along the enemy’s route of march. I have a solution to this ‘interesting’ problem offered us by General Hood.”
Wheeler tore the paper in half.
Seeley heard an audible gasp from men in front of him, but Wheeler’s hard stare silenced them. To one side Hannon spoke up, another of the brigadiers.
“Sir, it seems General Hood does not have a complete grasp on our situation. I for one will support your decision to pursue and do damage to Sherman. Do we know where he is going?”
Wheeler glared toward Hannon. “I believe it is our job to find that out. Every mayor in Georgia believes Sherman’s army is breathing fire outside his front door. There’s people in Pensacola convinced Sherman is moving that way. Macon is a ripe target, as are Augusta, Savannah, Tallahassee, the prison at Andersonville, St. Augustine. How many more can I name? The only thing we actually know, that I have seen myself, is that the bluebellies marched away from here on four different roads, moving east and south, possibly to assault fourdifferent targets. With little to stand in Sherman’s way, he has the luxury of choosing his targets as he feels inclined. All right, so here are
my
orders. At first light, you will drive your men out toward Macon and Augusta. I’ll give you your routes of march then. Those would be the most significant targets, unless any of you believe Sherman’s off to a vacation on the Gulf of Mexico.” Wheeler continued to pace, seemed to ignore the others. Seeley looked around the room in front of him, saw nervous faces, no one making any attempt to speak out. Seeley felt a stirring in his empty stomach, the question burning inside him. It makes sense, he thought. Surely he knows this. Seeley took a long breath, said, “Sir, I believe either Augusta or Savannah would be his goal.”
Wheeler tilted his head, looked at him with cold eyes, no other expression. “Why is that? Who are you, anyway?”
“Captain James Seeley, sir. I rode with General Forrest.”
“Seeley. One of the bandits from Tennessee. Steal anything today?” Seeley felt the weight of the stares in his direction, took another long breath. “Sir, if Sherman moves through Augusta, it would follow that he’s intending on marching farther north to join the fight in Virginia. If he goes to Savannah, he will certainly find support from the Yankee navy. You said yourself, sir, there’s very little army for him to fight here, and from all we’ve seen, the Yankees have cut themselves off from their supply lines. With all respect to General Hood’s orders…” Seeley glanced at the torn paper on the floor. “Sir, General Hood must not be aware that the Yankees have already destroyed those roads leading north.”
Wheeler stared at him, the eyes softening. “A great many ideas for a man who rode with Forrest. I was not aware General Forrest encouraged his men to think.”
There was a murmur of laughter, but Wheeler kept his stare on Seeley, said, “I was born in Augusta, Captain. You know that? No, don’t expect you do. But I agree with most of what you say. I also believe Macon is his target. Too many factories, valuable goods there. It’s a crucial supply link for General Hood’s advance.” Wheeler paused again. “Captain, I started my army life as an Indian fighter. Most ridiculous, infuriating kind of war you can wage. The enemy never stays put, is never where you expect him to be, seems to rise up outof the ground when your back’s turned. Right now we will become the Indians. Gentlemen, Captain Seeley might be mouthy, but he could also be right. Our duty is to harass Sherman from every direction, make him look over his shoulder every hour. Until General Beauregard or someone else in authority tells me different, I’m going to pursue the enemy with a special eye on both Augusta and Macon. We’ll follow his trail, determine what he’s planning to do, and make life as miserable for him as we can. Find plenty of axes. We may be cutting
Wheeler tore the paper in half.
Seeley heard an audible gasp from men in front of him, but Wheeler’s hard stare silenced them. To one side Hannon spoke up, another of the brigadiers.
“Sir, it seems General Hood does not have a complete grasp on our situation. I for one will support your decision to pursue and do damage to Sherman. Do we know where he is going?”
Wheeler glared toward Hannon. “I believe it is our job to find that out. Every mayor in Georgia believes Sherman’s army is breathing fire outside his front door. There’s people in Pensacola convinced Sherman is moving that way. Macon is a ripe target, as are Augusta, Savannah, Tallahassee, the prison at Andersonville, St. Augustine. How many more can I name? The only thing we actually know, that I have seen myself, is that the bluebellies marched away from here on four different roads, moving east and south, possibly to assault fourdifferent targets. With little to stand in Sherman’s way, he has the luxury of choosing his targets as he feels inclined. All right, so here are
my
orders. At first light, you will drive your men out toward Macon and Augusta. I’ll give you your routes of march then. Those would be the most significant targets, unless any of you believe Sherman’s off to a vacation on the Gulf of Mexico.” Wheeler continued to pace, seemed to ignore the others. Seeley looked around the room in front of him, saw nervous faces, no one making any attempt to speak out. Seeley felt a stirring in his empty stomach, the question burning inside him. It makes sense, he thought. Surely he knows this. Seeley took a long breath, said, “Sir, I believe either Augusta or Savannah would be his goal.”
Wheeler tilted his head, looked at him with cold eyes, no other expression. “Why is that? Who are you, anyway?”
“Captain James Seeley, sir. I rode with General Forrest.”
“Seeley. One of the bandits from Tennessee. Steal anything today?” Seeley felt the weight of the stares in his direction, took another long breath. “Sir, if Sherman moves through Augusta, it would follow that he’s intending on marching farther north to join the fight in Virginia. If he goes to Savannah, he will certainly find support from the Yankee navy. You said yourself, sir, there’s very little army for him to fight here, and from all we’ve seen, the Yankees have cut themselves off from their supply lines. With all respect to General Hood’s orders…” Seeley glanced at the torn paper on the floor. “Sir, General Hood must not be aware that the Yankees have already destroyed those roads leading north.”
Wheeler stared at him, the eyes softening. “A great many ideas for a man who rode with Forrest. I was not aware General Forrest encouraged his men to think.”
There was a murmur of laughter, but Wheeler kept his stare on Seeley, said, “I was born in Augusta, Captain. You know that? No, don’t expect you do. But I agree with most of what you say. I also believe Macon is his target. Too many factories, valuable goods there. It’s a crucial supply link for General Hood’s advance.” Wheeler paused again. “Captain, I started my army life as an Indian fighter. Most ridiculous, infuriating kind of war you can wage. The enemy never stays put, is never where you expect him to be, seems to rise up outof the ground when your back’s turned. Right now we will become the Indians. Gentlemen, Captain Seeley might be mouthy, but he could also be right. Our duty is to harass Sherman from every direction, make him look over his shoulder every hour. Until General Beauregard or someone else in authority tells me different, I’m going to pursue the enemy with a special eye on both Augusta and Macon. We’ll follow his trail, determine what he’s planning to do, and make life as miserable for him as we can. Find plenty of axes. We may be cutting
Similar Books
