Northeastern North American Indian Warfare

[Oleander Ardens]

While I don't agree that the various tribes outfought Europeans man per man I sincerly hope that the Native Americans get the attention they deserve.

About the fighting prowness of the various units and men in the American theather:

1) Sweeping statements about it are impossible to sustain as the various combinations of external conditions and military factors are manifold. Ambushes and Raids, open battles, sieges, direct and indirect approaches suited the various organisations and members to a differnt degree. This qualities determine usually the strenght of units in an TW battlefield.

2) European forces excelled in open battles and direct sieges against fortified Indian settlements when they stayed put. Even the creative Iroquois prefered by far the indirect attacks, by isolating the forts and raiding the vicinity because European forts where a far thougher nut to crack than a fortified Indian settlement. Sadly this qualities don't shine as much on a TW battlefield.

3) Indians excelled in the petit guerre, ambushes and raids and some, as the Iroquois mastered the stealthy, long-ranged raid which great forces enabling them to threaten even large European settlements. Still their targets where by far and large other Indian Nations. However also European units proved adept at adopting classic skirmishing tactics to the American environment and greatly used ambushes and raids against opposing forces and settlements and forts.

4) The European powers, especially the French recognized the strategic and tactical advantages of Indian allies as the Indians did vice versa. Native tribes where quit lost without European support against Tribes with it. European forces without Indian scouting and support were much more suscitable to loss of supplies and ambushes.

Certainly it is an interesting topic and deserves a mod or a add-on if the implementation is not so good in the original ETW.