Yesterday & Today

[StoneDogDave]

Yesterday, July 21st 1861..... And so it begins.. Gen McDowell moves across Sudley Springs to assault Mathews Hill meeting Col. Nathan Evans. Pushing towards the Henry house and the-soon-to-be Stonewall Jackson lying in wait on the grass. Early success gives way to withdrawal and chaos at the Stone bridge and Cub run bridge. All those who came out to witness the Grand Army's stunning and swift defeat of the Rebels soon were in fear for their lives and property. The defeated and humiliated alike slowly creeped back into Washington DC to comtemplate the new turn of the rebellion. War would not be quick and neat......

[chilidog]

If they only knew what they were starting........



chilidog

[Tamaroa]

There was a precursor to the main action on July 18th when Longstreet engaged Yankee forces at Blackburn's Ford. My favorite Confed. reg't the 11th Virginia Inf. was involved.. amongst others.


Bill

[usmcsgt65]

I believe the key to the Confederate success was the Reb troops getting off the train (in time) from Harper's Ferry had new federal blue uniforms on. The Yanks held their fire, thinking it was some of their own boys running up.

[Tamaroa]

Sarge,
It also demonstrated the problems with the stars and bars. The flag when limp looked very much like the US flag. That plus the unifrom issue which you brought up, played havoc on the field all day.

Bill