Hobbits as soldiers?

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by the phantom

I can't think of a military combat task that I would select a company of hobbits for over a company of men or elves.

Well, it depends what you have available to you doesn't it? If I was assembling an army in Middle-earth with unlimited resources, then I would choose Ents as my shock troops, Elves for my archers, Dwarves as my sappers, a large helping of Rohirrim cavalry etc etc. But they are unlikely all to be willing and/or available. And, even then, I am sure that I could find a strategic use for a detachment of Hobbit archers. Farael make a good point here. Topography willing, a cunningly hidden group of Hobbit archers could well cause mayhem when an advancing enemy comes within their range.

Tolkien makes a specific point of telling us that Hobbits were difficult to daunt or kill and that they were particularly keen-eyed. Which suggests to me that the average Hobbit surpassed the average Man in these qualities. Certainly, were I assembling an army, I would not turn them away if they were willing and able to fight, however wonderful my other troops were.

Of course, the only problem is that it would be hard indeed to motivate Hobbits to go to war....

Well, they were willing to go to war in support of the King at Fornost. And they could no doubt be sufficiently motivated to defend the Shire, which would occupy a rather strategic position were the enemy trying to reach the Elven Havens to the west.

[Thinlómien]

Hobbits were good at hiding, so they'd make good spies. They'd also make good striking-troops. When camped near an enemy army, the hobbits could sneak to the enemy camp and kill some people/ steal goods/ destroy goods/ steal plans/ spy or steal plans/ whatever. (And don't say that Elves would be even better in that than Hobbits or I get depressed. You know, Elves can maybe move silently, but they can't hide because they shine... )