Posted on 07/11/2018 3:38:46 PM PDT by Bull Snipe
Confederate General Jubal Early, leading about 10,000 men of the Second Corp, Army of Northern Virginia attacks Fort Stevens in Washington DC. The Union forces around in and around the fort are about equal to Early's force. As the attack develops, additional reinforcements from two Union Corps arrive on scene and stall Early's assault. The next day,skirmishing continues, but Early has decided any further attacks will only result in high casualties with little chance of success. He begins withdrawing his forces back into Virginia.
I read that Lincoln went up to the fort and when he stuck his head up he was told to get your fool head down, not knowing it was the President.
Too little too late.
D.C., regardless of who’s in power, as always been adept at protecting itself and its inhabitants.
By 1964 it was pretty heavily defended; by war’s end there were about 68 enclosed earthen forts, 93 supplemental batteries and miles of military roads.
If Early had attacked early in the morning the first day he would have had a decent chance of success
But Early was late...
More usefully, a telegram was sent to Grant down at City Point asking for troops asap. As good fortune would have it, VI Corps had just arrived back at City Point from its expedition down to the Carolinas; the baggage and artillery, and many of the men, were still on the transports. They sailed as soon as the ships could get up steam. Had they not been present, Grant would have had to pull troops out of the Petersburg lines, assemble shipping and embark the force, which would have taken some time.
Fortunately, the confederates had a long, hot march down from Frederick. When they reached Montgomery Blair's mansion in Silver Spring late in the afternoon, they were naturally inclined to requisition his wine cellar and pause for the evening. The VI Corps troops landed at the 6th Street docks (on the now newly rebuilt Southwest Waterfront) the next morning and quickstepped across town. They were filing into the entrenchments on the northwest quadrant of town, covering the roads down from Frederick, as Early's skirmishers began to probe the lines.
There is a very small federal cemetery on Georgia Avenue between Van Buren and Whittier. The men buried here were casualties of a Union sortie from the lines around Fort Stevens that was sent out to drive back some confederate skirmishers who had crept in close enough to be a nuisance. It was not much of a skirmish as the confederates fell back quickly, but there was still a price to be paid. Early never mounted an attack.
By the way: Washington has more than its share of marathons and half-marathons, as the running tribe likes to stage races around the monuments and Mall. And I have to admit, DC is a lovely place to hold such events. I’ve always thought it would be interesting to stage an event with a route leading from the 6th Street docks up to Fort Stevens, the military cemetery and the site of the Montgomery Blair mansion in Silver Spring. Detour as needed along the federal entrenchment line to make up the miles appropriate to the race. Call it “The Race that Mattered.” It would be a great occasion to dress up the cemetery, which is sadly neglected and almost forgotten, and to highlight this historical event. Now that the Southwest Waterfront has become a premier location and a really neat place to visit, it could be a fun event, and a nice change from the usual routes around the Mall and Haines Point.
Early was late, Lee’s bad old man.
Wasn’t Jubal Early the inspiration for the Lil’ Abner character Jubilation T. Cornpone?
Saw that movie.
Thanks
When we fought the Yankees and annihilation was near,
Who was there to lead the charge that took us safe to the rear?
Why it was Jubilation T. Cornpone;
Old "Toot your own horn - pone."
Jubilation T. Cornpone, a man who knew no fear!
When we almost had 'em but the issue still was in doubt,
Who suggested the retreat that turned it into a rout?
Why it was Jubilation T. Cornpone;
Old "Tattered and torn - pone."
Jubilation T. Cornpone, he kept us hidin' out!
With our ammunition gone and faced with utter defeat,
Who was it that burned the crops and left us nothing to eat?
Why it was Jubilation T. Cornpone;
Old "September Morn - pone."
Jubilation T. Cornpone, the pants blown off his seat!
HURRAY!
When it seemed like our brave boys would keep on fighting for months,
Who took pity on them and ca-pit-u-lated at once?
Why it was Jubilation T. Cornpone; Unshaven and shorn - pone.
Jubilation T. Cornpone, he weren't nobody's dunce!
Who went re-con-noiter-ing to flank the enemy's rear,
Circled through the piney woods, and disappeared for a year?
Why it was Jubilation T. Cornpone;
Old "Treat 'em with scorn - pone."
Jubilation T. Cornpone, the missing mountaineer!
Who became so famous with a reputation so great,
That he ran for president and didn't carry a state?
Why it was Jubilation T. Cornpone;
Old "Wouldn't be sworn - pone."
Jubilation T. Cornpone, he made the country wait!
Stonewall Jackson got his name by standing firm in the fray.
Who was known to all his men as good ol' "Paper Mache?"
Why it was Jubilation T. Cornpone;
Jubilation T. Cornpone, he really saved the day!
> Lee’s bad old man. <
AKA “Old Jube”, AKA “Old Jubilee”
So out of curiosity, I looked up how old Early was in 1864. He was 48.
I know how the movie ends and don’t want to be reminded of it thank you very much.
“And I have to admit, DC is a lovely place to hold such events.”
The only thing lovely about D.C. is getting the hell out of there. I had a colleague robbed at gun point at the Iwo Jima memorial. F it.
The legend says it was Oliver Wendell Holmes, future Supreme Court Justice.
Firefly: Objects in Space. Jubal Early was the bounty hunter.
Given the frontier ambience of the show, I am sure this was not accidental.
Good thing that those entrenchments were in place.
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