Heroic last stands throughout history

[Kouralia]

yhep, but the last part when they were in a circle, huddled together, the American flag in the middle, firing the last of their bullets surrounded by a superior force, was pretty cool.

Except it never happened. According to Indian accounts and archaeology, Custer's troop was overrun by a single charge and the troopers broke and ran, the Indians riding them down. Sorry.

That deserves the wooden spoon for their commander's sheer imbicelity...

[The Matthew Islands]

The 8th legions last stand holding the walls of the Imperial city during the Great War. It allowed the Emperor to escape with the bulk of his forces, and launch a counter attack to destroy (albeit while essentially destroying himself) the Elven invaders.

[Conserative Morality]

I'm not sure if it counts as a last stand exactly, but the Battle of Wawon came damn close.

[Zwitterjiund]

The battle of the chosin reservoir- Approximately 30000 marines stood up against a much larger Chinese force, while they were surrounded in temperatures well below zero. Many men suffered horrible injuries related to the the extreme cold

I wouldn't have chosen 'marines' as the way of describing the U.N forces, it makes it seem like the U.S was the only contributor.

My choice would be the battle of Rorke's Drift, admittedly not a last stand, but when faced against such odds and given the state of some of the defenders it is pretty commendable.

[Fedeledland]

Konstantinos XI's last stand oh so much.

[Free Soviets]

Also, this thread will likely turn into a tiresome debate over Thermopylae between people who think 300 is history, and a smaller group who are actually familiar with the Persian War.

did you read david brin's greek-history response to frank miller's anti-occupy rant from last fall?

[Pendragonia]

'Last stands' typically involve either military incompetence or barbarism. I see no reason why they should necessarily be celebrated.

I mean, the final siege of Constantinople in 1453 holds some historical resonance for me, but I see no reason to celebrate it.

Also, this thread will likely turn into a tiresome debate over Thermopylae between people who think 300 is history, and a smaller group who are actually familiar with the Persian War.

[u] So true.

[b] I saw this coming the instant I read the title.

[Erikkesh]

The Alamo. Pretty damn brave if you ask me. Not really heroic as it might be brave, but it was awesome. Roughly 180-200 Texians stood up to the Mexican Army and fought back until they all were killed but it was pretty awesome. Not that I was there. It happened in 1836.

Actually they were most captured and executed, including the famous one. You know the one with the rifle? I forget his name, American heroes are hardly my specialty.

[Kouralia]

The Alamo. Pretty damn brave if you ask me. Not really heroic as it might be brave, but it was awesome. Roughly 180-200 Texians stood up to the Mexican Army and fought back until they all were killed but it was pretty awesome. Not that I was there. It happened in 1836.

Actually they were most captured and executed, including the famous one. You know the one with the rifle? I forget his name, American heroes are hardly my specialty.

Davey Crockett. And I'm pretty sure he was shot down.

[Fartsniffage]

The Viking at Stamford Bridge, 1066 AD

Cracked may not be the most reliable source in the world but I really hope this story is true.

[Krasny-Volny]

The Alamo. Pretty damn brave if you ask me. Not really heroic as it might be brave, but it was awesome. Roughly 180-200 Texians stood up to the Mexican Army and fought back until they all were killed but it was pretty awesome. Not that I was there. It happened in 1836.

Actually they were most captured and executed, including the famous one. You know the one with the rifle? I forget his name, American heroes are hardly my specialty.

I'm not sure who you're referring to. Davy Crockett was killed in the fighting, as were the other two of the "big three" at the Alamo, Jim Bowie and William Travis. The only accounts which suggest otherwise were offered by Mexican officers. Crockett's body was recovered from an area between the fort's south wall and the chapel. From this I would conjecture he was killed as the Mexican forces pushed their way towards the barracks and other last holdouts of defenders.

The most likely studies conducted on Bowie's death suggested that he was already too sick to put up any resistance when shot or bayoneted repeatedly. Travis was one of the first defenders to die, catching a bullet directly in the forehead.

[Kouralia]

The Viking at Stamford Bridge, 1066 AD

Cracked may not be the most reliable source in the world but I really hope this story is true.

I believe it is.

[Ceannairceach]

The Sacred Band of Thebes, one hundred and fifty homosexual couples in service to Thebes, who stood their ground against Phillip II Of Macedon and his army at the battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE, despite the obviously forgone conclusion of the battle. After the battle was done and the majority of them were slaughtered, Phillip, understanding who the Sacred Band were and seeing their corpses heaped over one another, said "Perish any man who suspects that these men either did or suffered anything unseemly."

I personally tingle every time I hear that story. Might not precisely be a textbook last stand, but I like it.

[Morrdh]

The battle of the chosin reservoir- Approximately 30000 marines stood up against a much larger Chinese force, while they were surrounded in temperatures well below zero. Many men suffered horrible injuries related to the the extreme cold

I wouldn't have chosen 'marines' as the way of describing the U.N forces, it makes it seem like the U.S was the only contributor.

I've already mentioned the British 29th Infantry Brigade for the Korean War, a little over 3,000 men with Lee-Enfields held the line against an army for several days.

British/Chinese casualty rates were 1-10.

[Super Bwitain]

Victories of small, isolated forces against much larger forces are more interesting to me. For example, the victory of the Knights of St. John and their Maltese allies over the Ottoman army during the Great Siege (1565). As Patton said, the idea is not to die for your cause, but get the other bastard to die for his.

The Knights of St. John were fucking badass.

[Kulverint]

Gloster Hill, Battle of the Imjin River, Korea, 1951.

A thousand men of the 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment cut off and surrounded held out for two days against a Chinese army before eventually being overrun.

British (the 29th Infantry Brigade) casualties from the actual battle as a whole was 141 killed, 1,169 wounded, missing or captured.

Chinese casualties are believed to have been in excess of 10,000.

This. Sadly, most nation's contributions are forgotten in the Korean war except the USA.

[Conserative Morality]

This. Sadly, most nation's contributions are forgotten in the Korean war except the USA.

I just mentioned the Battle of Wawon, which was fought between the Turkish brigade and the PRC.

[Kouralia]

This. Sadly, most nation's contributions are forgotten in the Korean war except the USA.

I just mentioned the Battle of Wawon, which was fought between the Turkish brigade and the PRC.

Can't remember the name of it, but that time some Brit soldiers were facing the onrushing Chinese. WHen the radio checks went around to see who was beign hit hardest the commander basically went 'Meh, not too bad. Little noisy though..' despite being outnumbered bysomething like 15:1. Then they were nearly overrun and oart of the relief column was destroyed by flanking elements of the approaching line.

[The Archregimancy]

The Viking at Stamford Bridge, 1066 AD

Cracked may not be the most reliable source in the world but I really hope this story is true.

The more sensationalist elements of Cracked's hyperbole aside, it is in fact entirely true.

Right down to the barrel.

[Astrolinium]

I've always been rather fond of the Alamo.

[Tagmatium]

No love for Rourke's Drift?

Is that even a last stand?

And Archi's already mentioned Constantinople...

[Trollgaard]

The Viking at Stamford Bridge, 1066 AD

Cracked may not be the most reliable source in the world but I really hope this story is true.

The more sensationalist elements of Cracked's hyperbole aside, it is in fact entirely true.

Right down to the barrel.

It didn't mention Harold Hardradda fighting like the hoss he was without armor and breaking enemy shields while his banner Landwaster (sp?) was flying high behind him, unitl he was felled...

[Hardened Pyrokinetics]

The battle that decided Korea.

[Great Malema]

No love for Rourke's Drift?

Is that even a last stand?

And Archi's already mentioned Constantinople...

I'm pretty certain Rorke's Drift is considered to be a last stand, I'll go with that.

If not, my other choice would be The Alamo or the Battle of Dunkirk and the subsequent evacuation.

[Tagmatium]

No love for Rourke's Drift?

Is that even a last stand?

And Archi's already mentioned Constantinople...

I'm pretty certain Rorke's Drift is considered to be a last stand, I'll go with that.

If not, my other choice would be The Alamo or the Battle of Dunkirk and the subsequent evacuation.

Sorry to nay say you after you supported me, but I don't think Dunkirk was a last stand, just a withdrawal.