School of War Ep 196: Thomas Bruscino and Mitchell G. Klingenberg on Mapping Warfare
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May 9, 2025 In this discussion, military historians Thomas Bruscino and Mitchell G. Klingenberg dive into the intricate world of military mapping. They share insights on the limitations of traditional military maps and their vital role in strategic decisions. Exploring the Gettysburg Campaign, they highlight key moments of leadership under pressure, such as Meade's command. The duo emphasizes the importance of modern visualization techniques and teamwork in enhancing operational effectiveness, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of historical warfare.
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Limitations of Traditional Military Maps
- Traditional American military maps excel at depicting battles but fall short on campaign-level visualization.
- They omit critical elements like roads, bases of supply, and the actual spatial extent of formations important for commanders' decision-making.
Mismatch in Campaign Visualization
- Commanders visualize campaign scale warfare differently than traditional maps depict it.
- Current maps often show merely 'pumped up battle maps' lacking crucial logistical and movement details a commander needs.
Understanding the South Mountain Terrain
- While studying South Mountain passes, they realized commanders feared Confederate forces' exit points.
- Experiencing terrain firsthand revealed the critical dilemmas commanders face in campaign planning.