William Mclaughlin

William Mclaughlin is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE

Articles by William Mclaughlin:

Pick A Side: Hannibal’s Veteran Army (with Elephants) Vs. Alexander’s Macedonian Phalanx and Companions

The gut reaction for most people would be Alexander, but there are a few aspects which work for Hannibal considering the various terrain and weather…

The 1863 New York Draft Riots – The American Civil War

Pretty much every nation has some unfortunate or downright ugly history. The American Civil War is often viewed through a somewhat black and white lens.…

The Most Hated Enemies Of The Ancient World’s Greatest Empire: Rome

Throughout the history of Rome, from the Kingdom of the 700s BCE  to the fall of the Empire in 476, there have been individuals who…

Masinissa: The Warrior King of Numidia who fought alongside his Armies Well into His 80s

Minor kingdoms and their Kings don’t often get a share of the historical glory because, well, they’re minor. But, one such minor king fought with…

Battle of Mount Vesuvius, Spartacus and His Men Abseiling Down a Mountain

It is not often that significant battles occur on slopes of tall mountains, there are usually too many forces involved for such steep terrain. The…

Ancient Generals Who Had No Problem Fighting Heroically On The Front Lines

Generals now certainly do not fight on the front lines, that would be ridiculous. Perhaps the last time we had instances of high-ranking officers in…

Four Valiant Stands From Both World Wars: These Men Kept Up The Fight When All Hope Was Lost

The Lost Battalion of WWI The Americans were eager to make their mark when their boys finally entered the Great War. The Americans had no…

The Samnite Wars, Paving the Way for the Might of the Roman Empire

The Roman Republic was a magnificent entity. It had its problems, as all governments do, but the men served it proudly and it took many…

The Last Samurai: The True History Behind The Film

The Last Samurai is a pretty solid, although underrated film. The action is well done, and the fusion of old and new, as well as…

Enemies Within And Without – Caligula, Arminius and Vercingetorix – Most Hated Men Of Ancient Rome

Rome hated a lot of people over the thousands of years it held power, so this list is far from comprehensive, feel free to add…

The Worst Things Hollywood Gets Wrong about Ancient and Medieval Battles

Personally, I love Hollywood historical epics no matter how ridiculously inaccurate they are. Anything that gets history out in the world is okay with me.…

Deadliest Sieges Before the 19th Century

Sieges throughout history were awful affairs. Unlike Field Battles, Sieges involved civilians, as well as numerous ways to die over long periods of time. Starvation…