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
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