6th Wisconsin
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2008
- Messages
- 1,644
I can't wait to see what you do with the Bloody Angle. That might take some work, but I know you are up to it!!
Grant had briefed Gen John Sedgewick to take his VI Corps and probe Lee's left flank. Grant not only considered him one of his most dependable Corps Commanders but also a close friend. They were both "old army" and had served together in the Mexican/US War as artillery lieutenants.
He was revered by his men who affectionately called him "Uncle John" and there were few in the Union Army who had earned as much respect from their troops as Sedgewick. He could be blunt and profane but the men loved him because he was efficient. Wounded 3 times himself at Antietam he knew how to place his troops where they would do the most good-
and with the least harm to them.
He ordered up his artillery-the 1st Rhode Island Light-to soften up the Confederate front before committing his Corps- known as the Fighting Sixth- led by the New Jersey Brigades.
The large flamboyant Sedgewick arrived to direct his artillery placements upon his proposed line of battle. His was accompanied by his aides and his "war dog" a Chesapeake Bay terrier. No one knew where the dog came from only that it had adopted Sedgewick shortly after the Battle of Glendale in '62-they were now inseparable.
A 1st Division Cavalry Lieutenant whose 2nd Brigade had been holding the line for the previous 24 hours addressed Sedgewick
"General, sir! if I was you I would dismount as over yonder on that tree line are a pack of Reb sharpshooters and we've been dodging their bullets all morning"
Sedgewick ever the inveterate tease replied.
"Dodging Lieutenant? Is that all the First Cavalry do-dodge Reb bullets?"
The Lieutenant retorted
"General, I dodged a shell once at Gettysburg and if I hadn't it would have taken my head clean off. So yes sir! I believe in dodging-sir!"
Sedgewick laughed
"Very well Lieutenant, but those Rebs couldn't shoot an elephant at this distance".
But a little less than half a mile away on the tree line a Reb supporting his rifle on a tree stump took a deep breath and a careful aim, slowly exhaled and gently squeezed the trigger.
Sedgewick still had a smile on his face when the bullet hit him with a sickening "thwack". A small fountain of blood spurted from his left cheek just under his eye and quickly turned into a steady stream spraying the general's glove. With a bemused look Sedgewick slowly fell back off of his horse.
Pandemonium-Infantrymen from the 1st New Jersey brigade rushed to their stricken commander. One man grabbing the general's startled horse whilst another called back down the line
"Bring up an ambulance and be quick. The Rebs have shot Uncle John"
Sedgewicks terrier quietly lay down close to his fallen master's prone body
Bob, are you using static grass over the bases of your figures? BTW these do not look like they are all Conte, is there a new manufacturer being represented?