March speeds...........presson!

**~~DIVUS IVLIVS~~** · August 13, 2009, 02:22 PM

In history, what is the greatest marching feat conducted.

The best I know is the Ulm Campaign, or Nero's march to Metaurus which was what..120 miles?

But lets remeber the circumstances IE I dont think Turrene or Marbolough's march to the Dannube is better then Napoleons, because Napoleon had 240,000 men and Marbolough only had about ...30,000?

So what do you guys think?

I'm asking cause I want to know something new.

**Mithie** · August 13, 2009, 03:13 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_March

**Iskender-bey** · August 13, 2009, 03:15 PM

There is Scipio's march to Cartagena, which I think was completed in about a week.

I will be a Balkan nationalist and mention Skanderbeg! He defeated a Venetian army on July 23, 1448 and stayed there to subdue the local garrisons for about one or two weeks. Upon hearing of an Ottoman expedition into Albania, he marched to his eastern frontier to stop the invasion. The whole expedition was a debacle for the Ottomans. The army was destroyed and the Turkish general captured. This was on August 14, 1448. There is also a series of events in 1462 where he defeated three separate Ottoman armies all over Macedonia before they even got near Albania in less then a month. He could march 70km (about 45 miles) a day when required. His speed in warfare surprised the Italians and French when he went to Italy to help out his ally, Ferdinand. In one event, when the Anjous were just starting to get ready for battle, Skanderbeg attacked them and routed the whole army destroying their artillery.

**Juvenal** · August 13, 2009, 03:24 PM

King Harold of England, who was waiting to contest a Norman landing in Sussex, had to march his army 185 miles in four days to fight the Norwegians at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

Within a fortnight he had to march all the way back to meet William at the Battle of Hastings.

**Orko** · August 13, 2009, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by Juvenal

King Harold of England, who was waiting to contest a Norman landing in Sussex, had to march his army 185 miles in four days to fight the Norwegians at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

Within a fortnight he had to march all the way back to meet William at the Battle of Hastings.

Ugh! Was just about ot say it!

**Entropy Judge** · August 13, 2009, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Juvenal

King Harold of England, who was waiting to contest a Norman landing in Sussex, had to march his army 185 miles in four days to fight the Norwegians at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

Within a fortnight he had to march all the way back to meet William at the Battle of Hastings.

Although he did lose the second, so ....

Um, some others, maybe:
Xenophon's Anabasis
Stonewall Jackson was reputedely quite good at marches (in the Valley Campaign, he led 17,000 men 646 miles, winning five "significant" victories against ~60,000.
Napoleon as well, IIRC, was supposed to have instituted a faster marching pace for his infantry, so some of his campaigns would likely count.

**Juvenal** · August 13, 2009, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by Entropy Judge

Stonewall Jackson was reputedely quite good at marches...

Yes, Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862.

Jackson's Valley Campaign was Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's famous spring 1862 campaign through the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia during the American Civil War. Employing audacity and rapid, unpredictable movements on interior lines, Jackson's 17,000 men marched 646 miles (1,040 km) in 48 days and won several minor battles as they successfully engaged three Union armies (52,000 men), preventing them from reinforcing the Union offensive against Richmond.

Jackson's corps were jokingly referred to as "foot cavalry" for their prodigious marches.

Despite his successes, Jackson was ultimately frustrated in his ambitions to win decisive victories against the scattered Federal forces, but he did prevent McDowell's Corps from being sent to McClellan in the Peninsula (would McClellan then have conquered his caution and attacked Richmond? who knows).

**AqD** · August 13, 2009, 03:19 PM

off-topic: why is OP banned??

**Boyar Son** · August 13, 2009, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by aqd

off-topic: why is OP banned??

probably an alt-account of a banned member.

salute to this fallen hero fighting against TWC mod tyranny.

**Delta228** · August 13, 2009, 04:32 PM

Patton's 3rd Army during the Battle of the Bulge.

**Godless Pickle** · August 13, 2009, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by Delta228

Patton's 3rd Army during the Battle of the Bulge.

That doesn't really count since they had vehicles...we want dire foot marches.

**Delta228** · August 13, 2009, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by Godless Pickle

That doesn't really count since they had vehicles...we want dire foot marches.

oh my bad.

regardless, Patton still had to move his infantry next to the vehicles...

**Juvenal** · August 14, 2009, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by Delta228

oh my bad.

regardless, Patton still had to move his infantry next to the vehicles...

That's an interesting question. The Western Allied armies were fully motorized, so generally they only had to march when they were in combat. The British had organic transport for their infantry divisions (although it couldn't lift the whole division at once) while the USA had a truck-pool which enabled selected divisions to conduct rapid strategic movement while the others remained on foot.

**gaius valerius** · August 14, 2009, 03:24 AM

The march of the BEF from Mons to the Marne, making great distances while being under constant pressure of the German advance, fighting ominous fights with their rearguards but still pressing on for about 2 weeks.

That... is a stunning military feat.

**Nik** · August 13, 2009, 05:47 PM

Davout's March from Vienna to the field of Austerlitz (100+ km in 24hrs) comes to mind.

Btw, Patton was fast in throwing is leading elements in direction of bastogne, but I find the feat of simpsons staff turning his whole army around and keeping up its momentum alot more impressive. Patton was always one for showy media stunts.