Wednesday, June 19, 2013

May 18, 1862---Federals futz around



MAY 18, 1862:             

U.S. General Henry W. Halleck’s  Blue forces have moved 3 miles in ten days toward Corinth, Mississippi. Gray resistance is nominal. Halleck advises Headquarters in hopeful tones to the effect that his "whole line moved up yesterday to within 2 miles of enemy’s works…”   



Halleck’s comrade-in-arms General McClellan doesn’t move at all, according to Dr. Castleman, a diarist in the Army of the Potomac:  

"Orders from Headquarters. Roll will beat at 5 in the morning. Army will move at half-past six, precisely." All was bustle. The chests and boxes which had yesterday been packed for a move, in the morning, Unpacked in the afternoon, were again packed at night, which showed how eager our soldiers are to get to work. The roll, at 5 this morning, instead of calling them from their beds, summoned them to breakfast. They were ready, but had not finished their hurriedly prepared meal, when it was announced through the camp, "Order of last night, to move this morning, is countermanded."

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