I was born only about 80 miles from the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Definitely need to visit again and see it from a veteran's perspective.

June 6, 1944. A few German soldiers in their pillboxes and bunkers saw a giant flotilla of British and American ships approaching the coastline. I would imagine someone crapped his pants at the sight of that.

Senator Baker when he realized there indeed were confederates on the other side of the river at Ball's Bluff.

Lt. Frederick Crocker when the guns of Fort Griffin opened up at Sabine Pass.

Meade at the Battle of the Crater when he realized that his last-minute change to Burnside's plan of battle resulted in a turkey shoot.

Pickett when he realized his shad was overcooked at Five Forks.

Bragg when he realized he was supposed to be commanding an army at Chattanooga.

Lee when he realized Grant wasn't retreating after the Wilderness.

Rabid Cougar said:

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Smeghead4761 said:

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The Army of Northern Virginia, on July 3, 1863, when they realized that the Union artillery supporting Hancock's II Corps in the center of the Union line hadn't been knocked out after all, but just holding their fire.

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And yet they still went in and broke dented the line….

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FIFY

Also at Chattanooga, not a yikes but Sherman going, wait, what we won?

Not sure Lee went yikes on the Overland Campaign until Grant crossed the James and Beauregard saved his butt at Petersburg.

BQ78 said:

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Also at Chattanooga, not a yikes but Sherman going, wait, what we won?

Not sure Lee went yikes on the Overland Campaign until Grant crossed the James and Beauregard saved his butt at Petersburg.

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The yikes at Chattanooga would have been on the part of General Bragg.

Lee might have had a small yikes moment at the start of the Overland Campaign, after the Wilderness, when he realized that the Army of the Potomac was heading for Spotsylvania, instead of back across the Rhappahanock.

I don't think he did, considering he beat Grant to Spotsylvania and was waiting for him.

BQ78 said:

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I don't think he did, considering he beat Grant to Spotsylvania and was waiting for him.

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Shorter route and delaying action by Stuart saved Lee's army. But definitely a Yikes moment.

So what was the yikes moment that caught Lee off guard?

General Paulus when he realized his German Sixth Army was surrounded by the Soviet forces.

BQ78 said:

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Gaius Terentius Varro at Cannae since legend says it was his day to command and he seemed more arrogant than Pallus.

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Wasn't it another Varro who was the incompetent commander that marched 3 legions into the Teutoberger Wald death trap in AD 9? If so, "yikes"-level idiocy runs in the family.

Wasn't the guy in Germany, Varus? But definitely birds of a feather.

Rabid Cougar said:

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John Pope on August 30, 1862 at Manassas, Virginia when he realized Longstreet was on his left….

The 5th New York Zouaves when the tree line in front of them erupted in sheets of flame….

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Today. 160 years ago!

I would add that Billy The Kid had a major "yikes" moment when he entered Pete Maxwells room in the dark!!

Omar Bradley hearing early reports from Utah and Omaha Beaches after the first wave….

Sapper Redux said:

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I've always thought Tarleton must have had an impressive "yikes" moment at Cowpens when the militia he had just dispersed suddenly reappeared on his left flank.

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I came here to post this.

BQ78 said:

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Wasn't the guy in Germany, Varus? But definitely birds of a feather.

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Correct it was Varus that marched the 17th, 18th, and 19th Legions into Teutoburg Forrest. Interesting note, after the battle Arminius sent the head of Varus to Maroboduus of the Maccomanni to try and form an alliance with their tribes. He refused and sent Varus' head to Rome to pledge neutrality, this led to a breif conflict between Arminius and Maroboduus.

There are a couple other Roman oh crap moments I think would be good additions to this list.

Crassus going East and finding gold. He grossly underestimated the Partians and his death led to a destabilization of the power structure in Rome which gave Caesar a chance for power and led to two Cvil Wars in quick succession. Had Crassus lived who knows what would've happened.

The Other that can qualify is Queen Zenobia she tried to break away from Rome and form the Palmyrenen Empire near modern day Syria. Aurelian, soundly defeated her armies in 172 at the battles of Immae and Emesa. After the battle Aurullian was merciful despite a reputation for punishing traitors and spared the cities of Damascus and Palmyra. Palmyra in 173 revolted again and this time Aurelian razed the city so I would say Palmyrenen Empire as a whole was a oh crap moment.