I think that attitude is everything in self-defense. I believe that if you can develop a "want to win - believe you'll win" attitude, you'll be far ahead than someone who is proficient in technique but is lacking in mental fortitude.
I'm the great, great, grandson of John Peyton Debutts, one of Mosby's Rangers 43rd Battalion - the most feared of the Civil War. Mosby's Rangers were a group of guerrilla fighters that could easily blend in with the farmers and locals in and around Northern Virginia where they did most of their raids. At the direction of John Mosby, the Rangers were deadly and effective, and the Union's directive was to catch or kill rangers at all costs.
Of the many exploits of my g.g. grandfather, the following is one of my favorites. On Friday, April 29th, 1864, Federal Cavalry entered Leesburg. At Leesburg, there were about a dozen of Mosby's men in town. A number were in and around the hotel, with their horses standing in the street. The Union soldiers were within 200 yards of the hotel when they were first noticed by some of Mosby's men sitting, talking and drinking on the veranda. Before they could react, all who were in the bar room were captured except John Debutts. He had stopped in Leesburg to have his horse shod and being cutoff from the blacksmith's shop, John attempted to fight his way to his horse, but was shot through the breast and captured. He was taken to Fort Delaware, where he was kept a prisoner by the Federals for over eleven months.
At the end of the war, John did not soon forget about his days as a soldier -- and he wasn't ready to quit. Having been shot in the hand, lost a finger, shot in the chest and spending 11 months in prison -- Upon returning home, he quickly set up a new group of guerrilla fighters and began harassing the occupying Union soldiers -- many of the fights were close combat and involved fighting with clubs, bladed weapons and even hand to hand in order to gain firearms and kill Union soldiers.
Eventually, John must have seen the benefits of peace with the Union. Some speculation is that the Union had to put him on their payroll in order to stop him. Others believe that John Mosby and Robert E. Lee were able to convince him to stop his raids. Either way, he had a "never quit" mentality...it's a lesson that I feel has transcended the times and is beneficial for today's student of self-defense.
Registered: 11/22/04
Posts: 1277
Loc: Long York, New Island
I agree that a "can-do" "never quit" attitude is everything. It strengthens the mind, gives it positive energy, and adds to your strength. Everything the mouth says, the brain hears. Which is why in class, I eliminate phrases like "I can't do it" or "I'm never going to be able to-". I just won't have negative energy in the class.
Excellent first post, welcome to the forums, Debutts.
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I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.
-Mitch Hedberg
Are you aware of any formal H2H, non-firearmed (swords) training given to Union / Confederate soldiers at that time, or was it left to the individual talent of each soldier?
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I'll rather be happy than right, anytime.
Registered: 05/03/05
Posts: 1667
Loc: POM, Monterey CA
BP, you raise an interesting question. I've always wondered, because on up into the 1900s officers have carried sabres in the US military. I know there is some formal training in the use of a bayonet (even today), but I'm not aware of specific training regimen teaching the use of a sword.
Abraham Lincoln was a handy wrestler, apparently (collar and elbow, if I recall). Presumably many troops already had some kind of folkwrestling background.
I've also read articles about Backhold wrestling in places like Kentucky.
British officers also carried swords into the 20th C.
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See how well I block your punches with my jaw!!
Supporting everyone saying "nuts to cancer"
Now...this IS interesting. Does anyone know anything about the 'indigenous' or 'backwoods' fighting styles in the USA? Has there been anything written about it?
globetrotter
does unto others before they do unto him
Registered: 01/10/05
Posts: 637
Loc: ny usa
1. military training for the soldiers on both sides in the civil war, espetially irregulars, was very basic. most people went into the army knowing how to shoot, as rural men were all hunters. if you knew how to ride, as well, you may end up in the calvalry.
2. officers, and some cavalry men, were trained in fencing. west point produced several of the american olympic fencing teams in the early days. civil war cavalry men didn't do a lot of actual "sword fighting" - it was more like slashing infantry with the sword.
3. sorry, but the irregulars on both sides of the conflict, and for sure mosby;s men, were pretty close to being bandits. I wouldn't attribute a great deal of warrior spirit to that. their basic job was to scramble the supply lines, not fight face to face with armed enemies. important job, nevertheless
4. those irregulars who refused to put down their weapons were not exibiting warrior spirit, they were exibiting the spirit of men who are undisciplined and unwilling to follow the orders of their leader. the very essense of being a warrior is to follow orders and act with discipline. sorry.
Registered: 01/18/05
Posts: 3237
Loc: Midwest City, Ok, USA
I find the Civil War a war of Economics and idel thoughts of Separation, because of it. Hardships and heros on both side. Tragic events where brothers fought brothers or cousins. The Confedrates lost and these rebels caused the assasianation of one our better Presidents. Also these same Rebel were the core group for the embrassing raise of KKK.
Both sides had brillant marksmans and brave military men with old fashion nearly revolutionary war military tactics. The Confederates seem to have more variation with their sniper and gurriella tactics (both sides had good sniper units). Mother of necessity, again the CW was a Tragic event like all wars and still splinter our exist.
Quote: 3. sorry, but the irregulars on both sides of the conflict, and for sure mosby;s men, were pretty close to being bandits. I wouldn't attribute a great deal of warrior spirit to that. their basic job was to scramble the supply lines, not fight face to face with armed enemies. important job, nevertheless
Mosby's Rangers were only one of two guerrilla warfare groups that were retained by the confederacy. Unlike many of the ranger units in the Civil War, Mosby's Rangers were an actual Ranger unit, beyond in just name only. They were unique among ranger units and known for their professionalism. That's not just me, the gg.grandson of a Mosby's Ranger saying this, that is the word of the majority of historians.
Further, it is interesting that globetrotter doesn't attibute much warrior spirit to Mosby's Rangers. Their basic job, as he puts it, is the same important job that many of today's special forces do.
Quote: 4. those irregulars who refused to put down their weapons were not exibiting warrior spirit, they were exibiting the spirit of men who are undisciplined and unwilling to follow the orders of their leader. the very essense of being a warrior is to follow orders and act with discipline. sorry.
I would agree with this if it was a war on foreign soil, but when the war is in your backyard that is a different story. If some foreign power today defeated our military in battle, in the United States, and I was told to put down my weapons and surrender by our leaders, well I guess I wouldn't be a warrior either. Because, I'd fight for my freedom and kill as many of the occupying forces as I could. This is what my gg.grandfather continued to do.
It is also important to remember that during the Civil War, people were being told that if the Union won, their land and property would be taken. Whether or not this was actually true, people believed it. Many soldiers being farmers, they were fighting for their livelihood, not just some idealists cause.
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