Cry “Havoc!” International Newsletter of Reviews, Commentary, Insights & Information August 1, 2001 No. 35 THE BATTLE OF RIDGEFIELD P3 VS F8: THE REAL STORY BATTLE OF MANILA BAY and more.... Cry "Havoc!" No. 35 This page intentionally left blank August 2001 p. 2 Cry "Havoc!" No. 35 CONTENTS Let Slip The Dogs of War David W. Tschanz 4 The Battle Of Ridgefield Steven Darley 5 Benedict Arnold meets the British in Connecticut The Pirates Of St. Tropez Robert W. Lebling 11 Muslim seafaring brigands use France as headquarters. Civil War Medicine Janet Phillips 17 Review of Robert Denney's classic U.S. P3 Orion Meets PRC F8 Fighter Robert A Miller 19 The American pilot's account of what happened Bits 'N Pieces Staff 22 Member news from around the world The Battle of Manila Bay George M. Dewey 23 Dewey defeats the Spanish Fleet in 1898 Former editorial assistant PV2 Karl M. Tschanz re- cently completed Basic Training at Fort Sill where he learned how to use the M16A2. The picture of Karl to the left was taken in January 1992 at Khobar Towers, under the watchful eyes of the 1st Cavalry while on a Cub Scout out- ing to visit the military units stationed there. Lit- tle did anyone know that it was a harbinger of things to come.... August 2001 p. 3 Cry "Havoc!" No. 35 CRY “HAVOC!” LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR Editor & Publisher: David W. Tschanz CH35 has been completed just as our occa- sional editorial assistant (and my son) Karl M. Senior Contributing Editor: James P. Tschanz completes his Basic Training at Fort Werbaneth Sill. I will admit to editorial indiscretion in that I deliberately delayed the issue until I could write Contributing Editors: J. Michael Flynn, TW the above and enclose the picture on the previ- Gideon, Janet Phillips, Brian R. Train, Ken- ous page. I'm proud of him! neth W. West Steve Darley makes his first appearance in our pages with an analysis of the Battle of Cry “Havoc!” is published four times a year Ridgefield and the role of Benedict Arnold in it. by TNT Enterprises. One year membership subscriptions are $25.00, payable in US Muslim pirates in France? That's what I funds. Electronic subscriptions are $10.00. asked when I first received new member Bob All checks should be made out to TNT En- Lebling's article. But as you will discover for terprises and should be sent to David W. yourself it is a fascinating topic! Tschanz, 7862 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy. #188; Newly minted Contributing Editor Janet Kissimmee, FL 34747. Outside the United Phillips returns to our pages with a review of an States please address all correspondence to important book on Civil War medicine. David W. Tschanz; Box 8050 Aramco; Dhah- Bob Miller also returns with a review and ran 31311; Saudi Arabia. examination of the P3 Orion - Chinese F8 midair collision this past spring. Internet E-Mail: [email protected] A special reprint of Admiral George M. All printed material is sent via first class Dewey's account of the battle of Manila Bay mail. rounds out the issue. Now -- one more thing. I deliberately left out Submissions are welcome. A complete set of the date of the battle of Manila Bay. There's a Writer’s Guidelines can be obtained upon one subscription extension to the member who request. first e-mails in the date (print copy people have a separate contest based on postmark). Cry “Havoc!” is the official publication of the Military History Special Interest Group of American Mensa, Ltd. Views expressed in Cry “Havoc!” are solely those of the individual authors, and not American Mensa, which has no opinions.. Membership in American Mensa, Ltd., is not required for subscription. or sub- mission of materials An electronic version of Cry ”Havoc!“ is available through Mag- Web at http://www.magweb.com November 2000 p. 4 Cry "Havoc!" No. 35 Feature THE BATTLE OF RIDGEFIELD Stephen Darley North Haven, Connecticut Introduction at Ridgefield were so outstanding that the Congress was The Battle of Ridgefield, which occurred on April pressured to promote him to Major General, although 27, 1777, is not considered to be a major battle of the they did not give him back his seniority. Revolutionary War by normally accepted standards. Ridgefield is significant because it delayed Ar- There were relatively few casualties on either side. It in- nold’s resignation until Burgoyne had begun his thrust volved neither large armies nor the two commanders-in- from Canada. Arnold did submit his resignation to the chief. It had no major strategic objective and did not re- Continental Congress on July 10. At Washington’s re- sult in a decisive defeat for either side. At first glance it quest, Congress responded on July 12th by ordering Ar- would appear to be one of many little skirmishes in a nold to report to Washington to assist in the defense of larger war that would take six and a half years in which the Burgoyne invasion. Arnold reluctantly agreed and to decide a winner. offered his services to Washington. It was largely due to Ridgefield, however, is a significant battle for three Arnold that the Burgoyne advance was stopped at the reasons. First, it revealed to Washington that isolated Battles of Saratoga. Without Ridgefield, it is doubtful and unsupported American supply depots, such as that Arnold would have been available to participate in Danbury, were vulnerable to enemy attack. In fact, when that battle. supplies were stored at Danbury after Tryon’s raid, Washington posted a sizable force nearby under General Situation in 1777 Israel Putnam. He did not fail to provide proper support The war for American independence was approxi- the second time. Second, it made an important and last- mately twenty months old in early 1777. Since George ing impression on the British that even in an isolated Washington had taken command of the Continental area like Danbury, the Americans could, and often did, Army, he had forced the British Army to leave Boston offer a military response to a British attack that was ef- and then found himself pushed out of New York and fi- fective and decisive. In other words, the Americans were nally through New Jersey and across the Delaware River not afraid to fight British regulars in the backcountry into Pennsylvania. The American attempt to invade Can- where there were no British ships to afford protection. ada had not worked as Washington planned, despite the One commentator has concluded that “while the British heroic efforts of Benedict Arnold and Richard Montgom- raided the coast of Connecticut and other northern mari- ery. In October of 1776, Arnold had delayed the British time states throughout the war, they never attempted to penetrate inland again, but contented themselves with the destruction of coastal facilities. ”Finally, and most importantly, the Battle of Ridgefield helped to reinforce the up and down reputation and career of then Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. By any reasonable measure, Arnold was the most effective fighting General on the American side. A fact that was, at the time, recognized more clearly by the British than by many of Arnold’s contemporaries-both military and civilian. Because the Continental Congress in its promotions to Major General slighted him in February of 1777, he was contemplating resigning from the army, and had so intimated to Wash- ington, prior to the Battle of Ridgefield. Arnold’s actions Augusr 2001 p. 5 Cry "Havoc!" No. 35 counterattack from Canada as - Brown, Easton and Hazen. Arnold spent some time in Commander on Lake Champlain New Haven with his family after his success on Lake and bought the Continental Champlain. He left New Haven in January of 1777 to as- Army another winter of sume second-in- command of the troops around New- survival. port. After he received Washington’s letter, he also Washington had made a spent some time trying to overturn the promotions or at daring raid on the British en- least to get himself promoted with his seniority restored. campment at Trenton on Christ- By mid April, Arnold realized there was nothing to be mas morning of 1776 and had achieved in Newport because there was no immediate captured and effectively de- American offensive planned but, more importantly, he stroyed the British Army units needed to spend some time in Philadelphia dealing with stationed there for the winter. the promotion issue. Arnold received permission to leave He followed that victory with another at Princeton and Newport to return to his family in New Haven before then retired to his winter quarters in Morristown, New heading to Philadelphia. It was fortunate both for him Jersey. Meanwhile, “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne, the and the American cause that he made that decision. flamboyant British Lieutenant General, was in England and had convinced the decision-makers there to give Danbury Raid him an army to try a second invasion south from Canada The British Commander-in-Chief, Sir William Howe, to cut the colonies in half. In late 1776, a British army un- who was at winter quarters in New York City, sent a small der the command of Sir Henry Clinton captured Newport, force on a surprise raid on the American supply depot at Rhode Island and established a base of operations there. Peekskill, N.Y. in February of 1777. The supplies stored At the beginning of 1777, the British seemed to have the there were destroyed with minimal loss of British sol- upper hand but victory was not certain for them and diers.