-MILITARY HISTORIAN-
Andrew J. Roscoe
JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES
Andrew has published articles in a number of magazines and journals covering the Civil War and professional naval matters.
Reimagine the ARG/MEU Team
U.S. Naval Institute’s Proceedings, Vol. 146, No. 94 (April, 2020).
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It is time for the Navy and Marine Corps to restructure their amphibious forces in order to use them more effectively to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. This means cutting down on the Marine forces, centralizing command, and streamlining the mission sets of the new Expeditionary Strike Group to better meet the needs of combatant commanders.
What the Unrestricted Line Needs from the IW Community
US Naval Institute's Proceedings Online
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The Navy recently combined many different Restricted Line communities - Intelligence, Meteorology, Computer Professionals, and more - into the Information Warfare Community. But that community is failing to reach its potential. The Unrestricted Line stands to benefit from a concentrated effort to provide more viable information to the end users.
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The Rookie Wolverines: The 24th Michigan at Gettysburg
Gettysburg Magazine, Issue No. 61
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The 24th Michigan Infantry was the new unit in the Iron Brigade going into Gettysburg. Though they had been in the famed unit for nine months, they had yet to see real combat. The Wolverines had been in some minor exchanges and some raids, but they had yet to stand the test of combat along side their Badger and Hoosier comrades. At Gettysburg, that would all change.
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After six hours of brutal combat against men from three separate Confederate brigades, the 24th Michigan would muster 99 of 496 men. Along the way, they helped capture much of a brigade and held ten different defensive lines against overwhelming odds. Despite their terrible losses and the wounding of all the senior officers, they held together and continued to fight.
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In this Article Andrew Roscoe goes into the factors that went into melding the men of the 24th Michigan into a formidable machine of war - one that was capable of handing in the finest combat debut in the Army of the Potomac during the war.
The Battle of Wassaw Sound: ‘Forgotten’ Clash of the Ironclads
Civil War Navy-The Magazine (Volume 6, Issue 4)
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Most people have heard of the Battle of Hampton Roads, where the Monitor and the Virginia fought the first battle of ironclads. However, few know of the far more decisive Battle of Wassaw Sound. In a half hour, the USS Weehawken beat the CSS Atlanta in a battle the drastically altered the course of ironclads in the war.
Who Commanded the Iron Brigade at Gettysburg?
Gettysburg Magazine, Issue No. 60
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The famed Iron Brigade of the Army of the Potomac is one of the best known units of the Civil War. Their fight on July 1st, 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg has been widely studied by historians and well depicted in media on the battle. However, no author has addressed the evidence that shows that after the wounding of Brigadier General Solomon Meredith, Colonel William Robinson did not immediately take command of the brigade.
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During the fight for its life on the ridges west of Gettysburg, one of the regimental commanders and a staff officer stepped into this leadership vacuum and provided necessary guidance during one of the most celebrated military stands in US history.
Unleash the Helos!
U.S. Naval Institute’s Proceedings, Vol. 144, No. 9 (September, 2018).
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The Navy is not doing enough to utilize its helicopters. After a decade and a half of replacing obsolete equipment and increased emphasis on warfighting, the Navy's helicopter force still is not getting into the fight enough. Largely, the Navy's own organizational paradigms is holding the force back and need modernizing to take full advantage of the equipment and personnel in place.
An Expeditionary 'Thoroughbred'
U.S. Naval Institute’s Proceedings, Vol. 141, No. 9 (September, 2015).
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Naval Aviation too often focuses on the aircraft carrier and its air wing. However, one of the biggest areas that Naval Aviation can make a bigger difference is with its helicopter forces embarked on board Amphibious Assault Ships as part of the Amphibious Ready Group. By giving them more ability to cross train with the Marine Air Combat Element and building more trust between those communities, the MH-60S Knighthawk crews can help assume some of the mission sets that the MV-22 Osprey struggles to fill since the replacement of the CH-46E Sea Knight.
ONLINE ARTICLES
Andrew has published articles on a number of websites, covering the Civil War.
The "Detroit Light Guard:" 1225th Support Battalion
American Battlefield Trust
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A history of the Detroit Light Guards, the city of Detroit's oldest militia unit. Now serving as the 1225th Support Battalion, the Detroit Light Guard has served the people of Michigan since before the Mexican War.
The 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment
American Battlefield Trust
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Raised in the build up of the Army prior to the War of 1812, Humphrey's Battery was the only battery at New Orleans, where it held the river; it served as Battery B, 4th United States Artillery through the Mexican and Civil Wars as one of the finest artillery units in service; and through the world wars with the 1st and 37th Divisions as the 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment.
The 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment
American Battlefield Trust
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Formed in 1855 as the 1st United States Cavalry, it was renumbered to the 4th Cavalry at the beginning of the Civil War with the redesignation of other units. Serving as part of the "Saber Brigade" under Robert Minty, the 4th Cavalry was one of the most effective units in the western Federal armies. Serving on the frontier during the Indian Wars, it eventually became the reconnaissance element of the VII Corps in France during World War II.