Quote Originally Posted by Cimon View Post
Not sure if it has been said yet (apologies if it has), but how about Pickett's Charge from the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickett%27s_Charge Marching an infantry division across 3/4 of a mile of open ground under heavy artillery and musket/rifle fire doesn't seem like a good idea. The closest it came to success was when one very small part of the attack reached the stone wall behind which the Union soldiers were entrenched and engaged in hand-to-hand fighting before being beaten back. That moment is often called "The High Water-Mark of the Confederacy."

Afterward, when General Lee told Pickett to look to his division, Pickett responded, "General Lee, I have no division."
Somebody beat me to the punch! I was thinking that little mistake had to be mentioned.

And it is a terrible and kind of stupid tactical decision, because its essentially a massed long-range infantry charge unsupported by artillery against a heavily-entrenched artillery-supported enemy position which, by the way, also enjoys the benefit of greater manpower. All in all it's a no-no situation for any commander. Surprising why Lee, who had until then proved to be very capable and skilled, would commit such an ultimately crippling blunder.