Category: Robert E. Lee

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Shade

4/19/2022

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Decisive

Part XII of XIII

“… Shade Reb.”
“We’re only a bit from the bridge.”
“Who’s McKinley?”
“Ohio Volunteer Yank and future president.”
“Fought here at the bridge?”
“Crossed at Snavely’s, then to the bridge like the other Yanks.”
“Johnny, if McKinley and the others had taken Harper’s Ferry Road …”
“Decisive Union victory.”
“Oops.”
“Boteler’s Ford, Lee’s line of retreat, would have been in cannon range.”
“Boteler’s you say?”
“That ford had many names – Shepherdstown, Blacksford’s – I mean the one on the Potomac by Kyd’s place.”
“Boteler was someone we visited at Elmwood.”
“Name around these parts.”
“Kyd was like Burnside, just the other side?”
“Yes and no Gus.”
“How yes?”
“Giving aid to the enemy.”
“Treason.”
“The no …”

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Fair

“… Involves time.”
“Kyd lost the special orders so they could be found.”
“An act.”
“The rest of the war?”
“Doesn’t appear so.”
“You once said you thought Kyd acted out of fair play.”
“Yes.”
“You never said what that was?”
“Short story is Kyd knew something and didn’t think it was fair.”
“Planting the orders made a correction.”
“And some other Maryland things.”
“Then Kyd comes back to being a loyal rebel.”
“Correct.”
“Burnside was more.”
“All in.”
“Who knew?”
“As few as possible.”
“Jefferson Davis?”
“And some other leaders.”
“Generals?”
“Lee, Bragg, Thomas.”
“Longstreet?”
“Probably not.”
“Speechless Johnny.”
“No laughing crow?”
“Been quiet.”
“Well then …”

Next Up: 20 April and the series finale Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Washington.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Aside

4/14/2022

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: All In

Part XI of XIII

“… Question about Burnside.”
“Go Gus.”
“How does one do that?”
“Treason?”
“Yes.”
“Once you decide what side you're on, it doesn’t feel like treason anymore.”
“Because you’re feeling a different value.”
“Correct.”
“So once Burnside was in, he’d be in.”
“Burnside was a problem gambler Gus.”
“Couldn’t stop?”
“Always all in.”
“All in like this bridge.”
“Gus, I think the Antietam washed out the old bridge on a regular basis.”
“And somebody said ‘Never again!’ Johnny.”
“Never again.”
“Let’s cross the bridge Reb.”
“Touching-elbows style.”
“And find some shade.”
“Let’s …”

Next Up: 19 April and part XII of the series Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Shade.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Refuse

4/13/2022

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Air

Part X of XIII

“… Seems to not refuse his left Johnny.”
“Did the same thing at South Mountain.”
“That was 14 September.”
“Left his left in the air Yank.”
“Easy fencer move to do.”
“Furthermore, on 16 September, Burnside doesn’t recon Mill Road.”
“What’s that mean Johnny?”
“It’s the first main road off of Rohrersville.”
“Leads to a mill.”
“And Harper’s Ferry Road.”
“You Rebs could have come from Harper’s Ferry via the Harper’s Ferry Road.”
“Two did.”
“Two who?”
“General Jeb Stuart and an aide.”
“From Harper’s Ferry to Sharpsburg?”
“Took a little over an hour at a gallop.”
“When?”
“One o’clock, 15 September.”
“Someone crossing the bridge Reb.”
“Let’s step aside.”
“Sure …”

Next Up: 14 April and part XI of the series Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Aside.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Bridge

4/12/2022

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Medieval

Part IX of XIII

“… The bridge Johnny.”
“Look at that hill.”
“Like a wall.”
“With every Reb shooting at the same spot.”
“Concentration of fire.”
“Kill zone Gus.”
“Feels like a drawbridge.”
“Over a moat.”
“To a castle wall.”
“Medieval.”
“Castles worked for awhile Reb.”
“A few could defend from many.”
“Just like here.”
“Gus, after the Yanks crossed at Snavely’s, they headed toward the bridge and not Harper’s Ferry Road and Lee’s line of retreat.”
“The left is floating again.”
“In the air and by orders.”
“And not only the Ninth Corps Reb.”
“The left flank of the Army of the Potomac.”
“Burnside …”

Next Up: 13 April and part X of the series Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Refuse.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Hazards

4/7/2022

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Pattern

Part VII of XIII

“… Burnside was his boss.”
“Yuck.”
“Burnside ordered Sturgis: ‘to carry the bridge at all hazards.’”
“The bridge?”
“At all hazards.”
“Carrying the bridge doesn’t threaten Lee’s flank.”
“Crossing at the fords does that.”
“Burnside knew the fords were unguarded?”
“Knew for hours.”
“Yet orders Sturgis, after numerous failed assaults, to assault the bridge again.”
“Makes sense if one wants waste.”
“Wasted Yanks save Lee.”
“The fords were less than three miles away by road Gus.”
“Did no recon.”
“Burnside sent the infantry through the woods.”
“Blindly.”
“And slowly.”
“Cavalry?”
“Ten companies available.”
“But Burnside didn’t use them to find the fords?”
“No – and had 24 hours to do so.”
“More than incompetence Johnny.”
“Seeing a pattern?”
“A pattern of treason.”
“Let’s step right Gus.”
“Let’s …”

Next Up: 9 April and part VIII of the series Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Usurpation Day 2022.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Fords

4/6/2022

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Line of Retreat

Part VI of XIII

“… Lee is desperate.”
“Yanks are pressing.”
“To address the threat, Lee removes the Rebs guarding Snavely’s.”
“How many?”
“Several thousand Gus.”
“Shows how Lee thought.”
“Fords matter.”
“Lee had thousands guarding Snavely’s and hundreds the bridge.”
“Snavely’s was the key.”
“How many Rebs were left at the fords?”
“A skirmish line and some cavalry.”
“Imagine that.”
“To be clear, there were three fords at Snavely’s.”
“Three?”
“One connecting a field because the Snavely’s farmed both sides of the crick.”
“The other two?”
“One by the Snavely homestead, and another called Myer’s Ford.”
“These two fords led where?”
“Up to Harper’s Ferry Road, Sharpsburg and Lee’s line of retreat.”
“You don’t say.”
“I just did.”
“Who’s the Napoleon?”
“General Sturgis …”

Next Up: 7 April and part VII of the series Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Hazards.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: 16 September

4/5/2022

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Silence

Part V of XIII

“… Here Gus.”
“Higher Johnny.”
“This side of the Antietam commands.”
“What happened up here on 16 September?”
“There was a cannon fight.”
“A cannonading.”
“Burnside had a special artillerist.”
“A gunner.”
“A year out of West Point and future Medal of Honor awardee.”
“Go.”
“On the 16th, from the ridge behind us, this artillerist could hit Sharpsburg.”
“Sounds like Lee getting hit and Burnside knew.”
“On the 17th this battery is moved a half-mile south, near Burnside’s headquarters.”
“Burnside had his headquarters a half-mile south of the bridge, not here?”
“Correct – at a farm on the Rohrersville Road.”
“Reb, that’s closer to the fords – and more locals too.”
“Batteries L and M were here.”
“The batteries not engaged.”
“The next morning Lee is at the same spot in Sharpsburg.”
“And could surmise a meaning Johnny.”
“The message is presented in the absence.”
“The silence is the message.”
“By nine in the morning on 17 September …”

Next Up: 6 April and part VI of the series Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Fords.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Sign

4/2/2022

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Fencers

Part IV of XIII

“… Sign needs a summary Reb.”
“Yanks formed here to assault the bridge.”
“Choir’s gonna sing.”
“Infantry passed through the fence.”
“Down the road under fire.”
“Made it 200 yards Gus.”
“Stalled and pinned down for two hours.”
“After crossing the bridge at 1:00, the Yanks filed left.”
“Filed to the high ground behind the overlook.”
“Took the long way around.”
“Look at when the choir formed Johnny.”
“That would be 10:00 a.m.”
“Six hours before AP Hill arrived.”
“To save Lee’s army.”
“Like a blessing.”
“From Burnside.”
“Let’s step back Johnny …”

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Fencing

“… There were lots of Yanks here.”
“Ninth Corps had more than 10,000.”
“All the Yank officers: how corrupt?”
“Suspect is Burnside … maybe one or two others.”
“Communicate with Lee?”
“Possible, though dangerous Gus.”
“Left flank was floating.”
“Blindly.”
“Indirect communication?”
“Much easier.”
“Just have signs.”
“En garde.”
“Like friendly fencers fencing.”
“If one needs time …”
“… The other gives time.”
“Something happened the day before, on 16 September, like that.”
“Where?”
“Up on the hill to the right.”
“After you Reb.”
“This way …”

Next Up: 5 April and part V of the series Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: 16 September.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Choir

3/29/2022

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Crick

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 …”

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Effective

“… 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

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Overlooked

3/26/2022

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Batteries

“… Get overlooked.”
“Say more Reb.”
“It’s how Burnside did things.”
“Always with Lee in mind.”
“Yes.”
“An example.”
“Burnside had two batteries he didn’t use.”
“A battery can fire a thousand rounds.”
“So times two Gus.”
“Two thousands rounds.”
“The ones not used were the 3rd US Artillery, batteries L and M.”
“Burnside’s old unit.”
“When he was in Mexico.”
“And not used all day Johnny, means the afternoon too?”
“The report says, ‘not engaged at Antietam.’”
“Manure.”
“And yet.”
“And yet what?”
“The captain in charge of the Yank batteries was cited for ‘gallant and meritorious service at Antietam.’”
“For not firing?”
“Maybe he helped the wounded.”
“Maybe …”

Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Fordable

“… So there’s the Antietam.”
“It was fall not spring.”
“More leaves.”
“One of the assaults on the bridge formed down there.”
“Is that an old road Reb?”
“Rohrersville.”
“I imagine it led to Rohrersville.”
“And to Sharpsburg, crossing the Rohrbach Bridge, now called Burnside’s.”
“Germans: Rohrersville and Rohrbach.”
“Yes.”
“What did the Georgians say about the crick?”
“Fordable above and below the bridge.”
“But the Yanks thought otherwise.”
“At all hazards.”
“I imagine Burnside didn’t want to know, didn’t want a different answer.”
“Fait accompli.”
“There were friendlies around, Unionists, and Burnside’s a talker, he could have easily asked a local.”
“Had the answer he wanted.”
“Burnside and the Ninth Corps were in North Carolina, in the swamps.”
“Spring of 1862: Pamlico Sound and New Bern.”
“So what matters a few feet of fresh water Johnny?”
“Preaching to the choir.”
“Let’s go down there.”
“Let’s …”

Next Up: 29 March and part III of the series Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Choir.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner