Talk:Battle of Cane Hill/GA1

GA Review

Article (edit | visual edit | history) · Article talk (edit | history) · Watch

Reviewer: Chiswick Chap (talk · contribs) 13:28, 22 March 2020 (UTC)

I'll have a go at this one. Chiswick Chap (talk) 13:28, 22 March 2020 (UTC)

Comments

• Guess we don't know how many cannons there were on each side? It would make the tale clearer if we had some idea.
  • Found that Blunt had 30 through further research, and the sources mention 6 Confederate cannon being in action. Looks like six is probably the max Marmaduke had, so I'll go with six.

• Ammunition for the cavalry (is that hay or oats...). Guess you mean carbine ammo.
  • Or shotgun ammo, in the case of some of the Confederate soldiers. Wikilinked ammunition at its first appearance for good measure.

• Resupply: much of this seems to hang on both sides' supply lines. What were these? Had the cavalry simply moved much faster than the supply wagons?
  • Blunt was on his own in enemy territory with the main base 100 miles away, I've added some stuff in the Aftermath section to highlight this. Marmaduke actually sent his supply train away before the battle to protect it, I've added that to the Background section.

• It would also be easier to follow if the ranks of Marmaduke and Shelby were stated up front.
  • Done

• Other thing that'd help would be a brief description of the ground. Hills to defend, per the place name? Wooded? Rivers to cross? The photo of File:Cane Hill Battlefield.JPG makes it look surprisingly flat, given the contour lines on the map! But there are trees for cover and dead ground (maybe a gully).
  • As you caught on, that part of the field was flat. However, other part's weren't so much. It was a running fight extending over several miles, so different parts of the field had different alignments. I've added some descriptions of the terrain, is what I've added helpful or is more needed?
    • Perfect.

• Had there been time to dig defenses or was it all on the move?
  • It was mostly on the run, once the first line broke, it was mostly a running fight with Shelby trying to give the rest of the army time to fall back.

• What are the connections with Ewing and Kansas that brings Smith and Castel into the Further reading section?
  • Not sure what Castel's book has to do with this. Ewing fought in the battle, but the Ewing book appears to mention Cane Hill on two pages, so removing both.

• Maybe mention the Cane Hill driving tour project?
  • Done

• This painting or one like it might be relevant and out of copyright, but I can't access it from across the pond. Could be worth a look to see if you can upload it to Commons.
  • Not sure if I've got room after adding the commanders' portraits. My editing style probably tends towards a little less on the images than most.
    • OK; may be worth bearing in mind if the article ever gets extended.

• Portraits of all the commanders are available on Commons should you want them.
  • Created a gallery. Alignment is a little funky, but I think I've found the best format.

@Chiswick Chap: - I've responded to all of your comments so far. Hog Farm (talk) 18:51, 22 March 2020 (UTC)

Well, that seems to be about it. I've made some minor copy-edits and paragraph breaks which I hope you're happy with. Another 'tale of old unhappy far-off things, and battles long ago' nicely written-up. Well done! Chiswick Chap (talk) 20:15, 22 March 2020 (UTC)