Shock & Awe Comanche.

This is coolbert:

Those instances of shock and awe as was the case from a previous blog entry to include Bandera Pass.

The paramilitary Texas Rangers versus the American Indian Comanche tribe. Fifty rangers arrayed against three hundred Comanche. Those rangers it should be noted backed up by a force of one hundred and fifty American Indian friendlies.

It might very well be that Bandera Pass is the very first instance of repeating weaponry as that term understood today used. Paterson Colt revolver firing five shots before reloading. Each Ranger equipped with a pair of such revolvers, firepower far in excess of the single-shot muzzle handguns of the period.

The Comanche formidable opponents, well versed in the warfare of the light cavalry, experienced fighters, very confident, ACCUSTOMED TO MAKING RAIDS INTO MEXICO FOR THE BETTER PART OF TWO HUNDRED YEARS AND NOT AFRAID TO ENGAGE IN MORTAL COMBAT MORE OR LESS WITH ANYONE.

Those rangers able to put their Paterson Colt revolvers to good use, complete and utter rout of the Comanche contingent the result. A MASSIVE DISPLAY OF SUPERIOR FIREPOWER, SHOCK AND AWE INDEED!

From a conversation with a weapons expert and a man who has read extensively from the first-hand accounts of those rangers experienced in the para-military warfare of that time and era:

 "That was the Rangers' big deal--they trained . . . over and over again so that they would provide disciplined fire in the face of the enemy. Comanches counted on fighting groups of white men who all fired at once, usually during a fake charge to draw their fire, then rode in amongst the panicked white guys now holding empty rifles and did their jobs with arrows, hatchets and lances.  Very few casualties for the Indians, as moving targets sliding over the backs of their horses onto the opposite side with only a hand and foot showing, were extremely hard to hit, especially when the receiving parties were terrified of the reputation of their enemies to begin with."

"So at the Battle of Bandera Pass, there was a second volley, halfway expected, at which point every Indian was riding head up toward the Rangers' circle, knowing there could not be a third volley. (and the second volley might have come as a bit of a shock in its intensity--previously a volley consisted of half the rifles firing once then the other half for the second volley--instead, they experienced ALL of the enemy firing in the first volley, then a second volley was just as powerful as the first as each enemy soldier fired again)" 

"Then came a third volley as they likely charged in, confident now of an easy kill with an enemy with empty weapons--unheard of, and the point at which most of the bravest, first into the enemy's defensive circle, where shot out of their saddles (or bareback--figure of speech).  Shock, milling about, then a fourth volley and maybe a fifth and they were running.  Then things settled down for a longer fight at range--at which Indian bows and arrows were useless and the white guys' rifles made their mark."

"Another thing the rangers taught their recruits early on: accuracy. Every shot had to count."

AND WOE TO THE RANGER WHO COULD NOT MAKE EVERY SHOT COUNT! BANISHMENT FROM FURTHER RANGER EMPLOYMENT, A DARWINIAN SELECTION PROCESS AND NECESSARY AT THAT!!

SIGHT PICTURE, SIGHT ALIGNMENT, SQUEEZE!

coolbert.