Shot in the Foot: Bad Military Decisions Throughout History
These tales of military gaffes are sure to amaze and amuse you. They prove that sometimes a person can be their own worst enemy.
In 532 BC, Croescus, King of Lydia, asked a Delphic oracle if he should attack the Persians. The oracle said “Cross the river Halys and attack and you will destroy a great nation.” He did just that only to manage to destroy his own.
In 1199 AD, King Richard I, also known as Richard the Lionhearted, paused to admire an arrow that had been fired directly at him at Chalus. It hit him in the shoulder and as he lay dying of blood poisoning, he complimented the bowman on his skill.
In 1632, King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden refused to wear any steel body armor at the Battle of Lutzen. He announced that “The Lord God is my armor!” He was killed in battle that day.
In 1836, during the battle of Chillianwalla, the nearsighted Brigadier Pope led his cavalry in the wrong direction, and charged AWAY from the battlefield.
Mexican General Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna and his troops found themselves in a wooded area known to be full of Texan soldiers in 1836. Despite the fact that they were in enemy territory, he and his troops insisted on taking their usual afternoon siesta. While Santa Anna and his men snoozed quietly, the Texans attacked and killed the entire Mexican army in less than twenty minutes.
General “Stonewall” Jackson was a strict Presbyterian who refused to fight on a Sunday. He spent the entire day praying alone during the thick of the battle of Mechanicsville and refused to speak to anyone, even though he was repeatedly asked for advice. As a result, his troops suffered heavy casualties.
Major General John Sedgwick was unimpressed by Confederate sniper fire one day in 1864, during the battle of Spotsylvania. He was shot and killed during mid-sentence as he scoffed at his men by saying (and not finishing), “What! What! Men dodging this way from a single bullet! I am ashamed of you! They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist…..” and was promptly shot and killed.
The President of Paraguay, Francisco Lopez, waged a hopeless war in 1829 while battling on three fronts against his neighboring enemies Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. He was outnumbered ten to one by the combined armies, so Lopez decided to improve his odds by sending in a battalion of twelve year old boys wearing false beards.
British Lord Chelmsford invaded Zululand, believing that the Zulus would not fight back. At Isandlwana, 1,300 British troops were slaughtered, leaving only fifty five survivors.
Erwin Rommel, Hitler’s commander, was entrusted with the defense of France’s channel coast against a possible Allied invasion. On the eve before D-Day, he decided that it was so quiet that he might as well go home and celebrate his wife’s birthday.
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User Comments
nutuba
On December 22, 2008 at 7:05 am
Informative — you bring out some great examples from history.
Patrick Bernauw
On December 22, 2008 at 7:25 am
Great article!
ur guide
On December 22, 2008 at 7:50 am
nice and informative article.
Debra.
On December 22, 2008 at 10:27 am
Wonderful article, Bren. Always something new with you.
Happy Holidays and God bless.
Speed Limit
On December 22, 2008 at 11:46 am
I agree. Do you happen to know what was the battle after which the victor said “One more victory like that and we’ll be lost”?
Perry Broderick
On December 22, 2008 at 5:38 pm
original content. I like it!
Unofre Pili
On December 22, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Thanks for the history lesson. I never came across this in my history courses. I did not major history though.
Amit Goyal
On December 23, 2008 at 4:09 am
In 1836, during the battle of Chillianwalla, the nearsighted Brigadier Pope led his cavalry in the wrong direction, and charged AWAY from the battlefield.
Lmfao! Love this article!
agentX
On December 23, 2008 at 7:01 am
lmfao man ,awesome article , my fav is how maj genral john got owned mid sentence , (total ownage) exellent article!
Sotiris
On December 23, 2008 at 12:14 pm
That was funny!
Lost in Arizona
On December 23, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Funny and informative. Just goes to show how arrogance can bite you in the butt..lol! Nice to see a new face on the hot content list. Keep writing good articles.
RJ Thomas
On December 23, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Speaking of bad military decisions…
OVERBLOWN: JESSICA LYNCH
http://www.newsflavor.com/Opinions/Overblown–Jessica-Lynch.413905
Saga Heng
On December 23, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Hilarious…
Love it… especially D-Day
Ralph Brandt
On December 23, 2008 at 8:15 pm
D-day was not as presented here. Rommel went home in a storm that should have prevented the invasion… I haven’t checked the others for accuracy. It is amazing that the “hot articles” often are light on accuracy.
soccer lover
On December 23, 2008 at 9:55 pm
hey ralph this is an informative, witty, and funny article that i had no problem reading. Instead of dissing somebody elses articles, why don’t you write one yourself instead?
James DeVere
On December 23, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Nice write – that God stuff is near hopeless – as has been proven. Fun work . j
Johnny Yuma
On December 23, 2008 at 11:56 pm
An Excellent piece! I love it from the getgo.
johnny yuma
Marli Diz
On December 24, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I like the way u write your article….
eddiego65
On December 25, 2008 at 7:44 am
Interesting history! Truly excellent piece.
Abdul Sabour Ayoubi
On December 25, 2008 at 11:27 am
Well done, a very informative article that foucus on core issues we are facing today.
Holly J. Harrington
On December 25, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Love history this is excellent work.
There always is a down side sort of speak to any war.
Maybe someday peace will come for everyone around the world.
One can only hope but this is interesting to.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR AND KEEP UP THE WONDERFUL CREATIVE WRITING. HOPE YOU RECEIVE THIS AS A VALUAGLE PRESENT.
Lisa Clayton Williams
On December 27, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Really humorous, enjoyable read!
Andy MacManus
On December 28, 2008 at 12:02 am
Excellent article!
It was interesting and informative, but beyond that, well-written.
This is something that many (if not most) of the Top Ten articles on Triond lack, much to my dismay.
Thank you for breaking the trend by refusing to abandon the English language!
shaky
On January 2, 2009 at 12:50 pm
good article
Stev Joe
On January 19, 2009 at 12:44 am
your article is nice.
denus
On January 26, 2009 at 3:43 pm
very enjoyable article, well researched, good job.
cheers,
denus
brianberu
On May 24, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Very interesting article,
Bill M. Tracer
On May 24, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Some major snafus.
Knightvolt
On May 26, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Never underestimate your enemies,for when you go to war you must fight the battle to win.
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