Does Sept 1862 relate ?

Successful army loses mojo

Are the stars lining up ? Planets in the right place ? Moon looking good ?

This week in September 1862 was pretty significant. RE Lee told his President, Jefferson Davis, that he had decided to take his successful Army of Northern Virginia across the Potomac River and freak out Lincoln and the people of the north. That part worked pretty well. The media fanned those flames and folks were leaving DC in a hurry. Harrisburg was on alert.

Lee thought the people of Maryland would help him out. New recruits, supplies, emotional support. That part did not resonate too well. In fact some of Lee’s veterans would not cross the river. Not because they were afraid of water…but because they had signed up to defend their homes…not invade the US….

and then an old lady in Frederick dared to wave a US flag in Stonewall Jackson’s face. She got a poem and immortality. Jackson would have a REALLY bad day in less than a year…from “friendly fire”.

Some of Lee’s troops captured Harpers Ferry and a bunch of US Soldiers and weapons. Things were looking up….but then, the unforeseen crept in. Two US soldiers found a copy of his secret orders wrapped in some cigars. They smoked the cigars and sent the lost order up the chain of command.

Lee had no idea his plan was revealed. All of a sudden, he was facing a new enemy. An informed enemy that knew his playbook inside and out. The game changed and the predator became the prey.

This new information helped General McClellan…who Lee did not respect…act more decisively and quickly than ever before. The Military result was America’s bloodiest battle in a single day at Antietam. Clara Barton would become the “Angel of the Battlefield” and Alexander Gardner would document the horrific results. Lee would retreat across the Potomac to save his army for another day.

The political result was President Lincoln was able to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves and changing the course of the war. Things moved forward for the US on many fronts. The new country that Lee was fighting to create with his rebels…one based on slavery and the idea we are not created equal, began to take it on the chin and whither. It took time, over 2 more years. But eventually the truth of equality and freedom won out…and Lee surrendered his tired, worn out army to General Grant and his US Army. The old status quo of slavery was dead forever.

The flags were furled up and the weapons stacked. The war was over. Jeff Davis ended up in prison.

The whole process was VERY costly in every possible way. But it set up “One Nation, under God” Not 2, 3 or more. America has been united ever since…until recently…when lies and insurrection took over from the peaceful transfer of power we have always known and relied on.

Maybe the stars are lined up again…for the defeat of a bad concept, the wrong “leadership”…and moving us forward.

Let’s see what happens tonight. Peace