Was the Normans invulnerable?

No, of course not. In Weiss's special vision, the Norman army's troop deployment and weapons in this battlefield are clear: the troops they used to attack the location of the temporary headquarters of the 9th Corps were only a thousand men, with few heavy weapons and many light weapons, the attack echelons were too far apart, and the center of gravity of the attack was clearly on the right flank......

On the defender's side, the 1st Field Battalion originally had 1,000 people, and even if it was calculated according to the loss of 40%, it still had 600 combat strength, plus the troops directly under the corps headquarters, the absolute number of troops put into defense would not be less than the Norman army in front of them. As long as the deployment is proper and the mentality is stable, it is not difficult to rely on the defensive position to withstand the enemy's attack. However, this "as long" must be built on the basis of understanding the battlefield and controlling the troops, and being able to do this "as long" can be regarded as a very good commander.

After some quick and prudent observation, Weiss already had in mind a variety of ideas that could be used to defeat the enemy, such as Tian Ji horse racing tactics, reciprocal defense tactics, and defensive counterattack tactics. In order to choose the tactics with the greatest grasp and the highest probability of victory, he asked Lieutenant Miles: "Which company is on our left flank?" How strong is it? ”

Lieutenant Myers looked up and replied: "No, the left flank is not our unit, it should be a direct guard regiment." ”

Judging from the observation of the left flank, that is, the defensive force that resisted the enemy's right flank, its strength was only a little over 100, and it was able to hold off three times the Norman army, which showed that this force was quite powerful. However, the three main reconnaissance battalions, armored battalions, and artillery battalions of the guard regiment have all been engaged in the enemy elsewhere, and only communications and baggage troops should remain here.

"Let's go! Let's go to the left and see! ”

"But, Acting Captain, the center and right flanks are our troops." Lieutenant Myers reminded.

"I know!" Weiss got down from the bunker and hurried along the trench, saying as he went: "The so-called lip and tooth dependence, their condition is directly related to the victory or defeat of the field camp!" ”

Because of the time he had spent here, he clearly knew more about the overall distribution of the fortifications than Lieutenant Myers. The area of the defense area was not large, and he came to the left flank position where the gunfire was dense, grabbed a soldier casually, and asked them about the number of their troops and the location of the commander.

"I'm sorry, sir, I don't know you. Who are you? The soldier asked warily.

"I'm Acting Captain Clumber-Haysen of the Reconnaissance Battalion, and I've been ordered to take over the defense, and I'm now the Acting Commander of the 1st Combat Defense Battalion." Weiss replied loudly.

The soldier looked dazed, but someone next to him came to greet him.

"Hey, Acting Captain Clumber Haytham, we've met...... I'm Hal Kagley of the Communications Battalion, what do you command? ”

The face of this person who spoke was blackened by the smoke of gunpowder, and besides, how could he recognize this black light. Anyway, the position has not been infiltrated by the enemy for the time being, and Weiss can't care about it: "Who are you commanding?" ”

"It's Lieutenant Norma from the alert company, and he was there just now...... Come, come with me! ”

Led by this zealous sergeant, Weiss walked a short distance along the trench to an open-air firing point, where several Union soldiers were "waiting" for a machine gun. Lieutenant Norma, a dusty young officer, is directing them to bombard the enemy in front of them.

"Sir, this is Acting Captain Clumber Hazen, and he's been assigned to take charge of the defense here!" The sergeant reported to Lieutenant Norma.

Weiss's expression is "in charge of defense", and the sergeant says "in charge of the defense here", a nuance of a pronoun that is fundamentally different in understanding. However, in the absence of a commander, the highest rank and position usually automatically becomes the battlefield commander, so in the current situation, Weiss did not make a mistake of principle in giving orders to the Signal Battalion Vigilance Company. Of course, Lieutenant Norma could also refuse to carry out his military orders.

"Hello, sir!" Lieutenant Norma saluted Weiss, then glanced at Lieutenant Miles following him, without any doubt, and his next first words were: "Sir, the enemy is attacking fiercely, and we are in dire need of reinforcements here!" ”

Weiss looked around at the Union soldiers, who were dirty and looked like coal diggers, but they were all fully engaged in the battle, and there was no indiscriminate or cowering. As for the supply of ammunition, the troops are fortified here in advance, not to mention the sufficient supply, and it should be able to cope with it in a short time. Therefore, he said to Lieutenant Norma: "Rest assured, we will soon be able to repel the enemy, and then move with the corps headquarters." Now, the task of your company is to hold the position, to resist the enemy to the death, no matter what happens, not to retreat without permission, and not to pursue rashly when the enemy is defeated. ”

Lieutenant Norman saluted cheerfully: "Yes!" ”

"Let's go, man!" Weiss said to Lieutenant Miles, "Now it's time for us to behave!" ”

Miles understood and led Weiss to the 1st Defense Battalion. When they arrived at their position, the style of painting was really different: there were not many fighters in the trenches, there were few wounded, and every time someone was wounded, one or two companions immediately carried them away or carried away, and they seemed to be united and friendly, but no one came to make up for it, and if this continued, the defense of the position would only become weaker and weaker.

Miles didn't seem surprised by this situation, he watched Weiss's reaction from time to time, but didn't say anything.

The biggest problem of the troops improvised with stragglers is that they are not aligned and lack trust in each other, let alone tacit understanding. It's hard, it's hard, it's very difficult to solve these problems in a short period of time, but if you want to turn the tide, you have to make changes!

"Call the officers to me at once! Right here! Weiss snapped at Lieutenant Miles.

This voice attracted the attention of many soldiers around him. Weiss wouldn't mind a short, powerful speech if he had a loudspeaker, but this is the battlefield, and an example is sometimes more convincing than a generous speech. Sending Miles away, he picked up a Grumman rifle from the ground, grabbed a few rows of bullets from the ammunition box and stuffed them into his pocket, aimed, shot, and loaded without saying a word, firing more than twenty rounds in one go, gritting his teeth and holding on even though his shoulder was sore and aching from the recoil.

When he ran out of bullets in his pocket and was about to go to the ammunition box to replenish it, he was surprised to find that there were already seven or eight officers around him. Among them were young warrant officers with collagen-covered faces, as well as senior lieutenants with vicissitudes of life, some tall and handsome, some ordinary, some very spirited, and some slightly depressed, but no matter which one they were, every pair of eyes stared at him.

Weiss opened his mouth and said loudly: "Life is endless, fighting is endless, this is the spirit of freedom I seek!" This is the spirit of freedom that I defend! Gentlemen, although you are from different units, at this moment, I ask you to come around me and gather under the banner of the 1st Field Battalion, for nothing else but to fight! We fight here, win or lose, no matter the outcome, with a clear conscience! Gentlemen, for the sake of fighting, fighting! ”

These words, if applied to modern people, if they were just ordinary combat situations, I am afraid that they would have little effect, but in this era, in this group of very muscular, relatively simple-minded federal officers, the effect is that everyone raised their arms and shouted, not only the officers, but also the non-commissioned officers and soldiers, and this mood is still spreading along the trenches.

Weiss was very satisfied, he poked his head out of the trench to observe the battle, the Normans had deployed less than half of their forces in the center and on the left flank, their attacks seemed to be wave after wave, in fact, there was no real force, and there were not many casualties, they just waited with all their strength, waiting for the right flank troops to break through the defenses of the Union army, and then pounced on them, like hyena tactics...... At this time, if he was hot-headed and took the 1st Field Battalion to attack on all fronts, what he saw was not the figure of the Normans retreating in panic, but the dense and fierce bullets, which could not be forcefully defeated, and the field battalion, which had finally raised its morale, was likely to go to the other extreme and completely collapse.

Moreover, Weiss still had a five-minute appointment with the staff officer at the headquarters of the Corps that remained behind, and it seemed that it was still too late to turn back and discuss countermeasures with him.

After Weiss had observed and calmly considered it, Lieutenant Myers returned to him with a few officers.

"All the officers I can find have been found!" He reported breathlessly.

Judging by the time spent and the number of officers present, he did his best.

"The enemy is not strong enough and does not have enough firepower, and he does not dare to attack on all fronts, but he is staring at us like hyenas, waiting for us to expose his back to them, and if we want to get out of the current predicament, we must strike them hard, knock their heads, and break their waists." Lieutenant Myers, I authorize you to command the 1st and 3rd Companies to continue to hold their positions and not to attack under any circumstances. The men of the 2nd and 4th companies are coming with me now, and we are going to attack with the guard regiment and go and break the heads of the Normans! ”

"Knock the Normans in the head!" The officers echoed in unison.

"Now, everyone is in action, 2nd and 4th companies follow me!" Weiss shouted.

The officers of the 2nd and 4th companies, who had temporarily belonged to the 2nd and 4th companies, hurried to gather the soldiers under their command, and in a short time, the Union soldiers came running in groups and groups. Weiss stood in the trench, beckoned them to assemble on the left flank of the position, and when thirty or fifty men had passed, he nodded at Lieutenant Myers, and followed the flow of people to the position where the guard company of the communications battalion of the guard regiment was.

"Who is this guy?" An officer who stayed behind asked Miles about it.

"Acting Captain Clumber-Hazen, Acting Battalion Commander assigned to us by Corps Command." Myers replied.

"He looks young, like he's in his early twenties? can look at the words and deeds, and it looks very old and spicy. "That's human.

"Well, he does look very young." Miles replied, "Young, energetic, courageous, and extraordinary. ”

"I just said so much, it's really exciting." The officer bared his teeth and said, "If he can lead us to win this battle, I will really obey him, otherwise, it will be a showman!" ”

Miles nodded: "That's right, whether it is a general or a mediocre talent, you will know on the battlefield." ”u