Innovations of the Punitive Expedition

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Pat Holscher
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Early the next morning, the whole Tenth Cavalry resumed the attack. Drawing his regiment up in a line of skirmishers, Colonel Brown ordered all to open fire. The enemy did not budge. Finally Brown ordered Young to flank the Mexicans again, in a manner simliar to the one he had executed the day before. Young pulled back his two troops, mounted up, formed his troopers abrest, in a 'line of forager,' and started down a steep hill. On Young's signal, the troopers broke into a pistol charge around the Villistas' right flank, supported by machine-gun fire over their heads.

The combination of machine-gun fire and the shouting charge was too much for the enemy, who melted away. Young's troopers had never had to fire a shot from their pistol chambers, but the Buffalo Soldiers had introduced a new technique: overhead machine-gun fire.
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Intervention! at page 266.

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Pat Holscher
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Bumped up due to related topic.

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george seal
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As far as I know, the Punitive Expedition was the first time US troops used motorbikes in action (the fuel was carried by mule cart).

Also first US use of military airplanes.

Last war that had US troops with no helments.
Pat Holscher
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Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2000 6:51 pm
Last Name: Holscher

Bumped up in light of the centenary of the commencement of the Punitive Expedition on March 9.
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