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Chapter 10
July 3, 1863, 9:30 a.m.
East of Monterey Pass
Pennsylvania
'What do you mean, you have been thrown back? This is unacceptable'. Daniel Sickles was seething with anger.
The man in front of him in heavy riding boots, who sported a curly blond mane, bowed his head in embarassment when he answered. 'Sir, I am sorry. At first we only dealt with a single company, which is why I ordered only the 1st Michigan to attack. But the rebels fought doggedly and threw us back twice. Colonel Town is badly hit, an ugly shoulder wound, he may lose his arm. Just as we were about to evict them from their positions, reinforcements suddenly arrived, an entire cavalry brigade. We were no longer outnumbering them and the terrain worked against us from the start'.
'Between us, General Custer, I do not care a whit whether one of your officers has exposed himself too much and now has to pay the bill for it. I need this pass taken so that we can get into the rear of the rebel army. Certainly I will not return to General Meade like a tailed-in dog just because a couple of tattered figured with shotguns refused to clear our way'.
'They have now a battery of horse artillery in position as well', offered the third man in the meeting.
'Ah, Kilpatrick, that may be so. But your division is vastly superior to the enemy. Have you finally brought up your second brigade?'
'Farnsworth is up now, sir. We will put them on the run, but it may be expensive'.
'I need results, gentlemen. War means fighting and fighting means killing. Get those stubborn Confederates out of the way and we can move on. My plan is far from having failed'.
Brig. Gen. George A. Custer, USA.
Chapter 10
July 3, 1863, 9:30 a.m.
East of Monterey Pass
Pennsylvania
'What do you mean, you have been thrown back? This is unacceptable'. Daniel Sickles was seething with anger.
The man in front of him in heavy riding boots, who sported a curly blond mane, bowed his head in embarassment when he answered. 'Sir, I am sorry. At first we only dealt with a single company, which is why I ordered only the 1st Michigan to attack. But the rebels fought doggedly and threw us back twice. Colonel Town is badly hit, an ugly shoulder wound, he may lose his arm. Just as we were about to evict them from their positions, reinforcements suddenly arrived, an entire cavalry brigade. We were no longer outnumbering them and the terrain worked against us from the start'.
'Between us, General Custer, I do not care a whit whether one of your officers has exposed himself too much and now has to pay the bill for it. I need this pass taken so that we can get into the rear of the rebel army. Certainly I will not return to General Meade like a tailed-in dog just because a couple of tattered figured with shotguns refused to clear our way'.
'They have now a battery of horse artillery in position as well', offered the third man in the meeting.
'Ah, Kilpatrick, that may be so. But your division is vastly superior to the enemy. Have you finally brought up your second brigade?'
'Farnsworth is up now, sir. We will put them on the run, but it may be expensive'.
'I need results, gentlemen. War means fighting and fighting means killing. Get those stubborn Confederates out of the way and we can move on. My plan is far from having failed'.
Brig. Gen. George A. Custer, USA.
- Lothar
- Word Count: 310