Surprise: A Principle of War
The military is an ever-changing profession. Technology, tactics, and objectives are constantly changing, even in peacetime. The science of war has evolved drastically since the very first battle fought on American soil, but the art of war has remained constant since that same time. Regardless of the alterations over the years, the principles of war, developed by British Major General J. F. C. Fuller and adopted by the United States Army in 1921, have held ground in our practicing military professions in the past and act as guidelines for action in the future. These nine principles of war are often referred to as "MOOSEMUSS," which is an acronym used by most Marines. Surprise is one of the last S's in the acronym. My definition of surprise is striking the enemy when they least expect it. This could be done in so many ways. It would not just be attacking the enemy when they are unaware, but rather attacking them in an instant in which their reaction is too late to respond effectively. Surprise is only temporary when it comes to war, so the initial shock must be ut
This campaign, along with others, shows just how important surprise is when attacking the enemy. At first, Hooker's plan unfolded successfully, surrounding General Lee and taking Chancellorsville and establishing his headquarters just outside of town called Chancellor House. Hooker's army panicked and was entirely knocked out by an army made up of a "ragtag" force of less than half of his own army. The surprise on Howard, came just two hours before dusk. ilized before the enemy can overcome the impact and effectively fight back. This understanding has not changed, nor have the principles of war over the course of time even though the science of war has changed. Lee's Army fighting against General Joseph Hooker's Army. Hooker had over 130,000 men under his command with Lee only commanding 60,000 men. It is an important tactic in war because it can ultimately affect the aftermath of a battle. The principles of war were created to "stimulate thought and enhance flexibility of action," if understood and applied properly. Surprise enables the military to operate with fewer forces than one would think might be needed to succeed in battle. For example, the Battle of Chancellorsville with General Robert E.
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