|
|
|
|
|
|
|
he did two generals remained in Tenochtitlan, as noted earlier, responsible for sending reinforcements, food, and supplies to the combatants.
25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The time of day the Aztec army left Tenochtitlan was largely determined by the distance to be traveled. In the battle against nearby Chalco the Aztecs left at midnight, reaching the target in time for a dawn attack.26 When great distances were involved and the starting time did not seriously affect their arrival time, the march began in the morning.27 If necessary the army could travel day and night until it reached the objective,28 but the rate of march was usually slower.29 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Except for a few accounts of towns visited en route, the records are silent on how far the Aztecs marched per day. However, the march rates of other preindustrial armies shed light on the situation. In the invasion of ancient Greece, Xerxes's army required at least nineteen days to cover 280 miles; resting one day in seven, the army marched at a maximum rate of 16.5 miles per march day, or slightly less than 15 miles per campaign day.30 Alexander the Great's army achieved a maximum march rate of 19.5 miles per day,31 Hannibal's rate was 10 miles a day, and in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, the average was 15.32 In 1760, General Lascy marched on a road for ten days, averaging 22 miles per day, while in the early nineteenth century, Napoleon, Marshall Bülcher, and Frederick the Great all averaged 15 miles per day for ten days33the standard distance for the time.34 Premodern infantry rates of march generally varied from 5 to 20 miles per day.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United States Army march rates are 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) per hour on roads, or 20 to 32 kilometers (12.5 to 20 miles) in a normal 58 hour march per 24-hour period. The actual speed of march is 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) per hourcalculated at a pace of 76 centimeters (30 inches) and a cadence of 106 steps per minute, with a 10-minute rest halt per hour includedunder relatively ideal conditions. When marching uphill or on steep downhill slopes, the pace decreases, slowing to 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) per hour cross-country, rests included; marching in mountainous country requires approximately 20 percent more time than marching on level terrain.36 Nor are night marches very efficient, averaging 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) per hour on roads and 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) cross-country.37 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The above figures are for a normal march. A forced march covers greater distance by marching more hours, not by going faster, but it is avoided if possible because it impairs the fighting efficiency of the |
|
|
|
|
|