Re: damage as threat modifier for AWI-FMA

Alan wrote:

> But amongst some troops, the problem is getting your own guys to stand
and 
> coolly fire at the advancing horde, rather than to
> immediately counter-charge to spill their giblets.

Keeping cool could be a problem, particularly with green units, but
there were relatively few accounts of units firing prematurely during
the ACW. The prevalent feeling was that you gave the enemy a nasty shock
if you fired at close range, and so the troops tended to wait until
close range to fire. 

As for holding back units to stop them counter charging, this happened
but it was exceedingly rare in the ACW. I can't think of an action in a
major battle where a unit uncontrollably countercharged a charging unit.
I'm not saying it didn't, just that I can't think of a specific instance
when it happened. I do know of a couple of instances when a regimental
commander took it upon himself to charge at the enemy, and was dressed
down for it by the brigade commander. That's not the same thing, though.
I suspect that uncontrolled countercharging just wasn't that likely a
thing in the era of linear tactics.

--
Allan Goodall		   agoodall@att.net
http://www.hyperbear.com   agoodall@hyperbear.com