Book Review: Commando

Commando by Deneys Reitz

Written about the second Boer war by a young solider that joined up at 17, this book, published 25 years or so ante bellum, describes in great detail the methods of what is now known as modern mobile guerrilla warfare. Instead of AK-47, trucks, and RPGs, though, they had bolt-action Mauser rifles, horses, and howitzers. Yet the principle is the same and an applicable lesson today.

But this is a memoir, with few tactical example to draw upon, as either attacker or defender.

What little lessons there are:

~Travel light, move fast and far, surround and fix the enemy in place, then apply superior firepower as soon as possible. Skedaddle. (Very Nathan Bedford Forrest-esque. "Get thar fustest with the mostest." Forrest, portrayed as despicable in other areas of his life, is always begrudgingly respected for his exceptional guerrilla fight skills. Even by his most vocal detractors. In Forrest's time, guerrillas were called bushwhackers.)

~Oh, and don't give up a good horse to a man just because he outranks you.

~Static warfare, like sieges, when your advantage over your enemy is greater mobility is folly, especially when the enemy has greater logistical strengths.

They traveled great distances fighting the English, sometimes with a baggage train and foraged food, but when going light food consisted of mealie and biltong. Or cornmeal and vinegar-dried meat. Considering you can make johnnycakes with water and a bit of salt and some sort of grease to fry it on on a shovel blade, it's a quick little meal. A bit of soda might help improve them.

The first half of the war journal and the exploits described reads like a Confederate soldier's memoir. Lots of conventional battles with cannon and rifle and horse, but lots of losing battles and falling back. By the Spring on 1900 (September) halfway through the book, the new commander, General Botha, changed tactics because they Boers were outnumbered and outclassed. He adopted guerrila action. Living off the land and captured supplies. Partly out of necessity. The professional British Army had given a thrashing to the conventional forces, who were under financed volunteers to begin with. When the country didn't capitulate, the Brits got kinda mean. Going all scorched earth and inventing the Concentration Camp for non-combatants to beat down the populace. Boo.

Best advice of the book? "I also selected a strong riding-mule in preference to another horse, for my experience during the past fortnight had taught me that a good mule for long marches and a light nimble pony for use in action were the ideal combination."

UPDATE:

Should read "post bellum" not "ante bellum." I'm an idiot. Shoulda known better. I mostly see bellum used with status quo ante bellum, which means to go back to where we were before all the fussin' started. Thanks to the commenter.

If you could write a memoir for a war that hasn't happened yet, you might have an impressive talent...