Pitched battle

Pitched battle

A pitched battle is a combat fought on a battlefield expected to be site of engagement by both sides. [p.649, Blackwood's] The location, time and disposition of troops are therefore well known, and either side has the option to disengage either before the battle starts, or shortly after the first armed exchanges, and are sometimes referred to as duels on a larger scale. Pitched battles are noted for lack of the element of surprise, ability to manoeuvre and lack of initiative available to either side. In military theory pitched battles are to be avoided, particularly by those troops that depend on the three above mentioned factors, such as insurgents. [p.78, Oppenheim, Roxburgh]

A pitched battle is not a chance encounter such as a skirmish, or where one side is forced to fight at a time not of their choosing such as happens in a siege. For example the first pitched battle of the English Civil War was fought when the Royalists chose to move off an escarpment to a less advantageous position so that the Parliamentarians would be willing to fight the Battle of Edgehill. In contrast the Battle of Gettysburg, fought during the American Civil War, started by chance as a skirmish, but as both generals chose to reinforce their positions instead of disengaging, they turned what was initially a skirmish into a pitched battle.

Pitched battles were however the preferred method of resolving a military campaign during the Renaissance and until the Franco-Prussian War because of the prevailing thinking that a decisive battle is to be sought as soon as possible. [p.594, Atkinson]

Citations and notes

References

* "Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, v.LXXI, 1852 Jan-Jun", Published by William Blackwood & Sons, 1852
* Oppenheim, Lassa & Roxburgh, Ronald, "International Law: A Treatise", volume I, The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., 2005
* Atkinson, Christopher Thomas, "A History of Germany, 1715-1815", Methuen & co., 1908


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • pitched battle — n 1.) a big battle between armies or large groups of people ▪ a pitched battle between the rival groups 2.) an angry and usually long argument ▪ She wanted to avoid another pitched battle with her son. →↑skirmish …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Pitched battle — Battle Bat tle, n. [OE. bataille, bataile, F. bataille battle, OF., battle, battalion, fr. L. battalia, battualia, the fighting and fencing exercises of soldiers and gladiators, fr. batuere to strike, beat. Cf. {Battalia}, 1st {Battel}, and see… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pitched battle — pitched battles N COUNT A pitched battle is a very fierce and violent fight involving a large number of people. For the next three nights pitched battles were fought with the police …   English dictionary

  • pitched battle — n. 1. a battle in which placement of troops and the line of combat are relatively fixed before the action 2. a closely fought battle of great intensity …   English World dictionary

  • pitched battle — noun count 1. ) a battle between two armies who have already planned their positions 2. ) an angry argument or fight, especially one that continues for a long time …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • pitched battle — ► NOUN ▪ a battle in which the time and place are determined beforehand, rather than a casual or chance skirmish …   English terms dictionary

  • pitched battle — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms pitched battle : singular pitched battle plural pitched battles 1) an angry argument or fight, especially one that continues for a long time 2) a battle between two armies who have already planned their… …   English dictionary

  • Pitched battle — Pitch Pitch, v. t. [OE. picchen; akin to E. pick, pike.] 1. To throw, generally with a definite aim or purpose; to cast; to hurl; to toss; as, to pitch quoits; to pitch hay; to pitch a ball. [1913 Webster] 2. To thrust or plant in the ground, as… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pitched battle — 1. a battle in which the orderly arrangement of armed forces and the location have been predetermined. 2. an encounter in which the antagonists are completely and intensely engaged: The dispute evolved into a pitched battle between management and …   Universalium

  • pitched battle — noun (C) 1 an angry and usually long quarrel or argument: We had a pitched battle with the council before they d agree to repair the road. 2 a battle between armies who have already chosen and prepared their positions compare skirmish 1 (1) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”