Read Online Grant Comes East - Civil War 02 by Newt Gingrich, William Forstchen - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Newt Gingrich, William Forstchen
Tags: Alternative History
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pointing the way to a tarpaulin spread taut in a stand of chestnut trees, a table and chairs beneath.
Dismounting, the group gathered around the table. Hotchkiss reached into his oversized haversack and pulled out a map on rough sketch paper, folding it out on the table.
"I drew this up last night," Hotchkiss said, "after talking to some of Stuart's men and interviewing some locals who claim to be on our side.
"This is Fort Stevens, which you just saw," he said as he traced out the necklace of fortifications that were like beads on a chain embracing the city.
"Are there any weak points at all?" Lee asked.
Even as he spoke and looked at the map, the moment struck him as strange, tragic. This was once his home. He remembered a Washington without fortifications, lush meadows and fields surrounding the city, blistering in the summer but delightful in autumn and early spring.
Hotchkiss shook his head.
"They've covered every approach. Trees and brush cut back in places for nearly two miles to give clear fields of fire and deny concealment. The Virginia side is even worse."
Lee said nothing. He knew Arlington had been turned into a fortified camp. The approach to Alexandria, where the main military railroad yard was located, was an impossible position to storm.
"It has to be here," Lee said softly. "We must stay in Maryland; to cross back over the river and attempt it from the Virginia side is impossible, if for no other reason than the Potomac cannot be forded."
"It will be the same here or over toward Blandensburg or down along the river. The fortifications will be the same."
He looked over at Hood, who was silent, staring at the map.
"General Hood, do you think you can take that fort?" Hood looked up at him. "When, sir?" "By tomorrow."
There was a moment of silence.
"Sir, I'm strung out along twenty miles of road, my men are exhausted. Pettigrew is in the lead, I could have him up by late in the day, but it won't be until midday tomorrow that I can have all my divisions ready. If it should rain again today, sir, I can't even promise that. You saw the roads."
Lee had sympathy for Hood on this. He had indeed seen the roads, the thorough job that the Union forces had done destroying bridges and mill dams from here halfway back to Westminster.
He thought back to just before Gettysburg, the sense of hesitation in his army in spite of their high spirits, the sense that he was not fully in control. Was that setting in again now that the euphoria of victory was wearing thin because of exhaustion and the unrelenting rains? Am I pushing too hard now, should I wait?
He stood gazing at the map of the fortifications.
This is the only chance we will ever have, he realized. We must take it now. I must push the army yet again.
"It has to be here," Lee said. 'To try and maneuver now would be fruitless. They have the interior lines and maintained roads; wherever we shift, they will be in front of us. That and every hour of delay will play to their advantage."
He looked over at Stuart, who nodded.
"We've had half a dozen civilians get through the lines during the night," Stuart announced. "Reinforcements are starting to arrive in Washington from as far away as Charleston. Their newspapers are reporting that as well. The garrison is most likely at twenty-five thousand now; before the week is out, it could be forty thousand or more."
"Then we have to do it now," Lee replied, "Every hour of delay only strengthens them."
"I can't hope to have any artillery support for at least two days," Hood said, his voice pitched low. "They're stuck in the mud from here clear back to Westminster."
"General Hood, the artillery we have will do little if anything against those fortifications."
"So we are to go in without artillery support, sir?"
"Yes, General, without artillery."
"Sir. Respectfully, sir, you know I'm not one to shy away from a fight," and he fell silent, head half-lowered.
Lee look ed at him. I need dissent, I need to listen.
Dismounting, the group gathered around the table. Hotchkiss reached into his oversized haversack and pulled out a map on rough sketch paper, folding it out on the table.
"I drew this up last night," Hotchkiss said, "after talking to some of Stuart's men and interviewing some locals who claim to be on our side.
"This is Fort Stevens, which you just saw," he said as he traced out the necklace of fortifications that were like beads on a chain embracing the city.
"Are there any weak points at all?" Lee asked.
Even as he spoke and looked at the map, the moment struck him as strange, tragic. This was once his home. He remembered a Washington without fortifications, lush meadows and fields surrounding the city, blistering in the summer but delightful in autumn and early spring.
Hotchkiss shook his head.
"They've covered every approach. Trees and brush cut back in places for nearly two miles to give clear fields of fire and deny concealment. The Virginia side is even worse."
Lee said nothing. He knew Arlington had been turned into a fortified camp. The approach to Alexandria, where the main military railroad yard was located, was an impossible position to storm.
"It has to be here," Lee said softly. "We must stay in Maryland; to cross back over the river and attempt it from the Virginia side is impossible, if for no other reason than the Potomac cannot be forded."
"It will be the same here or over toward Blandensburg or down along the river. The fortifications will be the same."
He looked over at Hood, who was silent, staring at the map.
"General Hood, do you think you can take that fort?" Hood looked up at him. "When, sir?" "By tomorrow."
There was a moment of silence.
"Sir, I'm strung out along twenty miles of road, my men are exhausted. Pettigrew is in the lead, I could have him up by late in the day, but it won't be until midday tomorrow that I can have all my divisions ready. If it should rain again today, sir, I can't even promise that. You saw the roads."
Lee had sympathy for Hood on this. He had indeed seen the roads, the thorough job that the Union forces had done destroying bridges and mill dams from here halfway back to Westminster.
He thought back to just before Gettysburg, the sense of hesitation in his army in spite of their high spirits, the sense that he was not fully in control. Was that setting in again now that the euphoria of victory was wearing thin because of exhaustion and the unrelenting rains? Am I pushing too hard now, should I wait?
He stood gazing at the map of the fortifications.
This is the only chance we will ever have, he realized. We must take it now. I must push the army yet again.
"It has to be here," Lee said. 'To try and maneuver now would be fruitless. They have the interior lines and maintained roads; wherever we shift, they will be in front of us. That and every hour of delay will play to their advantage."
He looked over at Stuart, who nodded.
"We've had half a dozen civilians get through the lines during the night," Stuart announced. "Reinforcements are starting to arrive in Washington from as far away as Charleston. Their newspapers are reporting that as well. The garrison is most likely at twenty-five thousand now; before the week is out, it could be forty thousand or more."
"Then we have to do it now," Lee replied, "Every hour of delay only strengthens them."
"I can't hope to have any artillery support for at least two days," Hood said, his voice pitched low. "They're stuck in the mud from here clear back to Westminster."
"General Hood, the artillery we have will do little if anything against those fortifications."
"So we are to go in without artillery support, sir?"
"Yes, General, without artillery."
"Sir. Respectfully, sir, you know I'm not one to shy away from a fight," and he fell silent, head half-lowered.
Lee look ed at him. I need dissent, I need to listen.
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