Prologue
The days of the War for Southern Independence were never exciting to Private John McHenry. Ever since the thrill of joining the Confederate army faded and he faced his first taste of true warfare, he had been waiting for his furlough in order to go back to his plantation and to his safe pre-war life. John was exhausted from fifty miles of marches every day, with nothing to eat but a biscuit that is impossible to bite and cold soup that does not energize him a single bit. All along the way, he could hear the wounded soldiers cry their anguished noises, his fellow soldiers grumble about the constant marching, and his superiors shouting angrily at each other for losing certain battles.
And today, he had woken up late and his regiment had left without him. Following his major's orders from two days ago, John had been going in the direction his regiment had marched, but he failed to catch up to them. It was getting close to noon, and he was getting awfully tired, too tired to continue. He hadn't had any food for over eighteen hours, and barely any water; his canteen was almost empty. He came across a field of green grass, exhausted, and collapsed on the ground. Lying there on the grass, John felt the wind blow something against his arm. The wind soon died down, and the piece of paper that was wedged between his arm and the ground was soon lifted into the air. John read what was on the letter[1]:
Special Orders, No. 191
Hdqrs. Army of Northern Virginia
September 9, 1862
1. The citizens of Fredericktown being unwilling while overrun by members of this army, to open their stores, to give them confidence, and to secure to officers and men purchasing supplies for benefit of this command, all officers and men of this army are strictly prohibited from visiting Fredericktown except on business, in which cases they will bear evidence of this in writing from division commanders. The provost-marshal in Fredericktown will see that his guard rigidly enforces this order.
2. Major Taylor will proceed to Leesburg, Virginia, and arrange for transportation of the sick and those unable to walk to Winchester, securing the transportation of the country for this purpose. The route between this and Culpepper Court-House east of the mountains being unsafe, will no longer be traveled. Those on the way to this army already across the river will move up promptly; all others will proceed to Winchester collectively and under command of officers, at which point, being the general depot of this army, its movements will be known and instructions given by commanding officer regulating further movements.
3. The army will resume its march tomorrow, taking the Hagerstown road. General Jackson's command will form the advance, and, after passing Middletown, with such portion as he may select, take the route toward Sharpsburg, cross the Potomac at the most convenient point, and by Friday morning take possession of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, capture such of them as may be at Martinsburg, and intercept such as may attempt to escape from Harpers Ferry.
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He recognized immediately that the sheet of paper was important orders for his army, and that they might have dropped it back here on accident. Invigorated by his discovery, no longer caring about how exhausted he is, he dashed forward. By nightfall, he had finally reached his regiment, and the first thing he did was show the sheet of paper to his major.
The major looked at his piece of paper for a while, reached the bottom of it, and said, "Good, but now, where is the rest of it?"
OOC:
1. POD: He found a torn copy of Special Order 191, with orders 1, 2, and 3 listed on there. That means that McClellan never knows about the troops that are going to Sharpsburg, and therefore the Battle of Antietam will never happen.
Any suggestions, comments, feedback, criticism, et cetera are welcome.