Q&A · 1:13:55-1:14:42

Why Roman camps do not disprove Grant's mobility argument

Roman camps used partly portable fortification material and operated on a different scale from the camps in Grant's campaign.

Question

Did Roman armies not fortify their camps while remaining highly mobile?

Short answer

Yes. Roman armies carried some fortification material with them, and their camps differed in size and method.

Notes

Roman armies carried part of their fortification material with them. Their camps therefore used partly portable defences alongside timber cut for the purpose. The size of Roman camps also differed from the situation being discussed at Pittsburg Landing. These differences qualify the comparison between Roman fortified camps and Grant's approach to a mobile campaign.