What would you do #2

[johan_steele]

Option 1:

It is the fall of 1864 You are a Major in General Wheelers Cav. commanding roughly 50-200 men depending upon the day and time. Today you directly command forty as the rest are scouting the flanks of Shermans Army. Your men are some of the best Cav in the world, they've proven so time and time again. You and your command have been tasked w/ hindering General Sherman in any way you can. You have sniped and worried the rear guard of his advance on Savannah w/ little real effect. You have succesfully skirmished w/ Union Cav on several occasions but again there have been no distinctive victories.

Your men have not received rations from the CS govt in almost a year, they haven't been paid in longer than that. desertion is an issue, as is growig hostility from Georgia locals who resent your men requisitioning food and fodder for thier horses from them.

One of your scouts rides up to you reporting hearing the screams of a woman from a nearby farmstead. and seeing a group of a half dozen or so of Shermans bummers in the area.

Your command arrives in sight of the farmstead to see three men about to be strung up by a force of 15-20 Yank Infantry and a hysterical woman wearing a Union Officers jacket.

What do you do?

[johan_steele]

Option 2:

You are a freshly minted Lt, an Orderly Sgt until you received a battlefield promotion after Atlanta. Today you are in command of a detail out on a foraging party. A dozen tough veterans led by a Corporal who served in the Crimea. Your orders are to secure forage for the Company and Regt if possible. Several hours out your Corporal reports that he can hear a womans screams coming from a nearby farmstead and he and hi "mess" will investigate. You tell him you will come along as soon as the wagon the rest of the detail are loading w/ hay is loaded.

You arrive fifteen minutes later to find the Corporal w/ a bloody bayonet standing over the body of a LT from a neighboring Regt. His men are finishing w/ stringing enough ropes to hang three more Union men. A young woman, obviously mistreated, is wearing only the dead LT's jacket.

Before you can take command of the situation a force of Wheelers Cav is seen approaching, they look to outnumber you nearly three to one. Wheelers men are not known for their willingness to take prisoners.

What do you do?

[rbenne]

#1

Dang bummers can’t be tolerated, I have no idea what these animals are doing but I will NOT stand for it. Being bummers and scavengers there is no doubt in my mind that they are up to no good and have caused grave injury to the lady.

No questions no doubts, ride em down, fast and furious. Saber drawn I order the charge in hopes of cutting through them before they can form and fire.

I have no intention of taking prisoners and want none. They have sullied a lady, probably robbed her blind, don’t know why she is wearing that jacket but I am sure they are stringing up her men folk.

While I will endeavor to free the men being hanged, my first priority is for the safety of my own men, so I will get the details later, from any wounded yanks that may survive.

#2

While I do not understand what is going on with the hanging and my corporal’s actions, there is no time for this now.

The cavalry are my only priority, form the ranks on the double quick and try to get off a volley before they can. I yell to the lady to get inside and if she has a basement to get to it. Once we fire, assuming I have beaten the cavalry to the punch, I will order my men to fall back into defensive positions behind any cover close by and give the order for independent fire. I will then find something large to get behind.

I would vastly prefer to not fight an overwhelming force and mounted at that, but I do have the advantage of cover, perhaps I can win the day, I have no choice but try.

[gunny]

#1

As we ride up, I split my force - one to envelope the position utilizing cover - I use my best man to take this force. My troopers will stay mounted in covered positions while I advance with two men under a flag of truce.

If the Yanks - honor my truce - I meet the commander half way to find out the situation. Are the three men Rebs or Yanks? Who mistreated the woman, etc. If it is my men being hanged - on investigation - and a dishonor was committed - I will allow the hanging and be on my way. This is a lesson to my own men - that this behavior will not be tolerated by either side.

If the three are mine - and were trying to prevent a rape and killed a Fed Lt. in the act, I will demand their release and immediate surrender of the entire force or face no quarter.

If the three being hanged are Yankees, I will tip my hat to the Fed. Lt. and be on my way - only to report their presence and locality - and of course advise them to be on their way.

#2

Not expecting a kind reception, I would order my men to immediate cover in and around the house. No line will protect my small force outnumbered to severely. The order to hold fire will be maintained until my command.

If we are immediately threatened - I will commence fire and let the ball ensue. I will risk my mens lives and my own over surrender thinking my odds better with such good cover around and in the house. I will investigate the hanging and lady's predicament after the action.

If no action is taken by the Reb force, I will post a few pickets, and find out the situation immediately. If the three are Rebs, they will be taken into custody and I prevent their hanging. If they are Rebs and raped the woman - they hang.
If they are Feds and raped the woman - they hang. If they are the dead Lt.'s men and didn't participate - they are arrested and taken back to H. Q.

Jamie

[gary]

In #1, what choice is there but to attack. Distract from the front and hit them from the flanks or rear. Capture all the bummers if possible.

In #2, order skedaddle and do a fighting retreat. Leap frog tactics the best you can. Send one man on the fastest horse back to get help too. If we survive, find out what the three men had done and then if justifiable, court martial them.

[johan_steele]

Gunny, I have to hand it to you. Actually I wonder if you've talked to the same man as I. Your Response to option #1 is almost identical to the actual results... Though the hanging was credited to Wheelers men I have little doubt who tied the rope around those mens necks. As an aside the CS Major was killed in battle later and was buried w/ full honors by the same Union men he had parleyed w/ earlier. Because they were so impressed w/ his courage and integrity the guaranteed him the highest honor the could. He apparently formed the sole rear guard to allow some of his men to escape a trap. He refused the order to surrender, tipped his hat and tried to escape.

I got the story from a local CW buff outside Savannah. I relished my three or four hour conversation w/ him and immensely enjoyed the little "Crab Shack" he pointed me to.