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GREENSBORO, NC - As one looks upon the site of the Battle of
Guilford Courthouse, the first impression on the senses is how quiet
and peaceful the park is. For the Soldiers of the 108th Training
Command (Initial Entry Training), the entrance to the park on the
cold, brisk morning of Feb. 6, 2016, gave little indication that it
was once the site of one of the most bloody and pivotal battles of
the Revolutionary War.
The visit was facilitated by Dr. Jay
Boyd and Allen Skinner, the command historians for the 81st Regional
Support Command (RSC) of the U.S. Army Reserve and Christopher Ruff,
curator for the National Museum of the U.S. Army Reserve. Ruff as
well as Jason Baum, a park ranger who works at the Guilford
Courthouse National Park, provided an extra air of historical
presence by wearing period correct Revolutionary War uniforms. Baum
also lent his extensive knowledge of the battle and how its sequence
of events unfolded.
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Cristopher Ruff, the Curator of the Army Reserve Museum shown
wearing a period correct Continental Soldier's uniform, explains
what took place during one of the closing moments of the Battle of
Guilford County Courthouse to leaders and Soldiers of the 108th
Training Command (IET) during their staff ride on February 6, 2016 at its site
in Greensboro, N.C., which is now a National Park. The staff rides
are training events used by staff members of the unit to learn
important lessons from the past in order to ensure success in future
conflicts. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Javier Amador)
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Visits to the sites of battles such as this one are
called staff rides. Capt. Ryan Williams, the G3 operations
officer organized this staff ride, which, coincidentally was
also his first. He explained its purpose.
“The staff
rides give you a contextual perspective of prior battles and
lessons learned, reviewing them, (seeing them as an)
opportunity to learn and see how our current staff sections
would have functioned back then. Each of the staff sections
briefed on their role or what their role would have been
back in that engagement.”
Williams also explained
and gave examples of what tasks were assigned to the staff
sections and why, using one staff section and their function
which is the provision of logistical support; or the flow of
supplies, services and information both to and from the
battlefield.
“For the most part, they were briefing
what their section was responsible for. For instance, (the)
G4 (logistics section) were responsible for logistics during
that battle and then we threw in key figures, individuals
within that battle itself, to provide a brief bio that would
kind of give us insight as to the actual people that fought
in that battle,” he said.
Much was also discussed
about what was or was not done well during the conflict and
how it affected its outcome, all important topics when
studying the history of past battles when the emphasis is on
what can be gained in order to avoid tactical mistakes and
to prevent unnecessary loss of life in future conflicts.
“The study of military history serves a couple of
purposes. First, a leader that fails to study the past will
repeat the same errors made by others,” said Skinner,
“Second, successful Commanders design their operations
around logistics and not the other way around.”
Capt.
Yolanda Mason is the readiness officer of the 108th and this
was also her first staff ride. Mason, originally from
Charlotte, North Carolina, was tasked with leading a
contextual discussion on the operational objective of the
battle, its lines of effort and the current considerations
as they relate to today's battlefield. Like Skinner, she
sees how much the success of a mission hinges on efficient
logistics.
Mason went on to relate what she learned
regarding the role logistics or, in this case, the lack
thereof played in the outcome of the battle.
“One of
the things that I did learn was that preparation and
planning are very important as far as the logistical part of
planning,” said Mason. "If they would have taken more time
on the logistical part then maybe the whole outcome of that
campaign as well as the Revolutionary War could have been
completely different.”
Skinner also concluded that
the British Army's poor planning of their logistics efforts
left them combat ineffective after the battle.
The
Battle of Guilford Courthouse was between the British Army,
which was led by their general, Lord Charles Cornwallis, and
Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Greene, who led an army numbering
approximately 4,500 American militia and Continental
soldiers on March 15, 1781. Cornwallis and his troops,
numbering about 1,900 combat hardened regulars as well as
some German allies were tasked by Cornwallis' commander,
King George III, to conduct a campaign in order to secure
South Carolina, an order which he chose to not obey.
Cornwallis prevailed at Battle of Guilford Courthouse after
Greene's troops retreated from the battle. The British
victory came at a heavy cost as the losses incurred along
with the tactical errors made by Cornwallis would play a
significant part, ultimately leading to his surrender at the
Battle of Yorktown in Virginia.
“Cornwallis won a
narrow tactical victory, but his campaign failed as he did
not follow the orders of his higher commander to secure
South Carolina,” Skinner said.
One the most
interesting facts learned by everyone present was the manner
in which some of the key people of the battle attained their
ranks. Mason, a former commander, shared that fact.
“What I learned was that back then, you could actually buy
your commission,” said Mason, “I had no clue that you could
do that (back then).”
As with all training conducted
by the Army, a special emphasis is placed on leaders sharing
the knowledge they gained with their subordinates so that
they also have everything possible to ensure they too, also
do not repeat the mistakes of the past.
“Communication, definitely,” said Mason. “Communication up
and down the chain (of command), you have to always
communication with them in order for things to work out and
to understand how different personalities and different
backgrounds and education (levels) come from to get to this
point.”
Skinner also had three timeless, key lessons
that commanders of Soldiers must take with them from this
battle.
“First, clear orders and visible leadership
at a critical point in the battle can make the difference
between success and failure. Second, successful commanders
design their operations around logistics and not the other
way around. Thirdly, the commander has to ensure his
operation meets the higher commander's intent,” said
Skinner.
While the staff ride was a serious training
event where everyone took something with them
knowledge-wise, there was also some enjoyment that came with
the learning for Soldiers who enjoy history, such as Sgt.
Timothy Gibson a supply specialist, and native of Bessemer
City, North Carolina, to appreciate.
For Gibson, it
was also his first staff ride and, while he said he enjoyed
the experience, he also said that it was interesting to see
some of the tactics used 250 years ago are still in use
today.
By U.S. Army Sgt. Javier Amador
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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