Sunday, August 12, 2012

Union General Dan Sickles

This is something that was told to me by someone who is a self-styled "Civil War" expert. Someone who teaches the subject occasionally at Gettysburg College, site of the tidewater battle.
     So there, enough of the qualifcation.
     Unknown to many, me included, I was told that General Sickles was, off-stage, a little difficult when given direction. Read: I don't like being told what to do.
     He damned near sunk us at Gettysburg Battlefield, but, luckily, the command Geenerals planned properly and saved the day on the final defense of Cemetery Hill, no thanks to General Dan.
     More about that later.
.     So, as the story told to me goes, when General Dan was away, going his own damned thing, Scott Key's kid was across the street doing the Mrs. Quite a lot, so I was informed.
     The Mrs, as the story goes, had no objection.
     General Dan finally got word of the above in between firing off his own guns somewhere, rode back to DC, hung out down the street and watched the kid crossing the street and entering his house and prompting shot the interloper dead on his steps.
     No, no trial, no big deal. Apparently, as was the day, his skills were needed at the front more than at the end of a rope so justice is as justice was in 1864
     What do you call that? Compassionate Passion?
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