Part III of XIII
“…Here’s there Yank.”
“A fordable crick.”
“A crick has fords.”
“Which means wagons can cross.”
“Some kind of road.”
“Snavely’s Ford is nearby.”
“To the left.”
“Down Rohrersville Road?”
“One must make two rights, maybe two miles by road – one or so as the crow flies.”
“And up there is the Georgia Overlook.”
“On that high ground.”
“Which recedes to the left Reb.”
“An avenue of approach.”
“Burnside should have asked his choir.”
“Infantry.”
“Ask the privates if they want batteries L and M to shell that overlook.”
“Would half an hour do?”
“I think so.”
“Then cross the crick.”
“Fly – jump – skip like a rock Johnny.”
“Or …”
“… Run 300 yards into fire at flank and front.”
“To a choke point.”
“A choke point that Reb batteries have ranged.”
“Which then leaves a hill to be assaulted.”
“Confounded bridge.”
“I know there weren’t that many Georgians.”
“Little over 300.”
“Rebel casualties?”
“Report says 110.”
“After three hours of bombardment?”
“Both sides report it was heavy.”
“Rifle shots from thousands of Yank infantry?”
“Everybody running out of ammunition.”
“Doesn’t seem effective Reb.”
“The Yank casualties might have been a thousand.”
“That’s a factor of ten.”
“Effectively consuming Yanks.”
“And effectively buying Lee time.”
“Let’s see the sign Gus.”
“Let’s …”
Next Up: 2 April and part IV of the series Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Sign.
Posted by Bryan W. Brickner