", take deliberate fire at any movement they see there.
As second squad begins firing, the first squad is ordered to "Cease Fire", and "Load". Now it is their turn to run PAST second squad and proceed another 25-50 yards ahead before dropping prone or taking a stand behind cover.
The best way to understand this approach is to simplify it and visualize how two comrades in arms perform "Advance Firing". At the order, the front rank partner fires and the rear rank man advances 10 paces beyond him. As the rear rank man takes his stand and prepares to fire, the front rank man is already moving forward and (if he is a Berdan) loading until he takes a new position 10 paces beyond his comrade. The entire process proceeds like a game of "leap-frog" until the order is given to halt.
Let's look at some examples where the Sharp Shooters employed the Indian Rush in actual combat. Probably the best-documented use of this maneuver was during the pre-noon hours of July 3, 1863. In a unique turn of events, all three Michigan companies of the 1st Regiment U.S. Sharp Shooters (C, I, K); were assigned to defend this valuable position, (the rest of the 1st and 2nd USSS were moved North to cover 6th and 2nd Corps). Captain James H. Baker was the battalion commander charged with defending Little Round Top.
Across the valley from Little Round Top is a large rock formation now called Devil's Den. Located at the southern end of Houck's ridge, it is roughly 300 yards from the lower slope of Little Round Top. A marsh and small stream (Plum Run) separate the two land features. Following the furious fighting on July 2nd, rebel sharpshooters took up positions among the rocks and outcroppings of Devils Den to pick off officers (they killed Gen. Weed and Hazlett) artillerymen manning the battery or unwary infantrymen on the crest of Little Round Top. Orders came down to the Michigan men, scattered behind boulders at the foot of Little Round Top, to silence them. The Michigan Sharp Shooters spent much of the morning was carefully locating and exchanging shots with them. While effective with individual rebels, there were some concentrations of rebels whose volume and accuracy of fire could not be silenced.
Finally, having expended a great deal of ammunition, it was determined to stop the rebel firing at all hazards. For this purpose Sgt. Richard W. Tyler (Co. K) and a detail of 20 men were sent forward. Steven's reports; "With a rush these brave fellows ran across the marsh, and having routed the enemy's pickets in front of the hill, closed in upon them capturing the entire party". The captured men belonged to (Col. Manning's) the 3rd Arkansas, and were "caught in the cave, a number being wounded, and they assured our men that their fire from the Little Round Top had made them prisoners all day".
While important information is left out of this account, we can surmise that while Sgt. Tyler's party advanced over the marshy ground, the remaining +80 Sharp Shooters (not to mention artillery and infantry fire from Little Round Top) would have put down an effective screening fire to prevent return fire by the confederates. What is also implied is that the Sharp Shooters gradually moved forward, using the numerous protruding boulders as cover until they were near enough for a final dash to close with the Rebels and overwhelm them. Stevens suggests this action effectively ended concentrated rebel resistance in Devil's Den. Earlier, Lt. E.A. Wilson and Co. C. "cleared the front of LRT of the enemy's sharpshooters", resulting in the capture of 31 rebels. And most likely employing the same tactics used later in the day by Sgt. Tyler.
I have found the above accounts fascinating and have explored LRT and DD extensively during my visits to Gettysburg. Two seasons ago, Dan Wambaugh and I conducted an impromptu "Indian rush" from the boulders at the foot of LRT, across the swamp and Plum Run to the outlying rocks of Devils Den, just to see how much time it would have taken a Sharp Shooter to travel that distance. I believe it came to something around 20 seconds. However, what has always puzzled me is Steven's description where the main body of rebel sharpshooters was hidden in a "cavern" or "hole in the rocks". Certainly there are a couple cramped openings in the northeast face of Devil's Den where individual Rebel sharpshooters secreted themselves. These men were later discovered killed by the USSS, but could not be buried due to the swollen state of the bodies. They were left where they lay until nature did its work and the bones later buried in a common grave.
During the closing phase of Sunday's "Battle of the Crater" (at the Jackson Cascades Park), members of Company B employed a maneuver that while novel to them, had been a proven tactic that was used by the original Sharp Shooters in many actions. However, unlike the thoroughly regimented evolutions for the deployment of skirmishers, the "Indian Rush" harkens back to a much earlier period of our Nation's history. Like the title suggests, this style of fighting was effectively employed by Native Americans against British and American troops. The Indian's application of loose formations, rapid maneuvering, taking advantage of natural terrain for cover, and coolly delivering a constant fire (of arrows or musketry), was very effective in keeping European army columns immobile and on the defensive (both tactically and psychologically). Then in a final "rush" the warriors would overwhelm their enemies with a rapid application of tomahawk, knife or war club. This approach was effective with General Braddock during the French-Indian War of 1763 right up to the defeat of Gen. G. A. Custer at Little Big Horn 113 years later.
It did not take long before American frontiersmen/soldiers adopted this style of fighting themselves and employed it against both Indian, British, and Mexican troops. While not officially "taught" in the training manuals of the day, this maneuver allowed small bodies of troops to rapidly assault an entrenched enemy while sustaining few casualties and maintaining cohesive fighting force.
The approach requires at least a platoon of men (roughly 25-50 depending upon the strength of the unit). After the commanding officer has fixed the position to be attacked, one half of the men will begin to take the enemy position under AIMED rifle fire. This is to keep the enemy's heads down and to further discourage them by deliberately picking off those that expose themselves to return fire. This is not to say everybody in the first squad fires a volley. Rather, each Sharp Shooter will aim and fire at those SPECIFIC locations where they know an enemy soldier or small concentration of soldiers is hidden. It is not essential to kill or wound the enemy, but to keep their heads down behind cover and prevent them from observing or responding effectively to the threat.
Once the first squad opens fire, the second squad waits for the order to advance from the commanding NCO or junior officer. With the signal (bugle, whistle or voice command), the ENTIRE SQUAD rushes ahead for a prescribed distance and goes prone or takes cover. To keep men from becoming exhausted, the distance is usually limited to short sprints of 25-50 yards. Immediately upon arriving on the assigned point, the second squad members aim their rifles at the position that is under fire, and with the command to "Commence firing", take deliberate fire at any movement they see there.
As second squad begins firing, the first squad is ordered to "Cease Fire", and "Load". Now it is their turn to run PAST second squad and proceed another 25-50 yards ahead before dropping prone or taking a stand behind cover.
The best way to understand this approach is to simplify it and visualize how two comrades in arms perform "Advance Firing". At the order, the front rank partner fires and the rear rank man advances 10 paces beyond him. As the rear rank man takes his stand and prepares to fire, the front rank man is already moving forward and (if he is a Berdan) loading until he takes a new position 10 paces beyond his comrade. The entire process proceeds like a game of "leap-frog" until the order is given to halt.
Let's look at some examples where the Sharp Shooters employed the Indian Rush in actual combat. Probably the best-documented use of this maneuver was during the pre-noon hours of July 3, 1863. In a unique turn of events, all three Michigan companies of the 1st Regiment U.S. Sharp Shooters (C, I, K); were assigned to defend this valuable position, (the rest of the 1st and 2nd USSS were moved North to cover 6th and 2nd Corps). Captain James H. Baker was the battalion commander charged with defending Little Round Top.
Across the valley from Little Round Top is a large rock formation now called Devil's Den. Located at the southern end of Houck's ridge, it is roughly 300 yards from the lower slope of Little Round Top. A marsh and small stream (Plum Run) separate the two land features. Following the furious fighting on July 2nd, rebel sharpshooters took up positions among the rocks and outcroppings of Devils Den to pick off officers (they killed Gen. Weed and Hazlett) artillerymen manning the battery or unwary infantrymen on the crest of Little Round Top. Orders came down to the Michigan men, scattered behind boulders at the foot of Little Round Top, to silence them. The Michigan Sharp Shooters spent much of the morning was carefully locating and exchanging shots with them. While effective with individual rebels, there were some concentrations of rebels whose volume and accuracy of fire could not be silenced.
Finally, having expended a great deal of ammunition, it was determined to stop the rebel firing at all hazards. For this purpose Sgt. Richard W. Tyler (Co. K) and a detail of 20 men were sent forward. Steven's reports; "With a rush these brave fellows ran across the marsh, and having routed the enemy's pickets in front of the hill, closed in upon them capturing the entire party". The captured men belonged to (Col. Manning's) the 3rd Arkansas, and were "caught in the cave, a number being wounded, and they assured our men that their fire from the Little Round Top had made them prisoners all day".
While important information is left out of this account, we can surmise that while Sgt. Tyler's party advanced over the marshy ground, the remaining +80 Sharp Shooters (not to mention artillery and infantry fire from Little Round Top) would have put down an effective screening fire to prevent return fire by the confederates. What is also implied is that the Sharp Shooters gradually moved forward, using the numerous protruding boulders as cover until they were near enough for a final dash to close with the Rebels and overwhelm them. Stevens suggests this action effectively ended concentrated rebel resistance in Devil's Den. Earlier, Lt. E.A. Wilson and Co. C. "cleared the front of LRT of the enemy's sharpshooters", resulting in the capture of 31 rebels. And most likely employing the same tactics used later in the day by Sgt. Tyler.
I have found the above accounts fascinating and have explored LRT and DD extensively during my visits to Gettysburg. Two seasons ago, Dan Wambaugh and I conducted an impromptu "Indian rush" from the boulders at the foot of LRT, across the swamp and Plum Run to the outlying rocks of Devils Den, just to see how much time it would have taken a Sharp Shooter to travel that distance. I believe it came to something around 20 seconds. However, what has always puzzled me is Steven's description where the main body of rebel sharpshooters was hidden in a "cavern" or "hole in the rocks". Certainly there are a couple cramped openings in the northeast face of Devil's Den where individual Rebel sharpshooters secreted themselves. These men were later discovered killed by the USSS, but could not be buried due to the swollen state of the bodies. They were left where they lay until nature did its work and the bones later buried in a common grave.
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