Historical Battles Worthy of Film Versions
Submitted by allegheny on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 02:45
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- 1. Battle of Antietam (One terrible, long day with two armies clawing ruthlessly at each other.)
- 2. The Battle of Bunker Hill (Howard Fast's novel "Bunker Hill" is a great source. It's a fabricated at parts for dramatic purposes, but still respectful and mindful of the history. Ended in a costly British victory, who suffered 40% casualties against an undisciplined, roughly organized lesser body of civilians with hardly enough ammuntion.)
- 3. The Battle of Goliad (Basically, Goliad would be regarded as the Gettysburg of the Western Campaign of the Civil War. It was an intense struggle for more than one day, and ended in a hard-won Union victory. It was also a turning point in the Western theatre. )
- 4. The Battle of King's Mountain (Basically, a pitched night battle between deepwoods American guerilla and a professional British force during the Revolution. Just interesting how civilians got pissed enough as a local community to face-off with a professional unit of highly-trained soldiers. Ended in an American victory)
- 5. Lexington and Concord (Fast's other dramatic history novel April Morning captures the story of L and C.)
- 6. The Battle of Monmouth (After a long, grueling, freezing winter at camp in Valley Forge, a newly-trained, professional American Army stands its ground and goes toe-to-toe with a larger professional British Force at a field in New Jersey. It is the first time a the American prove themselves worthy of respect as a professional fighting force with an outnumbering foe. Long, hot, intense day, the battle where the Legend of Molly Pitcher was born. Virtually a draw, but makes a big impression on the rebels themselves, others pondering whether to join the rebellion or stay neutral, and for powerful nations wondering whether to become allies to the Americans, particularly France and Spain.)
- 7. Yorktown (Although the fighting/combat during this siege saw the Americans victorious in every skermish and manuever, the timing of this victory was crucial. The French Fleet was a huge factor, bottling Cornwallis in a small peninsula, but it was only going to be there in the Chesapeake for a short time, then sail on to Barbados in the Caribbean. Where Alexander Hamilton made himself into a military hero by leading a night attack on a crucial redoubt.)
- 8. The Saratoga Campaign (British General "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne, a flamboyant yet smart commander, leads a march from Canada into the New York region, in an effort to divide New York and New England from the rest of the colonies. This would cut supply lines and communication lines. Several battles fought during this period. Day battles, some ending in American victories and a few in British victories. Where Benedict Arnold and Daniel Morgan made themselves into heroes as valiant warrior-commanders.)
