Colonel John Pelham by William W. Hassler

Author:William W. Hassler [Hassler, William W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, United States, Civil War Period (1850-1877), Military, Modern, 19th Century
ISBN: 9781782898436
Google: Vx9wCwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2014-08-15T02:56:54+00:00

Chapter VII

Riding around McClellan’s Army

Wednesday’s fighting at Antietam Creek left General Lee with only 27,000 battle effectives with which to face “Little Mac’s” reinforced army of 75,000. Despite these odds, the Confederate commander audaciously remained in position the next day as though daring the Army of the Potomac to attack. Throughout the bright autumn day Pelham kept his guns unlimbered and ready for instant action. His crews, standing at arms, spoke in whispers and kept their eyes peeled on the endless rows of blue-uniformed figures partially hidden by the brilliantly-colored autumn leaves that adorned the distant fruit orchards.

Late in the afternoon Federal squads carrying white banners marched to the Confederate lines to request a truce in order to bury their dead. Otherwise there was no activity, and not a single shot disturbed the lulling fall breeze.

After dark, General Lee ordered his army to march to the Potomac and recross into Virginia. Unfortunately, a drizzling rain softened the roads over which the wagons groaned and horses skidded. Von Borcke’s poor overburdened mount slipped five times throwing the bulky Prussian into the mud much to the amusement of the foot-soldiers. Pelham’s batteries and the cavalry brought up the rear to ward off any attack. However, the enemy made no attempt to follow until the next day.

By then Pelham’s guns were in position on the Virginia shore from which they kept the enemy at bay with a heavy cannonade. In order to keep “Little Mac” off his back, General Lee ordered “Jeb” Stuart and Pelham to move up the south bank of the Potomac to Williamsport. Here they were to put on a convincing display of force to create the impression that the whole army was edging its way around the Federal army to invade Pennsylvania.

Within a few hours this diversionary force was splashing across the Potomac at Williamsport. On reaching the Maryland bank the graycoats encountered an enemy outpost which they charged and dispersed with a few shots. Then began a flurry of activity. General Stuart, always a master showman, divided his two cavalry brigades into smaller units which he sent northward along various paths to make the enemy believe a heavy movement was afoot. Pelham trotted along with his guns on the left flank.

The ruse worked. Before long, Federal columns were seen approaching. Cautious “Little Mac” was sending cavalry together with General Mansfield’s Twelfth Corps to check General Lee’s latest maneuver. Nothing that the approaching bluecoats would pass close to his position, Pelham invited von Borcke to ride with him to a nearby peach orchard “where we can enjoy some delicious fruit while we scout the enemy.”

Together they climbed a couple of inviting peach trees—Pelham insisting that his 250-pound comrade scale the larger one which could bear his weight without breaking and revealing their presence. Between bites on refreshing, juicy peaches, the two officers estimated the number of enemy troops that were rushing to head off the “Rebel invasion.”

After four cavalry regiments had passed, Pelham called to von Borcke, “Stuff your

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