dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Apr 27, 2020 17:08:31 GMT
Years before GAC gained immortal fame at the Little Big Horn, he earned his glory in the ACW. Well known for his heroics at Gettysburg with his "Wolverines" he also played a large part in the success of General Sheridan's Richmond Raid in May of 1864. The main task of the raid was to defeat General J.E.B. Stuart and his cavalry command which had long harrased the Federals. Sheridan completed his mission when he defeated Stuart--- who died the next day--- at Yellow Tavern on May 11.
Sheridan was victorious but he stilled needed to return to the Union lines and to do so he needed to cross the rain swollen Chickahominy river. He was headed SE towards General Butler's command at Bermuda Hundred but was not safe yet as he had the raging river on his right flank with Confederates in pursuit. The Meadow Bridge was standing but the Rebels had removed all the planking which had to be replaced. The duty fell to GAC and his Michigan Brigade.
Custer had to protect the Union pioneers working on the bridge. He deployed his regiments to hold the Confederate forces firing upon the Union soldiers and press them back and off the surrounding heights. GAC was able to drive the Rebels, mostly reservists and clerks, back and the repairs were made to the bridge.
Though the battle of Meadow Bridge is little known it was an important part of Sheridan's raid which might had enabled the Confederates to swap Bishops if Sheridan had been captured. Custer displayed bravery and the necessary leadership to accomplish his vital task of providing the escape route. Regards Dave
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Post by quincannon on Apr 28, 2020 3:50:38 GMT
Meadow Bridge, Yellow Tavern, in fact the entire Sheridan Raid were of little consequence in terms of hastening victory over the South. The raid could have ended with disaster had it not been for a heaping portion of luck, which every commander hopes is on his side. Meadow Bridge was though the very reason one has a Custer hanging around his command. Closely supervised he did a commendable job forcing a crossing.
The down side of the raid was that Sheridan with virtually every cavalryman in the Army of the Potomac with him deprived Grant of his cavalry, his eyes, his ears, and protection of his flanks in the Spotsylvania Court House phase of the Overland Campaign of 64. No one can know today what opportunities were lost because of the cavalry detachment, but you get a feeling, reading Grant,that he thought better of the enterprise in retrospect. He never said so directly to my knowledge. Grant never expressed much regret about anything.
Of course Stuart was killed at Yellow Tavern, but Stuart's cavalry was not destroyed, and that was a primary objective of the whole affair. Reading what others said about him you get the strong feeling that Stuart believed he would not survive the war. Nothing stark mind you, just the way his aides and associates wrote about him later. It really is a shame Stuart did not survive though. His memoirs, that included detailed descriptions, of his plans, intentions, and methods, along with concurrent narratives of how he thought and was thinking could have been an invaluable benefit to the military arts and sciences.
The one real positive thing that resulted from Sheridan's raid, was that Wilson participated. All of the cavalry raids up to Sheridan's had really been small affairs. Stuart's two rides around McClellan and the Bristoe raid were done with relatively small forces, usually a reinforced brigade. The Union raids were also fairly small, except during Chancellorsville, where the Union cavalry rode off south while the battle was to be fought in the east. Sheridan felt that a large force could accomplish something of value, but he had no intention of staying where he raided, thus his escape over Meadow Bridge. Wilson took the same idea of size and said, not only can I penetrate,and destroy, but I can stay there too, which is exactly what he did in Alabama and Georgia in 65. I have heard it said that Chaffee looked at what Wilson did and concluded that a mobile force rather than just being raiders could be a main battle force and designed the armored division accordingly.
I think immortal infamy might be a better turn of phrase Dave. We also differ on anyone earning glory. There is no glory (whatever the hell that is) in the killing of your fellow man. Rather it is heartbreak and tears, vivid memories for a lifetime, of things one wishes he had never seen. If someone ever offers you death or glory, take death.
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Apr 28, 2020 21:48:02 GMT
Immortal fame or immortal infamy, Custer lives on in the annals of American History. I suspect the majority of Americans are unaware of Custer's actions at the Little Big Horn and hold him as hero. I don't accor any glory but fame yes as he is still known and that was his ultimate goal. General A.J. Smith put Forrest on short rations with campaign in North Mississippi from July through the rest of the summer. Smith knew about the Black Belt Praire that ran from central Alabama through North Mississippi and destroyed crops and burned all of the Confederate storage. Total war came South and it was tough.
I am pleased that you and Ms Joyce are wearing masks even though it is weird. Walked into the bank today wearing a mask! Who'd have thunk it!
Beth darling, please be very careful! You are my most favorite Texas Belle and I keep you and yours in my prayers! Regards David
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Post by quincannon on Apr 29, 2020 2:01:47 GMT
I will be sure to tell Ms. Joan that you gave your best regards to Ms. Joyce, and I hope Ms.Joyce, whomever she is, is wearing a mask too.
I suspect you are correct about Custer and most Americans. Did I ever tell you about the high school friend of my daughters, who did not know who won the civil war.
Glory and fame are two things most human can not handle on an emotional/mental basis. That is why I now, and have always avoided those who seek it. Glory and fame never turn out well in the end. They both fade like paint exposed to too much sun. When they do, it's not pretty. I would suspect that most of us here have concluded, either privately or publicly that the loss or fading of fame and glory contributed in large measure to what happened at LBH.
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Apr 29, 2020 14:20:47 GMT
Sorry for the typo as I really do know her name. I'm pretty sure she will understand as she seems to be a patient and forgiving woman as she is married to you! Regards Dave
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Post by yanmacca on Apr 29, 2020 15:16:57 GMT
I know a few Joyce’s Dave, Joyce Grenfell and James Joyce.
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Post by quincannon on Apr 29, 2020 16:21:24 GMT
Patient no. Forgiving yes.
Whenever I think of fame and glory Dave, I think about Ira Hayes, and Dwight Johnson. The first helped raise the flag on Iwo Jima, and died alone, drunk, in a ditch by the side of the road, drowning in a few inches of water. The second was awarded the Medal of Honor, and ended up being shot and killed trying to rob a 7-11.
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Post by Beth on Apr 29, 2020 20:41:27 GMT
Fame and Glory are heavy coats to wear. It would be like getting the Nobel Prize in your career at the age 21-people would be forever expecting more from you, like another Nobel Prize something that in the history of the prize has only been done 4 times.
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