Battle Tactics at the Halifax Citadel

[@duncanandrews1940]

Excellent Video. Nice to see the Snider being used properly. Mine is on the wall over my desk, a great bit of history...........

[@makaylalawrence3804]

I really enjoyed watching this. I have to make sure I get to the Citadel during the summer months.

[@jonsmitt9769]

Some interesting drills I’ve never seen before. It’d be a lot fun and chaos to learn this.

[@harrybuik9763]

The old 78th fought at Waterloo that's why the pipe tune is played the penny has now droped 😆❤❤

[@neilchristie7637]

No they weren't the 79th Cameron Highlanders, 42nd Black Watch and the 92nd Gordon Highlanders were the only Highland infantry Regiments at Waterloo

[@NewSquallor]

2nd battalion was held in reserve at Nieuwpoort for Waterloo. Didn't see action.

[@distinguishedflyer]

Such fun this was to do!

[@cobra5087]

Oh the spatz. Something you only see in full military kilt dress nowadays I suppose.

[@theojudd1319]

The drill performed here was excellent, on par with the Guards in London I'd say

[@highwindsclarke2685]

Interesting video.

[@jimsteffy7911]

I saw thus denibstratuib 24 years ago at the new hampshire Highland Gamewss

[@williambligh4382]

As an ex-Fort Henry Guard member (long ago in the "elite" 1960s) I have felt sorry for the slow decline of the FHG into a "military themed performance" motivated more by modern social values than a determined effort at accurate depiction of the 1860s. It would appear from this excellent display that the mantle of excellence in Victorian military history in Canada now belongs to the 78th. Well done.

[@yankeedoodle7365]

So the close order is a bit more then just fire power but also general movement. Soldiers feel supported with ranks behind and to the side and more willing to advance forward. Also with a lack of communication and especially larger regiments of hundreds of men you need them close or to loose the lost. The stability of the regiment with faulter

[@williamtraynor-kean7214]

A well deserved Bravo Zulu.

[@natheniel]

why does the drummer has a red plume instead of the white like the riflemen?

[@HalifaxCitadelSociety]

Normally the drummers have a white hackle or plume, the same as the infantry. The Drum Major and Bandsmen had red. Pipers had green and the surgeons had black. Each regiment was a little different but this is what the 78th Highlanders did in 1869.

[@noele6588]

They need a light artillery gun and carriage ala the RN gun run

[@iangraham6887]

im no expert by any means but i think the 78th highlanders were strictly infantry stationing the citadel. the 3rd artillery brigade were in charge of the cannons and other artillery roles at the citadel.

[@celticpridedrums]

The Citadel Unit is looking better than the Guard at this time I think, as the Guard deteriorated greatly. Thanks to Dave Danskin for bringing the Guard 's standards to the 78th's .I hope they have come back together after Covid--the Guard still has a long way to go--but they are steadily improving. I will be anxious to see how they fair this Aug at the Reunion. If there are other Guard types out there let me know what you think. R. Morton FHG 849

[@galkanftw]

I am not sold on aged tactics especially since they are in a fort defense meaning they shouldn't need formation unless the fight is inside the Citadel or outside the citadel. Being close together means an easier target to hit for the enemy as well. As for the design of the Citadel it is a great FIRST stage having to move uphill as well a deep moat like surrounding under the bridge to the interior.Cannons could see a far as well as guards and down below some firing holes as well made for a nice defense. The flaw is that hill also blocks the view of the defense but idk how they actually setup guards to watch over the hill.It is also a rather large area to full defend so a zerg attack onto the weakest point would be tough to defend and recover troops to that area.The biggest flaw imo is IF the initial hill was infiltrated because then the enemy would have a massive advantage being on top of the wall area looking down on the people inside.There is only a few area for troops to try and get up top if fighting did happen up top but again they would be vulnerable trying to get up top from below. It was however a very good initial defense design that definitely would have made enemies think twice.I do however feel the main defense would/should be near the water as that is where the enemy would enter land and or try to infiltrate into deeper territory. I would have rather seen the wall extended up so that if the enemy did get over the ill they wouldn't have a huge advantage looking over the main grounds.As well towers guarding that wall with a viewpoint above it to again thwart the enemies progress if they did infiltrate the hill and past the cannons.

[@rocksandforestquiver959]

You are aware that the Garrison would have to train for scenarios other than just the fort being attacked right? It's not like Halifax Harbour was their sole responsibility and British Army units had a habit of like... being deployed places/ in the field.

[@markfisher8206]

Silly person it wasn’t “They”“ who imposed the requirement to stay elbow to elbow dressing ,it was fear! Under fire men instinctively close together. It’s only by that,one leader who calls for all to follow him forward that the group will brave fire and charge. If you think that men under fire spread out and advance in neat lines you are dull.