What did General Smith mean by an attack in a different direction?

During the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, Major General Oliver P. Smith used the phrase "advancing in a different direction" to describe the 1st Marine Division’s deliberate, fighting withdrawal toward the coast.1

While his superior, General Edward M. Almond, initially proposed a plan that would have required the Marines to abandon their heavy equipment, vehicles, and supplies to evacuate by air, Smith refused to leave his division's gear behind. Instead, Smith argued that once his forces consolidated at Hagaru-ri, they could reorganize, resupply by air, and then turn to fight their way through enemy lines to reach the coastal plain.1

By framing the retreat as an "attack in a different direction," Smith emphasized that the division was not merely fleeing, but maintaining its combat effectiveness and offensive posture while moving toward the coast. This maneuver allowed the Marines to remain a cohesive fighting force, eventually reaching the port of Hŭngnam while rendering several Chinese divisions ineffective.1