Valley of the Shadow by Peters Ralph

Author:Peters, Ralph [Peters, Ralph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical
ISBN: 9781466839816
Goodreads: 23359286
Publisher: Forge Books
Published: 2015-05-05T07:00:00+00:00

2:00 p.m.

Eversole’s Knoll

“Plans change, Phil,” Crook said. “Point is to win.”

Sheridan nodded. “Grates on me, though. If you could’ve swung south, cut off their retreat…”

“Have to get them to retreat first. Old Bricktop’s right. I rode over there, had a look. If I extend his flank with one division and swing the other north of that creek bottom—”

“Red Bud Run,” Sheridan said.

“—then clear out that artillery and recross, we can turn their flank and set them running like rabbits. I believe it’ll do the trick, Phil, I really do.”

Staff men kept their distance, sensing that the generals wanted privacy. Between the hill on which they stood and Winchester, volleys prickled on, but with less fury.

“Not just you, though,” Sheridan said. “You flank them, George. And I’ll resume the attack across the front. I’ll be damned if a single man in this army won’t do his part.” His face was blotched and hard-set. “Whole day’s been a piecemeal affair, I’ve made damned-fool mistakes. But I’m done making them.” He snorted. “Would’ve liked to trap that bastard, though.”

“Still might. We’ll see.”

“Cavalry were supposed to do it. Come in on their flank, not play at pony rides.”

“Still might happen. Probably will,” Crook reassured him. “Torbert’s not one to take his ease on a battlefield. Nor are those boys of his. My bet’s that we’re going to give Early a whipping he won’t forget. His quiver’s about empty, way I figure.”

“Hell, George, hasn’t this been a wicked a day?”

“Isn’t over.”

“No.” Sheridan sighed. “I’ll miss Davey Russell, though. That sonofabitch.”

Crook nodded, but just said, “I’ll get my corps moving.”

Sheridan broke off his foray into sentiment. “How long until you get up?”

Crook drew out his pocket watch. “Three. I can go in by three. My corps’s well positioned for the movement.” He neglected to add that he’d brought it up without orders.

“Do it, then,” Sheridan said. “I’ll have the Nineteenth Corps go in beside you.” All of his decisiveness had returned. “Then the Sixth Corps, hit them with everything.”

“Cavalry’s going to show, you wait and see,” Crook said, still bucking up his old comrade. “We’ll make a pretty rout of this mess.”

“Torbert had damned well better show. After I sang the cavalry’s praises to Grant. Which division of yours makes the flanking move? North of the creek?”

“Duval’s. Thoburn’s division is leading my column, he’ll break off and extend the Ninthteenth Corps’ flank. Duval will keep on going across the creek, then wheel to the left.”

“Duval’s brigade commanders? Remind me.”

“Hayes and Johnson. Only two brigades.”

“That enough?”

“They’re good men. The best.”

“Hayes? The politician? The Ohio man?”

Crook smiled his old-Army smile, a phenomenon as thin as frontier rations. “He’ll do. Waxes philosophical, then fights like a Comanche. Honest, for what that’s worth nowadays.”

“Honest? Politician?”

“No man I’d trust more.”

Sheridan smiled, too. “Except for present company, you mean?”

Crook’s smile, a mere cut between his lips, hinted at hidden teeth. “Excepting present company, of course.”

Dropping his smile, Sheridan said, “Tear their guts out.”

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