An insult, in military terminology more common to an earlier
period, was a sudden attack on a fortified place for the purpose of entering
and capturing the place before its garrison could effectively respond to
the threat. Unlike a true surprise attack in which the attacking force made
some attempt to conceal its movements and objective, a force bent on insulting
a place advanced boldly in the open, depending on the dislocation induced
by its sudden appearance for the success of its attack. The Federal attack
on the Confederate fortifications at Vicksburg, Mississippi in May, 1863
(illustrated at right) might be considered an insult, or attempted insult,
as the case may be.
An insult, in military terminology more common to an earlier
period, was a sudden attack on a fortified place for the purpose of entering
and capturing the place before its garrison could effectively respond to
the threat. Unlike a true surprise attack in which the attacking force made
some attempt to conceal its movements and objective, a force bent on insulting
a place advanced boldly in the open, depending on the dislocation induced
by its sudden appearance for the success of its attack. The Federal attack
on the Confederate fortifications at Vicksburg, Mississippi in May, 1863
(illustrated at right) might be considered an insult, or attempted insult,
as the case may be.
