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Although US tactical and strategic practices in the first part of the 19th century revolved around the ideas of Henri Jomini, American military instructor Dennis Hart Mahan at West Point also directly contributed to the way the US Civil War was fought. Mahan was an engineer and engineering was the basic subject emphasized at West Point.Mahan's warfare ideas were the opposite of Jomini's. Mahan's ideas centered around an active defense, not offensive. His tactics involved gaining the strategic advantage by forcing the enemy to attack well fortified and entrenched troops.

As the US Civil War unfolded, the defensive positions taken behind fortifications or from entrenched troops, was deemed to be the best way, generally speaking, of gaining an advantage an winning a battle. It should be noted, however, that Mahan did not maintain the superiority of the entrenched defense beyond its purpose. A battle was ultimately won by a successful attack, or counter attack.

As opposed to Jomini's emphasis on destroying an enemy's army, Mahan leaned towards Clausewitz on the value of occupying a center of gravity, be it an important city or territory.

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Q: What were the tactics taught by military instructor Dennis Hart Mahan at West Point?
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