Detail from the painting “MAJOR ANDRE, THE DEAD MARCH”. The faces in this small section of the painting are about an inch or less high—the figure in green is the Major’s servant, who was described as garishly dressed. Andre is dressed in the uniform of the 54th Regiment of Foot. A witness described his waistcoat and breeches as yellowish buff. https://artofdontroiani.com/
Major John André (May 2, 1750 – October 2, 1780) was a British Army officer who served as the head of Britain’s intelligence operations during the American War for Independence. In September 1780, André negotiated with Continental Army general Benedict Arnold, who secretly offered to turn over control of the American fort at West Point, New York, to the British. Due to a series of mishaps and unforeseen events, André was forced to try to return to British lines from a meeting with Arnold through American-controlled territory while wearing civilian clothes.
Three American militiamen captured André, and he was quickly identified and imprisoned. He was subsequently convicted of espionage by the Continental Army and executed by hanging on George Washington’s orders. His execution led to an outburst of anti-American sentiment in Great Britain, and American painter John Trumbull was imprisoned as a result. André is typically remembered positively by historians, and several prominent leaders of the Patriot cause, including Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette, disagreed with the decision to execute him.
André’s defence was that he was suborning an enemy officer, “an advantage taken in war.” He told the board that he had neither desired nor planned to be behind American lines, but had been summoned ashore by Arnold and stranded there accidentally when Vulture sailed away. He also asserted that, as a prisoner of war, he had the right to escape in civilian clothes.
On September 29, 1780, the board found André guilty of being behind American lines “under a feigned name and in a disguised habit” and ordered that “Major André, Adjutant-General to the British Army, ought to be considered as a spy from the enemy, and that agreeable to the law and usage of nations, it is their opinion, he ought to suffer death.” Sir Henry Clinton did all that he could to save André, his favourite aide-de-camp. However, in their written negotiations, Washington demanded that in exchange for André, Clinton must give the Americans Arnold, who was then under British protection in New York. They didn’t make the swap, and Andre had that final drop.
Note, the facings on Andre’s uniform jacket are green, not blue, because the 54th was not a ‘royal’ regiment.
Height Matters
USS Tecumseh
Single-turreted monitor, 1,034 tons. Length 223 feet, beam 43 feet 4 inches, depth 13 feet 4 inches, draft 14 feet loaded / 13 feet 4 inches light, speed 8 knots. Complement of 118, with two 15-inch Dahlgren smoothbores. Launched in 1863 at Jersey City, N.J.
Sunk by a Confederate torpedo in less than 25 seconds, about 500–600 yards from Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, at 7:40 a.m., when Adm. David G. Farragut’s Union fleet attacked the Confederate forts at the entrance to Mobile Bay. Cdr. Tunis A. M. Craven and ninety-three crewmen were lost with the ship, while twenty-four survived. Six of the vessel’s crew were captured by Confederate soldiers from Fort Morgan after they swam ashore.
Union divers examined the wreck a week after it was sunk in 7 fathoms of water, with 3 fathoms over the vessel. The USS Tecumseh’s anchor has been salvaged. In 1966, the Smithsonian Institution received title to the wreck, but dropped plans to raise it in 1974 after Congress refused to fund the project. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places. East Carolina University archaeologists have surveyed the wreck.
Bullet Points:
** Rogan on digital ID in the UK. They want to save the world… but somehow it starts with controlling you.
** Ryan takes on Somali immigration, fraud, terrorism, etc.
** Austria used to have a significant navy as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, controlling ports like Trieste and Fiume and needing sea power for trade and defense. Still, today the modern, landlocked Republic of Austria has no navy, only small Danube river patrol boats for defense and policing the international waterway, with the army and air force focusing on national defense.
** How accurate?
** “Some things are believed because they are true; others are believed because they are repeated until accepted.” — Thomas Sowell
** The State Department will no longer renew and issue visas to individuals who work in fact-checking and content moderation.
** Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) said former “first lady” Michelle (Big Mike) Obama was “correct” that the United States is “not ready” for a female president. That shouldn’t keep Mike from running. Clyburn wasn’t implying that the US wasn’t ready for a tranny. Barack (mixed race) was both the first mulatto and gay US president, breaking the “glass ceiling” in many categories.
** A discussion of Confederate uniforms and equipment, early – War Between the States.
Rifle vs Musket
The principal weapon of a Revolutionary War infantryman was a muzzle-loading, smooth-bore, flint-lock musket, preferably equipped with a 16-inch bayonet. Muskets were only accurate to 60-75 yards, and infantrymen were not expected to aim them (they didn’t even have front sights). Instead, the muskets were intended to be fired in massed volleys by men in a tightly bunched line. The idea was that, ideally, the men would, on command, all point their muskets at the enemy line, fire simultaneously, then charge with their bayonets.
British regulars were expertly trained in these tactics, particularly the effective use of the bayonet. Eventually, American Continental regulars were as well. Militiamen, on the other hand, often had no bayonets, and even if they did, they were rarely expertly trained to use them.
Patriot militiamen without bayonets could not be expected to stand up against a line of British regulars. A British musket with a 16-inch bayonet affixed was essentially a lethal six-foot spear. In hand-to-hand fighting, militiamen having to rely on knives or clubbed muskets stood no chance against them. In such contests, British officers would typically order their men not even to bother firing their muskets, but rather to close as rapidly as possible and charge with their bayonets.
The long hunting rifles used by some American militiamen are legendary, but their actual effectiveness in combat was limited. Indeed, they were far more accurate than muskets. Whereas the maximum accurate range of a musket was about 80 yards, skilled riflemen could hit targets 200-250 yards away. But rifles could not be equipped with bayonets, and they took far longer to load than muskets. Whereas an infantryman with a musket could load and fire 3 or 4 times a minute, it took over a minute to load and fire a rifle. A line of infantry charging with bayonets could close the distance with opposing riflemen in 20-30 seconds—far less time than it took for the riflemen to reload.
But while rifles were not practical or effective in typical Revolutionary War era infantry tactics, they were well-suited for skirmishing, sniping, and irregular combat on the frontier and at the Battle of Cowpens General Daniel Morgan devised a plan that used riflemen as skirmishers whose mission was to thin the British lines with one or two well-aimed shots before retreating to safety before the British bayonets arrived—at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse General Nathanael Greene deployed militia riflemen on his flanks, supported by light cavalry and regulars with muskets and bayonets, thus protecting the riflemen from sudden bayonet charges. At both battles, the way the riflemen used was crucial to the Patriots’ success.
I own both black powder rifles and a Brown Bess Musket (with a socket lunger bayonet). Shooting them firsthand gives you an appreciation for both.
More Trouble in West China
A 30-Year First: China Drops Below Japan…Then Singapore Deals a Second Blow. For the first time in modern financial history, China’s long-term government bond yield has fallen below Japan’s. In short, Japan’s future looks brighter than China’s.
This isn’t noise. This is a siren that China is sliding deeper into deflation — and investors are quietly admitting it. In October, Japan’s 30-year yield hit 2.77%. China’s equivalent? 1.89%. An 87-basis-point gap. A total reversal of economic gravity. For decades, China — the “8% growth miracle” — always carried higher yields than Japan. That’s what high-growth countries do. Japan’s comeback isn’t just economic — it’s geopolitical.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recently said: “Southeast Asia trusts Japan the most — and wants Japan to play a bigger role.” This is Singapore — the region’s most neutral, pragmatic voice — openly choosing Japan over China as Asia’s stabilizer. Across ASEAN, China is seen as unpredictable and coercive, while Japan is stable, rule-based, and non-threatening.
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Identify the Helicopters
1 & 2
Note, I’m not asking you to ID the soldiers on the gig line.
Identify the Ship
3
4
5
Parting Shot
End
3 is Virginio Fasan a Carlo Bergamini-class frigate of the Italian Navy.
4 is Alpino was a Alpino-class frigate operated by the Italian Navy during the Cold War. launched in 1967
Well done
(1) AH-1 (G, I think) and a CH-53.
(2) Italian Navy Bergamini-class frigate Virginio Fasan.
(3) Italian Navy frigate Alpino (class vessel).
(4) RN Dido-class CL, I think.
– Kle.
Very good
1 – Bell AH-1G Cobra
2 – CH-53 Sea Stallion
3 – Italian Navy Virginio Fasan Bergamini-class FREMM frigate
4 – Italian Navy frigate Alpino – Lead ship of the Alpino-class frigate
5 – Royal Navy HMS Hermione – Dido-class light cruiser
Outstanding
IDA-
1: Bell AH-1G Cobra
2. CH-53 Sea Stallion Conducting S.P.I.E. operations. Special Insertion Extraction with the Cobra providing fire support to the operators dangling at 1000 ft.
3. ITalian Navy Virginio Fasan Bergamini-class FREMM frigate
IDS-
4. Italian Navy frigate Alpino – Lead ship of the Alpino-class frigate
5.Royal Navy HMS Hermione – Dido-class light cruiser
There are inherent dangers to most special warfare activities.
Yes, making sure your sack is in proper position as to not get pinched by the spie rigging harness when the bird lifts off is one of them.
-STA LETHAL
A compression strap across any portion of your junk gets your attention immediately. If it’s lifting you it’s going to be a long ride.
I felt that all the way over here…climbing harnesses NOT adjusted correctly…oohhh, ahhh, that’s gonna leave a mark.
Had a Civil War reenactor show up at the range with several reproduction muskets, one of which was a replica of the M 1795 Springfield which he let me try with a buck and ball load. On the short list of worst triggers I’ve ever experienced, but then it wasn’t a precision instrument.
The reproduction might not have been as good as the original.
Heh. Brings back memories
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Summer of ’77, I was fresh out of the Army, living at my dad’s place in the hills of Oakland, CA, and making frequent trips to the range at the Chabot Gun Club. (Which was forced to close in 2016 by the enviro-nazis, but that’s a separate rant). I had bought a Marlin New Model 1895 in 45-70 at a military rod a gun club while stationed in West Germany. One day I was getting acquainted with it (with handloads). Shooting off a bench, I was becoming convinced that the plastic butt plate needed to be replaced with a recoil pad. There were a couple of guys a few benches to my right who were dressed in their Confederate reenactor’s garb, shooting, IIRC, three-band repro Enfields. I decided to take a break and wandered over to have a look, whereupon they invited me to shoot one.
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I had already begun to dabble in the black powder world myself, so well understood the offered demonstration that they were shooting stubby, light weight “collar button” target bullets with light powder charges. However, a part of my brain still had its teeth clamped on the recoil from my Marlin, and then it saw that 58 caliber hole in the end of the Enfield barrel. My flinch was so bad that I jerked my first shot clear off the paper at 50 yards.
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One of the lads had brought along his piccolo, and proceeded to play various period tunes as everyone hiked to their targets during ceasefires. By the time we got to the 50 yard targets, everyone was in step.
It’s difficult to find a 72 caliber pencil for use at the range when I’m shooting the Brown Bess.
The Alpino harks to the days when the Italian Navy operated a Fleet of Samples: two units of each class at most, which is never a good idea. This changed for frigates in the late seventies, and got better with the FREMM class, the most numerous post-WWII. You can notice a strong similarity in the ship’s lines, but Bergamini’s displacement is almost three times that of Alpino. FREMMs are also designed for the Atlantic, while Alpino was intended for the Mediterranean.
Digital ID: ‘Going Galt’, at least some of the time, is good practice…so is turning off a pile of data capture “background processes” in Windows and Google, masked as ‘to help your online experience’ (baloney- data is king to markets and goverment).
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Erika Kirk was on The Five yesterday…when asked directly she spoke in more detail how Charlie would unplug for the weekend, citing that with all manner of ‘connectivity’ people are losing the ability to sit and have an uninterrupted conversation, a quiet dinner without interruption, or worse, the ability to have a face-to-face conversation. True.
[Incidentally, Tarlov was – for once – cordial and respectful to Erika Kirk, the first time she was not in her typical condescending TDS attacked mode..well, for that segment anyway. She knew Erika would not play the game, instead would ‘heap coals upon her head’ if she said anything untoward.]
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At VM we can share ideas, both serious and humorous, through this medium…but that is the avenue when we are all far flung. Digital is no substitute for personal conversation…body language and intonation is critical to understanding, let alone how government ‘officials’ now use it against us. (Minority Report was supposed to be dystopian fantasy.)
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British citizens are getting tossed in jail for ‘saying or writing’ objectionable things – as defined by demented government suits. Short of a civil disobedient uprising by the populace England will continue to by overrun by ‘The Locusts’ who are (as expected) wrecking the place. It is their way…can’t help themselves.
***
Parting Shot: Boy did we miss that train wreck dumpster fire dumbing down purveyor of brainlessness. One aspect: Progression. Obama The Manchurian begat Biden who begat Harris who would have begat Walz…a downward spiral progression of the dumb and dumbest that ALWAYS seems to be on The Democrat side of the aisle, who ALWAYS cheat to win. How to stop that is the quandary.
Paul, if i might add parmesan to the sauce of the parting shot; The list of northern kings of Isreal fair better than Dumb begetting the Dumbest who begat… of the three, she’s definitely Dumber.
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I’ve occasionally, and not for long, mind you, thought of where this nation could have nose dived to if 2024 would have ended 2 terms of the not so Hilarious Clintorus on the throne.
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I finally started converting over to Mozilla from Chrome on the laptop. (only stayed with it because of the bookmarks and folders ect.) Been using the Duck on my phone for a few yrs now.
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Breaking news from Abilene; “Russians” or some foreign entity is holding the cities data for ransom. Traffic stops are impaired. Permits, business transactions are paused. (word of mouth at a meeting this morning.)
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Ultra rant; I usually give current events 3-7 days till the dust settles before I start looking past headlines. It’s an average time to get the official story together. Not the case in the Furgeson / M.Brown and the Fabulous Floyd fiasco. MSM couldn’t find the obvious facts to publish. The true toxicity levels or that the shot entries were not through the back, but in the front of a charging, stoned out if his mind Bull; who had already assaulted LEO Wilson and caused the discharge of his firearm inside the cruiser. 10 yrs later, LEO TJ Brown, suffered severe injuries in front of the same community police station due to an anniversary protest not being very peaceful. As of 4.29.25 still rehabilitating and recovering.
Who is the real stupidist(is that a word), Jizzmean Cracker, Que Mala or AOC?
It’s a very low bar. I think Kamala, former whore. Timed out and couldn’t use the source of her income anymore is the dumbest. AOC like Kamala, is a tool for other interests and while stupid did manage to wait tables and take orders. I doubt Kamala is smart enough to do that. Jazman comes from a wealthy family and has an education but favors the ghetto in her behavior.
If ignorance is bliss, they should be ecstatic.
The Ukes hit another Russian shadow fleet tanker. They need to seize them rather than sinking them – but either way, it will make Moscow blink. Like a pig being hit in the forehead with a baseball bat.https://gcaptain.com/ukraine-hits-third-russia-shadow-fleet-tanker-in-black-sea/
When will these two schoolyard idiots give this up? (I know, I know, stupid question…’Never’, because it’s not their personal rear-ends getting turned into carbon or fish food).
Breaking News – on Tomorrow’s Blog – USGG seizes a Venezuelan Tanker at sea filled with oil. It’s headed for a prize court where it will be condemned and the USGOV will own the ship and the cargo.
What to believe. One of my favorite movie clips.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1-KbmIagFw
Excellent…and an fully excellent movie. Need a rewatch.
👍
Bayonets
Basic training, Ft Leonard Wood, 1963 we had several hours of bayonet training. Next to shooting, what I enjoyed most. Later in Germany one NCO in our Engineer Company drilled us with entrenching tools. He had experience in Korea using them when his unit was nearly overrun. Today on the passenger floorboard of my car you will find an entrenching tool (have it there for when I get stuck, officer).
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Archery practice. Early example of compulsory military training?
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Thank you for posting the wit and wisdom of Cackles, lest we forget the bullet we dogged.
Yes, it was compulsory military training. You had to start them young to build up the muscle necessary to draw an English (or Welsh) longbow.
Re: British Infantry using muskets. The movie The Patriot makes a big deal about militia standing firm in the face of British fire. The lack of bayonets might have been one reason.
When watching movies from that period (Last of the Mohicans also comes to mind) it occurred to me that the recipients of a volley would have been better trained to drop to the ground when the enemy commander gave the order to fire. Why stand in a big mass waiting for the lead to arrive when you could simply drop to the ground and let the lead pass over you? Hop up again before they make their charge. Not manly under the arts of war, I understand, but I would have trained my troops that way if I was in charge.
That would have left the REMFs exposed!
It’s difficult to reload a musket (in disciplined time) when it has a bayonet fixed. So you’d fire the volleys, load one last round, fix bayonets, and advance. At some point, you could fire one more volley before you engaged with the bayonet. These engagements were at close range. They couldn’t reliably hit anything at farther than 50 yards, so if you’re on the ground, and they’re coming at you with bayonets at a full infantry charge, you must stand, organize, and defend — that wouldn’t work well. The rifled muskets that fired Minnie balls (conical rounds) during the War Between the States had a much farther effective range, which is why there weren’t a lot of bayonet charges during that war. There were a few but they were mostly in situations (Little Round Top) where the charging side was running downhill through heavily forested areas.
The muskets could be made more accurate, by carefully selecting bullets that best fit one’s musket. And patching it well to get a good tight fit in the barrel. Something that one did when hunting. But something that only specialized marksmen with the musket would do. For the most part, having the ball wallow a bit made for quicker loading.
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There’s a way to load when one has an outside-held bayonet (rather than a plug-bayonet, one that’s jammed into the barrel) but as LL said, it slows and inhibits loading. You can do it, especially when in a fixed position, but if you’re in a fixed position why the heck do you have a bayonet affixed?
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As to loading times, one of the benefits that the Colonists had over the Redcoats was that fat German guy, von Steuben, introduced a shorter loading manual-of-arms than the English version. Yeah, he may have had some issues, and maybe not have been exactly who he claimed to be, but he saved the Colonial Army, bigtime.
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Seems the Colonists really needed fat, able guys to save their bacon. Von Steuben, Henry Knox, both way over the acceptable weight limit, both revolutionized the Colonial Army in their respective fields.
Austria used to have a significant navy.
Georg von Trapp comes to mind.
indeed
The hills are alive…with the sound of welding.
Interesting musket/rifle analysis. Did the Brits learn something from this? Thinking of King’s Loyal Riflemen (Green Jackets etc).
Ah yes, Chyna.
The other ‘irony’ of muskets was that most of the users actually turned their heads AWAY from the it prior to firing, to protect their eyes. And they were useful against massed forces, but not against skirmishers. Also, the American riflemen were actually targeting officers and sergeants, which upset the Brits mightily!!!