Johnny Reb and Gus Yank SOOW: Touching Elbows Part III of XIII
“… You’d know the type Gus.”
“Says Captain Downs was in the 4th NY Infantry.”
“A New York volunteer regiment.”
“I understand that.”
“Downs was leading a company in the regiment on 17 September.”
“Tough job Johnny.”
“An elected one.”
“That’s mostly how volunteer officers were chosen.”
“Elected by the soldiers.”
“When did Downs join?”
“After Fort Sumter.”
“First-to-fight kind of guy.”
“Started as a lieutenant.”
“Downs was promoted.”
“He was.”
“What happened here Reb?”
“The 4th NY was at the Sunken Road.”
“Soon to be Bloody Lane.”
“The 4th was in the first assault.”
“The first assault got cut down.”
“True.”
“An infantry officer like Downs would’ve been keeping his soldiers in-line, in formation.”
“Touching elbows.”
“What about Chapman Reb?”
“Similar to Downs.”
“A 4th New Yorker.”
“Volunteered after Fort Sumter.”
“Promoted?”
“From sergeant.”
“Johnny, …”
Next Up: 18 January 2019 and part IV of the winter series Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere On Our Way: Comrades.
Posted by Bryan W. Brickner
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